The Common bandstand — A gift from the Foxboro Jaycees

DID YOU KNOW? According to town historian Jack Authelet, “The Common had been without a bandstand for many years when, in 1971, the Foxboro Jaycees made an offer to do something about it. They proposed to build a Music Heptagon (and we promised we would never call it a bandstand). It would be designed by Harry Bowditch and built by the Jaycees as their gift to the town.”

“The timing was incredible; because it was also in 1971 that the grassroots “Save the Common Fence” effort took place. It took in so much money [the town] could also install replicas of the original lanterns and cast the WWII tablet in bronze (the temporary plastic name tags were still in place since 1945).

“So as the bandstand rose from the ground, the refurbishing of the Common was well underway and the bandstand and spruced-up Common were dedicated in 1972.”

For over forty years, the Foxboro Jaycees have been proud to maintain and refurbish that beloved bandstand as needed. Not only does the bandstand serve as a stage for the Jaycees Summer Concerts on the Common series, but it also offers a setting for the Christmas Nativity Scene, and other speakers, movies, memorials, masses of all faiths, and other events throughout the year – even weddings!

The bandstand is as iconic as the Common fence, Foxboro sign, and Common memorials — and we Foxborians — whether life-long townies or new residents — treasure it.