MEMOIRS OF SCHOOL STREET VILLAGE: THE VILLAGE ECONOMY

MEMOIRS OF SCHOOL STREET VILLAGE

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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...

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

THE VILLAGE ECONOMY

The School Street Village was a world unto itself with a shared culture, faith and

language. The Village assured itself of its own food supply, its own

education and much of its entertainment. All of it resting on its economy

as the Village was a well-spring of industrious people.

Families, if they had one at all, had a single car. It was possible to walk just about everywhere. If it rained or it snowed, there was always the bus.

Small businesses dotted the Village. You could find nearly everything to feed

your family, and more,

by taking a short, pleasant, and often informative walk to one of the

markets that hugged the corners of the Village.

A partial list of those small markets would read:

Jardin's Market...corner of Purchase and Wilbur St.

(later Joe's Market and way before that Swayback's Market)

Serras Market: School St. just down from the Portuguese American Civic Club

White Front Market on Winter St.

Thomas' Market: corner of School St. and Longmeadow Road.

DeSouza's Market- Washington St. just outside the Village proper.

Santos' Market mid School Street

Taunton Baker Shop: School Street

Broadway Bakery: still there in another incarnation.

Before my time there was

Anabel Gomes Grocery, Johnny Soares Meat Store, Pestana Grocery Store, Frank Venture on Floral St., Azevedo Baker Shop, Tony Morals Store and Mrs. Gibeau Store of School Street.

Santos Grocery Store on School Street circa 1950's

Close your eyes and remember: the clean tangy smell composed of sawdust
on polished wood floors,

open baskets of fruits and vegetables. The smell of really fresh meat.
It was easy to maintain high standards in those

small spaces. Proprietors wore clean white aprons
tied in the front.
The men wore hats as did Mr.

Santos in this great photograph above.

Stay tuned for a lot more wonderful photographs and memories.

Photographs from Arlene Rose Gouveia and memories helped by Emma Andrade, Cynthia, Mary and Elsie Abreu. Note : Arlene gathered many of these photographs and memories from her work for the Old Thyme Taunton radio series hosted by Charlie Crowley and for the St. Anthony's Centennial Booklet.