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".