7 wonders - Pinecrest CC and Rock Pile

by Bobby Blair

Pinecrest Country Club and Rock Pile
Nomination # 33

The Howe family were the owners of the fields that now make up much of what is now considered Pinecrest Country Club. It’s most likely that the Rock Pile which stands on the property near Mill Street and Pine Oak Road was built while the Howe’s family owned the farm. Local tradition and lore have always circulated that the Rock Pile was the final resting place of local Indians. Town Historian Joanne Hulbert places the construction of Holliston’s Stonehenge to somewhere between 1900-1920. A neighbor of mine told me a friend's dad recalls helping build the circular structure. So much for the Indian theory, as Old Hendrick, Holliston’s last Indian died around 1830! 

In the 1950's the Howe family farm passed into the hands of Angus McPherson, a character with a colorful past. McPherson was a cattle dealer, selling and trading the animals which were transported via the local trains. Railroad Street was often tied up, like it was a scene out of a mid-western town. 

When the American Legion held a huge parade in town in 1962, Ted Kennedy was invited to participate.  Then President John F. Kennedy called his friend McPherson to see if younger brother Ted could stay at the McPherson farm. In 1963 McPherson’s barn would burn to the ground killing many of his animals. Another building on the grounds converted into a restaurant would have a similar fate. Fire seemed to follow McPherson, as his remains would be found in a closet at his house on Highland Street which was destroyed by fire from an unknown source.

A large well tower stands behind the present day club house, and is actively used to supply water to a pond across the street, which in turn is used to water the fairways. According to Debbie Moore of the Golf Course Advisory Committee, the Town of Holliston purchased Pinecrest in December of 1986, and has since added the new club house and practice range. It is truly a wonder that today the fairways aren’t filled with driveways and swimming pools and is still open space.

Pinecrest’s nomination was sent in by Debbie Moore who also led the petition drive to have the town purchase the land. Our nominations now total 48, and new nominations are to be emailed to kinvara57@hotmail.com by the end of today, April 1. Our list includes- Fiske’s, "Casey at the Bat", Balancing Rock, Mudville Arched Bridge, Patt’s Blueberries, Lake Winthrop, Woodland Street Trestle, Superette, Pinecrest C.C. and Rock Pile, Bullard St. Cow Tunnel, Candy Cottage, Celebrate Holliston Parade and Field Day, Beech Tree at Historical Society, Braggville, Highland St. Tunnel, Marshall St. Soccer Fields, Jaspers Rock, Goodwill Park, Thomas Hollis Bible, Holliston Antiques, Flagg Field, Lake Grove Cemetery, Out Post Farm, Library, Holliston Cranberries, Fairbanks Property, Goodwill Shoe, Town Hall, Metcalf Pump House, Broad Hill Vineyard, Rosary at Fatima Shrine, 1928 Maxim, Hydrant 3, Asa Whiting House and Barn, Wilder Pump Shop, Mudville Arch Water Tunnel, Town Hall Horse Trough, Moon Tree, Highland St. Quarry, Fisher St. Underpass, the Congregational Church, Littlefield Tavern, Linden Street waterfall, House at Central and Fiske Streets, Studio D, the Boston Post Cane, Casey’s Crossing, Thumping Rock, the Waushakum Live Steamers.