Hurton Family Fund

This fund was established to perpetuate the name of a large Wakefield family. In the late 1800’s many members of the Hurton family settled on Rockland Street where there have been Hurton families for more than 100 years. Several generations of Hurtons have been educated in the Wakefield school system. The family established this fund to honor the Hurton name and to give something back to the education system that taught generations of Hurtons to be proud to live in Wakefield.

One prominent member of the Hurton family who passed away in February 2000, was retired Wakefield Fire Chief, William P. Hurton. He also served as head of Civil Defense for Wakefield. He was a member of the Crystal Community Club, Knights of Columbus, St. Athanasius Church and Massachusetts National Fire Chiefs Association. In 1967, Chief Hurton and then Police Chief J. Merritt Wenzel participated in a televised cribbage tournament for the benefit of TSF. The purpose of the contest was to help sell nearly 1800 handmade cribbage boards that had been donated to TSF. Chief Hurton won this match and went on to the semi-finals before bowing out. Many people, young and old, participated in the two-day tilt, the open-air competition believed to be the first one ever held in this country. A 17 year old WHS senior was ultimately crowned champion.