7 wonders - Nominations #39 and #40

by Bobby Blair

If you  look around, you can still find glimpses of Holliston’s glorious cranberry past. Once a thriving industry as early as the 1860’s, the crops were cultivated in town till the mid 1960’s.The early bogs were owned by George Batchelder and located off of Woodland Street not far from the railroad trestle. His berries known as the Holliston, Middlesex, and Centennial are still famous to this day, having been cultivated on Cape Cod and in New Jersey. Larger bogs were also producing crops in the 1960’s on Washington Street across from Weston Pond in Braggville and in East Holliston near Brook Street and Cranberry Lane. Curiously enough, it is now possible to learn whether those early Holliston berries are still the same berries that grow in a few areas of town near local ponds through the use of DNA. The local Agricultural Commission is in the process of trying to re-introduce the early berries to town. Holliston cranberries are nominated by Brad Lingham. 

The Fatima Shrine on Summer Street has what is reported to be the largest Rosary in the world. A search of Google and Guiness Books shows none larger. Made of huge boulders weighing several tons, each one holds a bronze plaque in a different language. The entire chain of beads (boulders) are secured to each other with huge links of chain similar to those used to anchor ships. In fact the huge anchor located on top of Calvary Hill is dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy. Built in the later 1960’s and early 70’s the Rosary compliments the other features at Fatima such as the Grotto, Way of the Cross, Madonna Hill and Peace Angel.  The Rosary at Fatima Shrine is nominated by the third grade CD class of Ms Murphy and Lampkin.