by Bob Taylor

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)