We're in Your Corner
People today can spend nearly half their lives over the age of 50. That’s a lot of living. So, it helps to have a wise friend and fierce defender like AARP in your corner and in your community so your money, health and happiness live as long as you do.
AARP offers custom tools, resources and local expertise to help you achieve your goals and stay connected. Find us at aarp.org/ma.
Big wins for the aging population in 2024
By Jennifer Benson AArP MAssAchusetts stAte Director
As we approach the end of the year, AARP Massachusetts has lots to celebrate. From comprehensive long-term care reforms to groundbreaking housing legislation, we’ve made strides in improving the lives of Bay State residents 50-plus in 2024.
One of the most impactful changes this year has been the overhaul of the longterm care industry. Governor Maura Healey signed into law a comprehensive reform package in September. The reforms strengthen regulations, mandate infection outbreak response plans, and address staffing issues through a career ladder and grant program. This legislation also imposes stricter controls on the involvement of private equity firms in the industry.
AARP Massachusetts played a pivotal role in advocating for these reforms, highlighting the need for accountability and high-quality care in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgency of these changes.
The Affordable Homes Act was another landmark piece of legislation that passed this year. It introduces significant changes to the regulation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Massachusetts. Previously, the construction of ADUs was subject to complex zoning laws that varied by municipality. The new law mandates by-right permitting for ADUs.
ADUs are seen as a crucial element in addressing the state’s housing shortage. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities projects that ADUs will add 10,000 new homes over the next five years. AARP knows ADUs offer financial benefits to homeowners, particularly retirees, and have a smaller environmental footprint.
In a significant victory for homeowners, Massachusetts enacted legislation making the practice of home equity theft illegal. This practice allowed cities and towns to seize homes to recover unpaid taxes and keep any surplus from the sale. The new legislation ensures that any excess funds from the sale of a home must be returned to the former homeowner after covering the debt and associated expenses.
AARP Massachusetts advocated for this change, arguing that it provides peace of mind to older residents, ensuring that the government can only take what is owed.
Our annual volunteer conference featured Sen. Ed Markey as the keynote speaker in April. Sen. Markey shared his personal caregiving story. He recounted how his father cared for his mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, at home rather than placing her in a nursing home. This experience highlighted the challenges and heroism of family caregivers and underscored the need for supportive policies.
This year we also got the chance to honor our volunteer State President Sandra Harris. Her term is up at the end of the year. She’s been the State President of AARP Massachusetts since 2019. She was honored with the 2024 AARP Massachusetts Andrus Award for Community Service. This award recognizes her dedication to advocating for the health, financial security, and personal fulfillment of Massachusetts residents aged 50 and over. Harris has been a vocal advocate against loneliness and has co-led the Massachusetts Coalition to Build Community and End Loneliness.
In 2024, AARP helped Massachusetts make significant progress in addressing the needs of our aging population and ensuring a better quality of life. We’ll keep advocating for the 50-plus population in 2025 by fighting fraud, supporting caregivers and making Massachusetts even more livable for people of all ages. Learn more about our fight at aarp.org/ma.
Jennifer Benson is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
Jennifer Benson
Jack’s Joke Shop kept Boston laughing
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
BOSTON – Jack’s Joke Shop was so beloved that even Stewie on the animated TV sitcom series “Family Guy” promoted its novelty items like plastic cigars, a spinning bowtie and a headband simulating an arrow pierced through the skull. Although the series occasionally referenced South Attleboro as being the home of the store, it was located on Tremont Street in Boston and had moved four times since it opened in 1922.
Blind date launched a career
Harold “Hecky” Bengin operated Jack’s Joke Shop for over 55 years, six days a week until it closed in 2008. Bengin’s journey and devotion to humor began in 1948 after going out on a blind date with Phyllis Goldberg, daughter of Jack Goldberg, founder of Jack’s Joke Shop. The two married two years later and a 21-year-old Bengin took on the role of store manager of Jack’s Joke Shop.
In a 2012 interview with The Berkley Beacon, Bengin said that members of The Harvard Lampoon
would visit the store each year to purchase gag gifts for initiation. According to Bengin, famous customers like Douglas Brinkley, Ed Bradley, Kevin Bacon and Glenn Frey of The Eagles often came through the shop’s doors in search of quirky items. Unfazed by their fame, Bengin said, “Ninety-nine percent of celebrities are just regu-
lar people with regular thoughts and worries.”
Loyal
customers
For those who used to frequent the shop, it was a treasure trove of novelties that still brings back memories, as evident on Facebook and YouTube.
David Stagnone wrote:
“As a kid in Boston traveling the MBTA 67-80. Jack’s shop moved three times, so with that said, my best memories: Black gum, Nickel tacked to the floor, Coin on a string, best gaffs ever in the day. And Jack’s had theatre makeup in the 70s. Best shop in Boston. God bless Jack’s.”
Jim Lee commented:
“They had a good assortment of stink bombs. Very realistic fake vomit and dog crap, too.
Does anyone remember something called A bag of Laughs?” 617 Gentleman recalled:
“I used to frequent here as a young man buying the small yellow baggies. He was always cracking jokes and in a pleasant mood. He squirted the fake mustard string at me. I can still remember the smell of the store. RIP to my youth and to the kind man who ran the store. It’s always better to make someone laugh.”
Owner joined in on the fun
The proprietor was also a jokester. Some found his sense of humor and ribbing funny. Others did not. Nevertheless, if anyone was on the hunt
Jack’s | 5
Jack’s Joke Shop’s first location was on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End.
Plympton’s Deborah Sampson fought as a man in the Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War soldier
Deborah
Sampson is buried in Sharon, where she married and raised a family after her military service.
(Photo/Digital Commonwealth)
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
PLYMPTON – Today’s enlisted members of the armed forces consist of every race, sex, sexual orientation and religion there is. The journey to wearing a uniform has not been easy for many. While there were those who were forcibly drafted, there were also a few who bravely took matters into their own hands. Deborah Sampson of Plympton not only took to the battlefield disguised as a man to serve alongside soldiers in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, but she was also a trailblazer.
Sampson’s father abandoned the family home in 1760, forcing her mother to send her to work for a family as an indentured servant. She was released from servitude after reaching the age of 18 and worked a variety of jobs which included carpenter, weaver and as a teacher. However, an occupation as soldier in the army is what held her attention. Sampson cut her hair, dressed in men’s clothing and at age 21, she registered under the name Robert Shurtliff.
Wounded in first battle
An exceptionally strong woman of average height, she was placed in the Light Infantry Company of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment under the command of Captain George Webb. The group was made up of 50 to 60 men who were taller than the average soldier. During her first battle, Sampson received a gash in the forehead and took two musket balls to her thighs and used a penknife and sewing needle to remove one musket ball. The second was lodged too deep, and her leg never fully healed.
The determined woman kept fighting in more battles undetected for nearly two years. In 1783 Sampson fell ill with fever while stationed in Philadelphia and was brought to a hospital. It was there where it was discovered that Robert Shurtliff was actually a female but her treating physician, Barnabas Binney, kept her secret, at least for a while.
Once Sampson got better, Binney decided to inform her superior officers. Sampson was fearful of receiving time in jail for her deception but was honorably discharged instead in 1783 by
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Deborah Sampson of Plympton joined the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War disguised as a man, and fought in numerous battles for nearly two years.
George Washington who did not offer a word of thanks. Washington did not approve of women being in the camp and instructed his generals to remove all women from service to improve discipline.
Later life
After she returned to Massachusetts, Sampson married Benjamin
Jack’s
Gannett of Sharon where there stands a statue of the war hero as well as other statues and monuments in her honor. The couple had four children and the former soldier would give lecture tours around New England dressed in her military uniform and demonstrating battlefield techniques.
Sampson’s decades-long battle to receive back pay, disability and pension relief from her time in service began in 1792 and the Gannetts struggled financially. Help finally arrived after Paul Revere supported her cause and wrote a letter to Congressman William Eustis in 1804.
The action resulted in Sampson receiving a lump sum of $104 plus $48 a year thereafter in 1805. In 1818, she gave up disability pay for a general pension of $96 a year. The fight for retroactive payments continued until Sampson died of yellow fever in 1827 at age 66. After she died, Benjamin Gannett petitioned Congress to receive a pension as the widower of a Revolutionary veteran. Congress eventually passed an act providing full military pension to the heirs in 1838. Gannett was awarded a pension but died before ever receiving it.
During World War II, the Liberty Ship S.S. Deborah Gannett (2620) was named in her honor. It was scrapped in 1962. Deborah Sampson Gannett is buried in Sharon.
Joke Shop kept Boston laughing for 85 years
Jack’s | from page 3 for whoopie cushions, exploding cigarettes, bug-filled ice cubes, bloody fingers, Halloween masks or itching powder then Jack’s Joke Shop was the place to visit. Despite the gross factor of some of these items, who doesn’t love a good prank?
Retailers of gag gifts and novelty merchandise have long existed and some like Spencer Gifts are franchised but Jack’s was Boston’s own. Rubber chickens and snakes in a can might have been hilarious decades ago, but as time progressed pulling pranks got
Insider Insights:
Meet Gary Davis
How did you first discover Whitney Place at Northborough?
My mother Carolyn moved in over a year ago, it was going to be a temporary situation. I was moving to Northern New York, and our plan was to have mom adjust here while I did the move, we will move her closer to me in the spring. When spring arrived I was not able to find anything close to the quality of care that she was getting at Whitney Place.
With your career experience what convinced you that you had made the right choice?
I have a background in geriatric social work with a specialty in dementia. With about 40 years experience in the elder care field, I would say today she’s probably cognitively better than she was when she moved in. She likes it here, she is comfortable. She loves her apartment.
Jack’s Joke Shop in Boston attracted generations of prank lovers over its 85-year history.
more difficult. Practical jokers became more reluctant to spring gag items on someone who was sensitive or lacked a sense of humor. Fortunately, Jack’s Joke Shop survived a time when the world was not too sophisticated to be shocked into a good laugh.
Before the store shut its doors in 2008 after being in business for 85 years, long-time customers came in to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes to the saddened owner. Harold Bengin passed away on April 2, 2015, at the age of 84. As Bengin would say, “If it ain’t funny, it ain’t worth jack.”
Was there a specific instance that reinforced your decision about Whitney Place?
There was one time recently where I took her to my see my sister at the beach on Cape Cod. We were on a really tight schedule. I needed to come pick her up and get on the road. And the PCA, Maria was literally waiting for me at the elevator with her meds. “I gave her a shower. She’s all ready to go, and 10 minutes later, we were out the door”. That gives the family member a lot of confidence in the care that she’s getting.
What is your opinion of the staff at Whitney Place?
That’s one thing that makes this place very special, is people come here, they enjoy the work environment. The SALMON Family has set up a very nice environment, for not only the residents, but also for the caregivers and the people who work here.
Because here, you’re family.
Needham author helps inspire and promote other writers
By nAnce eBert
contriButing Writer
NEEDHAM – Writer Matt Robinson knows more trivia about Ivy League universities than many of their students and graduates. An Ivy Leaguer himself, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His father, a graduate of Brown University, was his early inspiration for his interest in the subject, taking him as a boy to many Brown vs. Harvard games where he learned about the school mascot, the Brown Bear.
“When children are asked what they want to be when they grow up, they might say a teacher, policeman or something like that,” said Robinson. “I actually wanted to be the Brown Bear. I realized later on that I actually knew a lot of the mascots from many of the Ivy League schools. This was a great party trick.”
A tribute to his father
Drawing on his knowledge of Ivy League schools, Robinson recently self-published a book of Ivy League trivia titled, “Lions, Tigers, and …Bulldogs? An unofficial guide to the legends and lore of the Ivy League.” This
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Left: Matt Robinson’s recent book is a compilation of trivia about the Ivy League.
apartments at
was a tribute project for his dad who was diagnosed fifteen years ago with frontal temple dementia.
Robinson gave himself a five-year deadline with the hope that the book would be published while his dad was still alive. Although that did not happen, he is really proud of the project and has connected with many people who love the book and share their memories.
“I’ve been working as a writer for thirty-plus years and originally started writing about music,” he recalled. “I wrote for The Boston Globe and then for Billboard for a number of years.”
“I’ve been a writing teacher and was the editor for the state Teacher’s Union publication for several years. Everything else has just been freelancing with the philosophy that if I can speak intelligently about it, I will take the assignment,” he said with a chuckle. “I realize when I am hired by a client to write something, it’s the client’s reputation that matters, not mine,” said Robinson.
Inspiring other writers
Robinson has been doing a presentation to talk about the path he took to
Call Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5 pm for
Above: Matt Robinson of Needham has used his experience as an author and long-time freelance writer to inspire and promote other writers and their work.
Robinson | 7
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
SAUGUS – After William and Madeline Wong purchased The Mandarin House restaurant in 1958 and changed its name to Kowloon Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, a new standard in dining experience was set. And it became a Boston-area Route 1 landmark with its 15-foot-tall tiki statue looming over the A-framed doorway. Families, friends and colleagues have been enjoying food served in themed dining rooms like the Hong Kong Lounge, the Mandarin Room, the Thai Grille, the Tiki Lagoon and the Volcano Bay Room ever since.
A pop culture and culinary standout
A large menu of tasty Cantonese, Polynesian, Sichuan and Thai dishes gave the legendary restaurant recognition as one of the best Chinese restaurants in New England by Boston television station WHDH in 2004. Kowloon has also been nominated for addition to the Inventory of Cultural and Historical Resources by the Saugus Historical Commission and in 2001,
the Wongs were inducted into the Hospitality Hall of Fame by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. It’s also reputed to be the largest Chinese restaurant in the United States.
It takes six kitchens which specialize in separate cuisines to satisfy all those hungry appetites that come through the door. With a capacity to seat 1,200 customers, outdoor dining spaces, a drive-in movie theater and a thatch-roofed tiki bar, the restaurant
publish his book. Writers often question whether to go the traditional route with a publisher or self-publish and because he has experience with both perspectives, he believes his audiences at bookstores, libraries and other venues benefit from what he has to say.
“Many people have expressed that I have inspired them to write after attending one of my presentations and that has been very gratifying,” said. Robinson. “I have met some amazing people.”
He has heard from quite a few who have read his book about their experiences during their college days. He has even been asked when the next volume is going to be available. Doing re-
search for his book, Robinson said he discovered so many odd facts about each Ivy League school that even people who were students there had no idea. His book is in a few bookstores and can also be purchased at www. lionstigersbulldogs.com.
Television show focusing on authors
“I’ve reviewed books for years and I know a lot of authors,” he explained. “In collaboration with the producers at the Needham Channel, we came up with the Writer’s Block, my monthly television show with featured author guests and help independent writers. It’s on YouTube, the Needham Channel and is also being
nationally syndicated now.”
“We feature writers who have ties to the area and I have interviewed many notable guests,” he noted. “Tonya White from ‘Orange is the New Black’ is scheduled to talk about her upcoming series of children’s books. Viewership is growing and I’m also able to promote my book on each show.”
Discipline from boxing
One atypical interest of Robinson’s is that he is an avid boxer. He was the captain of the boxing club in college at Penn and said he loves the discipline. He also noted he has never, in thirty years of engagement in the sport, had an injury.
“I’ve met Joe Frazier and even Muhammad Ali. It’s been a kind of side community that I’ve been able to develop that’s been really enriching,” he explained. “When I taught at one of the ‘turn around schools’ I started a boxing club to keep the kids in the building after school. That’s when they’d ask me about English class, in this safe space. The boxing club ended up having fringe benefits that I didn’t even think about.” Robinson said he still wears his varsity boxing jacket around and it starts some very interesting conversations.
To learn more about Matt Robinson, his upcoming projects and organizations he is involved with, visit www.therobinsonreporter.com.
Robinson | from page 6
Kowloon | 8
The Kowloon restaurant in Saugus has the capacity to seat 1,200 diners and has long been a stop for organized tours and fans of tiki culture.
The façade and sign of the Kowloon restaurant is a familiar sight to anyone driving on Route 1 in Saugus.
Kowloon | from page 7
has attracted customers near and far. Notable celebrities like the late comedic actor John Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway and Forest Whitaker. Jerry Seinfeld, Frankie Avalon and Phyllis Diller performed on stage in the restaurant’s second floor comedy club room during the early years of their careers. Everyone from prominent athletes to politicians and radio personalities have dined at Kowloon.
A top destination
Located on U.S. Route 1 along “restaurant row,” the eatery is hard to miss with its kitschy exterior. Recently, Kowloon has expanded its operation by partnering with The Brook, a sports betting and casino in Seabrook, New Hampshire, with a new dining and nightlife spot called 9 Dragons. Aside from bringing along their familiar culinary creations, 9 Dragons features a multitude of dining areas, an exclusive private event space, and an elevated cocktail lounge named “Forbidden City” where signature cocktails like the “Year of the Dragon” Mai Tai are served and shareable scorpion bowls are enjoyed. The lounge is also set to play host to regional and national DJ talent.
Andre Carrier, CEO of The Brook told NBC Boston, “Everyone who has grown up in this part of New England has their Kowloon memories, it’s an iconic restaurant. It is an absolute privilege to be part of this project that will add a new chapter to the Kow-
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loon legacy and create a place where many more wonderful memories will be made.”
The landmark restaurant is considered a top destination for fans of tiki culture and has long been a stop for organized tours. Owners of Kowloon
know how to set a mood by providing waterfalls, volcanoes and a ship deck, complete with faux palm trees, masts, sails and suspended lifeboats, transporting guests into an island-like atmosphere and their outdoor concert series is unmatched. The restaurant is even the subject of a short film, “Kowloon!” released this year.
Bob Luz, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association told Eater.com, “Kowloon is one of the most iconic restaurants in not only Massachusetts, but all of the Northeast, quite honestly. I mean, there’s nobody that’s traveled the Northeast that is unaware of the Kowloon and its importance in the history of food and beverage in the greater Boston area.”
Kowloon is one of the last remaining businesses on this once neon-filled strip of highway but the old hangouts that used to thrive on U.S. Route 1 in greater Boston are slim to nil. Two strip clubs, The Golden Banana (northbound) and Cabaret Lounge (southbound); Prince Pizzeria (southbound); and Kowloon (northbound) are almost the only places left. William Wong died in 2011, but the third generation of the family continues to run the business.
The outdoor dining area is just one of the expansions and improvements made at the Kowloon restaurant in Saugus since it opened in 1958.
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
BOSTON – Music aficionados can easily recognize the Motown Sound, the Sound of Philadelphia, Memphis Soul and so on and so forth, but the Bosstown Sound perhaps not so much. It was conceived in the late 1960s by New York City-based record producer Alan Lorber who wanted to compete with the San Francisco Sound and give Boston-area psychedelic bands like Beacon Street Union and Orpheus some well-deserved national attention. Talent scouts visited cities, including Boston, looking for active music scenes with bands who appealed to college-age fans.
A target city for developing new artists
Local bands like Eden’s Children, Phluph, Ill Wind and Ultimate Spinach developed a small but devoted local following. As a matter of fact, during Ultimate Spinach’s short existence from 1967 to 1969, they managed to release three albums. People
like Marq Jaqobs remember, “The first time I saw the Ultimate Spinach was at The Boston Tea Party with the
Hallucinations, two amazing Boston bands. I also loved listening. So many great Boston bands. More should have
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become more well-known.” In 1967, a new venue called The Boston Tea Party started showcasing musicians who performed in underground and psychedelic rock bands, but this would soon prove to be not enough.
Lorber wanted to make Boston “a target city for the development of new artists from one geographical location.” Unfortunately, the hype of this psychedelic rock was no match for similar music coming out of San Francisco since West Coast bands like Jefferson Airplane dominated the airways and music charts. Still, there was an effort. WTBS DJ Tom “Uncle T” Gamache was one of the first to broadcast progressive and underground/psychedelic rock. Gamache particularly liked The Hallucinations, whose front vocalist Peter Wolf would later join The J. Geils Band.
Part of the problem was that the styles of the various artists made it difficult to describe the music. In a 1968 interview with Record World, members of The Beacon Street Union described their dislike of “being
Ultimate Spinach was one of the Boston psychedelic rock bands put under the heading of the “Bosstown Sound,” a late sixties marketing campaign by a record producer.
Enchanting
By sAnDi BArrett contriButing Writer
REGION – The Christmas season begins so early commercially, it can be difficult sometimes to maintain the cheerful spirit that embodies the holiday season. Across New England, there are beautiful examples celebrating the joy of Christmas and bringing the true meaning of the season back into our hearts.
Festival of Lights, Our Lady of LaSalette Shrine
Attleboro
The theme for the Christmas Festival of Lights this year is “Christ Be Our Light.” Featuring 135 new lighting displays, the true spirit of the season — bringing peace and hope to the world — shines brightly.
Night Lights: Color Cascade, Tower Hill Botanic Garden
Boylston
Stroll through meandering paths at Tower Hill Botanic Garden’s glowing extravaganza. Illuminated landscapes that twinkle brightly are sure to amp up your holiday spirits. Along
be holiday shopping, s’mores, and photo opportunities perfect for Christmas memories. Step back in time when outdoor skating in New England was the perfect way to spend a winter
Christmas Stroll Nantucket
Celebrating 50 years of seasonal spirit, the Nantucket Noel and Christmas Stroll is a fun island getaway. Experience a European-style Christmas
Bretton Woods
Vacations in New Hampshire offers a perfect Christmas season getaway package that combines a Cog Railroad ride with a lodging rental.
(Photo/Courtesy of Bretton Woods Vacations)
market ambiance without having to produce your passport. Christmas Stroll weekend, December 6-8, will fill your holiday cheer cup to the brim with seasonal joy.
Southwick Zoo Winter Wonderland, Mendon
Over four million twinkling lights will amaze young and young-at-heart visitors this holiday season. From singing penguins to a holiday variety show to a Santa meet-and-greet, it will certainly leave visions of sugar plums dancing in your dreams.
The Enchanted Holiday Show includes a sing-along with the Queen of Arendelle and the Spirit Queen, sure to entertain your Disney “Frozen” fans.
Waumbek Wonderland, Bretton Woods
Enjoy a wonderful pre-Christmas multi-gen celebration in New Hampshire surrounded by the beautiful White Mountains. Make it a new tradition to celebrate with friends and family. A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus then a trip on the Cog Railway is a memory your grandchildren will cherish. The train runs up to Waumbek Station and at over 4,000 feet. The panoramic view of Bretton Woods is breathtaking.
Bretton Woods Vacations offers the perfect getaway package that combines the Cog Railroad ride with a lodging rental.
Festival of Trees, North Conway
Holiday tree decorating is an art form unto itself. You will find beautiful Festival of Trees events across New England. The Mount Washington Valley area in New Hampshire hosts a beautiful Festival of Trees imbuing the spirit of philanthropy and Christmas joy.
Candlelight Stroll, Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth
Holiday weekends at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire take visitors back in time with historic Christmas traditions and decorations. Glowing luminaries and handcrafted decorations create a vintage Christmas ambiance that history and holiday lovers will enjoy. Costumed docents greet guests, regaling them with stories of Christmas past. Wandering minstrels and hot apple cider by a roaring bonfire sets the stage for old-fashioned Christmas.
Inn-To-Inn Cookie and Candy Tour
If you are looking for something a little different, try the Inn-To-Inn Cookie Tour. Country inns in New Hampshire’s White Mountains host overnight stays for cookie weekend, or you can simply purchase a taste-the-cookies ticket and tour for the day. The inns are decorated in their Christmas finery and the aroma of freshly baked treats may inspire your own Christmas traditions.
Country inns hosting this event include The Farmstand B&B in Tamworth; Inn at Crystal Lake and Snowvillage Inn in Eaton; the Samuel O’Reilly House in North Conway; and in Jackson, the Inn at Ellis River and newcomers to the holiday party include the Christmas Farm Inn in Jackson, Cranmore Mountain Lodge in North Conway and Purity Spring Resort in East Madison.
Holidays at the Newport Mansions, Newport
Opulent beyond your wildest Christmas dreams, the Newport mansions in Rhode Island are an enchanting getaway. The Breakers, Marble House, Châteausur-Mer, and the Elms bring gilded age holiday extravagance to life.
Enchanting Christmas outings across New England will enhance your holiday cheer and may become your new seasonal tradition. Be sure to check your chosen venue’s website for specific times and weather closures.
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Alain Valles was the first designated Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in New England. He obtained a Master of Science from the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate, an MBA from the Wharton School, and graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst. He is the senior reverse mortgage loan officer MLO#7946 at Powerhouse Funding Corp. NMLS #1740551. He can arrange but does not make loans. Alain can be reached directly at (781) 724-6221 or by email at av@powhse.com
Costumed docents during holiday weekends at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire greet guests and regale them with stories of Christmas past. (Photo/Courtesy of the Strawbery Banke Museum)
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
CAMBRIDGE – It is always sad to see an old familiar face leave, be it a family member, close friend, or even a neighborhood institution like Harvard Square’s Out of Town News newsstand. Such kiosks served as communal hubs that sold teen magazines to youngsters and newspapers to adults on the way to work for decades. However, they were more than that and represented a special era involving the wonderful world of print before ushering in the digital age.
Founded in 1950s
Out of Town News was founded by Sheldon Cohen in 1955 following the death of his father who used to hawk newspapers with him outside the square’s T station when he was 11 years old. Cohen would go on to earn the title “Unofficial Mayor of Harvard Square” thanks to his beloved business which is now listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Former beleaguered senator and Cambridge mayor Anthony D. Galluccio was once an employee.
In May 1998, the city dedicated the
Out of Town News kiosk area “Sheldon Cohen Island” after the longtime civic leader and philanthropist who began selling papers there in 1944.
Out of Town News was known for
its wide selection of several thousand local, national, international newspapers, lesser-known journals, and hobby periodicals. During its prime, the 500-square foot newsstand sold approximately 600 London papers on Sundays and 1,500 Irish papers a week. Long-time patrons bought hard-tofind magazines on photography, guitars, and computers. Former customers took time to reflect on Facebook.
Amy McGrath Huges wrote:
“I purchased SO many tickets there. Squeezing into the small area… magical days.”
Nekita Lamour added:
“I missed the kiosk. I used to buy foreign papers there. Was in Harvard Square the other day and saw the change.”
Kevin Duffy wrote:
“Many memories. Trying to sneak peaks at the skin mags with my friends, back in middle school. Getting kicked out, then slithering across the street to Nini’s Corner and doing the
The Out of Town News kiosk in Harvard Square in Cambridge, still thriving at the time of this photo in 2001, closed in 2019.
same thing. Later on, paying $3.00 for week-old Dutch newspapers, for my homesick wife.”
Yoga teacher Diana Feik paid regular visits to Out of Town News since she became a U.S. citizen. In 2019, Feik told WBUR, “Well, I come usually for my German magazines. I’m from Germany. But there’s none left because they’re closing, right? So, I get the Halloween magazines for my kids.”
Before closing its doors and synergy in 2019, the business could depend on regular celebrity clientele like Julia Child who browsed for German and Italian cooking magazines, poet Robert Frost and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. In 1975, a 21-year-old Allen was a programmer at Honeywell. One day, he stopped by the kiosk and purchased a Popular Electronics magazine, whose cover featured a photo of the “World’s First Minicomputer Kit,” showed it to his friend Bill Gates and the rest is history.
Somerville resident Cara J. Giaimo
The landmark Out of Town News kiosk in Harvard Square in Cambridge was founded by Sheldon Cohen in 1955. (Photo/Courtesy of Cambridge Historical Commission)
admitted Out of Town News was the first place she would go to buy a physical newspaper, stating that, “I always think of it as a very communal space. When you go inside, you can get so many things from so many different places.”
While digital news formats are convenient, there is no substituting for the community feel newsstands like the iconic Out of Town News provided, especially to academics. It was
a place to peruse through pages of material from around the globe and buy souvenirs. It was a central beacon where people gathered. Now practically extinct, there were a countless number of newsstands across America but only one Out of Town News.
Founder Sheldon Cohen, who sold the newsstand in 1994 and once pondered taking it back to bring some life back to the square, passed away in 2023 at the age of 92.
The Bosstown Sound
Bosstown | from page 9 lumped in with a lot of other people as part of the Boston Sound. We want to be ourselves.”
Panned by critics Critics were also quick to pan the Bosstown Sound and the bands behind them. In 1968, the New York Times’ Robert Shelton wrote that while some of the bands were talented and capable of finding some success, the music was “mostly [record company] puff. Jon Landau of Rolling Stone was even harsher. In a 1968 article entitled “The Sound of Boston,” he called The Beacon Street Union “inept,” Orpheus, “shlock,” and Ultimate Spinach “pretentious.” Music critic Richie Unterberger dismissed that era of work as “poor third cousins to the West Coast psychedelic groups that served as their obvious inspirations.”
MGM Records, ABC Records and Elektra Records signed a few bands to their label in an attempt to foster a
Caring for the Caregiver
By MAriAnne Delorey, Ph.D.
The other day, we had a big party in the community room. We were all having a grand time when one resident introduced herself to me.
“You must be new,” I said.
“No,” she noted. “I just don’t come out to a lot of events. I’ve been here eight years.”
A few minutes later, she needed to leave in a hurry as her blood sugar was dropping and she needed to be in her own space. I insisted on accompanying her.
“There’s no need to worry,” she said. “I know what to do.”
“I am certain you do,” I soothed. “But I can’t leave someone in the middle of a health crisis. I will stay until you start feeling better.”
We chatted while she drank some juice. She talked about her apartment and how she is very comfortable there, but that she doesn’t get out much because she wants to be close to home in case she needs to get home in a hurry.
I offered to call her family, but she explained that she tries so hard not to upset her daughter, so she may not tell her everything.
I told her that allowing yourself to be worried
Sometimes asking for help is the most meaningful example of self-reliance.
~ Cory Booker, U.S. Senator
about and fussed over is hard for those of us who take care of people for our whole lives. I said that allowing someone else to take care of us is, in itself, a good deed. She had a hard time seeing the world that way. I suggested she think about how too much self-reliance actually denies their family so many valuable lessons and feelings.
Caring for someone:
• Brings caregivers into the moment. Today, I sat beside an elder while she waited for a COVID-19 test result. She needed someone to sit beside her in part because her memory was failing, and she might just walk away. Sitting there was therapeutic because I couldn’t be doing 100 other things — it made me prioritize and live com-
sense of cohesion among area bands. MGM Records even launched an advertising campaign by funding a patriotic-style ad in Billboard magazine that read: “The Sound Heard Around the World; Boston!!” but the Bosstown Sound faltered by the end of 1969 and all the hype died down.
The Bosstown Sound was not the idea of any local band and not everyone loathed Boston bands’ psychedelic rock. One article in Newsweek tried to present a defense, stating a sense of unity was found in “subdued, artful electronic sound, an insistence on clear, understandable lyrics, the spice of dissonance and the infusion of classical textures.”
Nevertheless, Boston bands like Aerosmith, Boston, the J. Geils Band, The Cars, New Edition and New Kids on the Block would later emerge with their own style of rock, pop and R&B, catapulting them into superstardom and placing the city high on the map when it comes to producing musical talent.
pletely in the moment for 30 minutes.
• Gives caregivers a great sense of purpose. When one of my elders is particularly anxious, I know that my being beside them means so much. There is absolutely no task more important than caring for someone when they need us the most.
• Allows us to appreciate how we would feel if our independence was limited. None of us can get through this world alone. Watching and learning how someone practices vulnerability will model the behavior we will need to embrace someday.
• Allows others to start the process of grieving them. Even a minor event helps caregivers face mortality. Those who lose family members suddenly never get the chance to pre-grieve their elder and may suffer from a more traumatic loss as a result.
• And most of us, especially those of us who care for older family members, will finally be able to give back to those that cared for us when we needed it most.
I think one of the most generous things our elders offer is the opportunity to care about them. It is hard, especially in a society that values independence, but it is a gift we can offer our families.
Marianne Lyons Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com.
Simplify, simplify
By JAnice linDsAy contriButing Writer
“Our life is frittered away by details…Simplify, simplify,” said Henry David Thoreau, 19th-century Concord philosopher.
Never mind that while Henry was simplifying and “roughing” it on the shores of Walden Pond, he took his laundry home so his Mom could do it. Life is always simpler if you can get someone else to take care of the details.
But, Henry’s reliance on Mom aside, the advice to simplify makes sense. Most of us must tend to our own details. Before and during the winter holidays, we maintainers of family traditions and celebrations are up to our eyeballs in details: prepare for the festivities and maybe overnight guests; acquire presents for family and friends; do our day jobs or volunteer work while we manage home life; contribute to worthy causes; participate in parties, concerts, and other gatherings.
Some people possess unlimited energy and thrive on the season’s frenzy of details. Then, there’s the rest of us. The very thought inspires, in me, the need to take a nap.
So: simplify.
I learned a lesson in holiday simplification when I was 12.
Everyone loves a cozy candle-lit Christmas Eve dinner. Hours of preparation are well worth it when the family gathers around the table, all aglow. Think Norman Rockwell painting. On second thought, don’t. Is there such a perfect family, such a perfect dinner?
On that particular Christmas, Mom was just home from the hospital with our new baby brother, in no shape to prepare a festive meal. Dad didn’t have time and we kids didn’t know how. Simple solution: a couple of cans of Chef Boyardee ravioli. The next year, we remembered and a tradition was born. For years, canned ravioli was our family’s simple Christmas Eve dinner.
When our son Chris was little, I was fortunate that I could stay home with him. But once he was in first grade, I went back to work. As a working-outside-the-home mom, I struggled to accomplish all the homemaker activities exactly as I had done them before, until a simplifying thought struck me: Maybe the world wouldn’t end if we had an occasional store-bought Christmas cookie instead of homemade. Simplify.
Simplifying the holidays is a larger proposition than simplifying cookies, of course.
We could start by simplifying our expectations. Can I really identify the perfect gift for every-
body? Or would something simple, pleasant, and unexpected please just as well? Must I display every single decoration every single year? Could we spread out family visits instead of trying to see everybody on The Day?
The key is to decide what really matters. Simplify where it doesn’t matter, complexify where it does.
When Chris was three, I made a special Christmas morning breakfast: homemade dinner rolls, the dough arranged and baked on a cookie sheet in Christmas tree shape, drizzled with green frosting, decorated with candied fruits and nuts. It was festive, but a lot more complicated than our usual scrambled eggs and toast.
The next year, Chris asked if I would make it again. Of course I said yes. And I made it every Christmas for decades, long after he had left home to start his own household and decorate his own Christmas tree bread.
My mother made her Christmas cards. She wrote a poem and painted a design to go with it. A storebought card would have been simpler. But it was a work of love. Her cards became family keepsakes. What’s truly important to you, and what isn’t?
As Thoreau said, “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” Some things are worth the price. For the rest: simplify.
I hope Thoreau’s mom enjoyed doing laundry.
Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net
SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Martha’s Vineyard once had its own sign language
The Chilmark Free Public Library’s archives on Martha’s Vineyard contain numerous records documenting the deaf community of
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
CHILMARK – By the mid-1800s, one in 25 people living in the quaint Martha’s Vineyard village of Chilmark was born deaf. This anomaly was thought to be the result of a recessive gene traced to an area called Weald in Kent County, England where many of these Vineyarders originated in the late 17th century. The first known hearing-impaired resident of this community was a man named Jonathan Lambert, who arrived on the island in 1694 using what is now referred to as Old Kent Sign Language. Lambert’s wife was not deaf, but two of their seven children were.
Seclusion from the world
People did not really travel to Chilmark back then. It was hard to get to and there was no port. Relatively secluded from the rest of the world and with such a small population, people married each other, and deafness was passed down from one resident to another until most families had at least one or more family members who were hearing-impaired. A community within a community, 25 percent of the deaf population lived within the Squibnocket section in Chilmark. The language would eventually be known as Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, or MVSL. Deaf islanders were not viewed as being disabled. They owned businesses and farms and served in local government.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, most Chilmark fishermen used Squibnocket Beach as the base of operations. The tiny post office there was overseen by George West, who along with his wife and five of their eight children were deaf.
Both parents of famed inventor Alexander Graham Bell were deaf. His research on hearing and elocution of
The language would eventually be known as Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language, or MVSL. Deaf islanders were not viewed as being disabled.
speech led him to experiment with hearing devices which eventually culminated in Bell being awarded the first U.S. patent for the telephone in 1876. Bell also conducted genealogical research on the deaf residents of Chilmark in an effort to isolate the cause of their impairment.
He opposed the use of sign language and thought it isolated this community from the rest of humanity and promoted intermarriage which would result in more deaf people. Bell believed in teaching people to read lips and once said, “Those who believe as I do, that the production of a defective race of human beings would be a great calamity to the world, will examine carefully the causes that lead to the intermarriages of the deaf with the object of applying a remedy.”
Population decline
By the late 19th century, the deaf population on the island began to shrink as people began to move away. Tourism grew and after a connection with the mainland was forged, deaf children enrolled in a school called the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. Katie West was the last known person to inherit Lambert’s deafness. She died in 1952 and MVSL seemingly died along with her.
Exploring the history
However, the Chilmark Free Public Library’s archives note they are, “Lucky to have documents of their evocative memories, and to enjoy their stories of how children signed behind a schoolteacher’s back; adults signed to one another during church sermons; farmers signed to their children across a wide field; and how fish-
ermen signed to each other from their boats.”
Today, there are several points of interest for visitors who want to learn more about this history. The Jared and
Jerusha Mayhew House, located on 251 State Road is one example. During the late 19th century, the home was occupied by Jared, a prosperous farmer, his parents Benjamin and Hannah, older brother Benjamin, his uncle Alfred, and aunts Ruby and Love, all of whom were deaf. Jared is said to have been the last Chilmark resident born into a family where deaf children outnumbered children who could hear.
Now Accepting Applications
In the mid-19th century, the large deaf population of the town of Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard had its own sign language.
this small island town.
safety through the lens of public health
Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian
By DeBorAh Burke henDerson contriButing Writer
BILLERICA – During his interview with then Governor Deval Patrick for the position of Middlesex County Sheriff, Peter J. Koutoujian stated, “A jail is not a fortress on a hill, it is part of a community.” And at the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in this town at the northern end of the county, he has put that philosophy to work.
Over the years, Sheriff Koutoujian and his team have worked to provide incarcerated individuals with the tools and resources necessary for successful in-house rehabilitation and release. He said his staff takes pride in preparing offenders for reentry into society by providing comprehensive risk assessments and individualized treatment, educational, and vocational plans.
As a prosecutor, legislator, professor, and law enforcement leader, Koutoujian has worked on the leading issues in public safety and public health throughout his career. He holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from
Bridewater State University, a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and a law degree from the New England School of Law.
Early political experience
While a state representative, Koutoujian (D-10th Middlesex District) oversaw Massachusetts’ healthcare priorities as chairman of the Committee on Health Care. He advocated for families and frontline workers on issues of mental health, school nutrition, nursing, opioid and tobacco use, suicide awareness, domestic violence prevention, pandemic response, crime profiteering, rape by fraud, and more.
He also created and led the state’s first Commission on Oxycontin and Other Drug Abuse as well as the Commission to End Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities just as these issues were beginning to emerge as crises in public health.
His relationships with medical professionals, advocates, and those with lived experience helped drive legislation that made Massachusetts a national leader in healthcare, and inspired the philosophy of service he brought to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO).
Public safety through the lens of public health
“While serving in the legislature,
I gained the knowledge that I currently apply to my work,” Koutoujian stated, adding, “I look at public safety through the lens of public health.”
As sheriff, Koutoujian’s use of specialty units has reimagined the correctional landscape, and his commitment to innovation in correctional programming won him recognition as 2023 Sheriff of the Year by the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) at their winter conference in February. By targeting treatment towards unique populations such as young adults and military veterans, these programs have directly and substantially reduced recidivism in their participants. These results have been published in academic journals, featured by national news outlets, and labeled as best practices by multiple presidential administrations.
“I’m sort of known as a data guy,” Koutoujian admitted. “I have always said, ‘Vision without good data is just a hallucination and you are flying blind. Collaboration with academic and research partners works well.’”
Koutoujian’s commitment to data-driven research has made these innovative programs and their results replicable across the country.
New specialty unit for older adults
“We’re launching a revolutionary unit with older adults right now called Older Adults Reentry, or OAR for short,” Koutoujian stated. “We’re ex-
“I look at public safety through the lens of public health,” says Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, center, in blue shirt, distributing Thanksgiving meal kits for the loved ones of individuals incarcerated at the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction.
cited about its inception and mission as this will be more and more necessary as boomers are aging.”
Over the past two years, Koutoujian and staff have worked in close partnership with UMass and its Gerontology Institute at the John. W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies to research and survey the MSO’s data and its population which is comprised of 14 percent older Americans (50 and over).
“Prisons across the country typically provide only geriatric care,” Koutoujian noted. “We could not find any units with a therapeutic and programming aspect in mind.”
OAR will offer programming to meet the therapeutic, physical, and mental health needs of about thirty individuals, aged 55 and older, and provide a bridge to resources which will continue to serve those individuals whenever they reenter their communities.
ty. Its goal is to alert the public to be aware of ongoing arrest scams in the area. If an individual receives a call from someone posing as an MSO officer or staff member and requesting funds, the public is instructed to disconnect the call and report the incident immediately to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office at 978-667-1711. Ask to speak to a member of the Inner Perimeter Security [IPS] team.
People with cognitive difficulties who are prone to wandering and becoming lost may be enrolled in the SafetyNet Bracelet program, a partnership among the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, the Hudson police department, and the LoJack company. Twenty members of the MSO have been trained by LoJack employees to operate search and rescue receivers that detect the radio frequencies emitted by a SafetyNet Bracelet worn by those enrolled in the service. The receivers and the training are provided to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office at no cost to taxpayers. The SafetyNet service supplements traditional search and rescue procedures.
Strong team
“I never thought of being sheriff,” Koutoujian admitted, adding, “I was just prepared for the job when the position opened up.”
Koutoujian credits the MSO’s suc-
cess to his hardworking, mission-driven team of professionals. He said they have a consistent focus on professional excellence, research, collaboration, and innovation, and an intentional commitment to design programming with engagement of the population involved so their needs and concerns may be addressed.
“I have a great job, and my work family is incredible,” Koutoujian stated. “The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Other service and recognition
Besides serving the 54 cities and towns in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts and New England, Koutoujian said he proudly works with several national organizations on issues essential to public health and safety. He serves on the board of directors for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s First Responder Network Authority, the executive committee for the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, and the advisory board for the States United Democracy Center.
Koutoujian has also earned honors as one of the nation’s most prominent Armenian-American officials, including the U.S. Ellis Island Medal of Honor as well as the Mkhitar Gosh Medal and Medal of Gratitude from the Armenian government.
The Institute is also helping lay out plans for the facility, even down to the details of wall paint resulting from color psychology research and the type and height of bed and mattress that will best suit aging adults. Additionally, professionals with the Boston University Department of Occupational Therapy are providing cognitive and occupational therapies specifically designed for this population.
“A unique population coupled with unique programming gets unique results,” Koutoujian stated. “We can back up every success story with data.”
Community programs to protect the vulnerable
The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is teaming up with community partners including senior centers and local police offices to provide L.E.A.R.N., a scam prevention and awareness presentation program, across the coun-
Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, right, leads state legislators on a tour of the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in Billerica.
Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011 and has won re-election since then.
By shAron oliver contriButing Writer
REGION – At least “what this country needs is plenty of Moxie” is how the company felt during World War II, hence the slogan. Augustin Thompson, a homeopathic physician, created the soft drink Moxie in Lowell in 1876 and it was initially billed as “Moxie Nerve Food.” At the time, Lowell was home to the world’s largest patent medicine factory, Ayer Drug Company. By 1920, Moxie had outsold its competitor, the soda giant Coca-Cola, thanks to taste and advertising budget.
Boston start
Thompson was a native of Union, Maine but first bottled his product at 74 Heath Street in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. The building would eventually become known as Moxieland. Thompson set out to create a “cure-all” tonic using a secret ingredient later identified as gentian root extract. Gentian root has been used as a health supplement since 170 B.C. and is touted as a beneficial aid for indigestion. Moxie was marketed as a medical cure for ailments such as “nervous exhaustion, imbecility, restoration of mental acuity, and loss of manhood.” Bartenders would serve it to patrons who were too drunk to be given any more alcohol.
The drink was advertised as a “nerve food” that strengthens the nervous system, was “very healthful” and a “drink for athletes.” However, Thompson added soda water to his
Take tiredness out of your name!” Moxie Beverage Company scored a home run in sales due to the campaign and in what are now vintage print ads. The company also marketed a beverage called Ted’s Root Beer. The creamy root beer was bottled in Needham and any original bottle found would be a rare collector’s item. There were reproductions made in the 1980s featuring the “Splendid Splinter” on the label.
Augustin’s son Francis Thompson lived on Pleasant Street in Arlington and was president of the company from 1904 until he died in 1939. Before his death, Francis and his wife financed scholarships for Arlington High School graduates each year.
Love it or hate it
HOUSING Bigelow Village – Rutland RETIREMENT LIVING Congregational Retirement –Melrose
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Goddard Homestead –Worcester
concoction after the market for patent medicines began to decline. Movie stars promoted Moxie during its heyday in the 1920s. President Calvin Coolidge was known to be a fan of the root beer-like soda since childhood and often paired it with his favorite midnight snack of cold pizza topped with black olives. Perhaps a suitable alternative to alcohol among D.C.’s social elite, Moxie was at its peak during Prohibition.
As for the name and unlike most words, moxie is not derived from Greek or Latin roots. Thompson attributed the name to an alleged friend, Lieu-
tenant Moxie but the moniker likely originated from the Native American Abenaki word for dark water. It is also slang for words like spunk, spirit, guts, courage, or energy and was first coined around 1930.
Celebrity endorsement
Boston Red Sox slugger Ted Williams endorsed the drink by appearing in a series of print and radio ads that position Moxie as the baseball icon’s liquid choice to recharge between games. Williams even lent his voice to lyrics like: “Pop a Moxie, you’re back in the game!
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Moxie is one of those drinks that folks either love or hate because of its robust flavor. Its long-time tagline is “Distinctively Different” and that’s probably something that anyone who has tasted it can agree is true. For those who love and miss the taste that only Moxie can offer, it’s still widely distributed in the New England area, but to a lesser extent elsewhere. Of course, online shopping can solve that problem.
On August 28, 2018, the Coca-Cola Company announced it would be buying Moxie with a promise to not tinker with its unique taste. The oldest continuously produced soft drink in the United States, now under the ownership of its former competitor, is still going strong and even comes in a diet version with zero calories as well.
Moxie, the oldest continuously produced soft drink in the United States and now owned by Coca-Cola, was invented in Massachusetts.
city’s World War I casualties
By MichAel PernA Jr contriButing Writer
WORCESTER – After the end of World War I in November 1918, the city of Worcester decided to build a fitting memorial to honor the 355 service members (both men and women) from the city that had lost their lives in that conflict. Originally, the plan was to construct the structure, along with a public library building, on the Worcester Common behind City Hall, however those plans fell through.
Construction delay
It took ten years in all to get the project underway. A suitable location was secured at Lincoln Square, consisting of 100,000 square feet of land, and construction began in September 1931. The architects selected to complete the project were Lucius Briggs of Worcester, along with Frederick Hirons of New York.
Two years later, the structure was completed, with the final cost of building it being $2 million. The Worcester Memorial Auditorium was
dedicated in a ceremony on September 26, 1933. The Auditorium, as it came to be known by local residents, was described as “an enduring tribute to those whose sacrifice was sublime, a majestic memorial for the use and benefit of many generations.”
Majestic stonework
The building is majestic: it sits on a base of “Deer Island Granite” and is five stories high. The upper portion of the building is of “dressed Indiana limestone,” with huge Doric columns across the front of the building, which
faces Lincoln Square. The main hall was built to hold up to 3,500 people. The adjacent “Little Theatre,” which shares a stage with the main hall, can hold up to 675.
A huge pipe organ, built by the Kimball Organ Company of Chicago, Illinois, is located in chambers on both sides of the stage. The organ consists of 6,853 pipes and is reported to never have been altered since it was installed — a very rare example of fine workmanship that still operates after so many years.
A large-scale mural was commissioned in 1938 and completed in 1941 by renowned artist Leon Kroll. This was named “The Shrine of the Immortal.” Kroll used a number of Worcester residents as models for figures in the mural.
The Auditorium, or “Aud” as it became known in more recent times, has hosted all types of events during its history. These ranged from high school and college graduations, serving as a polling location for local elections, fundraisers, and a multitude
Worcester Memorial Auditorium opened in 1933 in honor of the city’s World War I casualties
Auditorium | from page 19
of sporting events. The building was home to the Bay State Bombardiers and Holy Cross Crusaders college basketball teams for many years. Holy Cross player Bob Cousy, a Worcester resident who went on to great fame as a member of the Boston Celtics, played
during many games there. Other celebrity performers include musician Gene Autry, and magician David Copperfield.
Rock concerts
Among the many concerts that took place at the Auditorium over the
years were performances by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Phish, and Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Review. A performance by the Beach Boys in February 1965 is well remembered by local resident Fred Anderson, who remembered attending the concert with his best friend Dennis Pearson. As the concert got underway, a crowd of screaming teen-aged girls rushed the stage. The security detail pushed them back and then warned them that the concert would be halted if they persisted. The band started playing again and the same thing happened. The concert was stopped and then cancelled completely. “We didn’t even get a refund!” recalled Anderson.
Another episode occurred when The Rolling Stones played the Auditorium. This was at the start of their hugely successful career, just prior to the release of their hit “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” Again, a huge crowd filled the hall. As the concert progressed, an angry father, upset that his daughter was attending (due to the “sexual nature” of the group) proceeded to grab her by the hair and drag her out of the building. It would be interesting to speak to that daughter today.
Newly Remodeled Apartments with a contemporary flair
Within the building amenities include:
• A Theater-like media center
• Handicap-accessible lounges on every floor
• Library equipped with two computers and free internet access
• Physical fitness center
• Game room with billiard table
• Community room with bingo board and large screen TV
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Decline and closure
As the years passed, more modern facilities, such as the DCU Center and homes for sports teams made the Aud more and more a thing of the past. Various parts of the building were used for a number of purposes over time, including a juvenile court in the basement area, a storage area for Massachusetts state trial court records, and even a brief stint as a shelter for people displaced in the 1953 tornado.
The building has been vacant since 2008, although occasional organ performances were held until 2016.
The future of the building remains uncertain, although it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Efforts to revitalize the Aud have included a study, commissioned by the City of Worcester, by the Architectural Heritage Foundation of Boston, which recommended that the building become a hub for “digital innovation, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and the arts,” however no definitive plans have been implemented as of this date.
• Contemporary styled 1 & 2 bedroom apartments
• New kitchens with built-in microwaves and granite-like countertops
• Small pets welcome
• Heat and Hot water included
• Bus route / ample parking
• Beautiful landscaped grounds with gazebo
Renowned artist Leon Kroll created this mural at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium using a number of Worcester residents as models. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons)