Our Premier Event of 2010: DEC Connection Reunion and Tour of the Mill

When: Saturday, September 11, 2010

200 DEC Connection members, family and friends enjoyed a great evening of socializing and revisiting old times - and seeing how the Mill, now Clock Tower Place, has evolved since its Digital days.

Special thanks to our corporate sponsors for the event: Legacy Financial Advisors, Digital Credit Union, and our member Eliane Markoff and ArtinGiving.org, her charity funding pediatric cancer research.

Thank you to our volunteers who staffed the registration booth: Pat Fessler, Karen Hamilton, Leslie Mileski, and Karen Kilty.

Great thanks as well to Rod Sutherland, Mary Cole, and Jack Mileski, who took the beautiful photographs below so DEC Connection members worldwide can share in the experience.  Click here to see Jack Mileski's slide show in .pdf format (right-click to download if it doesn't run from the web).

Some comments from attendees:

• Sandy Zimany Day:  A HUGE thank you to all of you on the Board for the excellent social event last night. Art and I also want to compliment the chefs and servers of the BBQ. It is clearly not easy to prepare and serve all those folks such a quality meal. We were happy to learn that the cafeteria is open to the public. I'm sure we will take advantage of that as we live relatively close by. Thanks again, as always it was great seeing everyone.
• Vanessa Fox:  Had a great time yesterday…nicely organized, lots of folks, good food. I liked the booklet, especially the ad for the job openings – very nice touch! Just wanted to let you know!
• Ande Wertheim:  It was great to see you yesterday. You put on a great event - thanks!! - it was a lot of fun and wonderful to reconnect with folks.
• Carol Erlich:  thanks for all your work to organize the event - it was great! The tour was fantastic, and I was really looking forward to seeing the movie about Ken. But when I got back from the tour I got so involved with talking with people I'd never even met before that I forgot all about the movie!  Thanks again, will look forward to something in the future with the group. Digital was the best time, so special...
• Nancy Kilty:  I want to add my thanks to all for helping to make our event last night a "big time" success. At least 10 folks came up to me and commented on either the how good the food was, getting to see old friends, seeing the Mill again, and remembering DEC, particularly with the film.

         Welcome to the Tour of Clock Tower Place (the“Mill”)

A Bit of History

The Mill was built in the mid-1800s and, among other things, was a factory that made blankets and uniforms for the Union Army during the Civil War.

Before Digital established itself, most of us remember the historical photos and stories of the Assabet Woolen Company and its successor, the American Woolen Mill.

The town of Maynard was carved out of the Towns of Stow and Sudbury. The boundaries of the town were formed by measuring the walking distance to the Mill by its workers.

After the departure of the American Woolen Company in the early 1950s, the Mill became the location of many diversified companies and organizations.

Digital was founded in Bldg 12 (the main entrance) in 1957. Eventually, Digital expanded so much that it purchased the Mill outright and occupied it virtually entirely.

Finally, the Mill was bought by Wellesley Companies, a privately held, 86 years old Real Estate Development and Management Company. The “Mill” was renamed “Clock Tower Place” as of Jan 1, 1998 and is now almost fully occupied by more than 100 companies with more than 3500 employees.

Currently there is space for lease in Clock Tower Place.  Contact Joe Mullin for information.  jmullin@wellesley.com; Phone: 978-823-8200  www.clocktowerplace.com

History of Some of the Mill’s Buildings from Digital’s Days:

• Bldg 12: This building was where Digital was founded. Ken Olsen had his offices there for many years.

• Bldg 10: Eventually, this became where Ken had his HQs and offices and the Board Room.

• Bldg 2: Many of you probably remember that there were chicken wire and storage spaces along several floors of this building. However, its most famous Digital heritage is this is where the VAX/VMS team developed the most successful minicomputers of its time.

• Bldg 4: This is where the existing Ken Olsen (formerly the Gen. Doriot) Conference Center is located.

• Bldg 5: Bldg 5 was occupied by manufacturing, the board shop, Software Engineering, Product Lines, and others.

• Bldg 3 (formerly Bldg 1): Bldg 1 was primarily a Manufacturing facility, although it was later occupied by elements of Central Engineering, and others.

• Bldg 1 (formerly Bldg 21): was home of SW Maintenance and LDP.