GRAFTON LION SITE
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    • 2013 >
      • 2013 Haunted Hayride
      • Concert - July 3rd 2013
    • 1991 Lions
Picture

Grafton Lions Charities, inc.
"Serving our Community Since 1955"

History of
​ Alfred J. Dauphinais Memorial Park


Picture
Second Pool circa 1967
In 1962, the Grafton Lions Club recognized a need in the community for a safe swimming area available for both recreational use and for swimming instruction.  They approached E. L. Dauphinais  Inc.,  a local concrete, sand and gravel company , about using a 17.6-acre  former gravel pit site off Brigham Hill Road to establish a pool and recreation area .  The Dauphinais Corporation leased the property to the Lions for a 25 year term, renewable at the Club's option.  The rent to be paid for each term was one dollar. That area came to be known as Alfred J. Dauphinais Memorial Park in memory of the principal owners' father.

The original pool /pond was dug in the area to the northerly side of the driveway later occupied by soccer fields.  It didn't function very well---water leaked out at a great rate---and so it was filled in, and a second pond was prepared further back on  the property.  To provide fresh water and to maintain the pond's water level, a well was installed about a hundred yards uphill from the pond and water was pumped into a brook running toward Lake Ripple.  A diverter with a settling basin fed the well water to the pond during the summer season, and the pump ran 24 hours a day, 7 days a week . 

The Lions built a bath house with toilets and outdoor showers, and later built a cinder block building for meeting space and community use.  By arrangement with the Grafton Recreation Commission, the Club rented  the pond to the Town for their swimming lesson program.  The rental income was calculated to just cover the cost of life guard coverage for the hours the pool was open and not being used for swimming lessons.  The Lions provided maintenance supplies, equipment repairs, vandalism repairs, and payroll services. This arrangement continued until the Town decided to move the swimming program to Silver Lake Beach in the middle 1970's. 

In June of 1974 an agreement was reached with the Dauphinais corporation  allowing the Grafton Lions to purchase the bulk of the property in return for ceding it a three and one-half acre parcel of frontage land on Brigham Hill Road. The purchase price was one dollar.  Owning the remaining fourteen acres has enabled the Lions to carry out activities ranging from clam bakes and fiddlers contests to renaissance fairs and haunted hayrides. 

The increasing popularity of soccer in the late 70's led to the need for more playing fields in town.  In 1983 the Lions, under the leadership of Lion Dennis Perron,  obtained a great deal of donated equipment and materials allowing it to construct a fully graded and drained soccer field in the area where the first swimming hole had been located.  Water for irrigation of the soccer field comes from the same well that furnished water for the pool in the 1970s.   The local youth soccer program currently maintains the grass and has divided the area into two smaller fields for younger players.  The field has also been used for a women's recreational soccer program, and as a practice area for scholastic soccer teams. 

Presently, the  Lions Club's Dauphinais Memorial Park hosts Scouting groups for group activities and camping, the Recreation Commission's summer Fin and Feathers outdoor activities, and summer soccer instructional programs.  There are equestrian trails used for recreational riding as well as for a portion of the Grafton Land Trust hunter pace / trail ride course, and hiking and dog walking trails.  Also available  is a close-up view of the largest black oak tree in Massachusetts, whose branches overhang the stone wall at the northwest corner of the property.  In 2012 its girth was measured at 19 feet in circumference, and height at 112 feet. 

We welcome inquiries from any community groups having a need for space to conduct their activities.  Inquiries may be made by completing the "I want to know more ..." form at the bottom of this page.

Article written by: Past Council Chairman Lion Jesse R. Dowd


                             
Picture
Same view as above taken on 8/23/14
Picture
Original Pool, now the soccer field
Picture
Same view as above taken on 8/23/14
Picture
First Lions Club Pool 1963

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We are located at 68 Brigham Hill Rd. Grafton, Massachusetts

Our Mailing Address:
PO Box 111, Grafton, MA 01519

EMAIL: 
info@graftonlionsclub.org
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 Copyright [2014-2022 [Lions Club of Grafton, Massachusetts, USA] all rights reserved| webmaster PDG Dennis Perron
  • About Us
    • Property Use
    • Calendar
    • Property History
    • Pavilion Dedication 2016
  • Members
  • Join Us
  • Donate
    • Used Eyeglass Collection Locations
  • Property Use
    • Calendar
  • Coming Events
  • Members Only (member list etc.)
    • Club Constitution & By-Laws
    • Member News
    • Member Store (Dues etc;)
    • Member Survey
  • Photos
    • 2023 >
      • 2023 new member Inductions
    • 2022 >
      • 2022 Christmas Party
      • 2022 Toys for Kids & Teens
      • 2022 First-Aid Kit Project
      • 2022 Haunted Woods Hayride
      • 2022 Golf Tournament
    • 2021 >
      • 2021 Pickle Ball Tournament
      • 2021 Golf Tournament
      • 2021 Spring Clean-Up
      • 2022 Charity Golf Tournament
      • 2021 Senior Cook-out
    • 2020 >
      • 2020 Golf Tournament
      • 2020 Vehicle Sanitizing/PPE Donation
      • Trunk or Treat - October 2020
    • 2019 >
      • 2019 Club Christmas Party
      • Fall Senior Dinner 2019
      • 2019 Historical Society Museum Visit
      • 2019 Golf Tournament
      • 2019 64th Club Charter Night
      • 2019 33A Mid-Winter
      • 2019 Installation of Officers
      • 2019 July 3rd Concert
    • 2018 >
      • Christmas 2018
      • 2018 Golf Tournament
      • 2018 Concert on the Common
      • 2018 Installation of Officers
      • 2018 Charity wine Tasting
    • 2017 >
      • 2017 Christmas Caroling
      • 2017 Lions Christmas Party
      • 2017 Haunted Woods Hayride
      • 2017 Golf Tournament
      • 2017 National Police Nigh Out
      • 2017 Youth Exchange Cook-out
      • 2017 July 3rd Concert
      • 2017 Installation of Oficers
      • 2017 Food Pick-up
    • 2016 >
      • 2016 Haunted Hayride
      • 2016 Golf Tournament
      • 2016 July 3rd Concert
      • 2016 Charter Night
    • 2015 >
      • 2015 Haunted Hayride
      • 2015 Golf Tournament
      • 2015 - July 3rd Concert
      • 60th Charter Night - Feb. 2015
    • 2014 >
      • Senior Dinner Nov. 2014
      • 2014 Haunted Hayride
      • 2014 Greenway Challenge
      • 2014 Golf Tournament
      • Installation Picnic - June 2014
      • 2014 - July 3rd Concert
      • Gazebo Roof Replacement
      • Senior Dinner - April 2014
    • 2013 >
      • 2013 Haunted Hayride
      • Concert - July 3rd 2013
    • 1991 Lions