A Piece of History Returns to Watertown's Commander's Mansion

The son of a former head of the Watertown Arsenal returned to his old home and brought a piece of history with him.

Recently, two things returned to the Commander’s Mansion in the Watertown Arsenal for the first time since the post-World War II years, and one will remain at the historic house. Rolfe Gerhardt lived in the house just after the war when his father, Col. William “Dutch” Gerhardt, served as commander of the U.S. Army facility. In mid-January, Rolfe and his wife Susan came down from Maine to look around his old abode. Gerhardt lived in the house from age 7 to 9 – 1946 to 1948 – and he still remembers the fun he and his brother had in the old home. “The basement was super spooky,” Gerhardt said. “We would play hide and seek there and have cap gun fights.” He also found the spot where the family’s Philco Radio stood and he would listen to shows…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (4)