Thornton J. "Sonny" Oxner & True Center of Our Town

Thornton J. "Sonny" Oxner & True Center of Our Town

What many may not know today is where the true center of Marshfield really is?  Well, without further adieu let me clarify this for you - the true center of Marshfield is located at Thornton J (better known as, "Sonny") Oxner's, Marshfield Center Garage at the corner of Church & Grove Streets. Sonny left us on April 24, 2005, leaving his children and grandchildren to carry on.   Meet the former owner established this site at the true center of our community and his surviving family:

Thornton J. "Sonny" Oxner

April 24, 2005

Oxner – Of Marshfield, April 24, Thornton J. “Sonny”. Dear father of Wayne R. Oxner of Marshfield, Chris F. Oxner of Marshfield, Mark Oxner of Shirley, Sharon K. Fischer of Pelham, N.H., Sue A. Lister of Marlboro and the late Jill Oxner. Also survived by 6 grandchildren and the late Brian Oxner and 3 great grandchildren. Brother of the late Patricia Tucker. Companion of Linda Murphy of Marshfield. Stepfather of Cathy Gill, Michael Gill, Diane Bialeschki, Christopher Murphy and Joseph Murphy. Former husband of Betty Oxner of Marshfield.A Funeral Service will be held at the MacDonald Funeral Home 1755 Ocean St (Rte 139) Marshfield on Friday at 11:00 A.M. Visiting hours Thursday 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.

          Now let's shift back to Marshfield Center as many know it today, more commonly refer to as 'the business center'.  Yet, when you Google this you pull up our own copy and print shop located in the business center.  I want to take you back even further to the latter 50s to early 60s, the business center started at the First Congregational Church and Parish hall and continued in two directions - either straight to Brant Rock or turned down Moraine Street towards the Duxbury town line.  There was an access road that separated the Training Green from the Congregational parish hall, which church-goers used to park on for Sunday service and Sunday School.  Where the Town Hall sits today was all wetland and marsh, that separated the parish hall property from the residence and office of Dr. McKenzie, his wife, and eight children.  Snow Road was not even thought of at that time in history.
         Now let's travel straight by the Church down Ocean Street - there is a small graveyard on your right beside the parish hall where old community members and their families have been laid to rest, including Josiah Hatch.  Then, you came to the center - which was just a strip of stores that included Tot's to Teens, a Legion Hall where a small group also began a SixtyPlus Club out of (which my paternal grandmother, Susan Durant (Chandler) Beals, was one of), there was a gas station, Duca's 5 & 10, George V. Buttners Men's shop, Toabe's Hardware, and First National (our first supermarket of the time).
         Let me take you back, just before you went by the Church on your left was the Ordinary which had penny candy and soda fountain.  This was owned by John & Olga LaForest.  Back then I can recall going through it and it contained all kinds of goods and products for sale and was one shop - over the time it has been sold and broken up now into 3-4 shops and a few offices or apartments upstairs.  It is amazing how time can change the look and feel of a community gradually.  

More to Come -
Upcoming articles will feature the State Game Farm & the Train Stations