Shrewsbury Names Recreation Building For Longtime Employee Dawn Shannon

SHREWSBURY, MA — A longtime Recreation Department employee will be honored at the town building where local programs continue today.

The Select Board unanimously voted to name the program hall at 835 Main St. the Dawn Shannon Program Hall. At the same time, the overall building will retain the Ray Stone Post name in recognition of the town’s veterans, past and present.

Shannon worked for the Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation Department from 1972 to 2002. During her 30-year career, she helped provide basketball, softball, social events, trips and programs for residents with special needs, including programs supporting the Special Olympics.

The naming proposal followed a request from Shannon’s family and a public hearing where residents supported honoring her while preserving the building’s historic association with World War I veteran Sgt. First Class Raymond Stone.

The building, which dates to 1858, is Shrewsbury’s oldest publicly maintained building. It originally served as a schoolhouse and later became a community center used by veterans’ groups, service organizations and Boy Scout troops.

Exterior signage will identify the building as the Ray Stone Post, while interior signage will mark the Dawn Shannon Program Hall. Town staff will coordinate a formal community dedication ceremony after installing the signs.

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