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Monday, May 23, 2011

What Do You Miss In Somerville?

I bought Mad Magazine when
7-Eleven was Christy's at Trum
Field.
 Every now and again, I get to flex my "Native-Somervillian" muscle and name some of the establishments that once existed in my beloved city.

This past Sunday, I got to do just that with some great friends over a pint of Guiness. Granted, most of my memories are limited to the mid-80s to almost mid 2000's, I did surprise them, however, with my misses.

Not leaving this opportunity along with the tip on the check, I extend it to you, my readers!

I ask: What do YOU miss in Somerville?




What were the restaurants, businesses and places that are a part of your childhood here in Somerville? Where did you take your first date? Where did you meet your husband/wife? These are all questions that can bring back memories of Somerville-past! Comment your answers here!

Mine are...
1.) Cara Donna
2.) Frenchie's (Paul Collyer in concurrence)
3.) Mike's Harware

3 comments:

Teddy S. said...

I'm with you about Caradonna's and Mike's Hardware. There was also a sharpening service next to Mike's that was great but I forget it's name.

Anonymous said...

Born and raised in Somerville, I go back to the 1930's- and forward to all ensuing years; still live here.

Met my future wife in 1948 at Somerville High School.
Our first date we went to, what was called then, a "Sweet Shoppe" at the the corner of Spring Hill Terrace and Highland Avenue. [no longer there] All our age group, male and female, hung out there from time to time.
It had a juke box and small dance floor. Had to have her home by 9:00PM. No car; just a short walking distance to both our houses. Date cost me all of .75 cents,including an ice-cream refreshment for both... and nickels in the juke box playing popular songs of the day.

After my high school day ended I went to my part-time job as a Soda Jerk at Egan's Drug Store, on northeast corner of Lowell Street and Highland Avenue.

In those days, no cell phones, no video games, no computers,etc., no all the "crap" that exists these days that keeps young people from getting outside and mixing with their peers doing "outdoors" things such as make-up sandlot baseball games, touch football, street games,etc., [the list is much longer.]

Also, the neighborhood grammar schools, grades K to 6; mine was the Bingham School on Lowell Street. We walked with friends-[no adults needed]--to and from school. Coming home for lunch at 12:00 noon--[yes--someone was always home for us with lunch ready]--and then walking back to school for the afternoon session.
School day ended at 3:30PM

Then, upon completing the 6th grade, on to one of the three Junior High Schools---Western, Southern, and Northeasten--grades 7 to 9.
Mine/ours was the Western--[now the TAB building.] Yes--my friends and I walked to and from that venue also.
Lots of great memories from Bingham and Western.

Then of course Somerville High School. No cars, we all walked to and from SHS. Graduated 1949---my wife-to-be graduated 1950.

For me, then off to the military--Korean War had broken out. Gone overseas two years before returning to the States and marrying my high school sweetheart.

Dan't get me started about the good old days in Somerville.

Anonymous said...

Before it was Mike's Hardware it was Rose Hardware. The sharperning service store was Scirocos[spelling}---still in business today, operating out of their truck.

Years before they opened their service in Magoun Square, their forebears came into the neighborhoods with a manual propelled wagon housing all the needed tools,equipment, etc., to sharpen household knives, tools, etc.
Neighbors knew the wagon was in the neighborhood by by way of loud sounding bells....and out they came with knives, scissors, etc. in hand to be sharpened for a price.

That wagon was on display at their store in Magoun Square.

Also in Magoun Square was Sloane's Furniture Store. {Across from the hardware store]
The Sloane family lived in the neighborhood.
Marshall Sloane, the son of the original furniture store owner, went on to establish the Century Banks---as we know them today.

At one time, with all the varied retail outlets in Magoun Square, no one needed a car to go shopping for all their needs.
Davis Square, with all the retail outlets there at the time, was within walking distance too.

I know, because as a child, walking (shopping) there-[both venues]- with my mother or father, I/we lived it.