The Bedford Bulletin is celebrating its 40th anniversary. In those 40 years, Bedford has seen a lot of changes.

One of the biggest changes is probably population. Forty years ago, Bedford had an estimated population of 5,800. Today it is approaching 20,000 residents.

The town used to boast of farms and farmland. Today, there are very few farms left. Along with the increase in population is the inevitable increase in traffic, which is clearly evidenced on all the major highways and roads in town.

Public services As the population increased, the Board of Selectmen went from three to five members and eventually to the present Town Council consisting of seven members.

Forty years ago, the town offices were located in the Stevens-Buswell School on North Amherst Road, and the Bedford Police Department was in the lower level, with the municipal court on the main floor.

As the town grew, so did the need for a bigger town office building and larger police quarters.

A new town office building was built behind the Stevens-Buswell School, and the town departments moved over there, leaving the police department to have the entire Stevens-Buswell School.

The Bedford Fire Department also outgrew its facility on Meetinghouse Road, and ultimately the town was able to purchase a building on Constitution Drive where the police, fire and building department now are headquartered.

The former fire station on Meetinghouse Road was turned over to Bedford Community Television, which has turned into a state-of-the-art television studio.

The Public Works Department was located on Nashua Road, where today the Little League fields are. Once it outgrew that facility, a new building was built on Chubbuck Road, the road leading into the Transfer Station, where it houses all of its equipment, supplies and maintenance shop.

Not to be untouched by the population boom, the library on Meetinghouse Road was bulging at the seams. A new library was designed and built on the same site.

The Craftworkers’ building, which was the original library, was moved to the rear of the property and is used by the Craftworkers’ Guild.

The Kendall Shop, which was adjacent to the library and was originally a blacksmith shop, was moved down behind the town office building and is used by the Historical Society as its museum.

The old schoolhouse #9, which was located just east of the intersection of New Boston and Wallace Roads, was also moved down behind the town office building and is used by the Historical Society as its meeting place. Its archival storage is in the basement.

A carriage shop replica was built next to these Historical Society buildings, which houses the beautifully restored town hearse, as well as other larger artifacts owned by the society.

Another acquisition for the town was the purchase of the Joppa Hill Farm on Joppa Hill Road, which consists of 190 acres of land on both sides of the road.

The farm is being run as an educational farm with an array of farm animals. It is a place where children can go to learn about farming and farm animals. Ball fields have been built on some of the acreage.

Fun and games
Speaking of fields, Bedford has an active recreation program, and many new fields have been built over the past 40 years.

There is a the Bedford Memorial Town Pool complex on County Road with a pool, a bandstand, tennis courts, ball fields and a newly renovated Ann DeNicola Memorial Playground (formerly known as TimberTown Playground) for youngsters of all ages.

On the subject of recreation, the Pulpit Rock Conservation Area on New Boston Road consists of 194 acres of woodland trails leading into a precipice more than 100 feet high where water falls into the gulf below.

Another trail leads to “Indian Rock,” which is 15 feet high, 40 feet in circumference and is balanced on three large, flat stones. Yet another trail leads to an old mill site located on the property.

The town was fortunate to be able to purchase the 28-acre Benedictine Property on Wallace Road when the nuns who resided there and ran a day care/kindergarten program could no longer continue. The old building was demolished, leaving a pristine piece of land.

Anyone glancing up the hill of this property could just imagine the opening scene from “The Sound of Music.” The hill is used for sledding in the winter. Two trails have been built on the property for hiking.

In the summer and fall, the Bedford Farmer’s Market uses the property for its weekly open-air market.

The Heritage Trail along the Merrimack River is a diamond in the rough. Accessing the trail at the end of Moore’s Crossing Road, the trail runs 2 miles north and 2 miles south, and is excellent for hiking and biking.

Heading south, it leads to the new Airport Access Road, which is under construction and will ultimately go from South River Road over to the airport.

Heading north, the trail passes the Bedford Sewer Treatment Station, goes under Route 293 and ends up opposite Macy’s on the river side of 293.

In the past 40 years a plethora of apartments and condos have sprung up, mostly along the South River Road corridor.

Bedford is still fortunate to have one of the lowest tax rates of surrounding towns due to the commercial tax base that the town realizes.

Higher learning
Another “biggie” in town is the construction of the new high school and middle school complex on Nashua Road.

Believe it or not, a high school was talked about as far back as 40 years ago. All the elections are now held in the school, making the election process more efficient.

Bedford Village Common The Bedford Village Common is finally becoming a reality. It has been talked about for years and is now moving forward in phases.

The common is located behind the library and runs up to Route 101.

There will be walking areas, sitting areas, a gazebo, nature areas and a skating pond.

Martha Gaudes has lived in Bedford for 38 years and worked for the Town of Bedford for 30 years, retiring in 2005 as administrative assistant to the town manager. She drove a school bus in Bedford for 15 years and was the town correspondent for The Bedford Bulletin for 25 years. She is married to David Gaudes, and they now spend their winters in Nokomis, Fla.