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!

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!

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.

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.