Here are a couple of photos, courtesy of Walter Lech, showing floodwaters going over the Saxonville falls, probably taken after the Hurricane of 1938 which flooded much of New England.
First, this view of the waterfalls which was Framingham’s version of Niagara, and probably powered the Mill. The second photo from the opposite direction. Compare the volume of water to the way it looks today. This must have been a pretty awesome sight back then.
Victory Gardens were popular and Saxonville had them off of Water Street.
Here’s a picture of the senior Walther Lech, checking the progress of his.
From Walter Lech, here are a couple more memories: First, the Saxonville Troop 12 Boy Scouts. 
Saxonville’s Boy Scout Troop 12 in 1942 included Walter Lech standing in front with his thumbs hooked in his front pockets. To his left is Paul Shock who lived on Concord St. and over his left shoulder is Norman Burke. Between Walter and Paul in the rear is Stanley Karp. The tallest boy on the right is John Antul who lived on Fuller Street.
The Edwards Street Hill was a great place to go sledding in the winter. 
Walter remembered “If we gained enough momentum we’d make a sharp left at the bottom and coast all the way to where Chestnut Street deadended.”
Much thanks go to Walter Lech of Saxonville who recently sent me this photo of some familiar Saxonville neighbors, circa late 1930s. My Grandmother (Mary) is seated on the left. 
Standing in the back row, l-r is Mrs. Joseph Korona, Mrs. Wm. Buinoff, and Mrs. Floryan Ruchwa (Walter Lech’s Grandmother.) Seated alongside my grandmother is Mrs. Stanley (Julia) Karp. Walter said “there seems to have been a close friendship with Julia because your grandmother was at her house often and if I remember correctly she took care of the Karp kids once in a while. The picture was taken in the back yard of 22 Chestnut St., where the Karp’s lived. One of the ladies pictured got on a bicycle one day after a picnic at the Novaks and rode down Elm St, crashing into the fence at the bottom of the hill by the Roxbury Carpet. Luckily she wasn’t hurt, but the fence had a dent in it for a long time.
The Buinoff’s were furriers and owned and did business in that brick building that is right on the corner of Concord and Danforth Streets.
Among the Polish people your grandmother was always referred to as “Gabrisha” where that name originated I don’t know.” According to my copy of the 1937 Framingham street list, my Father and Grandmother both also lived at 22 Chestnut Street, and in 1937 they moved to 34 Elm St. I would guess that maybe the Chestnut Street house was a two family. Gabrisha might be a variant on Gabriel, I’m not sure.
Thank you, Walter, for finding and sharing this picture.
Here’s my Father shoveling snow in front of our apartment in Saxonville, circa 1949. You can see The First National Store behind him, with a car parked in front. To the right, on the corner of Concord and Danforth, is the Schaltenbrands drug store. There was another market up Elm St. called Patrunos Market. (Thanks to Jack Gallimore, long time resident for the update and information.)
Here’s my Mother, probably the same day standing on the other side of the house looking down Elm St toward the Roxbury Carpet Co. 
And finally, my Mother looking back at the camera in the springtime. Roxbury Carpet Co. behind her, trees in full blume. 
