A memorial bench in the making. Steps taken and those who helped along the way. Thanks to all who made this a very special event.
FEBRUARY & MARCH 2022
• Past president Kevin Doyle started initial research on the cost to purchase a new memorial bench from town approved provider O’Brien and Sons in Medway who is the New England Distributor. In addition to base cost, we would need to purchase the plaque from them. There would be an additional cost for installation by a contractor approved by the Town of Falmouth DPW.
• A small committee was formed consisting of Kevin Doyle (past president) and Board of Directors Terry Saunders and Paul Smith to further explore the possibility of purchasing a memorial bench in memory of OSDA founding member and Past President, Jim Crossen who passed on 02/11/22.
• Several steps were needed to make this a reality including, applying for and getting approval from the town, finding a place for it to be installed and purchasing the bench from the approved town vendor.
APRIL & MAY 2022
• Preliminary research by Kevin Doyle and Paul Smith showed that we could not put the bench at Surf Drive Beach as there were already several benches there. Many spots we considered around Mill Road would have required approval from the Conservation Commission.
• OSDA Member Carole Mendoza told the Board of Directors that there was a current bench at Town Hall Square that was in disrepair. The black metal base appeared to be in good condition.
• Paul Smith poke to O’Brien and Sons and received a verbal quote to retrofit the 6’ bench with recycled plastic slats and hardware. The plaque would be additional cost as well as delivery.
• On Wednesday, 05/18/22 Terry Saunders and Paul Smith went to check out the bench and met with Jeremiah Pearson, Falmouth’s Park Superintendent at Town Hall Square and explained to him our thoughts to rehabilitate the existing bench and confirmed the necessary steps to do so. SEE PICS # 1 and #2.
• We received a verbal okay to proceed with the application which Terry Saunders completed and dropped off at the DPW on Friday, 05/20/22 stating that we would rehab the existing bench and place it back in its current position at Town Hall Square (by the dentist office).
JUNE & JULY 2022
• On Wednesday, 06/15/22 Jeremiah Pearson said we were ‘good to go’. Paul reached out to O’Brien and Sons for an updated quote and purchase agreement which was provided.
• Terry Saunders completed the paperwork and authorized payment by OSDA Treasurer Bob Lehtinen on Thursday, 06/16/22. Also remitted wording for plaque. ‘In Memory of Jim Crossen Founding Member of the Old Stone Dock Association’.
• The lead time for delivery direct from the manufacturer in Pennsylvania was 12+ weeks.
• Since the bench was in bad shape, Paul Smith, Steve Saunders and Bob Lehtinen moved the bench from Town Hall Square to Paul Smith’s home on 07/18/22 so that the base could be worked on in the interim.
• Paul Smith removed the boards, cleaned the base and applied new black paint to the base.
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022
• Bench slats and hardware were received on 08/17/22.
• Multiple vacations and bouts with COVID pushed off the assembly date.
• At the OSDA Board if Directors meeting on 09/14/22 discussed we would arrange a date with Jim Crossen’s daughters Jamie Crossen-Steiding and Kim Crossen DeWall, the committee and the OSDA Board of Directors to dedicate the bench.
• On Monday, 09/19/22 Paul Smith and Steve Saunders put the bench back together. Terry Saunders was there for moral support and photos. SEE PICS #3, #4, #5.
OCTOBER 2022
• On Friday, 10/07/22 the ‘extremely heavy’ bench was moved and put in place by OSDA President Jay Thayer, Board Members Paul Smith and Steve Saunders and his brother-in-law David Rogers. SEE PICS #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12.
• On Friday, 10/14/22 a dedication and presentation of the bench was scheduled for 12 pm. The morning had been rainy but had cleared by 11 am. As members, friends, officers and family started to gather at 11:45 am the rain came down heavily. OSDA President, Jay Thayer started off the tribute and spoke about Jim Crossen’s cheerful nature, his military and work history and his dedication to family and the Old Stone Dock Association. Other members also added their personal stories. Jim’s daughters Kim Crossen DeWall and Jamie Crossen also spoke about their father and thanked the OSDA for their recognition and the new bench.
• Kevin Doyle presented a brief story to the Falmouth Enterprise along with a group picture that was published on Friday, 10/21/22 on page 11. SEE FEATURE PICTURE above and PIC #13 below.
> STORY: Last Saturday, October 14, the community bench in the Town Hall mall was dedicated to the life and service of well-known Falmouth resident James Crossen by the Old Stone Dock Association. Mr. Crossen spent his retirement years in building and leading the Association in the early 1970’s. Mr. Crossen was a familiar sight in Falmouth from his decades of service to the town, serving as a Town Meeting Member, a Constable, and Sealer of Weights and Measures among his many contributions.
> PHOTO PARTICIPANTS: L to R, Anne Prior, Jim Fox, Jamie Crossen-Steiding, Paul Smith, Patricia Doyle, Kevin Doyle, Otis Porter, Kim Crossen DeWall, and OSDA President Jay Thayer. Partially obstructed: Brian Doyle and Karen Rinaldo. Missing from photo but onsite Steve Saunders and Terry Saunders. Photo by Terry Saunders
MESSAGES FROM OTHERS:
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10/18/22 Email from Kim Crossen DeWall
Dear OSD – On behalf of the Crossen Family, I want to express our gratitude for your kind recognition of our Dad. That members of the OSD and others went to such efforts to honor my Dad and then stood in the pouring rain to “unveil” the bench in memory of him is truly overwhelming. We so appreciate the honor, and Dad would be delighted, especially in knowing that as a “founding member” of the OSD—who loved serving and bringing neighbors and the community together—his hope in forming the association was not only achieved but continues.
Pictured is Dad on his “bench,” with Ginny Pimental, and Ray DeWall. SEE PIC #14*
Thank you so much. Kim Crossen DeWall
*We are researching what date this picture was taken as the bench is in pristine condition.
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10/18/22 Email from Jamie Crossen
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Do I miss Jim Crossen!! You are wonderful friends.
Love, Jamie
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10/20/22 Email from Kevin Doyle
I applaud us all for creating Crossen Creek as a “place” (thanks to Paul’s initiative!) and now our Founder has a bench in a place I’m sure he’d enjoy as all his Town Hall friends go in and out, and all his neighbors go shopping on Main Street, and his buddies are eating in the Quarterdeck! Jim Crossen is smiling!!
Pictures and story by Terry Saunders, OSDA Board of Director, Web Administrator and Membership Chair.