08/18 to 08/25 - Normandy Farms Wednesday

NORMANDY FARMS CAMPGROUND

WEDNESDAY 

l. to r. Ray, Sue, Kathy, Ray, Johnny, Doreen, Tony, Roberta

Monday and Tuesday were lazy days for me even though the campground provides campers with text messages about the activities that are taking place throughout the grounds. With the pending rain, they even had a rainy day plan. Some of the folks made the trip into Boston for the day to do some sightseeing.  I declined the offer to join and spent the time writing my blog. Wednesday, however, was the more active day. Even with the anticipated heavy rain forecast, some of us managed to do breakfast, take in a movie and dine out in Foxboro (a.k.a. Foxborough). As it turned out the rain was heavy only during the early morning hours and the rest of the day was beautiful.

The Commons Neighborhood Eatery, suggested by members, Carol and John, was a terrific choice for breakfast. It was a typical, small town, eatery that served the usual fare for breakfast and lunch from 6 am till 2 pm; clean and the waitresses, Chrissy and Janine were friendly and efficient.  The place doesn't have a website but the reviews come in with 4+ stars. I had homemade cinnamon bread French toast, two scrambled eggs and four strips of well done bacon. As you read on, don't forget to click on the LINKS IN RED below for more detailed information.

l. to r. ACR, Jack, Doreen, Roberta, Johnny, John, Tony, Sue, Ray

Chrissy took the goup photo
and a selfie.

Later that day, Doreen/Tony, Jack/Noreen, Roberta and I drove into Foxboro again to the Patriot Place, a huge complex adjacent to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and Tom Brady.  We went to the Showcase Cinema de Lux. The ladies went to see Mamma Mia and the men saw Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible - Fallout.  
For dinner afterwards, we settled on Bar Louie in the large upstairs complex. I had the TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA: grilled chicken, cavatappi noodles, fresh spinach, artichoke, bruschetta tomatoes, mushrooms, house‑made Alfredo, Parmesan, and parsley.

l to r. Jack, Roberta, Doreen, Noreen, Tony

l to r. Roberta, Doreen, Tony, Jack, Noreen

Once again, to end the evening, hosts Carol and John, had the goodies out on the table and a fire going in the ring. It was a full and enjoyable day.

I came across this June 23, 2001 Sun/Chronicle newspaper article describing a sad tragedy that occurred here at the campground. "A co-founder of the Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort on West Street died Saturday at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston from injuries she received Friday afternoon when she was run over by a car just inside the campgrounds' gate.

Jeannette Daniels, 77, of 72 West St., was standing behind a 1998 Toyota being driven by Ruth C. Fields, 83, of 131 Branch St., Mansfield, shortly after 4:30 p.m. Foxboro Police and fire officials said Daniels was directing Fields to back up when the car went out of control and ran over Daniels. Daniels was taken by medical helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess. Foxboro police are investigating the incident, interviewing witnesses to the accident, according to Sgt. Daniel Rockett. No charges had been filed as of Saturday night, Rockett said.

Daniels and her husband Norman founded Normandy Farms about 30 years ago. The site was previously a farm. The family was preparing funeral arrangements Saturday night, a woman at the family home said. She declined to comment further.

This is the third tragedy to befall the family-owned and operated campground over the past several years. In July 1996, 14-year-old Michelle Poteau of Rehoboth drowned in a swimming pool at the campground while on a church outing.

Eight years earlier 9-year-old Suzzane Grimes of Walpole died at a Boston hospital two weeks after being pulled out of the bottom of a pool at the campground.

And in 1994, 14 people were injured after being struck by lightning while at the campground. None of the injuries in that incident were serious.

The campground is used by families on overnight and long-term visits and is open year-round. It has more than 400 campsites, a three-story registration building, four swimming pools and several playing fields."