Fry Day

By Calantha Sears

There is one highlight of an earlier time that I would like to share with you.

From at least 1895, and perhaps before, and lasting into the late 1950s, Nahant had a very special tradition that most families looked forward to each Spring. In those days, the 19th of April was called then, as is now, Patriot’s Day (named in honor of the battle of Lexington and Concord). It was a State holiday, so there was no school for the children and people had the day off of work.

So FRY DAY – not spelled like the day of the week – became an eagerly awaited Nahant tradition. I don’t know how it started, but it seemed to be unique to our town. On the 19th of April, or Fry Day to us, by late morning there would be an exodus of Nahanters to the rocks and beaches of the town for an outing. Mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and even dogs all cooperated in carrying the well-filled picnic basket and a blanket to each family’s favorite spot on the shore (usually the same spot each year) for a cookout or a “Fry” as it was called at that time.  It was a wonderful day! Sometimes it was warm – sometimes, as you know, the east wind would come up and it would be cool, but it was always great fun. 

Excerpts from the Lynn Item

1908 - With the coming of Patriots’ Day the season of 1908 was inaugurated at Nahant. The bowling alleys were open for the sport, and the rollerskating rink at Bass Point was opened.  The ball game in the afternoon also has its coterie of spectators.

The time honored custom of holing ‘fries’ on the beach and rocks was indulged in by both young and old, and from Clark’s Point, where a chowder was merrily boiled over a roaring fire of driftwood, Swallow’s Cave and Castle Rock, to where a party of people here held on the rocks for nearly six hours by the exceptionally high tide, all enjoyed themselves to the utmost.

1924 - Saturday, April 19, was the annual ‘fry day’ through the town and East Point seemed to be the most popular resort for these parties.  Rain at first threatened to put a damper on the parties, but when the sun broke through the clouds at noon, the parties that had been planned gathered as if from nowhere and enjoyed the sports and basket lunch.

1927 - Tuesday was the annual day of “Frys” by both young and old in the town, and from early morning till noon, various parties could be seen making their way to the rocks, and prepare one of those never to be forgotten meals, and eaten in the open.

Time was when practically everyone in town went on a ‘Fry” but the old order of things appear to be passing, although among the older families the 19th of April always means but one thing – the joy of attending one of these parties.

The ideal weather conditions of the holiday brought out an unusually large number of parties and many of them came from out of town, but the Nahant residents had their own particular spots where they went and enjoyed their annual spread with a great deal of pleasure.