Kathleen McNamee July 27, 2015 10:33:04 (EDT)

Hello, I am a graduate student doing a power point about rehabilitated historic sites and buildings, and I was wondering if I could get permission to use some before and after photos of Benson's (cited and credited to the owner, of course) to go along with the power point discussion. Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Renee S July 9, 2015 13:24:15 (EDT)

I was wondering if you are having a clean up day? I am searching for volunteer work. Please let me .

Thank you.

Joy Boyd June 18, 2015 13:54:35 (EDT)

My daughter saw a shot glass I have from Bensons Animal Farm. My parents took my brother and I when we were kids. So she said lets see if it's still open. She looked it up on the internet. It was great to read about it. I wanted to take my 3 kids to a zoo this summer. Would love to visit. I am 50 years old now, so it was quite some time since my visit. Glad to hear it's still got love and life in it.

Bethany June 16, 2015 21:29:47 (EDT)

Hi. I was at Bensons this past Sunday 6/14/15. I lost my engagement ring and wedding band on the large rocks behind the playground near the hill with the 9/11 memorial. I had taken them off to put sunscreen on my children and then forgot to pick them up before taking a walk around the park. I went back an hour later and they were gone. I have filed a lost property report with Husdon police and put up a few signs at the park. I know this is a long shot but please, if anyone knows of someone that might have found them, they can do the right thing and turn them into the Husdon police. Thank you

Jay Knox June 11, 2015 10:47:48 (EDT)

The sign that shows Arthur's likeness and the one with Mr. Elegant are in fact from My World of Pets that was located at Arthur's Industrial Park in Merrimack. These were from before he owned Benson's.

Kathleen Quinn-Brauer June 5, 2015 13:16:04 (EDT)

mightyquinn92@comcast.net for Benson's signs

Kathleen Quinn-Brauer June 5, 2015 12:42:00 (EDT)

I have about 12 wooden signs from the Animal park that i would like to sell. Mr. Elegant Giraffe...the Welcome sign with Arthurs likeness on it...Gorilla House...ect. I have already put it on Craigslist under collectibles. But if anyone here would interested please email me.

Kathleen

russ May 23, 2015 04:26:11 (EDT)

i wrote to you a while ago in 2007 re a bronze or brass plaque with inscription j t benson and his pal david creator of strangest farm on earth . i was wondering if you or anyone could tell me more about it
russellshepherd40@hotmail.com

cheers russ

Anonymous May 5, 2015 15:51:25 (EDT)

You need to contact the Town of Hudson Recreation Dept. at 880-1600 as well as fill out a usage form to have any gathering with 15 people or more.

Ellen Valade May 4, 2015 17:52:36 (EDT)

I was looking at the map and was wondering a few things. 1, which pond would be good to have a fishing party for kids and 2, who do I contact about hosting a birthday party there?

Mr. Dana M. Sion April 23, 2015 22:26:15 (EDT)

Hello all,
On Saturday May 30th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm The Friends of Benson Park, Inc. will be hosting the 5th anniversary of the new Benson Park.

We are looking to see if we have any balloon artist out there who would be interested in donating sometime for part of the event or the entire time to roam around festivities and make balloon animals and such for the kids in attendance.

Please E-mail me at dsion@bensonpark.org if you are interested or know of someone.
Thank you,
-Dana

steve spaloss April 12, 2015 10:22:19 (EDT)

Best boss to this day I have ever had was Jay Knox. Miss this place. So glad it's open again.

Joyce R. March 9, 2015 18:03:36 (EDT)

Hi, did I scare everyone off? Very sorry. My post was really just a personal message, not intended to intrude on good memories.

Jeffrey Goines January 10, 2015 12:52:37 (EDT)

Is Benson's still using the Kelly Miller Circus as a fund-raising agent?

Jay December 28, 2014 13:54:00 (EDT)

Happy New Year to All, Let's make it a good one !!!

Joyce R. December 24, 2014 21:00:03 (EDT)

Just reading the board re: Benson's elephants. Bret was ahead of his time, letting Liz & Queenie in the pond and getting them exercise.

That said, Ruth (Benson's 1963-1978) is still alive at Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford, MA, by some estimates the 4th oldest Asian elephant in a US zoo. Last winter, the zoo neglected to lock the barn door, and she got out in a blizzard overnight. She was found the next morning, covered in ice. It took five hours to revive her, according to the zoo's records. She got frostbite on her ears, tail, and tush. Somehow she survived. She just had another 10" of her tail amputated from the frostbite and secondary infections, and she lost parts of both ears.

For years she's been attacked by her exhbit mate, Emily, and the zoo knew. 29x in the zoo's records. In 2006, Emily bit 6 1/2" off Ruth's tail. She's rammed her, bitten her, left her tusks. But the zoo kept her for a "companion" for Emily.

The point is, we're trying to get her to The Elephant Sanctuary, to the Asian herd. She can't join Liz, because Liz is still being treated for human TB caught at Hawthorn's. But there's another five elephants and 2,000 acres waiting for Ruth. The zoo refused because it will lose its AZA certification, then claimed she wouldn't get along with others, and then tried to say she's too old. They've called me "misinformed" and an AR and a bunch of other things. I've spent hundreds of dollars on getting their records, because they said my facts aren't facts. But their 12,000 s.f. exhibit is not enough for her. So, for those who say zoos are so much better, not really.

Whatever happened at Benson's, right or wrong, doesn't mean we have to keep doing it. We know better now, and we should do better.

Please call or write the city's Mayor Mitchell and City Council and ask them to let Ruth go. www.newbedford-ma.gov will get you to their email addresses, or you can go to our FB SendRuth&EmilytoTES and scroll down a couple posts. At this point, we're just trying to get Ruth out of there for health and safety reasons, with Emily to follow ASAP.

Thank you.

Cheryl Norton December 23, 2014 17:05:30 (EDT)

Hi I am looking to get in touch with the Benson Family who lived in North Quincy mass. My grandparents bought their house.

Cheryl Norton December 23, 2014 17:04:46 (EDT)

Hi I am looking to get in touch with the Benson Family who lived in North Quincy mass. My grandparents bought their house.

Carrie November 7, 2014 19:00:43 (EDT)

I grew up with those elephants. Jackie, Queenie and Liz mostly. Tanya came later, correct? I used to stand in the elephant barn the whole visit and solicit information about the girls from Larry Records, their trainer. He would let me in and hold me up to touch the faces of the gentle giants. Best times of my life. I found Liz in Tennessee...Queenie passed away years ago but saw freedom in her last days. I get really emotional going back because it feels so haunted. Beautiful but haunted. I know it's been a long time since those days but I still love those elephants like I saw them yesterday. Wish I could see Liz in person. Or Larry Records...is he still around? I have a picture of him holding me next to one of the girls courtesy of my grandfather's photography skills. I'd like to share it with him. I was a routine visitor from early 1980's to closing. Used to cry at the end of every visit when closing time came and my grandfather would get suckered into bringing me back the next day! I also used to get to walk next to Larry and the girls as they went down to the pond! Gosh, I miss my extended family!