MEMOIRS OF SCHOOL STREET VILLAGE

Thanks so much for the great response to this blog!
A special thank you to those who have passed it on to others. We are heading quickly to amazing page visits to this blog! Welcome to folks from all over the country and other countries as well, including Lisbon!!

The "Village", as it was called, is located in the northwest corner of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts U.S.A. It covers about 1 square mile with the center being School Street. A large portion of the Village population was Portuguese when I was growing up.

This blog covers a lot of the history of the Village, much to do with my years as a child there: 1940 through the late 1950's. I do have many wonderful photos and information prior to that that and will share those as well. Always looking for MORE PHOTOS AND MORE STORIES TO TELL.

If you would like to send photos or share a memory of growing up in the Village
e-mail me at spinoart@comcast.net
feel free to comment on the posts. Directions are on the right side of the blog posts. Jump in, the water is fine and it is easy!!!


I will be posting photographs but not identifying individuals unless I have permission or they are a matter of public record. It you wish to give me permission, please let me know.

I am looking for any and all photos of the Village...

Please note: the way blogs work is that the latest post is first. It you would like to start from the beginning of the blog, check out the post labels on the right of the blog and go from there. Thanks.


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Village In the Good Old Summertime....Part I

Memories of the Village abound, of course.  But, perhaps sweetest of all, were summer ones. Those summers seemed endless to us kids.  I  believe that  less hectic activity and planning made that so.  Amusements were self-made and inexpensive.  There were no Disney vacations back then.  Our own imaginations were what we used.  There was no need for socialization books or those on relationships.  I never met a bully in the Village, either.  We looked out for each other.  Older children looked out for younger.  This photo is an example...myself watching out for my little brother way  back in 1947.

                       This photo was likely taken at Swift's Beach, in Wareham, Massachusetts.





Remembering those summers as a child, I recall how Swift's Beach was a favorite family destination for us.  It was not "over the bridge" onto the deep Cape, it was closer and less apt to be traffic bound.  Nevertheless, there was only route 28 in those days, winding along to the bridges and long lines of traffic- no matter what.  So you opened all the car windows, put the baseball game on the radio and settled in to wait it out.  Kids wrapped in beach towels with sandy feet fell asleep in the back seat.

This is the first post of The Village in the Good Old Summertime series.  There are so many aspects I want to cover. Will you share your memories of those days, too?  It is so much better
when there are more folks participating.  I know you all remember Swift's Beach.

Swift's Beach was where Village families went to cool off during hot summer days.  Small and intimate it was closer, its beach was sheltered and safer for children. 
There was a sea wall in the water, too,
Here is yours truly in the water there.  No Esther Williams, though.



What a find to discover these photos on flickr of old 40's and 50's postcards from there.
Boom- it took me right back!!!

Ready???


When I saw this first photo...immediately I remembered that concrete sea wall: vividly.


Below: wow!  Voss Variety Store, the open air theatre where they showed movies at night. Hood's Ice Cream.  Just walking along languidly enjoying family and friends.  I would take this over Disney and its crowds and expensive rides any time..... So much sweeter and simpler.  A time to "take time" and savor its goodness. Everyone knew everyone, kids included. 
It was an extension of the Village
in many ways.  How could you not feel at home?


Your Mom made a picnic lunch for the beach: in the big cooler were 
sandwiches wrapped in wax paper and, of course, the ever present picnic drink: 
ZAREX 
in one of those drink coolers with the spigot. There
were plastic cups you brought home to wash and reuse.
Recycling was something we did not need
to be reminded about.


There were also homemade brownies or cookies.
Sorry, Twinkies, but Mom made our deserts...


Here is a teeny, tiny bit of nostalgic history with
thanks to pinkslipblog-blogspot.com for the memory.

"Zarex would be considered a 'water-enhancer' today. 
 Back in the day, it was called 'flavored drink
concentrate'.  For those who grew up in New England Zarex syrup 
was one of those odd-ball-local-food-and-beverage stuffs (think Moxie) 
that, unlike the estimable Marshmallow Fluff, never made it nationally.  
Zarex was mixed with water to make a sweet, 
vaguely fruit flavored summer drink.
It was cheaper than soda or Kool-Aid and went a whole lot further."

I remember when you got to the bottom of the cooler 
where the most syrup settled 
and that sweet taste.....

Believe it or not, Zarex is still going, since 1923, and here is their
way-back-when website video.  
Just to tickle your taste bud memories.




We stayed sometimes in one of these tiny cottages, although I remember one on the main 
beach street.  Your Mom putting on your little sweaters in the evening to go 
for an ice cream cone at Voss
and the night movie out in the open air.


I am going to take my time wandering through this series of posts.  They deserve meandering.
What happens is that one thing sets off another and the memories pile up.  Then they need
to tack on to others, and to be housecleaned and organized. You may find in these
that I may go back and forth.

That is the nature of the good old summertime.























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