Episodes

  • So Sleep the Saints
    Oct 15 2025

    This month, we urge you to take a stroll in the local cemetery. For the younger set, it is the source of chills and that creepy-crawly feeling at the back of your neck, best pushed to the periphery of their minds. However, for a long time graveyards have played a much more central role to a town's life. It is a place of remembrance, of duty, and, indeed, history.

    While the expression may be 'dead men tell no tales', you will find that those who passed still have a lot to say, thanks to the efforts of those who laid them to rest. In this episode we explore some of the stones we have found at the Needham Cemetery and the meaning behind them. We will also talk with Laurence "Skip" Eaton, whose family has been witness to the tradition for over two centuries. He shares how the Eaton Funeral Home got started and why it has remained at the heart of his family, and the town throughout the years.

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    30 mins
  • The Adventures of a Pin
    Sep 15 2025

    A student's essay reminds us that the walls may have ears, but even a simple pin can make a point...

    A new school year has just begun, and the procession of bright, excited faces on their way to the schools and bus stops has us nostalgic for our days in the classroom. But education has changed quite a bit over the years. Take this example of an elementary lesson that we have in our collection, for instance. It was a quite popular exercise, with roots tracing back to the late 18th century.

    We will then check in with the Needham Public Schools' Superintendent, Dr. Daniel Gutekanst, to discuss how education has changed over the years. Together we examine the role of the school system in students' lives, and look ahead to see what the town can look forward to in upcoming years.

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    26 mins