Red Burtts Storys

Many people as they grow old "Daydream" of years gone by, I am one of those people. My regular Blog is at, redburtt.blogspot.com/ For Archives Scroll To Bottom Of This Page, Click On Dates For Previously Posted Storys. I think of one every day..... e-mail me at (redburtt@yahoo.com)

Friday, January 13, 2006

Remembering, A Place And It's People.

A neighborhood has died, it has disappeared into the past and lives only in the memory of a few, I am one of them; soon we will all be gone.
I speak of this “old neighborhood” many times to my family, maybe to many times, maybe they get sick of hearing it but they smile and nod as younger people do with older people. I will now again print out the name of this neighborhood so as it will be written for all to see for years to come “Greasy Village” located in the Cambridgeport Section of Cambridge Massachusetts, it is not called Greasy Village anymore, but we were there.

The city of Cambridge Massachusetts is rapidly changing, old buildings are being torn down, and the Condos are being built so fast it is hard to keep track of them. The people are changing, the old working class people that walked these streets are all but gone, the “new people” have moved in, but that is life, “nothing is forever”.

[Maybe the ghosts of Village people past still float around in the old backyards, who knows] “I hope so”.

I would imagine that very few of these “new people”, if any would get up at 5:00 AM, make a dozen bologna sandwiches, wrap them in wax paper, pack them into large “shopping bags” fill gallon thermos jugs with orange & grape “kool aid” then take the Granite Street Bus to Central Sq, then down into the Subway and on into Park Street then a Trolley Car to East Boston’s Maverick Station, then the short Trolley ride to “REVERE BEACH” to spend the day at the ocean and away from the hot city streets, this is just one of the great memories that I have of those long gone days living in “Greasy Village”.

I have read that the powers to be in City Hall have turned "Fort Washington" located on Waverly St into a "Dog Park", people now bring their dogs to "The Fort" to freely "Have Bowel Movements" and "Urinate On The Cannons". The dog people should have seen what we used to do in there.

Many of the old two and three decker homes remain but they aren’t the same, they no longer have an “oil burner” in the kitchen that “gurgles” they no longer have an old “orange crate” attached outside of their window to keep food cold and frozen in the winter, they no longer have an old “ice box” in the back hall with a dish pan under it to catch the melted water and now when you wake up in the morning it is actually “warm” in your bedroom and there is no “frost” on the windows for you to scratch your initials into with your fingernail. Those silly things that some people remember are now gone, the old ways are gone, and, the people are gone.

The New Day:
Computers and the Internet have changed the world overnight; you can sit at your computer at 6:00 AM, type out some idiotic looney little story, then “Blog It” fifteen minutes later some other idiot blogger in Germany is reading it. I have decided to use this new technology to keep the memory of all those great people that walked the streets of “Greasy Village” so long ago alive and maybe unforgotten, I know someone, somewhere, sometime will read them.
There are many that will read this somewhere in the world and not be interested in this place or these people because they knew not of them. So be it.

The Names:
Several years ago I started to write down the names of the people from the Village that were very rapidly passing away, it seemed as though each week as I picked up the paper another one was gone, over the years the list grew and grew and now I realize there aren’t many names left to be added to this list so I am going to try and keep their names around, for who knows, maybe 500 years, a 1000?

The List Is Below, they have left their footprints in the sands of time, at least with me they have:
So now old friends I am going to click a key on my computer and send your names out into cyberspace where you will never be forgotten. Maybe someone in Italy, the North Pole or on a mountain in Austria will someday see your name and say, “hey, I think that’s my Great, Great Grandfather, he used to live there”

The List, it is a long list but I know you will know someone on it, or heard of them.
Here they are, as many as I can remember, when my time comes how the hell will I add my name?
(someone will do it for me, I know)
~~~~~~~~~~
Lost In WWII
James Kelly- Navy
Antonio (Tony) Simone- Army
Duncan McNeil- Navy
Hattsie Ferguson- Navy
Gerald (Jeff) Kelly- Marines
Babe Alt- Army
Jimmy McHugh- Navy
Menus Louiso- Navy
Eddie (Dum Dum) Divine- Army (Shell shocked Died 1967)
Wilbur Brinkerhoff- Navy

Killed In Korea:
Frankie Mazzarella

Village Police Officers
Eddie McMann -Village Beat Cop -Cambridge PD
Eddie Kelly -Cambridge PD
Robert (Lindy) Lindstrom -Cambridge PD
Paul (Chum) Leonard -Cambridge PD
Henry Jason -Cambridge PD
Tom Watson -MDC –PD
Bill Bannett -Cambridge PD
Tommy Gleasman -Cambridge PD
Cornelius (Neely) Sullivan -Cambridge PD
Arnold (Arnie) Doyle -Cambridge PD
Timothy (Timmy) Lane -Cambridge PD

Natural Causes:
They all aren’t “Village” but all are old time Cambridge.

Daniel (Deboy) Flynn
Robert (Popeye) Ferguson
Donald (Donnie) Ferguson
Dorothy (Dot Dahl) Malone
Mary Calvert (Mother)
Tom Calvert Jr.
Ricky Calvert
Bette Ann Calvert
Tommy Calvert Sr (Father)
William (Billy) Dahl
Cyril (Happy) Malone
John (Jackie) Malone
Alice Malone
James (Sonny-Red) Malone
Jimmy Ferguson
Richard (Dickie) Ferguson (My Best Man)
Alfie Bogus
Bobby Bogus
Joe Malone
Bud Malone
George Malone
Tony Fedas
Mrs McMillan
Mrs "Mother" White
Francine (Sister) Ciccarelli
Bessie Duffet
Walter Preston
Henry Sullivan (Magazine St Corner)
Mrs Malone (The Mother)
Ted Malone (The Father) Firefighter
Jimmy Halloran
Al Kaulbach
Mr/Mrs Kaulbach
Mrs Danforth (Mother)
Larry Bagnolia (Owned Pool Room, Brookline St)
Charlie Burke
Gert (Gertie Malone) Burke
Frances (Frannie) Ciccarelli
Joe Tierney
George Madore
George (Jonesy) Jones
Wally Jones
Joe Banks
George (Jolla) Crocker
Howard (Popeye) Jones
Joe Mastrangelo
Angelo Mastrangelo
Tony Mastrangelo
Johnny Spinetto
Frank (Mustard) Mustrullo
Abie Spinetto
Pat Spinetto
Tommy (Tee) Burns
Walter (Apples) Burns
Nellie (Bogus) Campbell
Dougie Duffet
Walter Duffet
Walter Scott
Henry (Rico) Ciccarelli
Johnny Ciccarelli
Johnny Williams
Paul (Doc) Harris
Charles (Booty) Ray
David Brennan
Warren (Little Whitey) White
Wilfred (Big Whitey) White
Donald (Ace) Garland
Vinnie Howard
Moody McCormick
Sammy Cameratta
Mike Watson
Bobby Donahue
Thomas (Smitty) Smith
Sonny Druin
Vinnie Campbell
Fred (Pat) Tierney
Jackie (Deacon) Donahue
Eddie Preston
Bubba Brinkerhoff
Brother Burton
George Williams
Donald (Ducky) Danforth
Ruthie Danforth (Ducks Wife)
James (Jimmy) Halloran
Johnny Malone
Archie McMillan
Eddie Watson
Tommy Murphy
Jim Glennon
Steve Glennon
Helen Leonard (Babe’s Wife)
Barry Watson
Danny O’Brien
Pete Watson
Bob (Snelly) Snelgrove
Alice Malone
Raymond (Sully) Sullivan
Carlota (Carl) Garland
Joe (Chickie) Patrella
Andrew (Andy) Fedas
Larry Donahue (Firefighter)
George Dupree
Bobby Conley
Roger (Whisper) Sellers
Leo Diehl (Tip O’Neil’s Secretary)
Marie (Robinson) Conley
Frank (Frannie) Conley
Lois (Peabody) Malone
James “Jimmy” Fedas
Paul Babalas (Mortician)
Frank Brennan (Dicks Father)
Herbert (Herb) Dahl
Hazel Dahl
Sid Parker
Joseph (Joe, Dirk) Direski
Arnold (Okie) O’Connor
Charlie Watson (City Councilor)
John (Pepper) Gittens
Joe Danforth
Bing Q. Yee (Village Laundry)
Ding Yee (Village Laundry)
John (Jackie) Batten
PATricia (Connerty) Hilliard
Virginia (Wilcox) Willis
Joan (Brennan) King
Michael Calvert
Alice Flynn (Gussies) Wife
Jake Gavin
Jim Tierney
Patrick (Patsy) Ferguson
Walter (Wally) Woods, (Lame guy with big shoe)
Joe (Big Boy) Dailey
Francis (Frannie) Shields
Al Antonawitz
Herbie Bennett
Frannie Hiscock
Billy Hiscock
Florence (Flossie) (Hiscock) McFerren
John McHugh
Jim McHugh
Joseph (Joey) Gaurino
George (Sonny) Gittens
Becky Cochran
Warren Cochran
Warren Williams
Louis “Buster” Pendleton
Grace Pendleton
Rita (McMillan) White
John F (Jack) Kelley
Johnny Bogus
Joseph (Dad) Leonard Sr
Joseph (Babe) Leonard Jr
Gary Latter
Lottie (Malone) Parker
Toodie Legee
Fred Legee
Mr/Mrs Druin
Hymie (Hymies Variety Store) Great Guy
George Zaglakis (Village Spa) Great Guy
Ma, The Mother Zaglakis (Village Spa)
Steve (Stevie) Zaglakas
Marie Zaglakas
James (Jimmy) Zaglakas
Paul (Beansy) Campbell
Joseph (Joe) Lavalle
Les Sweetser
Barbara Leonard (Chums Wife)
Frankie Ciccarelli
Frances (Bubbles Malone) Ciccarelli
James (Sonny-Red) Malone
Donald (Donnie) Sweetser
Joseph (Joe) Frongello
Charles (Charlie) Gittens (America's First Black Secret Service Agent)
June (McFerren) Brown (my sister in law)
Philip McFerren (my brother in law)
Dorthy (Ciccarelli Jennings) Campbell
Olga (Swinamer) Preston
Bobby Swinamer
Robert (Bob) Danforth
Arthur Dudley (Erie St)
Richard (Dick) Brennan
William (Billy) Wicks
Jackie (McMillan) Smith
Florence Malone
Helen Flynn (Deboys Wife)
Robert (Bob) Malone (Watertown Firefighter)
Barbara (McFerren) Burtt---(MY WIFE)
Marilyn (Kelley) Loadwick
Bernard (Gussie) Flynn
Joe Banks
Franny Banks
Johnny Banks
Clancy Banks
Dorothy Jennings/Campbell
Jackie Campbell
Yolanda Ciccarelli
Michael Ciccarelli
Albert (Albie) Bennett
William (Billy) Silva
Adeline Silva
Norma (Wilcox) White (Warren "Whitey" White's Wife)
Edward (Sonny) Lavalle --- Abbie Lavalle
William J LeFave
Robert (Bob) Dahl
Maxine Defrancisco (my sister inlaw)

posted by Red Burtt # 12:33 PM

Comments:

Love your blog. I'm going to link out to it - this is what blogging should be all about...
Feel free to visit mine - it's chock full of swearing, mind. it's about small-town life in rural England, pretty much.

# posted by

badgerdaddy : 2:02 PM

dorothy Jennings/Campbell
Jackie Campbell
Yolanda Ciccarelli
Michael Ciccarelli

# posted by

Unknown : 12:33 PM

Hi Red,

I ran across your blog by googling a name, John Gittens. Still don't know who he was—no big thing.
I hate even the word blog! But I'm glad you do this, I read every entry. I've lived in Cambridge almost fifty years now. When I came here the world was a lot more like your stories than it is now.

I worked at Riverside press til it closed down. My kids grew up around six blocks up Putnam Ave from your corner.

I grew up at Hampton Beach—year round. You must remember when the papers would come on the Boston bus near sunset and the kids would yell, "Record ere, get ya bos-ton-day-ly-record ere." The year your Nana died I was a three year old Hampton "townie." My mother worked at Garland's.

Bill `

# posted by

Unknown : 10:18 PM

My family lived on Fairmont Ave. You mention Deacon Donahue dying. His brother Bobby was a friend and he died early. You mentioned Tommy Murphy. Which one? My father was Tommy Murphy. I knew some of the list of the dead. I'm 70 this year. Live near Worcester. Good luck.

Rod Murphy

# posted by

Rod : 2:39 PM

Hi Rod,
The Tommy Murphy I speak of wasn't married, he grew up on Hamilton St.

One of the guys from our corner worked at Riverside, he was a little short guy his name was Johnny Williams........

# posted by

Red Burtt : 9:14 AM

This was a great blog to find. Great to hear of so many "old time" people that my mother used to mention and some I got to meet and know. My generation may be the last link to "the village". My mother (Helen Yorke- Taylor) was born and raised on Bell Court (one of John Henry's houses). When my mother had children (eventually 5 of us boys) we lived in this house as well until moving to Prince St. around 1962. My mother stayed on Prince St until she passed away in 1993.
I remember going to Hymie's as a kid, I remember splitting my head open on the steel pile beside the house which was also the St. Johnsbury's Trucking Co. parking lot. I remember Flag Day at Fort Washington. We would spend hours at Nana's house after we moved to Prince St.
On Prince St, which we lived at until my father, Junior Taylor, moved back to his beloved Maine around 2002,as a kid we had "the WHIP", which was an amusement park ride mounted onto the back of a caged truck that would visit the neighborhoods, the city worker that would ride up each street on a 3 wheeled motorcycle - stopping at each manhole to spray a substance into them, the fruit guy with the slanted back on his truck holding the fruit/veggies that were in season, the crab man with his cart loaded with crabs that he would wheel down Magazine ST from "the square", I remember Aunt Jemima that used to wheel the shaved ice cart which he would put your favorite flavored syrup over, and Joe the Oilman down the street yelling "OIL" and the "Jewman" selling goods at the door , the milkman from Hood milk that used to let us “steal” ice from him, the Drake’s driver who let us ride a block with him and Casey, the Record American delivery guy who had the cigars tub in his mouth constantly.
So many memories through the years, I could on and on. From the supermarket on the corner of Magazine and Allston St, to Kay's on the corner of Prince St, to Kollow's Drug to hamburger’s at Freddie's to the barbershop on Magazine St next to what was to become Cumberland Farms and back over to Sid’s meat market at Pearl and Putnam next to Manny’s to the donut shop on Putnam Ave behind Trash Park (Old Morse School playground).
Thanks for the memories that you spurred.

# posted by

GaryGusTaylor : 5:36 PM

Enjoyable blog. My mother is from Cambridge, MA, and I couldn't wait to forward this page to her!

Jeanne

# posted by

Unknown : 9:55 PM

Rod Gus Taylor,
Hi I remember the Yorke's your grandfather was a photographer I think or maybe he did it as a hobby, there was a little barn close by the house your Mother lived in where I worked peddling Ice & Oil on a horse & wagon, there were about 6 horses in the barn, oil man, rag man and a fruit peddler, I worked with Rico Ciccareli, later in the 1950's I worked for The St Johnsbury Trucking Co for about 12 years.
Good To hear From You
Red Burtt

# posted by

Red Burtt : 1:15 PM

Perhaps some more people from the "Village"
Joe Banks
Franny Banks
Johnny Banks
Clancy Banks
Joe Flynn

# posted by

Unknown : 3:44 PM

I grew up on grove ave. off alston st. reardon's and wilson's were our neighbors. the smell was so bad. I could see those poor black men sweating like pigs even in the winter. they barely had clothes on as the temp. had to be well over 100 degrees constantly.. reardons is where they cut up all the bones and boiled them to malke soap. the trains would stop of at reardon's and drop off the cattle bones. the place was readen with tom cats and huge rats. we all played baseball and football at fort washington... there was no other paark to play in... we were so poor... I had 7 brothers and a sister and lived in a 4 room cold water apt. heat was from the black kitchen stove, no bath tub... we bathed once a week in a metal wash bucket...those were the days..... that was the past. now I live as a person should live, have everything a person could want. all of my brothers and sister are still living and doing well. Mother Butt past away at 96 five years ago...I visit fort washington every once in awhile...I noticed the gitten's house is still there in very poor condition...it looks like the same as it did 50 years ago. what do they do with their money??? just thought I would put in my 2 cents worth........ ronnie butt.....resident of 4 grove ave. with mother dad and 8 children 1945-1962....

# posted by

Unknown : 11:12 PM

# posted by

Unknown : 11:21 PM

Hi, I just came across this blog, I’m not sure if it’s still in operation but I grew up in greasy village on Peters street, my names Al “Butchy” Clark, my brothers are Jimmy and Dicky Clark and Stevie McMahon, I also have two sisters Carol Clark and Paula McMahon. You can add us to the list if ya like, love reading anything about Greasy Village

# posted by

Butchy Clark : 4:28 PM

Grew up on River St in back of the Baptist Church, but would spend a lot of time down on Granite St. with friends from lower pearl st, The Clelands, Dave Young and others. My Mom worked at Matties on River St@ Rockwell for many years Spent my H/S years working at Stop&Shop, also Frank Gaudet's Esso Station. My wife worked at New England Bookbinding and I also worked at Camb. Electric on Blackstone St

# posted by

Fred Ryer : 10:41 AM

Great blog Red. Brought back a ton of memories. My family connections to Cambridge go back to the late 1800’s. I spent over 50 years on Florence and then Kelly Rd. My dad “Bud” Carman had a used tool shop at the intersection of Pleasant and River St called Post Exchange. He also did scrap metal in his rack truck. He talked often about Greasy Village and I’m sure he knew quite a few people from there as his tool store was a popular hangout visited by the locals. Anyway keep up the blogging. Your posts are great reads.

# posted by

Russ Carman : 12:17 PM

Love the stories. It brings back lots of memories though I am not originally from Cambridge. I moved to Cambridge in the 1970s and went to Cambridge High& Latin. Like everyone else, gentrification pushed us out. I enjoyed the 25 plus years I lived in Cambridge.

# posted by

Teacher Nikky : 4:16 PM