Cola Family
It has been sixty years since our Grandfather sold the house that is known as the Thomas Howe Estate at 9 Little Nahant Road. Anthony “Tony” and Paolina “Polly” Cola bought the house in 1951 as a place where their three daughters, could spend some time in the summer with their growing families. The house was a veritable playground for the eleven grandchildren.
A Memories Project submission by Paul Chiampa
It has been sixty years since our Grandfather sold the house that is known as the Thomas Howe Estate at 9 Little Nahant Road, so our memories may be a little fuzzy and not totally accurate, but we will do the best that we can to remember those years.
Anthony “Tony” and Paolina “Polly” Cola bought the house in 1951 as a place where their three daughters, Olga Stevens, Irene Chiampa, and Gloria Cimaglia, all of Melrose, MA, could spend some time in the summer with their growing families. The Cola name was originally Colameca, but my Grandfather had it shortened as did many immigrants at that time. They sold the house in 1963.
The house was a veritable playground for the eleven grandchildren. You could sprint end-to-end through the grand hallway. The first room on the right as you entered through the front entrance was the billiard room. My Grandfather either bought a magnificent, ornately-carved, wooden billiard table for the room, or inherited it when he bought the house. That’s where the men would congregate after dinner, and where a few cousins fell victim to a misspent youth. We would spend hours, either on the wrap around porch or in the turret, both of which had panoramic views of the ocean, watching the weather roll in over Egg Rock and waiting for the amphibious craft from the Coast Guard station to make an appearance on Short Beach.
Paolina “Polly” and Anthony “Tony” Cola
Our Grandmother suffered a stroke on April 16, 1954 in the first room on the left, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. The house had a manually operated elevator going to the second floor. I don’t know if my Grandfather had it installed, or it was already there, but the grandchildren would take turns pulling the ropes that would get my Grandmother up and down from her second floor bedroom. It was obviously an unfortunate situation, but it was great fun for us.
My cousin, Warren “Stevie” Stevens of Elijah, GA, and I would head to the beach every morning to collect the bottles left by the previous night’s party goers. Small bottles were worth five cents and big bottles were worth ten cents in those days. We would take them to Irene’s convenience store on Little Nahant, and cash them in. Eveyone spent almost every day on the beach and in the ocean, even on those days when the water would freeze our outer extremities.
The three cousins, from left to right: John Cimaglia, Warren “Steve” Stevens, and Paul Chiampa. Taken around 1952, notice the color of the stairs, which were green like the entire house before my Grandfather had the white siding put on.
On Friday nights, we would watch the Revere Beach fireworks from the second floor bedrooms. Occasionally, we could even get the Red Sox game on a small, black and white TV. The cousins would have dinner every night in a small butler’s pantry adjacent to the dining room. The parents would eat in the dining room. Every night after dinner, we would pile into my uncle’s truck, and go for ice cream just over the hill on Nahant Beach.
I have a vague memory of seeing some of the damage caused by Hurricane Carol in 1953. My family was trying to evacuate, and get back to Melrose before the storm got too bad. A chimney came loose, and went through the roof of my father’s car, almost hitting the car seat with my sister, Ellie Chiampa of Golden, CO, still in it.
Hopefully, we will all be able to get together in Nahant once the restoration project is completed, maybe get a tour, and do a little reminiscing.
More information on The Restoration of the Howe Estate can be found here: nahanthistory.org/news/howe-estate
Francis Badger Stewart
Winter was very special in Nahant. So quiet after a noisy summer. I remember walking along Forty Steps. All of the houses were closed for the winter. Just my dog and me and the lightly falling snow - Peace!
A Memories Project submission by Francis Badger Stewart
My memories of Nahant start around 1943 when my parents would take me to Fort Ruckman for movies. They were shown in the barracks with the army troops. We had to have a pass to go through the gates. I also remember collecting cooking fat in cans and turning them in at Mert's butcher shop, which was later replaced by Foodies.
My father, Albert Badger, was a police officer in Nahant since shortly before I was born in 1940. I am told that the DPW turned on the lights in the call boxes around town to let him know that I had been born.
On summer vacations we spent our time at Tudor beach jumping off of pig rock. Parents in those days did not worry about entertaining their children.
I lived at 14 Summer Street Court, and we had an endless supply of friends to play with: Nancy and Sally Taylor, Maureen Renaghan, Susan and Freddy Bushnell, Joyce Sanborn and many more. We played tag, red light, giant steps, hide-and-go-seek and jump rope. Roland's greenhouses were just across the street, and we would run through the beautiful orchards.
On Halloween the town officials decided they would have a party at the Town Hall to keep us off the streets, although, we managed to trick-or-treat on the way to the party and on the way home. We stopped at Mr. Hall's house on Cliff Street where he played the piano, and we would have to sing before we were rewarded. He was a special person.
My earliest teacher was Miss. Burns in Kindergarten at the Valley Road School. My favorite teacher was Mrs. Eleanor T. Bowles who taught 3rd grade at JT Wilson School. The "T" in her name stood for "tiny" since she was so short. She was a wonderful and loving woman. It was during that year that the Schepens family arrived from Belgium. I'm not sure if Mrs. Bowles had us deliberately read a series of books "The French Twins" by Lucy Fitch Perkins to connect to the "Belgium" twins.
A special place to spend time was Ryan's store. Vanilla Cokes made by Tommy Cashman or Mary Savino, the pinball machines and ice cream cones.
Winter was very special in Nahant. So quiet after a noisy summer. I remember walking along Forty Steps. All of the houses were closed for the winter. Just my dog and me and the lightly falling snow - Peace!
High school was quite an adjustment. There were 26 children in the 9th grade class compared to 500 students at Lynn English High School. We had nearly all of my 1st grade classmates in our graduating 9th grade class. Mr. Marino led our choral group in "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes".
Molly Conlin
In April 1973, Dave accepted a job offer in Boston. We both grew up in western New York and had been living in the Washington D.C. area for several years. Neither one of us was familiar with New England, except for our brief honeymoon in Kennebunkport, Maine in 1969.
How I Came to Live in Nahant
A Memories Project submission by Molly Conlin
In April 1973, Dave accepted a job offer in Boston. We both grew up in western New York and had been living in the Washington D.C. area for several years while Dave attended law school. He was clerking for Judge Phillip Baldwin at what at the time was the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.
Neither one of us was familiar with New England, except for our brief honeymoon in Kennebunkport, Maine in 1969, and my sis weeks in Newport, Ri in 1966 at boot camp for Navy nurses.
As we had some time before the new job actually started, we drove up to Boston for four days to look for a house to rent. Then our plan was to take a cross country trek before we had to settle in. We took a room at a hotel in Newton and looked around at rentals in the Boston suburbs. After two days and quite a few houses, we were not inspired. It all looked very much like the suburbs in which we were renting in the D.C. area. We called a real estate agent closer to the ocean. We looked at several houses in the Swampscott and Marblehead neighborhoods. Still no inspiration.
As we left Swampscott to head back to Newton, discouraged because we were running out of time, our two-year-old son, Patrick, was restless in the back seat. We looked at the map of the Northshore and just in front of our location was an area that looked like it might be a park. It had a road connecting it with the mainland. I doubt at that time that I knew what a ‘causeway’ was. We turned the car onto it.
We drove along the lower part of Nahant Road and our interest was tweaked. There were houses on this ‘island thing’! When we got to the top of the hill just past a church, on the left was an open space with a pickup softball game. Women were playing!!
I had played softball in the summers as a youth. My first job was for the Lockport, New York Parks Department coaching girl’s youth softball. At this point, I turned to Dave and said, “I don’t know where you want to live, but I’m going to live here!” The next day, we called the real estate agent and had her show us houses for sale in Nahant. The second house we looked at was 11 Winter Street, Fred and Wilma Nichol’s house. “Roland’s Barn”. When I looked out the living room window, Dave made me go outside for a walk. He was afraid all my oohing and aahing would affect negotiations.
We put in an offer the next day after Dave called Judge Baldwin and told him about the house we had seen. The Judge said, “Dave, if you don’t buy that house, I’m going to buy it!” I’ve looked longer for a pair of new shoes to buy. Since the day we moved to Nahant, on July 3, 1973, Dave and I agree that it was a good move!
Color Photo: It’s a bit blurry, but I am in the back row, (I am 4th from the left)
Black and White Photo: My first team after the pick-up game was organized into the Nahant Woman’s Softball League. The ‘Tides’ team eventually became the ‘Islanders’ and we won the championship in 1986. (I am in the middle row, far right).
Marilyn Mahoney
For my entire life, Nahant has always had a very special place in my heart. When I was growing up on the other side of the causeway, Nahant Beach was a recreational playground luring my family and friends for a “day at the beach”.
Why I Love Nahant
A Memories Project submission by Marilyn Mahoney
For my entire life, Nahant has always had a very special place in my heart. When I was growing up on the other side of the causeway, Nahant Beach was a recreational playground luring my family and friends for a “day at the beach”.
I have many fond memories of surfing the waves, building sand castles, getting buried in the cool sand, picnicking on the cement tables, digging for clams, reaching for the sky on the swings and stopping for a delicious ice cream at Rolands for the energy necessary to sustain us during our long walk home. During my high school years, many Nahant students (enrolled in Lynn with a choice of high schools) and Lynn students flocked to the golden sands to hang out together at the beach. Fireplaces were gravitated to by St. Mary’s, Classical and English High School students who arrived with beach towels and home made baby oil and iodine sun screen to create memories together. It was so much fun getting to know everyone from both communities and sharing quality time together. That experience bound us with lifelong friendships.
A list of a few, among many, treasured memories:
Kevin Salt chauffeuring many of us in his grandfather’s antique car to and from the bathhouse.
Yearly bike rides led by Joan Kennedy to Forty Steps for day long exploration and picnicking on the rocks.
A list of a few handsome Nahant lifeguards, of course, my brother-in-laws Ted and Brian Mahoney, and Miles Leavitt.
The historic female transformation from the one piece bathing suits to the modest two-piece bathing suits and ultimately to the revealing bikinis.
A humorous “pearl of wisdom” from the Notre Dame Nuns at St. Mary’s Girl’s High. While their convent was getting renovated, the nuns commuted daily across the causeway taking in all of the sights on route to their temporary residence at the Patterson Estate. As a result of their eyes being opened, the girls got daily lectures about the hope that “Marion” women better not be among the sinners making out in the parked cars in the dark along the three mile stretch of the causeway.
Little did I know then, that my future marriage to Bill Mahoney would bring me across the causeway to reside in our beautiful home. How blessed both Bill and I, and our three sons have been, to live on this breathtakingly beautiful peninsula hugged by the ocean.
Our children were fortunate to repeat history, creating their own special memories on the beaches, at the parks, plucking mussels off the rocks, searching East Point for salamanders, mustering up the courage to jump off the wharf. and learning how to fish and sail on the ocean with family and friends. Nahant is truly a peaceful refuge offering all of us separation from the chaotic world encroaching on our border.
It is my prayer that we all give thanks for our beautiful community and we unite to preserve and protect Nahant for future generations. I believe we all chose to live in Nahant because we all love Nahant. I know I do. Nahant is truly a piece of heaven on earth!
Anthony “Nino” Romano
Carmelo Romano and Santina Campisi grew up next door to each other in a town called Port Paulo in Sicily, Italy. Carmelo came to American approximately in 1924, and his future wife Santina came over later. They met again and got married in Lawrence, MA. Being a natural fisherman, they soon moved to Nahant.
Romano Family Memories
A Memories Project submission by Anthony “Nino” Romano
Carmelo Romano and Santina Campisi grew up next door to each other in a town called Port Paulo in Sicily, Italy. There was not electricity and that meant no radio, etc. When an outside newspaper arrived, it was months old. The industry was tuna fishing and processing. The whole town took part in it. They would not pull the mile-long net in unless at least 100 tuna had been caught.
Carmelo came to American approximately in 1924, and his future wife Santina came over later. They met again and got married in Lawrence, MA. Being a natural fisherman, they soon moved to Nahant. It was healthier for him. They had three sons. There was Joseph (the eldest), myself, and Domenic.
Romano Family
Carmelo Romano making nets
Carmelo had lobster traps and went fishing everyday from Short Beach. This was a very enjoyable beach, except when there was a storm. You could lose your boat and everything. My father made his lobster traps in the cellar of our house at 6 Spring Road. There was a potbelly stove used for heating the basement and to roast chestnuts. What a beautiful taste!!
We threw the net on the beach and caught all kinds of fish. Everything was abundant and the surf clams tasted great.
The view is something people pay dearly to see today. Egg Rock was about a half-mile out, a haven for sea gulls and their nests. There are still traces of the lighthouse. Nahant was an amazing place. We grew up there when it was pristine.
Special Note: Anne Deluca Cote remembers that Santina (Campisi) Romano was a wonderful clam digger who went out at low tide. Santina collected periwinkles for her own special chowder recipe. She often accompanied her husband when he was fishing, including hauling the dory in and out of the water.
Al Badger
Al has a vivid memory and recalls movies at Fort Ruckman during the war, seeing them testing torpedoes at the wharf, selling his lobsters to Sammy at the 400 Club, The gang at the wharf, Fred Kemp, his monkey, Joe Bushnell, Louie Letourneau, Wilson and Clarence Tibbo, Jimmy Brown, Don Hodges, learning to drive on the causeway, working at Roland’s Greenhouse and so much more.
Growing up in Nahant
A Memories Project submission by Al Badger
I remember summer vacation spent hanging out at the wharf, working for Ray Palombo fishing for lobster, Sailing in Dory Club races, and going to the beach. I hung out with Bobby Deveraux, Alan and Bob Roland, Richard Whyte and Jimmy McCloskey. We would swim and jump off the wharf. Sometimes we would go to Tudor Beach or Forty Steps Beach. I kept myself busy playing sports at the Thompson (Nahant) Club. My father was a policeman, and I used to cut grass at large estates and the Thompson Club. On the Fourth of July I went to the fireworks, sailed in Dory Club races and took part in the rowing races at the Wharf.
I remember the Halloween parties at Town Hall and trick-or-treating around town. We would wear our regular clothes with a mask or make-up. We did some harmless ‘tricks’ like waxing windows in cars and houses. We may have broken a streetlight or two. We liked both treats and tricks, but I never went to the cemetery.
There were some fierce storms that I recall. The hurricane of 1938 brought down the big elm in front of the Police Station. I lost my lobster boat to hurricane Carol in 1954 and watched Harmon Eliot’s boat, “Nomrah” go through several boats in front of the wharf before winding up on Tudor Beach.
My school memories include going to kindergarten at Town Hall, my 3rd grade teacher, Ms. Manion, 5th grade teacher, Ms. Heikel and 8th grade teacher Ms. Maloney. My favorite was Mr. Connor in 7th grade and, someone who helped change my life, Tom Curtin. My first friend was Howard Murphy followed by the Roland twins, Bobby Devereau, Paul English and Paul Belliveau. I skipped school but got caught by Mr. Nelson. By accident, I hit the Art teacher, Mrs. Gray, in the head with a board eraser. I had to bring my father in several times in Jr. High for acting up!
6th Grade
On the weekends we either hitched, walked or took the bus to Lynn and went to the movies. The Auditorium was 15 cents for Saturday mornings – all cowboy shows!
7 Intervale Road, Nahant
My Parents living in Nahant which was a great place to grow up. Also, my grandparents and aunts and uncles, lived on Intervale Road as did my Aunt and Uncle Frank and Lill Newhall.
Got married in Old St. Thomas Church 1961 before it was torn down. Played basketball for Village Church team with Jeff Hall, Dick Bee, Roland’s, Went to movies at Fort Ruckman during the war. Drank beer at Farmers and Bayside. Rode our bikes all over town. Seeing and hearing Guns being fired at the Ruckman Fort. Covering the windows at night during the blackouts. Seeing them testing torpedoes at the wharf. Seeing Coast Guard patrolling town. Fishing for mackerel. Netting pogies for lobster bait and buying pogies from seine netters in Lynn harbor. Seeing the Whales around the Boston Harbor Islands and the Graves when we were pulling traps. School field trips to the Harbor Islands with Edward Rowe Snow. Seeing the Pilot boats come and go. My father catching me and others swimming in Hart’s Pool in my underwear. Jumping off wharf and wharf roof.
Pilot Boat
Learning to drive on the Causeway. Eating at Tony Bongiorno’s. Selling my lobsters to Sammy at the 400 Club. Helping Raymond Palombo build 4 boats and his house. Working at Roland’s Greenhouse. Running from Little Nahant to Red Rock to stay in shape for football and track at Lynn English. Taking the bus to high school. Ryan’s Store. Going to Gloucester to get redfish frames for lobster bait. Repairing lobster traps for 12 cents an hour. The gang at the wharf, Fred Kemp, his monkey, Joe Bushnell, Louie Letourneau, Wilson and Clarence Tibbo, Jimmy Brown, Don Hodges to name a few.
The police, Nip Tierney, Johnny O’Connor, Joe Flynn, Gene Stanford, Chief Lamphier, Joe Melanson. Heroes coming home from being prisoners of war, Red Larkin, Eddie Dunn.
When I think about the beauty of Nahant – trees covered with snow comes to mind along with ocean storms with huge waves.
Michael D. Golding
My Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Prendiville and my mother Helen, moved to Nahant from Boston in 1917. Tom had taken a job as a chauffeur for Louis Bacon who was a prominent Boston stock and note broker.
Tales from my Grandmother about the 1918 Pandemic
A Memories Project submission by Michael D. Golding
My Grandparents, Thomas and Mary Prendiville and my mother Helen, moved to Nahant from Boston in 1917. Tom had taken a job as a chauffeur for Louis Bacon who was a prominent Boston stock and note broker.
What was the Bacon’s summer house is located at the corner of Nahant Road and Ocean Street. At that time, to the best of my knowledge, the estate occupied all of the land from Nahant Road to Intervale Road and was bounded on the East by what is now the Jesmond. In addition to the main house, the estate contained a carriage house on Ocean Street and a bungalow at 14 Intervale Road. My Grandparents and Mother, who was two years old in 1917, resided in the bungalow.
When I was a child, my Grandmother spoke often of their neighbors, the Badgers, who resided at 7 Intervale. The head of the house was Albert Badger who was a Banker in Lynn. According to my Grandmother, when the 1918 Pandemic struck, Albert Badger was insistent that my Mother was to stay in Nahant no matter what. And, if need be, his family would assist my Grandparents to care for her. At this point, I can only surmise that there may have been some discussion about my Grandmother traveling to Boston. She had left a large family containing younger siblings when she moved to Nahant.
Mr. Badger was concerned about my Mother and wanted her to remain in Nahant for her own safety. That brief story about Mr. Badger’s kindness remained with me throughout the years. It was rekindled when our current pandemic struck.
And, for you “old timers” who are wondering, the Albert Badger who I am speaking about was the Father of Sergeant Al Badger of Nahant PD. Some of us knew him as “The Badge”.
(The family pictures that were taken on Intervale Road.)
Gretchen Wilson Szczechowicz
I have many fond memories of growing up in Nahant. The ones I remember most were going to Comfort’s Roller Skating Rink in Bass Point. Learning to swim by jumping (or being pushed) off the Wharf. Flirting with the soldiers! (who, come to find out, were not much older than we were!)
Fond Memories
A Memories Project submission by Gretchen Wilson Szczechowicz
I have many fond memories of growing up in Nahant. The ones I remember most were going to Comfort’s Roller Skating Rink in Bass Point. Learning to swim by jumping (or being pushed) off the Wharf. Flirting with the soldiers! (who, come to find out, were not much older than we were!)
There were several fundraisers and water ballet shows at the Haley Estate. There were many Variety Shows at Town Hall, with mostly all Nahant talent. Mrs. Wilson’s fashion shows every year at the Junior High School. Of course, playing in the Tunnels at the Bass Point Fort. The hot lunches at the Valley Road School were great. Picnics on the rocks on April 19th, Fry Day. Frying hot dogs and hamburgers and potatoes over a fire was fun. Also eating cooked mussels. And wonderful jitterbug parties at Mary Jo McGinty’s house.
Pictured: (1952-1953) A Fashion Show of dresses made in Home Economics Class under the direction of Mrs. Wilson.
Margaret Antrim
At my age (77 at the time), I find it difficult to pick one favorite memory of Nahant. My many, many memories have blended so much that Nahant has become an experience that I would not have wanted to miss.
One Big Pleasant Memory
A Memories Project submission as told in 1997 by Margaret Antrim to Eric Marie (who was 9 years-old at the time).
At my age (77 at the time), I find it difficult to pick one favorite memory of Nahant. My many, many memories have blended so much that Nahant has become an experience that I would not have wanted to miss.
Nahant was freedom. After living in New Jersey for one to one-and-a-half years in a new development where everyone conformed, we moved to Nahant, where an adult could ride a bike or run without being considered weird; could have weeds in a lawn; a goat stored in his yard; holes in his sneakers or sweaters. When we first moved here, our neighbor told us that the worst-dressed men walking around town were the richest.
Nahant was life expansion. We lived on an island, so we had boats and learned to sail. The winters were long, damp and foggy, so we spent weekends on the mountain slopes skiing (or, in my case, trying to ski). After boat hauling in the fall, we delighted in exploring Nahant by land – through Swallows Cave, around the perimeter rights-of-way, or leaving town to climb the Appalachian Mountains.
Nahant was peace, beauty and harmony. If the children were restless, we found hours of creativity and peace at the beaches, or in and around the puddles on the beautiful rocks now covered by the Town Wharf parking lot. From there, we could also enjoy the harmony of the lobster men and their boats, the sea gulls with the sea and sky, the friendliness of townspeople sharing the beauty of a sunset, launching days and hauling days.
Nahant was fun and drama. Hurricanes, blizzards, boat races, Fourth of July competitions, Memorial Day Services, Nahant Arts Day, boats in trouble, people saved, an occasional shark brought in by a fisherman, the launching of Palombo’s boat built in his own yard, and town characters kept life interesting.
Nahant was security. Our policemen knew where the ‘kids’ were supposed to be. Example: The older children at St. Thomas Church had catechism class at night. One night my oldest son, who was supposed to be at the Church, was found by Chief Melanson with two friends strolling along Marginal Road. Melanson, knowing they had skipped catechism, delivered them to their parents – an effective technique.
Nahant was educational excitement (probably more in the eyes of doting parents than the children). I remember fine musical productions and Junior High Science Fairs. One that our oldest son did, which drew much interest, consisted of a tank of water with sand and a pump, making wave action, which built up a tombolo. That demonstrated how our island became connected to the mainland by a sand bar, which enabled people to cross at low tide. Later, of course, man added the causeway which is more practical but not nearly as special.
Nahant was democracy in action. Town meetings were very entertaining and thought provoking. Nahant, now, is one, big, pleasant memory – for the most part!
Alex Sandra Hart Wildey
Nahant was a most special hometown and I moved there from Lynn in the 2 nd grade. What made it special for me, was a good educational system, dedicated teachers, small classes and wonderful close friends. We could walk to school, sports events, and parties.
A Most Special Hometown
A Memories Project submission by Alex Sandra Hart Wildey
Nahant was a most special hometown and I moved there from Lynn in the 2nd grade. What made it special for me, was a good educational system, dedicated teachers, small classes and wonderful close friends. We could walk to school, sports events, and parties.
1951 Nahant Junior High girl’s basketball team
The Old Village Church stopped being an active church in 1968. It then became the Nahant YMCA and later, around 1989, it became the private home that it is today.
Our parents didn’t need to worry about us, day or night, anywhere in town. We had sand beaches, rocks and caves to explore, and lots of green space with wonderful trees to climb. Gail Comforts dad owned the roller skating rink and marina. We had lots of fun times skating and sometimes boating. I always loved fishing at the town pier and swimming off the rocks near my home. We always expected to jump in by April 15 and take our last swim October 15. (It doesn’t sound like FUN now!)
My mother and I always enjoyed participating in the events at the town hall, especially the annual flower shows. We had large flower gardens in our yard and at my grandmother’s on Pond St. Sometimes we would borrow a sprig or two from one of the estates before the summer folks returned.
The Village Church was a weekly part of our family life. I taught Sunday School there for 10 years, and my husband George and I were married at the stone church near 40 steps, 60 years ago.
All in all I have most happy memories about growing up in Nahant, and I hope it is still a special place for children now.
Linda Zeitz Lehman
I remember being at the J.T. Wilson School in the 1950s and the two-platoon system. The Johnson School was under construction and the Wilson was over crowded. So, some of us went to school from 8:30 to 12:30 and some of us went from 12:30 to 4:30. Miss Goodwin was my all-time favorite teacher. And the ‘apparatus’ filled the school yard and was enjoyed by all. We went to the Valley Road School for grades 7, 8 and 9. Marie Wall was the best English teacher that we had, and Mrs. Wilson certainly let you know when the stitching was not to her liking.
Memories of Growing up in Nahant
A Memories Project submission by Linda Zeitz Lehman
I remember skating on Bear Pond. No lessons, we just learned how to skate. The ‘big boys’ played hockey at the far end of the frozen pond.
I remember being at the J.T. Wilson School in the 1950s and the two-platoon system. The Johnson School was under construction and the Wilson was over crowded. So, some of us went to school from 8:30 to 12:30 and some of us went from 12:30 to 4:30. Miss Goodwin was my all-time favorite teacher. And the ‘apparatus’ filled the school yard and was enjoyed by all. We went to the Valley Road School for grades 7, 8 and 9. Marie Wall was the best English teacher that we had, and Mrs. Wilson certainly let you know when the stitching was not to her liking.
St. Thomas Church had masses in the basement during the summer months. We sat on long wooden benches, and during the school year we went to Sunday School. The nuns who came over from St. Joseph’s in Lynn were a bit intimidating! In the summer, we would see some of the nuns sitting on the rocks on the northside as they summered at three different convents in Nahant.
I remember Brownies and Girl Scouts and our leaders: Mrs. Clapp, Mrs. Wanstall, Mrs. Downs, Mrs. Battles, Mrs. Green and Mrs. Berlew. We planned Y.M.C.A. dances that were held at the Town Hall. We met at Mrs. Decker’s house.
I remember Rosie’s for great spaghetti sauce and the 400 Club for great gatherings and meals. Frank and Sam’s had the best fried clams.
I remember Ryan’s Store where many St. Mary’s kids worked – me included.
Other Memories: The boats tossed ashore during the hurricanes of the early fifties. Not being allowed to go to the Bass Point area of town. Dorothy Beach and the ‘weenie roasts’ we had there, and always a picnic on April 19 th, Fry Day.
If you have a reminiscence you would like to share, please stop by the Society or send us an email at info@nahanthistory.org.
The Memories Project
If you have a reminiscence you would like to share, please stop by the Society or send us an email at info@nahanthistory.org. ‘Memories’ forms can also be found at the Public Library.
Our Memories Project, which was launched in September of 2017, has already shared dozens of memories of Nahanters. Former board member Anne Cote worked diligently to bring this to Nahant. Response on Facebook and by email continues to be positive, eliciting offerings of other childhood memories. We hope to continue sharing these, but we need folks to come forward with their stories. If you have a reminiscence you would like to share, please stop by the Society or send us an email at info@nahanthistory.org. ‘Memories’ forms can also be found at the Public Library.