Growing Up in North Cambridge

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Notes From the Editor

A Journal of Stories from Years Gone By


— VOUME 55 CONTENTS —

Mary Woods Selz—Our 2020 “Woman of the Year.”

If a fence could talk—Memories from one photo by Elaine Canniff Coggins

Teenagers aid charity Hollwyood Spa by Mike Berrigan

Growing up here in north, North Cambridge Fred Ward

Rescued at Woolworth’s Christmas shopping by Mary Woods Selz

“Frankie Dawes” on April 19th Frank McCarthy

My uncle’s story has a dedicated for him by Kathy Dahl

Troop 4 at St. John’s met for a short time the school cafeteria

Was it X-rated?—A mortal sin? by Frank McCarthy

Movie made from book disappointed me by John X. Murphy

GUINC contents starting with first volume (to continue)

Even-Steven between brothers John X. Murphy

Our Alewife wetlands recalled from aerial view by Les Oliver

First camping trip recalled from photos Bruce Grigsby

Sleeper School photos still remembered by former students

Billy Conigliaro played Matignon at MIT by Dick Pandolfo

Joe Murphy a hero who saved my mother’s life by Steve Surette

My brother got hurt on way home from school by Marie Surette, OP

COVID stopped me from returning to islands by John Galvin, SM

Shopping with Mom—Visiting the stores by Jim Bergin



Volume 54 Contents

Blackouts/rationing WW2 John X. Murphy

Uncle Herman Lefevbre served in the OSI by Judy Lefevbre Smith

She didn’t deserve a snow ball from hell by John X. Murphy

A summer job & wearing knickers by John X. Murphy

Phyllis Boffitto joined the guys by Tom Tierney

Life on Mass. Ave. was abuzz by Leslie S. Oliver 

Pennies, not millions-Two tales from my youth by  Frank McCarthy

Our adult neighbors knew our parents and us by Stephen G. Surette

Concert on Common was more of a love-in by Mark Brine & Everett Dickey

Ulric Grigsby artwork-excelled at Rindge by Bruce Grigsby & Stephen G. Surette

Arnie Woo Woo” Ginsberg remembered by Paul Power

Rindge jottings of 1926-Patriotism described & an ode to Miss Ellis

School graduates photos-St. John’s School 1946 & Rindge Tech 1926

Boston Braves autographs for a Knot hole gang member by Neil J. Sulllivan

Hula hoop champion at the Rindge towers by Worthy Guan

Dates are important-Cambridge’s 390th year by Leslie S. Oliver

NEBCo Brickyards  on Rindge Ave. courtesy of Charles Sullivan

— CONTENTS VOLUME 53 —

Billy O’Brien — He saved the day 

by Stephen G. Surette

Mrs. Ebbs — She raised a large family

by Dick Lyons

Pat’s Variety — Pat Terlizzi remembered

by Lisa Saxman

Camp LaSallette — Summer camp was new

by John X. Murphy

Our Missy LeHand — Was FDR’s secretary

by Rick Mederos

John Caulfield — Was beloved at Harvard

by Rick Mederos

Frank Canniff — My dad was my hero

by Elaine Coggins

Italian POWs hosted — by my parents in WW2

by Carl Panza

Cover Story — John Thomas honored by Rindge Alumni

as Man of the Year

Cover Story — In Scouts and in track  John was a role model 

—a giant of gentleness

Scouting friends — We shared the same tent

by Bruce Grigsby

Being an altar boy — had its responsibilities

by Kevin Upton

The Genoa Deli — A great place to work

by Peter Mili

Printing NCC stuff — Dance tickets were easy

by Peter Majeski

Fr. Thomas Williams — Saintly priest remembered

by Fr. John J. Horgan

Beat cop checked doors — My Dad’s stories

by Dan Cosgrove

My father was a beat cop — He knew everyone here

by Elaine Micelil

Facebook response — Marie’s Bakery photodrew attention on FB


Volume 52 Contents

Reflections—by Elaine Coggins and Nancy Fowler

Covid-19 has changed our lives by Pat Maloney

Porter Rd. neighborhood by Kathleen Murphy

Numerous virus stories by Brenda Cochran O’Connor

Flu Epidemic Stories by Judy Janelle Lefebvre Smith

Boston Bruin lived here by Frank Lange & Les Oliver

I contracted polio by Jack P. Murphy

Polio didn’ stop his music by Dom Dirienzo

First-grader concerns about polio by Peter Majeski

Salk vaccine saved me by Bob Costantino

Scarlet Fever didn’t stop our fun by Marie Surette, OP

Scarlet Fever put me in the hospital by Dom Direinzo

Recalling Scarlet Fever quarantine signs by Liz Bilafer

My bands played Rhythm & Blues by Alby Melanson

St. John’s High School & M.E. Fitzgerald class photos

Dad drove North Cambridge trolleys by Joe Blanchet

Alewife area series continues by Emily Heistand

Pandemic has changed us by Larry Prior & others

With time on our hands by Anne Trant Sirois

Easter Sunday in 2020 by Jack & Maureen Upton Kent

Alewife area series concludes by Emily Heistand

Great blue herons at Jerry’s Pit by Kathy Johnson

The 1964 National Scout Jamboree by Al Lefebvre

A Washington, D.C. adventure by John Condon

Diary of ’64 Scout Jamboree by James Gaudet

Visiting André in Quebec by Lorraine Pronvost Trant

A hospital caper by John X. Murphy

Three Girouard brothers elected Matignon captains

Waiting to swim after eating by Frank McCarthy

Memories from my youth by Chuck Igo

Keeping up with FB friends by Sandy Souza Dolan

John Caulfied, a sought-after emcee by SGS

Tom Hesse & I wrote/recorded music by Mark Brine


Volume 51 Contents

FEATURED STORY TELLERS AND CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS 51st ISSUE

Helen Casey’s brother, Alex MacGillivray, joined the  Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.

Cambridge’s new mayor enjoyed growing up in the Rindge Towers and attending Cambridge schools.

Les Oliver reminisces while walking the familiar sidewalks of his North Cambridge.

Bob Kelly still feels the pride in his young Scouts in welcoming a special needs boy into their fold.

Singing around the campfire conjurs up the fun we had and the warm memories.

After all these years Al Lefebvre has saved many camp song lyrics in loose leaf folders.

Paul Power has enjoyed music forever and has compiled  a record collection too big to count.

John Quinn was the first senior class president at North Cambridge Catholic. He and and Jack Kent, class president in 1966, reflect back on their elections.

Mary Woods Selz’s uncle, Mayor Mike Neville, attended her Ellis School graduation in 1950. An archival story by  Bill Cronin shows gratitude to Mike Neville.

A. J. Oxton recalls camping out on church lawn along one winter in his “little village” of North Cambridge.

Emily Hiestand begins a wonderful memory of her old neighborhood and the wetland beneath us.

Frank McCarthy and friends missed the St. Patrick’s Day parade in NYC, but made it just in time to Southie.

John X. Murphy regales us with another of his tales and George L. Washington is a new-found Rindge Tech hero.

A.J. Oxton remembers the 1957 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge.

Poor box attraction set off devasting fire at St. John’s Church in December 1956.

Three words still remembered by John X. Murphy.

 “Rambling Reminiscences” by C. Burnside Seagrave found  in old Cambridge Chronicle newspapers.

Mark Brine is set to publish his book of song lyrics with a CD of his enjoyable compositions.

Rick Mederos was in awe attending  the 1969 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Idaho.

Joe Blanchett enjoyed going to the many movie houses in and around North Cambridge.