Needham History: On the road Gloria Greis Needham History Center & Museum I gave a talk last week on the impact of transportation on the development of Needham. Perhaps because this is fresh in my mind, or perhaps because I am writing on a Friday and only a few hours from Cocktail Night, I decided to elaborate on one important component of that network – the Taverns. The lovely house at the northwest corner of Great Plain and Central Avenues bear a sign identifying it as the “McIntosh Tavern Site.” The tavern itself, both its commerce and its building, are long gone. The sign, however, reminds us of a time when this corner was the center of Needham life.