Evelyn Louise WOLSCHENDORF (WALDORF)
2005

By Marcy Murphy, Enterprise correspondent
EAST BRIDGEWATER - A 38.5-acre property sold for just more than $3 million Wednesday at an auction that drew interested builders and residents concerned about the land because of its history as an American Indian burial ground and its protected species.

The land was purchased for $3,050,000 by Tom Duggan of Duggan Builders, based in Canton, who builds single-family Colonial-style houses.

The lakefront property is located on the south side of Pond Street and
west of Robbins Pond.

The sale included the island located in the middle of the pond, known as Osceola Island.

The land was owned by resident Evelyn Waldorf, who died Aug. 4 at age 94.

Waldorf had granted power of attorney to the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church Trust.

She had been active with the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church of Brockton.

The auction was held on site and was run by Fisher Auction Co., based in Pompano, Fla.

Despite Wednesday's rainy weather, residents attended the auction because of their concern for the stretch of land that is rich in history.

The deed, which has been under review by Selectwoman Theresa McNulty and town counsel, states there is a "burial belonging to the heirs and
descendents of a family of Indians formerly known as the Robbins Family."

The land's history as a burial ground has also been documented by Williams Latham in "Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater." Latham lived in East
Bridgewater and died in 1883.

Documentation from Ed Bell, senior archeologist at the Massachusetts
Historical Commission, states there is a "recorded ancient Native
American archeological site within the property."

Bridgewater resident Gill Solomon, or Feather-on-the-Moon, is a sachem or leader for the Massachuseuk-Ponkapoag people.

Before the auction, he had voiced his concern about the auction because of his ancestral connection to the land that he had often visited.

At the auction he said, "I'm not happy. I felt the land was safe in the hands of the church."

Diana Lawless, or Strong Woman of the Wampanoag-Chappiquiddic, lives just over the East Bridgewater line in Halifax.

She said she walks the area a lot and would like to see the land
preserved.

"I hope (the developer) donates some (land) back to the town," she said.

East Bridgewater resident Jodi Adams, who lives across the street from
the area, said she wants to see the land stay the way it is.

"It's beautiful land. There's too much building going on," said Adams.

East Bridgewater resident Lee Wohlers appreciates the land for its
history and protected species.

"There's a long way to go before development," she said.

Before the auction, Louis Fisher, chief executive officer of Fisher
Auction, reminded the buyers they are buying the land "as is" and it is up to them to do their own "due diligence."

Bidders at the auction had varying opinions on purchasing land with this type of history.

David Gabriel of Gabriel Construction said burial grounds "can be a
headache in and of itself."

Duggan said there are "sites like this all over Canton. We'll do our due diligence."

McNulty, who was at the auction, said that even though the land has been sold, it can still be registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

The register is a national program that works to support, identify and
protect historic and agricultural resources.

Members of the East Bridgewater Historical Commission are researching the registration procedure.

There are also Massachusetts General Laws that protect ancient burial
places and the Native American Graves Protection Act.

McNulty said that during development it is important to make sure the
laws associated with the land are followed.



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