WENDELL — For more than 230 years, Wendell residents did not have a town flag.
Now, they can walk around boasting an image of it on their chests or draped over their shoulders.
Mez Ziemba, Ruth Flohr and Johanna Bartlett — three women belonging to the Friends of the Wendell Free Library — formed a fundraising subcommittee to commission long-sleeve T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and tote bags to benefit their non-profit organization. The products are produced by Silver Screen Design in Greenfield.
Ziemba said the merchandise first went on sale at a Nov. 16 craft fair at the Full Moon Coffeehouse and about 150 have been sold.
“I’ve become a vendor at every event that I go to,” she said, adding that she sells them out of her vehicle.
Ziemba mentioned many people purchase a product to send to a loved one who grew up in Wendell but has since moved out of town. She said one family with relatives in Japan bought a dozen T-shirts to bring with them as gifts when they go for a visit.
Nancy Aldrich, who has been the Wendell town coordinator for about 16½ years, explained that for years the town had no flag in the State House’s Great Hall of Flags and decided a few years ago to set up a contest for residents to design one to have a replica sent to Boston. A vote at Old Home Days produced two front-runners, Donna Horn and Pam Richardson, who agreed to collaborate and combine their ideas into one flag. Aldrich and Ziemba said they feel the flag — with its bright, vibrant colors and a sphere of human figures depicted holding hands around an image of a tree and sunrise — embodies the spirit of Wendell.
Silver Screen Design has set up a page (bit.ly/2HzRyDN) for people to purchase the merchandise. Orders can be picked up at Silver Screen Design at 324 Wells St. in Greenfield to avoid shipping charges. Adult long-sleeve T-shirts can be purchased at the Wendell Country Store at 57 Lockes Village Road, where Ziemba said owner Patti Scutari is not taking a profit on T-shirt sales. Ziemba can be reached at 978-544-3177.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.