Photos courtesy of Henry Cooke

By Steve Sears

Randolph, Massachusetts has much to offer, whether just driving through town and desiring a quick meal, or even staying over night or for a few days and seeking to visit nearby spots.

The latter is recommended and, even though Boston is just 15 miles north and, yes, history and much more abounds there, the reader will soon learn that Randolph itself also is a worthy trek for many reasons.

Henry Cooke, town historian, was born and raised in Randolph. “I grew up in the town, and aside from years away at school in college, I’ve pretty much lived here. I currently live in the house my grandparents bought when they moved from Boston in 1941. It (Randolph) was originally part of the town of Braintree,” he says, “and when the city of Quincy split off in 1792, we followed suit a year later.” The town was incorporated in 1793.

Randolph, a town of about 10 square miles and 32,000 residents, is very accessible. Divided in half by Route 28, which runs north and south, there’s also Highway 24, a limited access road, which runs alongside the town, Route 139 runs through it, and historic Route 1 and Route 93 clip the top of it. By comparison, Randolph, New Jersey is home to just about 26,000 people, was incorporated 7 years after its sister city from parts of Mendham in 1806, is more than double the size at 21 square miles, and Routes 10 and 513 (the latter perhaps more scenic) are convenient roadways to get you to your destination.

There are “slumbering spots” in Randolph, Massachusetts, a Comfort Inn at the northern tip and a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in the southwestern part of town, and even though dining is a cornucopia of varieties, two eateries are recommended. La Scala Ristorante, which has been around for about 40 years, is the highlight Italian restaurant, and then what Cooke describes as “probably our least sexy but most iconic eatery, the Lynwood Cafe, which has what we like to think is the best pizza south of Boston.” On a weekend night, sometimes the wait for a pie is as long as two hours. “A little hole in the wall. They don’t serve salads, they don’t serve other Italian food, they serve pizza, and something to drink with your pizza.” Lynwood Café is located at the corner of Center and South Streets.

History buffs will want to visit both the Jonathan Belcher House on Route 28 and West Street, a historic home and museum which currently is used by the Randolph Women’s Club (one of the oldest in America), and Stetson Hall, the best place to learn about Randolph history. “It’s right in the center of town,” says Cooke, “It was Randolph’s town hall from the time it was built in 1842 until 1995, when the town offices moved across the street.”

For nature lovers, the Blue Hills Reservation, which abuts Randolph, is of significant interest due to its biking and hiking trails, and a trailside nature museum is also onsite. “In terms of other more in-town passive recreation and nature, we have Powers Farm Community Park, which the town purchased in 2009 under the Communities Preservation Act,” explains Cooke. “It was a dairy farm run by the Powers family for over a century, and they still maintain the farm on part of the property, but many of the farm fields are now areas where people can walk and have picnics.” Close by is Norroway Pond, where visitors can rent kayaks and paddle around the pond. Cooke adds, “There’s a picnic pavilion where many people go in the summer months just to sit and have a picnic, or just to sit and enjoy the birds and the fresh air, watch the woodchucks and the geese or the ducks go do their thing, and there are also nature trails.”

As for notable folks who are from Randolph, Massachusetts, National Hockey League fans may remember Rod Langway, who played with both the Montreal Canadians and Washington Capitals during his long career. Raised in the town from age 13, the Hall of Famer and Stanley Cup Champion led Randolph High School to three straight state tournament appearances.

“It’s a community of easy access,” says Cooke, “and it is also one of the most racially and culturally diverse communities in Massachusetts.”

For more information about Randolph, Massachusetts, visit www.randolph-ma.gov.