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Whately, Massachusetts (U.S.)

Franklin County

image by Randy Young, 15 February 2016
source: www.recorder.com

Description of the flag

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Description of the flag

A new town flag is created: www.recorder.com

By DOMENIC POLI
Recorder Staff
Sunday, February 14, 2016
(Published in print: Monday, February 15, 2016)

WHATELY - Whately now boasts a town flag for the first time in its 245-year history.

The town decided to re-design its official seal a few months ago to commemorate the consolidation into the new town offices and that symbol can now be found centered in the new town flag. One flag will be hung in the Selectboard meeting room, and Selectboard Chairman Jonathan Edwards is expected to drive one to Boston, dropping Whately from the limited list of Bay State communities not represented by flags in the Great Hall at the Statehouse.

Town Administrator Mark A. Pruhenski said the town flag was birthed from a discussion about revamping the town seal. Whately officials wanted a new and improved seal for the meeting room wall at the new town offices at 4 Sandy Lane, and commissioned resident Jack Cooper and his nephew, Gregg Lambert, owner of Promark Graphics in Easthampton, for the job. Pruhenski told The Recorder some lettering, shading, and coloring was updated on the town seal, which was placed on the flag. The original seal was hand-drawn in black and white.

"What's so exciting for me is that this really symbolizes a shift here in Whately toward a modern town office," said Pruhenski, who has been the town administrator for a year and a half. "We've had so many changes in the last couple of years. ... We've had pretty significant technology improvements and we're about to redesign our website."

The flag is rectangular and green. The seal, which bears the town's name, also marks its April 26, 1771, incorporation date and pays homage to the old town hall, the Whately Congregational Church and the Whately Stockade, which was built to protect early residents from potential native American attacks.

"It's a nice-looking flag," Lambert said, adding that it is gratifying to know his work will be displayed in the Statehouse. "My stuff is everywhere and now it will be there, too. It's another bragging point."

Adelia Bardwell, president of the Whately Historical Society, said there has long been talk of establishing a town flag and there have been various strategies devised in attempts to come up with one. She said it is important for a town to be able to fly its own symbol.

"It tells the story of Whately," she said. "Everybody recognizes that seal if they're from here."

submitted by: Dave Fowler, 15 February 2016