REMEMBER
Close your eyes and go back in time
When you valued a nickel, not to mention a dime
When black was black and white was white
When life was as simple as day and night.
When strangers and neighbors were friendly and true
When families stuck close like Elmer’s Glue
When “bang, bang, you’re dead” came from make-believe guns
And rubbers and raincoats meant no school yard fun.
Roosevelt School and Red Rover, Red Rover
Boys on one side, the girls on the other
Hopscotch and Jump Rope, wear a good shoe
“Keep the Kettle Boiling,” then count one and two.
Chocolate milk and crackers for recess
Pens dipped in ink and Juicy Fruit pieces
Valentine cards and hearts made of candy
Who is your sweetheart…Judy or Sandy?
Coats in the closet and boots on the floor
Miss Finn’s got a ruler that’s worse than her roar
Miss Gruber’s got hair that’s stacked on her head
Mr. Bedel’s foot is dragging and heavy as lead.
Marbles and aggies in a small leather pouch
If you lost a ball bearing, there’s no bigger ouch
Shiny and smooth, it widened the eyes
Bring home that silver, the day’s biggest prize.
A walk through the park, a drink from the fountain
Drunks on green benches, high as a mountain
Hard-working Finns at the Pleasant Café
And coals for the furnace, heat for the day.
Ice for the ice box and clothes on the line
A cold beer at Jimmy’s for nary a dime
A visit from Hooper or Cramer or Ward
Don’t get a toothache cause Holappa’s bad.
Glasses from Feltus and sundaes from Manning’s
Johnson’s are good but less in the standings
Woolworth’s and Newberry’s were nickel/dime wonders
Gone from the earth, another sad blunder.
The Colonial Theatre’s up one flight of stairs
Lash LaRue’s whip cracks loud in the air
Tom Mix is riding his trusty horse Tony
Everything’s cool… nothing looks phony.
Polio shots and TB were scary
Measles and mumps…the Lady Tooth Fairy
If it’s not Scarlet Fever…you’ve got Chicken Pox
Look for a prize in the Cracker Jack Box.
Sweet Turkish Taffy that came in three flavors
Brown, pink and white, which did you favor
Hard ribbon candy and Waleeco bars
How ‘bout JuJubes, like jewels for the jaws.
Run down to Gramo’s for a sticky Big Wind
Cheese-shaped molasses, the taste buds best friend
Nason to Main Street in a May Day Parade
A volley of gunfire but don’t be afraid.
“My Buddy” sung by no one knew who
A voice far and distant as World War Two
Hurry home fast to dear Mom and Dad
A half a day off, for that we are glad.
At Parker Street Hall, you’ll see Punch and Judy
Our class is all there, it’s only our duty
March back to school and keep a straight line
If everyone’s there, you’ll get out on time.
If it’s things for your bike, there’s Western Auto
Firestone’s good too, that is their motto
Aubuchon’s fair but there’s too much to ponder
If it’s toys that you want, I suggest you go yonder.
If you go to Gruber’s, he’ll turn on the light
Go down the stairs, there’s toys all in sight
Never go up where there’s things for the house
That’s for the grown-ups to quicken their pulse.
Guns and holsters were the tools of our trade
Unless you’re an Indian, another charade
Sometimes we’re soldiers with war on our brain
You be the bad guy and I’ll be John Wayne
Chemistry sets and real bows and arrows
No one got hurt, the odds seemed quite narrow
BB Gun fights and rafting on rivers
A few blackened eyes and plenty of slivers.
Raiding the gardens for a tomato or two
Grapes off the vine with a purplish hue
Rhubarb with sugar and apples with salt
The fun’s in the taking like cash from the vault.
Walk past the graves before dusk turns to dawn
Read all the headstones but stay off the lawn
Spend a whole day at the Glenwood Cemetery
We’ll never die…we’re nowhere near seventy.
Here comes the vegetables right from the farm
From the back of a truck to a long eager arm
Tomatoes and cucumbers, I’ve stolen the two
What goes around comes right back to you.
Here’s Hokey Pokey…I hear his sweet chime
He never comes late, he’s always on time
Dig in your pocket for a quarter or two
A Push-Up for me…a Fudge Bar for you.
Flashlight tag when the hour is just right
“Punks” for mosquitoes if you smoke them just right
Hide in the bushes, a tree or a pit
If the flashlight’s on you, guess what you’re “it.”
Walk ‘cross the tracks and jump into coal
Black as a Negro in some Minstrel Show
Normie’s driving a make-believe truck
Johnnie the Blind Man smiles through his bad luck.
Carbone’s got French Fries on Halloween night
And then through the bars where a Coke is alright
The bartender says, “No beer till you’re older.”
Then sends you along where the air is much colder.
How ‘bout a steambath, there’s three in the town
Don’t peek over the wall and never look down
Elmwood’s the best and Powdermill’s second
River Street’s good, but third I do reckon.
Library’s upstairs right across from the movies
Sanderson’s great for scholarly doo-bees
Rainville’s got class for a young man’s good grooming
And if you need some new shoes, Jay’s Shoes is booming.
Sliding and sledding down Parmenter Hill
No “slewing” allowed, you might just get killed
Coast past the brook but never fall in
It’s cold in the winter but the ice is quite thin.
Let’s go to Tutto’s, everyone’s there
Three strings of bowling and pool tables bare
Movies at People’s, fill up the squirt gun
Shoot it five rows…it’s only for fun.
If we are lucky, Mr. Tucker’s not looking
If we get caught, our goose he’ll be cooking
Smiley Burnett and Hopalong Cassidy
Rogers and Autry…a young boys’ tenacity.
Pinky Lee hats and Smilin’ Ed’s Gang
Froggy the Gremlin, Shari Lewis’ lamb
Buster Brown Shoes and Midnight the Cat
Sky King and Songbird, none better than that.
Mary’s still working at Jim Ledgard’s Store
A boy or a girl…nobody’s quite sure
Velly Kangas has a shop full of shoes
And Cordy’s next door if you’ve long hair to lose.
Scan through the books at Coughlin’s small store
Keep both your eyes open to see who’s at the door
Books that are naughty to a puberty eye
Nellie won’t tell if your aim is to buy.
The Corner Store’s busy but Charlie’s not there
He’s somewhere down South in Florida’s care
When he comes back, he’ll sport a good tan
He’s thought to be rich, that travelin’ man.
There’s a small candy store with a bell on the door
It will ring when you enter, then you’ll hear it no more
If you’re there with a sweet tooth there’s so much to choose
For a couple of pennies, how can you lose?
At the Fine Arts Theatre, the lines move too slow
Who’s at the ticket booth, there’s a girl that I know
Maybe a smile or a wink will work magic
If I’m caught out of line, it could prove quite tragic.
Clothes pins for hanging and diapers of cloth
Smelly white pellets to keep away moths
Bar Rooms are busy alongside the river
Drinker’s at Soko’s, abusing the liver.
Snow is mile high, the town trucks are minglin’
The chains on the tires dig deep with a jinglin’
Marty’s got rides, his taxis come often
He loves his cigars, but why is he coughin’?
Biking to Hansen’s for a swim on Lake Boone
Or a cool dip at Vose’s, not quite a lagoon
Armenian picnics and the sounds of their song
It must be a Sunday…it’s been going on long.
What ever happened to real diner food
Why did they close if the food was so good
And Carhops and Drive-Ins, where did they go
For burgers and fries and a date for a show.
Leapin’ Leena bucks loud through the town
Not far behind is Fleepo the Clown
Twirling batons in front of the band
Little League players with gloves in their hand.
Go past Irene’s if you’ve no time to dally
You’ll save yourself time if you go through the alley
It comes out on Main and goes east to west
Or go right up Nason if it suits you the best.
Learn how to dance from both of the Merrills
The girls dance like angels, the boys more like devils
The Jitterbug’s fast and the Waltz is too slow
Go to the end of the line when you’ve finished the Stroll.
Davy Crockett and soft coonskin hats
The smell of toy guns from a roll of spent caps
Or grab your bean blower and a bag of green peas
But don’t hit the eyes…just shoulders to knees.
Pajama parties…boys not allowed
They have been warned, they’re rowdy and loud
Nevertheless…they’re the topic of chatter
Who will you marry…a serious matter.
Cigarette pack in your white tee shirt sleeve
Greasy long hair for a comb to relieve
Studs on your belt and engineer boots
Black leather jackets for Doo-Doo’s recruits
American Bandstand comes on right after school
Dick Clark is waiting and everything’s cool
He says Clearasil’s good if you got oily skin
And Wildroot’s okay if your hair’s not too thin.
Peyton Place is causing a rage
Find the best parts by flipping the page
Rodney Harrington’s not proper or prim
Forget Joe Bellino, I want to be like him.
Pickup baseball with a ball and a glove
Alumni Field is the place that we love
Football games when the leaves start to fall
Bonfires at Coolidge…come one and come all.
Football rallies on a brisk Friday night
The cheerleaders are shouting, “Fight Maynard fight!”
Tomorrow it’s Clinton for the Thanksgiving closer
How can we lose with a coach named DeRosa.
The girls’ teams are winning, they’ll stay in contention
But why do the boys get all the attention
A time will come when they get full recognition
And the boys will concede in a act of contrition.
Shovel the snow off the Coolidge School court
For a game of basketball if you’re into that sport
Under the eaves we’ll steal a good kiss
With the girls in the corner, how can we miss.
Christmas carols on a cold winter’s night
Go in for punch that’s “spiked” just right
Walk through the woods beside the Mill Pond
Take Ellie home so she arrives safe and sound.
Hot summer nights and fairs at Crowe Park
The smell of draught beer lure men from the dark
Spin the big wheel and win Lucky Strikes
Don’t smoke them yet till your age is just right.
Over the gazebo, the Maynard Band’s playing
Get ready for fireworks, I hope you’ll be staying
Lift up your heads and look to the sky
The fireworks sparkle and widen the eye.
Russo’s Market is a stone throw away
Salamone’s on Main if you’re going that way
If you’re looking for pizza, you’ve not far to go
Cedo is laughing and covered in dough.
Bachrach’s is busy at the brim of the hill
Buscemi’s is too right across from the mill
The A&P’s got coffee they grind out of beans
The Co-op’s the place where the Finns convene.
Thanksgiving Pond on a cold winter’s night
Skate on the ice with the moon as your light
Toast up some marshmallows with a cup of warm cider
Then grab your girl’s arm, she safe if you guide her
Roller skates rumble across the wood floor
A breeze from Lake Boone while the temperatures soar
But the boys fix their eyes on the bar down the street
Where beer and pizza are just two of the treats.
Take a walk to Oberg’s in case you missed her
Barry and John have a good-looking sister
Down a dark alley there’s a petite French café
Je m’appelle Jacqueline, Bob won’t you stay
DeGrappo’s Band’s at the Green Meadow School
Sounds of Glenn Miller when his music ruled
Trumpets and sax’s and clarinets woo
Just like the music, I’m In The Mood, too.
There’s a girl in the drug store that caught some boy’s eye
I think she’s from Maynard but not Maynard High
They come to the dance, her first one in town
While the Everly Brothers are singing, “Kathy”s Clown.”
If you’re looking for D.J.’s and records to play
We got two of the best with Roy and Ray
The 50’s were rocking but why couldn’t they stay
There’s a big storm in Liverpool heading our way
Heading towards Boston on a Friday night whim
The Old Howard’s waiting…I hope we get in
Downtown is rocking but don’t go alone
There’s a reason they call it the Combat Zone.
The Army and Navy’s is a favorite men’s store
There’s clothes and old surplus that soldiers once wore
Bearls and Rickles are stores for the girls
For sweaters and dresses and perfume and pearls.
Paul's Bakery is bursting with the smell of baked food
Stretch’s not far if you’re in a long drinking mood
The Red Door Tavern’s down a long flight of stairs
The secret is safe down that dark and deep lair.
I could go on but I’ve run out of time
I’ve run out of words and I’ve run out of rhyme
Doodyville’s gone, so’s the days we once knew
God bless Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue.
(to be continued)