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.

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!

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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 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.

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.

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.