Your Fondest Memory of Places in Worcester

i used to live on mayfield street.i went to school at abbott street elemetry school from kindergarden to 4th grade,there was the most wonderfull school my mom started as lunch gaurd and went on to be the head of the parents club.mr.supka was the princapil he helped mom get to run for head of the school distrect.soon the started o talk about tearing the school down i rember how much that upset me i loved abbott st.soon they decited to remoldel that and make apts out of it.thats whensome relif came i culd still look at it and i went there to get on brick to hold a memory and to this day i still have sighned by my prinicpal.

I lived in Worcester from 1929 to 1943. I used to live on Lyman St. I remember the 4th of July and the Veterans day parades that threaded there way through all the cemeteries that were in that area. I miss the cool drink stands and the very PATRIOTIC Worcester people. I go back every other Sept. for a month but it isn't the same now.........Bob

I miss the movie theatres like the Family, Warner, Capital, Plymouth. Elm St, Olympia, Lois Poli. Royal, Strand. Rialto & Park ave. I miss the old Greek pop corn guy with plenty of butter and salt on the Worcester common. All the stores on Main and Front St. Denholms, Filenes, Kresges, Peoples Bank, Woolworth, JJ Newburys Shacks, Prudence, Regal Shoes, Sherers. All the Hock shops, Eden Gardens, pool halls, Bowling alleys, Shacks, Sears&Roebucks, Western Auto, Speedys Drive in, Restaurants And Bars up one street and down another. A city where you never had to lock your doors.......I felt they lost their compass and couldnt find the way back. Now,after the loss of six brave men, they have gotten their bearings back and are pulling together as a family and taking care of one another like never seen before. God Bless The City of Worcester, The Real Heart Of The Commonwealth..

The Silver Spoon walk up diner out in what I think was Leicester - out on a back road in the middle of nowhere. Affectionately called "Greasys" by our gang,it was run by a couple of ladies and the special was hot dogs - 6 for a buck. They cooked them in a big pan on an old stove with onions and sauce and peppers and everything. The parking lot was always packed and it was the place to go for a carload of hungry young kids in highschool who just got their licences. I went there in the 1960-1963 timeframe.

Note from webmaster: You're talking about Hot Dog Annie's on Route 56 according to my mom, where the dogs were always 6 for a buck. Still there, still packed on the weekends, though the dogs cost a little more.

Thank you so much for this wonderful website. I was born in Worcester in 1946 at City Hospital. My family moved to a small suburb when I was 5 years old, but Worcester remained a huge part of my life until I was married. My first apartment was on Lancaster St. behind the Courthouse. I worked in Worcester from 1965-1970 at Harrington Richardson Arms Co. on the corner of Park Ave. and Chandler St. Although I went to school in another town, we spent a lot of time cruising Highland St. and going to Speedy's on Shrewsbury St. Years ago, the movie American Graffiti could have taken place in Worcester. I loved shopping downtown before the Worcester Center and the Galleria were built. Filene's Bargan Basement was the best. And Denholms & McKay was the most in place to buy clothes. There were so many great places to shop, Lerners was there on the corner of Pleasant and Main, and I remember Marion's (a little hat shop further down towards Lincoln Square near Barnards. I was quite a shopper back then. But I also remember the Art Museum. My husband and I had our first dates there. He also served with the National Guard and reported to the Armory once a month for weekend duty. My first child was born a Hanhaman Hospital. I loved the theatres, the clubs, like the Brandy Banjo, and going to eat at the El Morroco. They had the best salad dressing. I think it had mint in it. Anyway, Worcester was a great place in the 60's. I haven't been back for 30 years. I probably wouldn't recognize it. Thanks for the memories.

What I remember most about growing up in Worcester is Great brook Valley. When we lived there it was a real neighborhood. All the parents looked out for everyones kids and it was a great place to grow up. I lived there in the late 60"s and early 70"s. We(neighborhood children) would play baseball, football, and many other fun things people in neighborhoods just don't do anymore. It was a special time and I fondly remember GBV.

Well I just wanted to say that today makes 47 years since the Tornado of 1953.Many people died because of that terrible storm. i hope people who lived through that fateful day write about it here.

One of my fondiest memory's is visiting my grandmother's house on queen st. Then walking to the Mart with my Aunt Moe. It was always exciting to go to the Mart I always knew I was gonna get something there if it was a coloring book or a new barbie, what ever it was the Mart was the only place to get it from. I also have very found Memory's of Great brook Valley I lived there from 66 when i was one till I was 11 when we moved out. I went to Clark St, school from kindergardening through 6th grade. My Father made those time's the most memerable cause he was the little league coach and the school bus driver. All the kids in the neighborhood played together if it was a game of balltag, or rolloring scatting around the clotheslines it was fun no matter what we did. We also painted the cellar walls and used grocier carts and made a fun house downstairs. Great brook Valley was a beautifull wonderfull place to grow up and I Cherish every momemory of that time in my life. Ann M. Hetz

I grew up in the Leicester/Worcester area, and went to Leicester High School - I remember Hot Dog Annie's, and watching the sunrise from the top of the spiral staircased tower on Bancroft Towers, and I used to hang out with friends inside the old, crumbled remains of Union Station. There were very dangerous places to climb around in there, and on the precarious, rusted, lossely bolted catwalk thingy on the underside of it's curved roof - a dizzy height above the rusty scrap metal and crumbled cement objects and broken glass below it, as well as on top of the roof. I have one sad memory about a best friend of mine who I went to Leicester High with, Karren Barrier, who was brutally murdered on that same roof, stabbed, lit on fire, and kicked down inside below,in early 1990 (if I remember the date correctly). My favorite memories, however, were in Greenhill Park, East Park (if I remember that name correctly - it's on Shrewsbury street - saw a flock of bats there one night), two playground/parks on Dorchester street - one large, one small - and Homer's Field in the virtually unknown wild blueberry patches, where I spent, uhm, quality time with my beautiful ex-wife (then fiance) Dalrene ^_^ Another favourite memory, my *most* favourite, was my son, Seth, being born on June 8th, 1990 at Worcester Memorial Hospital ^_^ I also remember 'Bell Hill' (Belmont st. Hill - one of Worc.'s seven hills) before it had anything on it - just a lot of dirt and grass. The night-time city view from there was spectacular, and I'd get there by climbing Gage st., one of the steepest streets I've ever known. Speaking of Worcester's seven hills, there used to be a joke about Boy's Trade - it seems they were gonna call the school "Seven Hills Industrial Tech.", but the T-shirt's wouldn't look good with that abbreviated on it ("S.H.I.T.")!!!! ^_^ I remember the Q.V.C.C. and the Worcester Artsists Group, where local and other bands played like Crystal Myth, and Subjugator, and Toxic Shock, and I also remember a couple/few cool guys from the Worcester City Hell Rats ^_^ I've had many friends in Worcester, and I've missed the places I've been, people I've known, and times I've had there. Thank you for an *excellent* website. Keep up the great work!!!! Seeya!!!!

So much has happened to Worcester since I was a kid.I can remember a time when you could ride the bus and feel safe,and go out at night and not be in fear.I still believe that most people are good and the few that make it hard on the rest are the ones who will know what it is like one day to be afraid.I'm not scared even though I was once held up at knife point while driving my taxi. The guy who robbed me seemed like a nice guy and we talked and he told me how he had been out of work and it was tough.Then he put a butcher knife to my throat.That was 12 years ago and he spent 5 years in jail and I still have nightmares about that night

We arrived in Boston one bitterly cold January day in 1982 from England. Pete had a job with The Paul Revere Ins. Co. in Worcester and this was the start of a big adventure for us, especially as we had been married for only 5 days when we arrived. We ended up renting an apartment in Shrewsbury, Imperial Arms (I think!) and we had the most fantastic time. We stayed in the U.S. for nearly 3 years and have so many wonderful memories, skiing on Wachusett, sailing on Quinsigamond, hiking, biking, camping etc. etc. I have never tried so many sports and everything was on the doorstep. I still tell people that Mass is the the best place in the world to live you have everything. We travelled quite a bit while we were in America, from Boston down to Florida to Niagra thru' Maine, N.H., Canada, to Hawaii and the West Coast, but nowhere could beat New England. We came back to be nearer our family and now have 3 children, but I often wish we'd stayed. So if any reads this who remembers us, we'd like to say 'HI' and one day we'll be back for a visit. Thanks Worcester for enriching our lives!!!! One thing I miss is the four seasons, those bitterly cold winters when a snowstorm was predicted and everyone would rush out to stock up on beers! The spring and lovely hot summer and my favourite season - fall. Here the whole year mingles into one damp season!!

I was born 24 April 1953 so even though I lived through it I really have no memories of the tornado that ripped our house apart. My mother told me how the sky got very dark, she ran upstairs and pulled me out of the crib. After the storm she went back upstairs to find the crib showered with broken glass. We used to have a book with pictures from the tornado but it somehow got lost during a move. We used to live at 132 Fairhaven rd. I believe the elementary school I used to go to was called Greendale but don't really remember. We used to go to an amusment park called White City?, It was by a lake. Last time I was in town there was a shopping plaza at that location. My sister and I used to have fun on the slides in the funhouse. We used to slide down them on pieces of burlap. There also were some guys who always tried to chase us out of the building.

I remember going up to the old insane asylum with my friends,always trying to find a way into the building. We would always get chased away from security. I recently visited Worcester and needed to go see what the old building looked like. The buildings there are still majestic looking and I hope they preserve these structures for a very long time

My 1st wife went to school in "Woos-tah" in the early 70's. I remember hanging around the Boynton when it was still just a neighborhood bar. I remember Iandoli's Market. I remember (just barely) seeing John Sebastian in concert at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. (Long before the Centrum.)

It's been a long time. Make that a long long time. I grew up in Gardner and we would go to a dance hall. I think it might have been Lakeside. It was by a river and there was an amusement park with a long slide which started at the top of the hill and ended up in the water. The ballroom hosted big bands of the era, and had two large ballrooms from which you could select some soft cuddle dancing or go to the smaller and "get it on" This had to be around 1950-55, and only when I could borrow my dad's car since mine couldn't get that far. Would any other "Old Fart" care to elaborate...

Wow, talk about "waltzing down memory lane"! Hi there!!! I'm Bruce Hedquist, a Worcesterite. It's funny, for I just got back from an east coast trip, visiting my sister and her family on Long Island, NY. I decided to take a quick side trip up to Springfield, Greenfield (GCC alumnus), Worcester and the Cape. Things sure have changed in some places, like downtown especially, but a lot is still as I remember it too. My dad and his dad built a solid stone (boulder?) wall in 1950 and it is still standing rock solid and as true as the day it was built! The old house is still looking great too, in fact it's one of the nicest looking homes in the immediate neighborhood. Unfortunately I can't say the same about my second home in Paxton. Well anyhow, I was born at Hanhamann Hospital @ 1:05am July 31, 1942. I lived my first 16 years at 14 Park Villa Ave, just off Malden, in the "summit" area, just north of what's called "Greendale". I went to Burncoat (K-4), Sacred Heart Academy (5-6), Burncoat Junior High (7-8), Assumption Prep (9-10 1/2), and Wachusett Regional (10 ½ - 12), graduating from there in 1960. My family (Mom Frances, Dad Edward, & Sister Marilyn) moved to Paxton in the summer of 1958 living at 17 Tanglewood Road, just off Pleasant St. After a half year of "commuting" to the "Prep" and after seeing all those great looking girls in Paxton and Holden, I pleaded with Mom & Dad to let me go to this wonderful new co-ed high school in Holden! I didn't regret it for sure - what with all those late Friday night "submarine races" at the various reservoirs, sprinkled throughout those roads between Leicester, Paxton and Holden. Friends: Bill Crosby, Neil Parmenter, Penny Gould, Marcie Yankshus, Linda Humphreys, Roger Handy, Judy Lawrence, the Meola brothers, Paul and ? Antler (brothers), Faith Johnson, and Pete ? Then later on in Paxton: Andy Bertrand, John Kortes, Dick Wylie, Marsha Forrester, Jay Cunningham, Jack Whitney, Bob McMahon and Ann Lindberg. Cool places: Pinecroft Dairy, Hillcrest & Greenhill Park G.C.'s (golf), "sock-hops" at Burncoat Jr. High, Sci-Fi movies at the West Boylston Drive-In, the burgher & shake place across from WRHS (now a strip mall), hiking up old Blueberry Hill when there still was wild blueberries on top (now just Condo's and I-290), Mechanics Hall wrestling (at least the building is near a marina on the lake and he raced them. One time he took me out on a test run and I was just just so pumped up! To Donald A. Wilson : The June 19(?) 1953 Tornado was seen by me as it hurdled down out of the Holden hills, running easterly, just south of Malden Street, across Blueberry Hill and West Boylston Street and then crashing onto Burncoat Street! I was sitting on our front porch on Park Villa, playing hi-fi audio tapes of rock & roll music earlier recorded off a local radio station. I heard this roaring sound and first thought that it was one of those new fangled aircraft called a jet fighter. Then I saw the dark funnel shaped cloud quickly moving its way along and I yelled for my mom and sister to come out. They missed seeing most of it. But the next day, we visited the Burncoat Street disaster area, helping the Red Cross and friends whose homes were totally demolished. There was still a smell of death lurking. I lost a classmate in that one. Another thing was our church, the Holy Rosary on Fales, was so devastated that Assumption Prep opened up their chapel to the area catholics, for us to use for Sunday Masses. That was how I learned about the wonderful brothers and priests at Assumption Prep and soon developed an urge to get an education there. Well, my Mom was a big influence on that one anyhow. Previous to that time, the school was kind of cloistered dormitory type environment for only "canuck" kids. Now that campus is home to QCC (Quinsigamond Community College), ever since the Prep moved over alongside its big brother Assumption College. And Don, you were right on about "White City", just across Shrewsbury St. from Spag's and along the shores of "Q Lake". That amusement park was sure a wonderful place on those hot steamy summer nights! I took my girlfriend Doreen from Shrewbury there several times, while home on leave from the Navy, during the very early '60's. By the way, Don, you're not the famous Land Surveyor, who has written books on the subject, are you. If so, we got some talking to do. I'm a L.S. too, working out here in Fresno for the California DOT. Perhaps you remember me from some of your lectures and presentations. One last thing, after the Navy and some school and work in Maryland, I went to Greenfield Community College, graduating from there in 1967. I then worked at Raytheon a couple of years near Lowell and Andover, living in Boxford, before going out west in the early '70's. Anybody have any connections there? Fondly, Bruce

I have many many fond memories of Worcester. They all revolve around playing lead guitar for Crystal Myth (Rob, Dave, Brian, Sean, Neil, Greg, - where the hell are you guys?), working at E.U.Wurlitzer's (Jay Tullio - you are the man!!), and being madly in love with Gina Sodano (again - where the hell are you?). I can't believe the number of years that have passed. If any of this rings a bell with anyone PLEASE email me. Those were some of the craziest and most wonderful times of my life!

Growing up in Worcester in the 70's was a blast,I grew up all over this city,the things we did going downtown to rollerskate and then Webster Square in the early 80's.I'd have to say Green Hill Park on a snowy day was the best,and driving up to the Airport to watch the planes come and go.We lived in GBV and I went to Clarke St.School I remember this gym teacher named Mr. Brown who taught me how to do a back flip.Swiming at Brownie Beach and foolishly jumping off the catwalk(no-one ever got hurt)My Dad's family has a lot of history here too "The Hazard Clan".Alot has change from then and now but it still feels like Worcester

I saw Bruce Sunquist's note on Worcester and had to reply. I remember him and others that he named. I was born 1942 and lived on Marland Rd. I was there when the Tornado hit. I was outside with a wwII german helmet on picking up hail stones when my sister called and said there was something bad comming. I just made it to the basement when it went past. Marland Rd is right next to the Assumption Collage. We had slate shingles on our house and pieces of them were driven into the birch trees in our yard. My cousins car was moved about 50 feet and not a scratch,others were completly destroyed. My mother had to walk home just after the storm. I also spent a lot of time at the summitt. Richard Shyllberg

coffee kingdom, getting kicked out was expected. marybeth owned it and ran it like a queen. everyone went- people from the neighborhhood, kids after school. i used to stick my nose in the door to smell the fresh beans before i ever hung out there. the worester artists group and all the practice spaces afterwards. all the music and art that people were doing and getting together to show eachother and share. bancroft towers. yeah we always found a way to get in even if it meant climbing the damn wall. made some videos. the hill behind doherty, skipping class and taking naps, looking out across the city.

I was born and raised in Worc.and lived on the lower end of Vernon st (#193)-- went to Sacred Heart elementary and then St.John's High on Temple St.class of 55. I have often thought of those friends i had in my early years at Sacred Heart -- Pat Cross - Carol Bennett- Tommy Fulmer- Jimmy Dumont- Bill & Bob Grady - Ray Moquin - Dave Whelan - George Murphy and so many others which I cannot remember at present - In 1952 my Dad built a home on Heywood St. and we moved there in 1953 -- I enlisted in the Navy in 1955 and spent the next 20 yrs there retiring in 1975. I have stayed pretty much in contact with those friends i met in 1953 and beyond but it's those pre 1953 that I have no info at all on the above named folks. Thankyou

I grew up on Providence Street, right across from the Worcester Academy, and went to Union Hill Elementary School, Grafton Street Junior High and Commerce High School. I remember the Worcester tornado really well, and helped bring injured people to the hospital with my boyfriend. The devastation was incredible and I remember so clearly to this day. There was an incredibly majestic, old, Red Maple Tree in the front of the Worcester Academy, and that was my secret hiding place. I could climb that tree and sit in its huge, leafy branches, and watch my neighborhood go about its daily routine. I lived on Providence Street from about 1948 to about 1955, first at #88 then at #63 near Tagman's Bakery, and I can tell you that it was a great neighborhood to be brought up in. Everyone cared about everyone, and we shared a common grief when the Blue Starred Flags during WWII turned to Gold Stars. I will never forget my old neighborhood and the friends and experiences I had there.

Can anyone help me? I am trying to find out what happened to the People's Bank of Worcester. Seems they also had branches in Auburn, Holden, West Boylston and Westboro. Thanks.

Born in Worcester in 1948 and lived there until 1965. Would love to find friends from Winslow Street School, Seaver Street School, Chandler Junior High. Fond memories of Coes Pond and Carolyn and Cindy Marvin. Grew up on Winfield Street; any "kids" around from there. What a fun childhood with many races and religions and we all got along fine. My saddest time was when Pat Murphy moved and the Slowicks moved. My heart was broken for a long time. Don't have friends like that anymore!

Lived on Cutler for my first 6 months of life... then we moved out to Spencer. I can remember taking the bus into Worcester to the Registry to get my Driving License. - Spider Gates was never as scary as the stories. But it was always fun to drive down there. - mkp

Hi I was born in Worcester in 1939. Lived on Keefe Place that is not there anymore.Use to jump the train in my back yard and ride it to Lincoln Square got off at the boys club.In my back yard was the Black Stone Canal.I sold newspapers on the corner for 4 cents on Main St. also in front of St. Johns Church. Sold cool aid on Lincoln St. I went to Belmont St. School.Not there anymore.I remember all the theathers down town.I use to bum for coins outside the Plymouth and spend the whole day there. Spent many a day at Green Hill Park. I am so glad I had those memories. I moved to Holden when I was 13. Went to Holden Jr. High School. Great times. I could go on for ever. I think the best times in Worcester was the 40's and tha 50's.

im now 25 years old. i was born in worcester for the first yr of my life i lived on the coner of mendon and grafton st. then my parents bought a apartment on houghton st and to this day we still live in this apartment 25 yrs later except i moved up stairs.. my dad,s family had lived at 5 mendon st since he was a little boy and some of his family still live there now.. my fondest memories are going to the candy store at the coner of dorchester and houghton st. with my brother then going to the broken down old play ground across the street which is now rebuilt and a nice addition to the neiborhood thats were i take my 3 children to play. i went to grafton st school from kindergarden to 6th grade and i have to say my favorite teacher mrs. cutter i had in 1st grade is still there teaching that grade to this day.i remember playing soft ball at the big park across the street from east middle school i remember the hot days walking up to holmes field pool with my friends and the sound of the ice cream truck coming down the street. the best things about worcester is the many nice things i remember as a kid are still around and now my children can enjoy them too. sherry guinto

I lived in Worcester 12 years of my life now I'm in Leicester. I loved going to Crompton Park, Skylite, Elm Park, Vernon Hill, playing softball for Vernon Hill and Maranville, the church parking lot on Cambridge Street, Nami's Market, in front of Kendra's house, taking bus to Worcester outlet mall, train going bye at night, the monkey tree, Jackie, Corey, Lisa, Steven, under the highway bridge, in the fort, snow fort, church bizarre's on Cambridge Street, Millburt Street School Spree days & hebert's candy sales, Just Millbury Street school all together, recess, Mini olympics, projects fair, field trips, academic olympics, sunday school, community garden, patrol leaders, Billy, Danielle, Eva, Eric, and thats a lot of my childhood memories in Worcester :)

i've lived in worc/millbury my whole life until 'bout 2 years ago when i joined the air force. there's so many things i miss. i miss going to coney island and playing paradice by the dashboard light, just to tick people off because it was like 20 mins long and they couldn't hear their songs. driving down the highway and seeing allmerica financial, waveing at my dad at work (yeah, i was lame.)the smell of the air just after a thunderstorm, haveing to listen to peter, paul, & mary (which i also miss, mom.) driving to school in the snow, blareing WAAF. going to hampton beach every summer and kicking my dad's butt at the motorcycle game. there's alot i miss, and even though germany is pretty, it will never compare to the beauty that the northeast holds. i envy all that are there right now.

i miss worcester i grew up there all my life till i was 21 then moved to florida i wen't to south high in the 80s but you know what people be thankfull for what a beutifullstate you live in cause the whole state of florida does not compare with worcester it will alway's be home to me

I now live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I've been here since 1995. Prior to that I had lived in Rhode Island. I left Worcester in 1977. I had gone to St. Joseph School on The Hill and spent my middle school years at Shepherd Knapp School in Boylston. I graduated from Assumption Prep in 1968 and then went to Holy Cross for my bachelor's. Worcester and Worcester County have played a big part in my development. I am a proud native son. What do I remember? I remember the rolling hills and the magnificent fall colors that dotted the hillsides - even the ones jammed with three-deckers. I miss three-deckers. Living in the midwest I have found only one place that has authentic three-decckers. Madison, WI, just in the shadow of the state capitol. I miss Spag's. Who wouldn't!!! No bags at Spags. I miss Lake Quinsigamond and my uncle's house on the water. I miss water skiing under the Route 9 bridge. I miss my mother's restaurant and diner - Messier's - located on The Island. It was a great place to get a great lobster. It's called something else now and I think has a big green hat on it. I miss my house located on Blithewood Avenue - it was almost out of the city but still part of it. It's now the main office of a condo development called Rolling Oaks. I missed my backyard that was six acres large and nearly all woods. I would run back there and get lost in boyhood dreams. The woods are no more. The condos have taken over. I miss the spa at the end of Massasoit and Blithewood. You could get anything in there. Amything that cost a nickle. I missed the Blithewood Avenue school...though I never went there. I licked the playground. I miss the Worcester Auditorium where you could see Holy Cross play and all the big shows came there before the civic center was built. I miss the fact that no one knows where Worcester is and that Worcester is pronounced Woostah and not Wor-ches-ter. And that there is no "H" in Worcester. "Get the H out of Worcester" we used to say as kids. I miss Ware Pratts and the Worcester Art Museum - luckily still around and one of the best in the country for its size. I miss the the view from Bancroft Tower. I miss Wachusett Mountain. - I know it's not in Worcester but you could see it from there and visit it in 45 minutess. I miss Polar Orange Dry. The best soft drink ever. I miss frappes and really good fried clams and did I mention - rolling hills and absolutely eye-popping fall foliage right in the heart of it all - right in the "heart of the commonwealth." I salute you Worcester - home to the smiley face and the space age. Home to the valentine and barbed wire. Home to hard working people who dropped their Rs at the end of words like "cah" and "stah" and put them where they don't belong on words like "idea-r". To all those who read these words and have written some on this page as well - Worcester was a pretty special place to grow up in...a pretty special place to remember.

So much has changed since september 11th.I find myself thinking back to when I was child in gbv. It was a happy time.Be strong people and we will win this war.Happy holidays to one and all........................steve c

Wow, after reading all those memories, it just stirred mine. I remember dancing with Jimmy Scott at Lakeside. He was an old, old guy, but a great dancer. Don't remember the bands, but they must have been pretty good local guys. Also the group that played at on 371 Park Ave. That would be Emil Haddad's group. Great combo. They used to play "Stardust" when I'd walk in with my (then) fiance. He's long deceased, but pleasant memories remain. I used to work at Memorial Hospital, Lerner's (corner of Main) and at Worcester County Trust Co., before it became Worcester County National and then was swallowed by Shawmut and then, I guess, by Fleet. Is Fleet a Bank or a Medical appliance? I graduated Commerce High in 1951, but attended North and Major Edwards, when it was a High School. Now living (happily) in Florida. My guitar-playing husband and I belong to a group of country musicians who entertain five or six days a week at various locations around west central Florida. Retirement ain't for sissies, it's for having a blast! We both used to belong to musical groups up there, but at different times. Does the Worcester County Light Opera Club still exist? How about the group that performed the Messiah around Christmas time at the Auditorium. Great memories. Ralph sang with them (the group that sang the Messiah) and still sings with our groups down here. He's still going strong, and sounds great. I'm still pounding on my old keyboard and they still come out to hear us, so we must be doing something right. Thanks for the wonderful memories, Worcester!

I moved to Worcester in 1979. In was the best city I've ever lived. Three of my four children were born there. The people are great. I love everything about Worcester, the transportation, people, stores, all surrounding cities. My sister-in -law is still there. I've moved to Florida to be with my sick mother. But I would go back in a heart beat. I remember taking my children to Lincoln Park. My oldest son (now 26 years old) use to love the animals there, he always loved to see the pigs. I loved to see my children in the snow, and yes we always had sooooo much snow. Thank you for giving us such a good time. WORCESTER nancy m.

My best memory of christmas was in 1970. We lived in GBV at the time and we had so many people at our house and me and my brother Richard snuck into the kitchen and stole 8 cans of beer.Well being 10 and my brother 9 we only needed 1 beer to make us drunk as skunks.We lived on the third floor and we started tossing the beers we knew we could not drink out the window.Mr Blevins informed my father that beer was flying out our window,Mr Blevins lived below us in the same house.Well dad was a little ticked and he told us that Santa would not be coming that night.We cried all night until we fell asleep. We walked into our living room thinking the worst but when we looked we all had toys and Dad said that Santa gave us a second chance.I miss my dad and I will never forget that Christmas. May all of you have a safe and peacful holiday season.............stevc

I have many,the best was every Christmas time my mom& Dad would take us downtown on a Wednesday night yearly out for supper then we would walk up,and down Main st. looking in all the stores windows listening to Christmas carols out of each store,the displays were awesome Denholms with it's mechanical Santa,Across the street Filenes with the train.People carrying wrapped packages wishing each other Merry Christmas.I also have memories of going with my Grandmother downtown and she would get all dressed up,and I had to wear dress pants no dungarees in fact in 50's,60's when I was growing we never wore jeans.The Park theater at Webster sq.on weekends saturday matinees,we paid .$25 to get in a movie short subject afew cartoons,serials then .10 for drink .15 for candy or popcorn..50 for an afternoon of fun Paul B.

Briefly...Leesville Pond off of Hope Avenue...many days of fun camping nearby and walking on 'rubber ice' in the spring. The old YD Diner at the corner of Hope Avenue and Southbridge St...I worked there and at South Terminal Market next door. The diner is gone now. Was back in '94 for my Mom's funeral, and tried to find some of the old places. I left in the 50's to join the Air Force. Came back on leave many times. Miss the beautiful parks, El Morocco restaurant and my old house on the first corner of Tracy Place. Malvern Rd. School...where the teacher put our milk on top of the radiator...yes....until lunchtime. The trolleys on __________St. at the opposite end of Hope Ave...great ride downtown. I think they sold all the old style trolleys to Argentina, and bought the 'trackless trolleys'. Ed Foley

IMMORTALIZED IN WORCESTER I was born in Worcester and have lived here off and on for the past thirty years. My fondest memory/surprise was when I became “immortalized” on the bridge at Green Street. One day my best friend Belinda, her cousin visiting from Canada, and I were walking down Green Street and a group on photographers asked if they could take our picture for a mural. We said yes but didn’t think it would ever happen. I moved away and returned a couple years later to find that photograph painted onto the bridge. [We are the three girls on the left.] Over ten years later it is still there. Now that I’m moving from Worcester again, I couldn’t resist adding my fondest memory/surprise of Worcester.

Iwas born in Worcester March 3rd 1938, Ilived out main south. Went to Freeland st School, then Gates Lane school.and then South High 1955 I went in the Air Force. I lived across the street from Dolan oldsmoble. I remember Toro's market on Shrewsberry st. where you could buy a Sub Sandwich for .15cents. my Grandfather was good friends with Spagie, who owned Spag's in Shrewberry. My Grandparents worked at White City. Yes I have forn memories of Worcester. Would'nt change those days for anything.I moved to New Jersey in 61 and to Tennessee in June 89, two mile's from DollyWood theme Park.

I grew up in Douglas, which is right outside of worcester. I was born in 1985. Growing up, I used to love to go to the centrum for the circus, concerts and hockey. My first double date happened there. two of my fondest memorys of worcester though are a program that used to be run at the U Inc building on plantation street called safe homes. It was sort of like a Big Brother Big Sister program for GLBT teens. It was the only place during my high school years that I could go that I felt safe and just "ok" to be myself. The program still runs, but it has moved its location and changed how it is run. But nothing will ever beet those days standing out on their steps with friends just debating over things and having a good time. The other thing is the 4th of july program worcester puts on every year on shrewsbury street. Ever since I was a little girl I have attended. Many of my family reunions have happened there, and many dates. I moved away to NY last year and missed the 4th of july, but worcester will always be in my heart, and one day I plan to move home.

Worcester will always hold a special place in my heart. I was born 7/11/79 3:23 pm at Memorial Hospital and lived on Winfield St. for the first 17 years of my life. I remember the harsh winters shoveling snow off the basketball courts at Beaverbrook park--when the original courts were still on Mann st? My mother would walk me to Elm park to feed the ducks while eating hotdogs sold by the vendor on Hudson St. Throwing a grapling hook and rope throught the window of the Bankcroft Tower was always a fun challenge--the view remains the best that Worcester has to offer. Living on Winfield st, I spent most of my childhood running through the streets of Main South--May, Hollywood, Woodland, Queen, King, Stoneland Rd, Florence, Dewey etc. My mother would walk me to a playground on Florence st, but to get there we would had to walk by a tall pine tree that appeared larger than life. I would always try not to look at it because I thought it would fall down on me. Coes Pond, Goldstar Diner, the Above Club, the Mart (Main St.), Spider gates, trick-or-treating through Tatnick Square(Midland St.), Doherty High, and sledding down the Greenhill Park hills--damn trees! Anyone from Chandler Street School (Main South). I remember the great basketball rivalry with Woodland st. School and Elm park. Go Bluestars! The St. Patricks Day parade was always great--even better than South Boston's! I really could go on forever about Worcester. I'll make sure to write frequently to this forum. Thank you for holding it!

IN refernce to a queation for Janice LAhage about Peoples BAnk , thereis one I see on RT 395 south going towards exit 85. In which indeed brings you to Foxwood Casino's Sincerely Bea Vincequere

I was born in 1947 and lived in worcester went to union Hill Grafton Street jr. high and Commerce high after graduation i was married and moved to Auburn. I remember my grandfather taking me down to the train station to watch them come in also he would set his watch by the whistle every. As a teen I went dancing on saturday night with my friends to Mount Carmel (The REC) Father Bafaro always said the faster way home is the safer way. Thinking back life was wonderful and simple. I'm a grandma now and take the kids down memory lane they look at me quite puzzled. Summers at Lake Park Speedy's all of it was part of y life and will always be part of my dearest memories

GBV (#48) was my life from 62-77 and all of the fun we had playing and not having to worry about the crap that plagues communities these days. It was the best and if you were a part of it you'll always hold it fondly. Nice to see some familar names here, too! Motorcycle track Hot rocks Parkers Penny candy Bonfires on the 4th Youth Corps in the Summer(Gimp) Etc...

my best memories of worcester is when i had a dance studio on front st. then later on shrewsbury st. so many people have past through my life. i started teaching when i was 16 years old. before then i taught for tointon - hickey. oh such memories. friends that have still stayed in my life are so many through the years. i just had a call from walter fields who now also lives in florida after 15 yrs. he came to my home for dinner. daria atanian is one of my favorite people , she too is living in florida. my great friends the mc governs [miss kay ] are here for the winters. she too was a dance teacher. toots and lou ventresca , bev demarco, jerry conte, etc. too many to mention. my recitals are some of my best memories also. having a boat on lake quinsigamond with my family , baseball games at lake park with my late husband andy. murry broder, and all his shows. too many memories to write. i will write a book. honey felicetti

I remember the TOINTON-HICKEY Dance studio; which was just across the street from "The Mart's" parking lot. In the 70's, my sister- Terri Sturtevant and cousin - Cindy Jefferson attended classes with Mrs. Hickey. The Rodgers family also spent a lot of time there. My grandfather was a dance teacher (in Worcester) from way back - around the 20's and 30's; he went by the name of Al Mayo, his real name was Al Marengo. Al met Dot Rolands (I'm not even sure if her last name is spelt right), she was from Leceister. They had three boys; one of them being my dad William Sr. I spent most of my time around the block from the dance studio and The Mart, at IONICS AVE BOYS' CLUB. I had some great teen memories of the "club", but remember some of the bullies when I was younger. Those that I had close frienships at the boys' club were: Richard Peterson, Harold Booth, Tony Kutcher and of course my cousins - Danny, Bobby, and Joey Jefferson. I can't forget the Plouffe boys - Ronald and Rayomond. I remember the Wooster boys were the ones to fear in those parts (Main South); but I later got along with Kenny and Willie. Suzanne Knowlton and Maureen LaVallee (sp) were some of the girls I remember from that area; of course there was Mary and Nina Kutcher as well. The LITTLE LEAGUE PARADES were some of my most memorable thoughts of Worcester. They started from May street, headed down Main Street, and ended somewhere around Chandler Street. A goofy thought came to mind aboutthe high school marching bands; I'd be walking along the sidewalk (as the parade went by) and would find myself lock-step with the drums - kid's stuff, it was great. I'm now retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after 22 years of service, and am about to begin a second career (after going to college in my 40's) as an elementary school teacher in Florida. Mr. Pero at Woodland Street school (in the 60's) and Mr. Paul O'Neil, a math teacher at Grafton Middle school(in the early 70's), have to be the two teachers that I look back at that made a difference in my life. I hope I can follow in their footsteps and make them proud - where-ever they are. If I forgot anyone - sorry.

Where do I begin... I miss so many of my friends from the Worcester area. From 1965 thru 1972 I played in bands and did shows as a single...worked 6 years for murry broder troupe I miss a lot of that group. In the early 60's my band "The Night Riders" played a lot of outdoor shows and teen clubs then I got a little older and formed "Dave Daniels And US" and played all the local clubs and dinner clubs in the area. Went to Chandler Jr. High and wish I could talk to the old folks again. I live in Shreveport, LA now and have been in the music business all my life it seems... I traveled accross the country as lead guitar player for "Claude King" ( Wolverton Mountain ) for over 14 years. Married, two kids and run an internet business now. Well I miss Worcester and if there are any folks that still remember me I wish you well and hope you think of me as I do ya'll a lot. From David Daniels aka Cotton Dan...

I was born in Worcester November 9, 1958 and baptized at Our Lady of the Rosary Church. We lived at 34 Oneida Avenue and moved to PA in 1965. Although I lived there a short time, I have fond memories of taking Dance classes from Mindy Kay (who I swear is referenced in a previous email as I believe her last name was McGovern). My first recital was a tap dance to "The Good Ship Lollipop" - and I still remember the first step!!! I'm still dancing and hope Mindy Kay is too. I went to school at St John Ascension - first and second grade and still remember my "best" friend Mary - but can't remember her last name!!! My other best friends from my neighborhood were Chrissy Smith and Tricia Higgins. My sister Cindy and I went back about five years ago and had a blast rediscovering old landmarks/memories. Our Dad worked for State Mutual (different company now) which we see when we head down 290 on our way to/from visiting Cindy in Maine.

Worcester East Middle School 73-74, Earth Day cleaning the empty lot across the street, Marcus Department store with an elevator operator, visiting the Easter Bunny at Denholm's downtown, Zayre's near Beaver Brook, football games for South at Foley Stadium, Fishers Market on Maywood Street for kool-pops, The Spa on Lovell Street for comic books and donuts, Columbus Park School Miss Cote, Mr Houle, and the big television in the gym to watch the NASA Apollo launches. The 1976 Bi-Centennial Worcester parade and the BubbleGum ball, I rode in a car in the parade after winning a spot on the Queen's court! Eddy's Dept Store when it was two buildings one for men/boys and one for women/girls, The Rolling Stones performing a surprise concert at that little bar on Green Street circa 1978-79?, Bozo the Clown taped on Channel 27 on Beverly Road-visiting the show with Campfire Girls and being given a gift of Wonder Bread. Dance classes at Mindy Kaye dance studio on Bluebell Rd in the Burncoat section of town. Fairlawn Hospital before the renovations, very spooky. Swimming at Heald's beach on Indian Lake private and so clean. Watching Mark of the Devil at the movies and receiving a free "puke bag of popcorn" because it was so scary. Lime Rickey's at so many of the little sandwich shops. Milk delivery from Hillcrest Dairy on Park Avenue and Maywood Street. Crashing Clark University Spree Day while a student at South High (just paint your face and you'd fit right in!), Maury's Delicatessen on Main Street. St Pat's celebrations at Breen's, McGuire's, and Mulcahey's. The Pub on Park Avenue when it first opened in the late 70's. Bennett Field at Webster Square, a maddening crowd of mostly Irish from large families drinking beer and running from the cops. Hurdy Gurdy record store on Main Street. Hip Bone Boutique on a side street near downtown, sold very cool clothers in the early 70's. Cinema 1 at Webster Square playing Jaws for about a year. The vending machine on Main Street near Minit Car Wash that sold milk. The shoe cobbler next to The Blarney Stone on Maywood Street. The castle of stone on the little hill behind Columbus Park School. Running through the woods along Beaver Brook Parkway and watching a kid paddle a canoe in a huge puddle after a tremendous rainfall. The Little Kitchen for daintly lunches when shopping with Mom downtown. Christmas window displays along Main Street and the lunch counter at Kresge's. Ice Skating at the Webster Square Rink, and roller skating at Mechanic's Hall. Aerosmith playing at one of those two places? Sunday afternoon rock concerts at Institute Park. The Kinks playing at WPI. Being cool at Chadwick Square Diner. Kemp's burgers on Park Avenue before Chandler Street. The new slide at Greenhill park that spiraled! Ice skating on Coes pond. The Ivy Boutique at Tatnuck Square for upscale beautiful women's clothing. Windsor Button shop for earrings and all kinds of cool stuff, Plum's lounge, and the nightclub underneath it all at the Worcester Center Galleria. Taking a day trip to Whalom Park and riding on the Tumblebug and wooden roller coaster. LakeView amusement park in Mendon, where they had a ride (the caterpillar?) that had a hood cover the car once the ride got up to a certain speed. Onion rings and fried clams at Mille Mitchell's in Mendon. The Oxford Drive-In. Weddings at the Knight's of Columbus on Coes Pond. Hit or Miss store on Mill Street for clothes bargains. Gloria Stevens workout center,(a pre-cursor to Curves). Crystal Park and people cutting class from South High. The Klondike Inn restaurant in Grafton. Good Fridays spent partying at "the res" on Apricot Street. The oval , Tessier's field, the Horse Field, Friendly's on Main near the Leicester line, and finally where are they now; East Middle Alums; Patty Errede, Christopher Goretti, Eddy Soucie, Mr Vuona, and how about those Columbus Park alums; Wendy Maciejewski, Mary Gully, Christine Connors, Brendan Murphy, James Kenny (GIGI), Sheila Lavallee, Beth Ayres, Patty Bennett, Karen Bolen, Miss O'Connor (Grade 2), Miss Nugent (Grade 1), David Eisner, Francis Canavan, Phil Gosler, Debbie Wise, and the list goes on.....

I was born in 1952 and have lived in Worcester my entire life. I grew up in the Greendale section. Attended Andover Street and Burncoat Jr/Sr HS. I now live on the west side..Went swimming at Norton/Heald beach and would enjoy a root beer at A & W near the black eagle landmark. Things I remember: The Boulevard Spa The Comic Strip The Flamingo restaurant Mount Carmel Fairs Robert Hall clothing store Seeing The Rolling Stones, Beachboys etc at the Auditorium Chicken wingos at Kemps White City amusement park Bonfires on the 4th at Kendrick Field Santa visiting the FW Woolworth store on Lincoln Street Annual CYC Parades The Rag Man..Milk Man...Bread Man Joe Swartz Little League games Hanging out at "The Wall" Ice creams at Pinecroft Fireworks on the 4th @ Greenhill Park I could go on and on........ The memories I hold dear...Worcester was a great place growing up and is a great place growing old......

i remember the little theater, the worcester memorial auditorium with the late george flynn as a lighting man.the eden gardens / tillies / bronzos / kelleys rainbow gardens. the red top./ the moores./ the frolics/ all places where i entertained over the period of so many years. people like the conti bros. nils hagberg, charlie lucci, walter fields, carol zannotti, the nadeau sisters, lillian sidaris, tottie fields, smiling jack smith, jack carter, andre the musician, all the wonderful bands that played those clubs.i remember my theatrical store near spags, so much fun. the st. anns orphanage that i brought shows to.traveling with the murray broder shows, harrington corner where my andy waited for me every day after working at telechron. dancing in front of city hall with the red cross selling war bonds. it goes on and on.

Flying to New York from Worcester Airport (Battery-B Farm)on the DC-3's of Northeast Airlines in the late 1940's and early 1950's. Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Baily Combined Shows, at Beaver Brook Playground. The penny candy at Jack's drug store on the corner of June and Chandler Street. Sunset Park, Lake Quinsigamond on hot afternoons. Snow sliding on Newton Hill. Those great steamed hot dogs from Tom's lunch cart. Late nights at the Broadway on Water Street. And much, much more.........

I moved to Worcester in 1956 with my family. My mother Helen Wyman (Auger)was born in Worcester in 1916, and lived on St. Anne St. I grew up off of Providence St. near Worcester Academy on Chapin St. I have many wonderful memories of Worcester. My friends and I would play stickball in the schoolyard of Union Hill School until someone hit a homerun onto the roof of the Academy Auditorium. Then we would go look for returnable bottles until we had enough to go down to Zeko's store on Providence St. and buy another "pinkie'. We had a ball sledding down the nearby hills, and riding our bikes and scooters down Dorchester St. I went to Providence St. Jr. High; and would walk most of the time down Providence St. to School, meeting schoolmates along the way. I would go skating in the winter on the frozen pool of Vernon Hill Park with my first girlfriend. Some of the best times I had were singing in the Boys Choir at All Saints Church on Pleasant and Irving Sts., going to the Boys Club on Ionic Ave, and bowling candlepins with my buddies down off of Waldo St.

Bell pond, Green Hill Park, Lincoln Square are forever in my memory. During hot summers, I could swim at Bell pond to cool off. Ever try swimming across it? The pond was best during the 60's while being a kid. Remember watching the fireworks from atop of Bell Hill during the 4th? Great place to see the sights. Green Hill was green during the summer and white with snow during the winter. Sliding down the hills at the park was fun. You could get a cardboard box and slide down the grass during the summer and sled/toboggan during the winter. At the lake there in the park, people would fish for carp, feed the ducks and catch some sun while hanging out. Green Hill was awesome. This might sound dumb but Lincoln Square was a rotary with a large flag pole in the middle sitting in the center of 5 streets at the bottom of Belmont Street. The Boy's Club faced the circle and us young kids would go to the club after school. Sometimes, my brothers and other kids would play in that square after leaving the club. We'd spin round & round real fast, get dizzy and then lie down face-up near the flag poll. We’d look up and watch the flag spin around in our dizzy state. We played all kinds of tag games there -- it was fun.

One of my fondest memeories as a child is my Mom & Dad taking me and my siblings to "Holand Rink", up on Lincoln Street, Worcester, right accross the street from "All America" formely called "State Mutual". This is where most of us learned to swim. They had swimming lessons available to the public that we participated in at least two or three days a week. At the end of the swimming season in the 1960's, I can remember jumping off a boat that was provided for the swimming test and passed. Unfortunity "Holand Rink" is no longer there. Donna (Ducas) DuVarney

i remember dancing at the rainbow garden when i was 12-13. i danced with the service men in between shows. i tapped danced and twirled the baton. my mom was there with me. we had a great time. i took dance lessons with tointon & hickey in the middle 1040's. does anyone have pictures of the rainbow garden or the brick bar that i also danced at.i would love any memoribilla from that time. also the dance school. thanks gertie

Like Billy Sturtevant I hung out at the Ionics Ave Boys Club and fought in 6 Golden Glove tournaments, wonder if Billy Sturtevant has a brother named Al (Alfred).

Please allow me to resubmit my story with the proper spelling about "Holland Rink" Thank You. One of my fondest memories as a child is my Mom & Dad taking me and my siblings to "Holland Rink", up on Lincoln Street, Worcester, right across the street from "All America" formerly called "State Mutual". This is where most of us learned to swim. They had swimming lessons available to the public that we participated in at least two or three days a week. At the end of the swimming season in the 1960's, I can remember jumping off a boat that was provided for the swimming test and passed. Unfortunately "Holland Rink" is no longer there today. Donna (Ducas) DuVarney July 15, 2005

Baking Baklava with Grandma Flo :)

I grew up on Park Avenue from about 1956 until 1971. I lived next door to the Monfreda family. I lived at 458 Park Ave. We had so much fun all the three deckers filled with kids. I went to Downing St School, Woodland Prep and graduated from South High in 1972. I too remember swimming at Coes Pond. I also remember Izzy's penny candy store. I went to the Methodist church on Park Ave which was later torn down to put up a KFC. I remember the Fish and Chip store on the corner of Park Ave and Enfield St. They were the greasiest and the best Fish and chips around. Cumberland Farms was across the street from us on the corner of Downing Street. I remember when the lights went out in 1965 it was so much fun for us kids! Most of all I remember make sure you're in by the time the street lights come on! Lynn (Pierce) Peterson

I was born 1937 in Brooklyn,N.Y. moved to Worcester in 1945. I remember when WW1 ended and had my first double bubble gum. I attended St John grammer school on Temple St and attended Commerce High, class of 1956. Old friends, Sally Macki, Judy Johnson and Martha Carlson. I went dancing at Our Lady of Mt.Carmel. Swam at Bell Pond, Coes Pond, Lake Park (Lake Quinsigamond) Spent many Saturday nights at White City, Subs from Toro's and Toscano's, Parkway Diner (which I visited 2003) Down town was alive with departments stores, Movie houses, Lois Poli, Warners, Lois Poli Elm and the Capital on Front St. We shopped at Richard's Heleys at the corner of Main and chandler. I think of other old friends, Johnny Salerno, Toni Penucci, Loretta Neadeau (The Neadeau Sisters) Does any remember Me? What happened to Leofanti's in Grafton, I went to school with Aldo Leofanti , Buddy Gabriella, Tony Tadisco. I left Worcester in 1974, have since Lived in Colorado, Texas and now have retired to Florida. But I would give anything to return to Worcester, where my heart and fondest memories remain.

Worcester was a huge part of my whole life - although I moved out of Massachusetts in 1980, I always like cities that remind me of Worcester, which is one reason I like my current home (Baltimore). My parents were from Worcester - married at Christ the King in Tatnuck in 1957, 2 blocks from her parents' house. My dad's family lived on Lagrange St off of Main St, which I understand is now a very unsafe place but in the 1940s-60s was still an Albanian immigrant enclave. We moved from Connecticut to West Brookfield in 1969 and I worked in Worcester almost every summer while I was in college, including one summer at Peoples Bank in the (then brand new) Worcester Center and one summer at Riley Stoker (does it still exist??). My fondest memories include going to the main library every couple of weeks (our big Saturday outing, go to the library and visit all the grandparents), shopping at Denholms where the elevator operator announced the departments at each floor, going with my grandfather to Spag's (I still have a yardstick from Spag's) or with my grandmother to Iandoli's. My grandfather's mother was part of a family with several immigrants from Ireland who came in the 1880s but he lost touch with them because she died of TB in 1911 when he was only 8 - I know they're there - if anyone comes of a family named Cronin whose patriarch was Daniel from County Kerry who came over in the late 1880s aged about 20 and spoke Irish at home, you're probably related to me and I'd love to find you!

Some of my fondest memories of Worcester were when I was just a teenager and was my Dad's "secretary" for the Ionic Ave Boys Club, my Dad was well known and loved by all that had the pleasure of knowing him, my Dad was Mario Sarro, Sr, the Ionic Ave Boy's Club Boxing Instructor. I used to type all the programs for the Golden Glove tournaments and was always in attendance at the events - to this day, boxing is still one of my favorite sports, not so much the sport, but the memories I have of the time I shared with my dad.

I was born in Worcester in 1979 at Memorial Hospital. I grew up on Windsor St, just below Green Hill Park. I went to Harlow St Fundamental Magnet School. I went there until I was in thrid grade and then moved to the "country" after that...i.e. North Brookfield. I remember going to the Galleria and Skylite Roller Skating rink. There was another rink we went to around the corner but I don't remember the name of it. There was a place on Lincoln St that had the BEST fish and chips, but only on Friday nights. I remember going to Caldors in Lincoln Square. I LOVED the fireworks on the Fourth at Greenhill Park. Lots of good memories from Worcester. I used to hang out with Joe Angelini, Jeff Fellows and a few other kids from Windsor Street. I loved growing up there.

All right Billy Charest! I remember the name and vaguely remember the face. Yes, Alfred (Al) is my brother. He now lives in Tampa. Mario was certainly a great man. I never got into boxing at the boys' club - I was on the swim team- but always admired Mario. Will (Billy Sturtevant) Marengo

I was born in Worcester. My parents came from Puerto Rico to leave here. They bought a small little apartment away from town. A couple years later we then moved to Washington Heights. I have so many memories of living there. My brother would be off at Pre-School and my dad would be working and me and my mom would just go strolling around. Before I started Pre-School we then moved into town in this three story apartment right next to Santiagos Supermarket. Me and my family would go shopping there all the time. Though later they would replace this little market into an even bigger market. It still had the same name though. I went to Chandler Pre-School. A nice little school for young kids. Great teachers when I first went there. Kindergarden. My first year at Seven Hills Charter School. The bestest school in the city of Worcester. Her name was Mrs.Hines. A great wise teacher. Though I only had her two years. She then moved to Boston with her husband when I moved to second grade. For second grade I had Ms.Pain. Need me explain no more. Third grade. Ms Howes. I will never forget Ms.Howes. She changed me so much. I had her for third and fourth grade. It was like a party every day with her. Literally. I remember the Comb Commercials. Boy you would wish to see this little project we put together. Hilarious. Fifth Grade. Now I dont remember this teachers name,but then again I would only have her for 3 and a half months. That is I would be moving to Orlando. Now I still havn't explained everything. During my Seven Hill years I lived in the bestest complex in the city. Plumley village. So many memories! We would walk to the Media Mall or the Centrum Centre. The Centrum Centre was by far the most amazingest place in Worcester. WWF,Britney Spears,the circus. Again it was awesome! Everyday I would watch WWF with my brother and cousins. It was my daily schedule. First do homework,then play outside with my bestest friend Talia and Denmar,(who I will explain to you about in just a moment),then go inside and watch WWF. Now Talia and Denmar. Talia was hispanic just like me. She was my age and but only a grade higher. Now she just started Highschool. Denmar was her little brother. I believe he's about 11 years old now. Anyways we would play outside and build little dirt houses and ride our bikes. I loved hanging around with my best buds. November 8th 2002. The day I would leave my little town behind forever. It was a long trip ahead. We packed all our stuff up,which took up to three months because we were still waiting for an apartment. We then hit the road towards the future. Now Talia and Denmar would be moving to Austin the next summer. I talk to Talia on the phone every other Holiday. We are still the bestest of friends. Including Denmar. Orlando is way different from Worcester. Lots of crime here and different places. Of course. I'm now in the eighth grade,still in middle school. I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up and start a business that I could make lots of money out of. I'm now into that celebrity stuff. I've been to Universal,I've been to Sea World,I've been to Disneyland. Yes. So many things have changed since then. Including me. Though somethings have never changed. I still watch (WWE),though my favorite wrestler Eddie Guerrrero died just a few weeks ago. I sort of enjoy the outside. I'm very lazy now. And I enjoy being with my friends. Somethings never change.

I rememeber Worc very well, i remember my Mom visiting with Honey Felicetti, my uncle jack danced there,My family grew up on Benefit street (main south)I attended Woodland St school, grew up with the worsters,nick kutcher, the metallics, plouffs, and many others i had the biggest crush on Billy sister Theresa Sturtevant, i remember her and cindy dancing to the alley cat song at a talent show at school well im 41 now Living in the lakes region of New Hampshire And Still Miss The big city This is an awesome site Thanks to everyone who posted it brought back some good memorys..Will return often jj

I lived in worcestor as a young child from 1955-1962. My parents were dirt poor. We moved from one furnished dump to another. Oxford St., Dudley Pl., Austin St., Chandler St., Pleasant St., Orange St. and others that I cant remember the names of. I went to kindergarten at the Oxford St school. I remember the neighborhood had many huge old buildings and a lot of trees. I remember an apt on the corner of Austin and Oxford that still haunts me today. The place was scary. My dad died in 62 and is buried in Hope cemetary. Piedmont St was another sad memory. I think kids today have it better, I hope. Worcestor back then, was a dead end for kids from a poor family.

the worcester county light opera club was my first intro. to live stage performing. i went on to major in theatre and communications in college and acting and dance professionally in equity shows, feature films and tv as a member of the screen actors guild.i still am active in this & sporatic undercover special police work! i have wonderful memories of studying acrobats with george & ruby hickey (tointon hickey) across from the mart. is the store still there? the dance recitals (shows) were wonderful and my mother was also a theatre buff. i was fond of the hagberg family...nils hagberg...his daughter susie helped me with tap dancing..murray broder.. friendlys..filenes basement..denholms..barnards..my father worked at harrington richarson.mom was a wonderful social worker in worcester..parents are buried in b'nai brith cemetery. i was born in worcester..memorial hospital and lived on the 'west side'...between chandler and may streets..abbott street school...miss cahill..(6th grade teacher).. chandler junior high... (mr. reardon..art class)..classical hi..(too many 'clicks')& more memories... my sister miffi also remembers worcester well..

My memory was about a small hamburger place in Greendale, Worcester. Not A&W... I cannot for the life of me remember it's name. The hamburgers cost 20 cents and had little cut up onions in them. It was long before McDonald's came along. Was it Castle Burger?? Any way it was a old hang-out of mine. Anyone remember????????

I remember going through the piece of woods I called the "black dirt". There was "cinamon" there, rocks of bown stuff you could write with like chalk. Then I would enter another neighborhood and get to Coes Pond. When I was young, we'd swim at the "Knights" or Knights of Columbus. Then it was closed to the public. Other people in my neighborhood said Coes's was too poluted. There was a lot of trash in the woods, and the water was brown. But I swam there every day in the summers. I could swim across to the Webster St. side where the Big Discount was. I brought an old pair of glasses with me so I could see from the middle of the pond. There was an island to stop at. When I was 16 I met there a boy I loved named Jimmy Morelli. Also there was a boy named Sainty or Joey Saint Marie,a guy named Van, and a girl named Mary Borowy. The great thing about Worcester were the many ponds to swim in. Also,You could always get halfway up a hill on the bike from the speed from going down the previous hill. Elm Park had great bridges to ride a bike over. The Worcester Art Museum and Craft Center were wonderful.So were the Alternative School and Dynamy. I also remember Whalom Park and the amusment park at White City.(Why was it named that?) Davie Daniels, did you know my dad, Harold, he used to mention you, or my brother, Preston? They were musicians. Thanks for the site. Rhonda Wainshilbaum

My hometown, Worcester, MA born in 1946. Greatest part of my life was my childhood. Went to Dix St School, Sever St School, Oxford St School then to Commerce High. Spent Saturday nights at Mt Carmel dances. Afternoon at Speedy's on Shrewsbury St. A friend of mine, her grandfather owned Homers Lunch on Front Street. I worked at Waite Hardware while in high school. My best friends father worked the elevator at the old Mayflower Hotel on Front St. Use to shop at Denholms, Barnards. Remember the old record store around the corner from the Warner Theater ?? you could go in and listen to the records before you bought them. MEMORIES are the greatest!!! Mary (Didzbalis) Arduca

My favorite memories of Worcester are of my grampas beach-Point Rok. My grampa John Raines passed away this past week and I am cruising the internet to try and find some photos of him from the fire department. I stumbled across this page and enjoyed reading things that my dad Ronald boudreau has mentioned to me growing up. Nice to read them and smile when I need it.

I was born in Worcester in 1944, seems like a lifetime ago when I read the memories people have presented here. We lived on Vineyard Street across from a sandpit (I think that's what it was). There was a green pigeon coop on the top of the small hill there. Now, I believe a church is on that spot. I remember watching the coal truck dump coal through our basement window, I would watch those black stones slide down that metal shoot, seemed interesting at the time. I attened Columbus Park (or street) school only until the second grade then we moved to Auburn. My father worked at Norton Company, they would give the employees free turkey's every Thanksgiving. That roller coaster at White City made me real nervous, but I loved it, I was 5 or 6 at the time. All those movie thearters; candy, two movies, cartoons, newsreals..whew! What a bargin! I was all less than $2 and that include the bus ride from Auburn. Now the popcorn is $4, yes I still like movies and candy.

Tointon-Hickey Dance Studio, I had forgotten about that. I went there from 60-64ish with my then best friend Patricia O'Brien. I recall the recitals - boy, I wasn't very good... The Mart, Ionic Ave Boys Club...my first dances there when I was 11 or so. The YMCA dances, South High School (Class of '64)going to dances at the Lake when the Black Orchids played, at the Armory... I spend days on this website, memories of my childhood (sigh). I worked for the Telegram & Gazette before moving to California after the '78 blizzard. My brothers still live there. Barb (Siergie) Knox

I remember Speedy's and East park, being the best places to hang around. I grew up on Shrewsbury Street, Camassa Terrace to be exact. I went to Adams Street School and remember Mr. Riley teaching us there. We watched the Coca Cola Bottlers thru their window on Shrewsbury St on the way home from school. My dad wad born in Farno Italy and came to America thru Ellis Island in 1911, along with my grandmother, 1 sister and 2 brothers. My childhood from those days growing up will never be forgotten, neither will the Parkway Diner, Scanos, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Father Bafaro and all else. Natalie

Moved to worcester in 1979 in the 2nd grade at May St school. Hanging out at Worcester State College, getting chased by the security. Good friends, Erol, Jeff, Pat, Mike....Abbot Street school closed in 5th grade, we got all the "new kids". We thought we were cooler. Just missing Chandler Junior high (closed), had to go to Forest Grove. Missing the bus on purpose in the nice weather and walking for 45 minutes to get there. Sneaking cigarettes behind The Dairy Mart and the cleaners at June and Chandler. Going to Keggars by coes pond with huge Bon fires. And behind Doherty. The cops would come up but you could see their flashlights, and take off. Going to Arthurs Bagels on June Street. Then went to Worcester Voke. Most of my friends went to Doherty. Good times

I have been reading all about these wonderful people from Worcester and how they enjoyed their youth here in our great city. I too ,recall many things and places that I loved in my youth , also. "Johnny Hines" was the first place we kids went to every Saturday night to dance. Then we went to and saw all,the big named bands at the Plymouth theater.Such as Danny Kayes orchestra. who would allow the customers to lead his band.Not to mention all of the others that appeared here in the early 40's and the 50's. We also went to the Polish club on Green St at least three times a week. Had lots of fun there. Then we had more fun times, down the Lake Ball Room ,dancing and where we saw more named bands like the Dorsey Brothers...Harry James...Glen MIller and many more Those times, we were all in the poor catergory but oh ,we had it all. In the winter we had access to any where we wanted to slide or go skating , Lake Quinsgamond was first priorty and the smaller ponds in each ones area. I wish that my children could have had the chance to see how how happy we all were then .We were well satisfied with what we had. Sincerly, Beatrice V

Hi I remeber living in Great brook valley #43.Our neighbors where ,the McDonalds(chuck,steve,pammy)The Blevins(Richard,david,carol,mike,kathy),Mr&Mrs Rivers(thier son Johhny),Mrs Dazinkavitch(spelled wrong)Sons Paul,Eddie,daughters Mary,Judy,Barbara,...........Mike Rousseau and his sister Teresa.....My Father coached Little league for many years Tris Speaker and growing up there was a wonderful time.I now live inMaryland and I still remember all those people .IWe lived there from 1967 to 1973 or 4...............steve c

Worcester was a magical city at night in the wintertime. I remember taking the bus downtown on Wednesdays, when the stores stayed open. I loved to go into Denholm's with its twinkling Christmas tree all the way up to the roof. When you entered the elevator, there were different bells for different departments. Scharfman's Jewelery displays were magnificent. I loved to buy records at Woolworth's. Lunch at Hong Fong (up the stairs)on Main Street. And the Commons, before the ridiculous reflecting pool, were extraordinary. The old grave yard, the fountain and, remember the popcorn man on Front Street? As I grew older, I saw The Rolling Stones at the auditorium. Van Morrison played the Comic Strip. And J. Giles and The Grateful Dead played Clark University. There were spas where you bought lunch, pizza places that sold you a wicked good slice and a thirty five cents admittance at the Leows Poli Theatre. Worcester needs to reclaim its soul. It was a working class city that beat with the heart of working people. I visit today and find the downtown cold, uninviting, trying to be something it is not. How do we bring Worcester back? Donna

My memories go back further than most. I'm 85years old. I arrived in Worcester after the crash in i929. My parent's decided to bring their family,15 children, to Worcester. We left from Sanford Maine. Our first home was on Gardner St. After a few years we moved to the next block,Kilby St. That was my last home before joining the navy,1942. My memories are many which I remember vividly. Example; All of us kids went to Holy Name School.During that period we would often play at Crystal Park which was across the street from the school. Periodically, we would enjoy seeing tug of war competition, at the park, between Clark University students. Several years later a few of us,brother and sisters found enjoyment by going to Johnny Hynes dance hall on Friday nights. Drinking was not allowed there. The main event after the dance was a banana split at the drug store ,across the street.One dear friend which I met there later perished in the Cocoanut Grove fire. Other tasteful activities after the dances were goimg to the Waldorf Restaurant for Apple Pie Alamode. While doing 3 years of Navy Service I met my wife.Thank God ,we're still enjoying good health. We've been married 61years. My surviving sisters and brother have never left Worcester and neighboring towns. Our family reunions now number over 350 people.

I grew up in South Worcester. 2a Douglas St. on the corner of Grand. Went to Canterbury St. School and Worcester Boys Trade. Born in 1944 I remember the 4th of July bon fires at Malonys field and little bonfires lit throughout the city driving the fireman and police crazy. The Parads on main st. They were huge. Holy Cross football. Crystal Park ice skating and sledding. Sacred Heart Sunday school on saturday.PNA Drum Corp.Downtown was thrilling before they knocked it all down.All the theaters,bowling alleys and pool halls. Stores on Main St(no need to name them we all remember)Ionics Ave. Boys Club where I learned to swim.Yes everyone went to Hot Dog Annies. Car hops. I could go on and on. Left Worcester around 1960 but not too far away. Quinsigamond Ave in Shrewsbury. Thanks for the Memories.Take a look at Google Images Worcester Ma.

I lived in Worcester during 1985-1987, and I loved it. I liked going to movies at the Galleria, having both a morning and an evening paper, eating at the Webster House in Webster Square, the 24-hour Zaryes a little bit farther up route 9 near Stafford Ave, Spags, the discount section at Fairs, the very friendly people, driving West on Route 9 and going from city to beautiful country in just a few miles. Worcester is truly a wonderful place.

I was born in Worcester, in 1946. I lived on Bancroft Tower Road for 18 years and the tower was my backyard. I walked up there every day to play and climb the trees. We ice skated in Elm Park and had hot chocolate and Devil Dogs across the street where Price Chopper now resides. Every winter we watched the cars sliding down Farnum Street and it was our private hill for our own sledding fun. I remember walking down to Jay's on Highland Street. That little narrow store carried everything in the world. I went to Lee Street School and bought candy before the bell rang at Sam's Candy Store. Then I went to Chandler for a year and I was in the first graduating class of Forest Grove Jr. High. Then I went on to Classical HS and BU. I remember the tornadoe and also when an airplane crashed into the houses near us. That was sometime in the 1950's I think.I remember crawling under the fence to watch the Worcester Tech games and feeling so clever about it. I left Worcester when I went to BU in 1964, only returning for visits. Those days are gone forever.

I never lived in Worcester but I went to school there.I lived in No. Brookfield and went to Girls Trade School there in Worcester. I have been looking for that school over the years but cannot find it. I know that the Girls Trade and Boys Trade combined but when I dont know. I have never heard anyone mention the Girls Trade. I went there in the early 50s. And I do remember the tornado that ripped through Worcester. I was on my way home from school on the bus as the tornado hit. There was a lot of damage done from that tornado. I used to walk downtown on my lunch hour. I had one friend that I remember and I have a picture of her still to this day. Her name was Lillian Rivers. She later went on to work at the telephone Co. and I lost track of her. If anyone remembers the Trade school I would love to hear about it. I have a lot of fond memories from that time. Betty Brown (Parrish)

I was born in worcester ma. july of 1979. I am 27 now. I used to live on gage st the big gray house on corner at top of hill. Which is now painted another color (cant remember). I live in south carolina now. I moved down in summer of 1995. I went back last year to see family and friends. Things look different. I remember a few things about there. I standing on porch and seeing "the whistler" walk by. He scared me sometimes. I also remember going to green hill park to slide down hills in winter. I also remember a camp of somekind at green hill park. I remember jason stone as my neighbor. If anyone knows him email me please. I remember eating play dough with him...hahaha. Lets see i remember when my bus was going up that hill next to gage st it lost its breaks and rolled backwards into building at bottom of hill. I remember my neighbore the Crue family, a police officer lived downstirs from us. They were the goodrich family. If im not mistaken they had doberman dogs in back yard. That always keepted me out of there. I wish i could remember. If any of you think you know me or wanna email me feel free twokdstoomuch@yahoo.com My name is Ann (Pitchman) Morgan

I grew up in Worcester, attended East Kendall Street elementary School. I remember walking up to Bell pond on those Hot steamy days for a day of swimming with family and friends. GreenHill Park was also a great time for us as kids, we used to visit the Fish pond with the Huge Carp fish swimming around, feeding them bread. Sliding down the huge hills in the winter months... Visting the buffalo and the deer, they also had lamas, never liked them to much as I seen them spit on someone as a kid.... I used to live on Oakwood Place off Belmont Street, now its a parking lot for Memorial Hospital.... Reading some of your messages brought back a lot of fun memories for me as a child.... Happy Times and Great memories... Alice

I grew up in Worcester in the 50's and 60's and have nothing but fond memories.... Around 1956-1957 We lived on Waverly St., just off Providence and Harrison sts. Near the Water St. area. I attended Ledge St. School, and then on to St. John's Grammar. I remember when they put the Freeway in... They tore down Ledge St. School and dynamited huge craters to make way for the freeway... Me and my friends would sit and wait for the the warning horn blast just before the dynamite.. and then.. BOOM ! Dirt would fly thousands of feet in the air ! Harrison St., with stores near the bottom of the hill that had live chickens and poultry ! The Rag Man,with his horse and buggy going down the street, yelling RAGS!!! With tall Gus following him hanging on to the horse's tail ! Water ST... The Broadway.. Boston Spa... Table Talk Pie... The Rialto theater at Christmas time-- Free show for all the kids with gifts for us all ! Vernon Hill Park with the swimming hole that had a water blast shooting up in the middle !... Crompton Park- the same ! Green Hill Park ! White City ! And who could forget Spag's ! Highland ST. Friendly's and all the shops there! Downtown--- Denholm's, Kresge's, Woolworth's--- I used to sell The Telegram & Gazzete on the outside of Kresge's front door-- yelling "FINAAHLL GEEZZETTE" !! Ionic's Ave Boy's Club ! Worcester Auditorium... The Comic Strip ! Webster Square--Maury's Delicitesan Hot Dog Annie's in Liecester-- Liecester Airport Dances! I've been living in Calif. for the past 30 years or so but there are no memories like Worcester--- I come and visit once in a while, and it has changed some,but I will always remember the good times of growing up in Worcester! I will return someday !! Wayne Dufault August, 2006 (ALSO...BANCROFT TOWER!)

Really too many to tell.....I remember the day and what I was doing with my sisters June 9, 1953, Pincroft dariy the early years, Having milk home delivered by Pincroft dariy, lighting the match fot the T&G photographer every year at the greenhill fireworks, Grew up in Elmpark area, Dix street and GBV in thr late 50's Early 60's, Too many more as Cheif Photographer for the old WSMW=TV27

God, I have so many memories...Worcester is such a small town...I grew up in the North End - North Street...Went to Edgeworth St. School. Do you remember the teachers Mrs. Riodan, Mr. Hill, Mr. Messina, Mrs. Brigham, Miss O'Connor, Mrs. Tisdale, Mrs. Brown the best teachers in the world - Our plays Stone Soup - going home for lunch during school...Worcester's 350th parade, Mrs. McHugh (my Mom) making us cakes, making us uniforms, halloween parties & trick or treating - scary setups in the neighborhood, spaghetti dinners - the best of the best...the north end...Edgy and proud to be one - Football champions, baseball champions, basketball champions! Forest Grove Jr. High class of 1976. The blizzard of '78. Burncoat Sr. High class of 1979. We had a such a great time, such a great time...good friends, great families. Edgy was the best, we took care of one another - that's the way it was and still is! Remember, WPI, Worcester Memorial Auditorim, Clark University the best concerts in the world - The Colgate Holy Cross football games the Jack D Johns concerts, lol. The fantastic rock bands! Blue Moon, Zonkeras, The band that used to Jam on Prescott Street with the D'Angelo brothers...great concerts out at Dean Park in Shrewsbury. Bonfires for the 4th of July - does Edgy remember the one that blew up. The bowling alley below the Palladium - "Earthquake" played there in surround sound. The apple orchard on Milbrook Street, swiping apples on weekends...the Train Cars under the highway... the school dances - partying at Burncoat Park...Sanctuary, below the galleria... Immaculate Conception Church, Fr. Edward Connors - the most wonderful man to pass through life on this earth...The Ninth Division WWII coming to Worcester, every year with General West Moreland and many other amazing dignitaries...Turkey Lurkey at Immaculate Conception. Woolworths, the soda fountain at Grants department store. Shacks on Maine Street. Keg parties at River Road...& up on Grafton Hill. The Gold Star Cafe (how bout Giggles the Clown)...meeting up the night before Thanksgiving...So many fond memories of this wonderful beautiful town, I'd get sick of it sometimes...but, I'd never give up growing up here...and the friends I've made and the memories that are burned in my mind...Thank you for having this page...maybe someone will remember...God Bless those who have passed on and we have lost many - especially Joey...your our special firefighter and we love you...

Does anybody remember the "Happenings" at various parks around the city sponsored by WORC 1310? The DJs would always spin dance records or local bands would play there. Remember Beep Beep and the Roadrunners and the Joneses and a bunch of others? Sometimes the WORC Good Guys would bring an actual recording star like Neil Sedaka to lip sync to their hits. Hundreds of kids used to come to those events which were emceed by DJs like Johnny Gardner or Dick Smith. Also, I remember way back when Bobby Darin came to White City. Even though White City amusement park was technically in Shrewsbury, it was still a "Worcester" memory for a lot of us.

So much history in Worcester its hard to find a place to start. Born in june of 1957 at St. V's and living on Tacoma street of Great Brook Valley. This was a soldiers place to live after the war and is in no way a reflection of what it is today. Clark street school was always a journey to walk to. When I was old enough to ride a bike the steep uphill path just before the school was always a thrill. I remember the winters where you could jump out the second story window down into the snow drifts. How I'd catch crayfish in the summer and walk up the pipe that went up to constition ave by the stream. The great bonfires on july 4th. How I burned down the whole field behind Chino avenue and caught the worst case of poison ivy that sent me into the hospital for ten days. Walking all the way to Parkers penny candy in West Boylston or walking to Lincoln plaza when Whites used to be there. Getting up early in the morning to trout fish on opening day at Qunsigamond lake and waiting for the whistle to blow before we could drop a line. There used to be a bait shop there when I was young. We would be dropped off at Lincoln street boys club and swim naked in the pool because that was the way it was when we were young. Swimsuits for the boys who were getting older were 10 cents. I remember the Valhala where when I was just a boy we heard all sorts of stories about the place. I recall a sign above that said "Its Cott to be good". That was when the rotary was in "the right place before they moved it so many time. We had wood working at the Boys club where I first learned how to biuld things. The upstairs movie was "Jason and the Argonaughts" and it cost a dime to watch. We used to walk to Denholms and ride the elevator thatwe thought was just so cool. I miss the window dispalys they used to have during Christmas. And in Easter I thought it was amazing that they put this "Bunny Balloon" inside another balloon. How'd they do that. I remember getting a ten cent banana split at Woolworths if you picked the right balloon and when they used to sell the forty fives and little green turtles. We never had freinds like we did when we were young. I miss that.....someitmes I wish we could go back to the special times in our lives and relive the sights,sounds and smells of those moments. Heavy sighs....

I was born, and grew up and still live in the Webster Sq. area.As a child we did not need to venture out of Webster Sq. as we had 2 supermarkets,First National(which now houses an auto part store),Beulah Brothers Supermarket.Zendgians drug store,which also was the post office for our area,then Ben Harris a Druggist but also dealt in Herbs,then there was Malony's spa where we would gather and listen to the juke box while dringing COCA COPLA out of fountain style,and Hires Root Ber in the big Barrel,and frosted mugs all were $.10 then we had restaurants Webster sq.grill,Renie,and Leos(Italian),Soda Shoppe(now Webster House),Maurys Deli(different location then) and of course the much missed White House.Park theater (which had trampolines for entertainment before movie) Our parents would give us each .50 cents .25 for movie,and .25 for soda,candy/or popcorn. we had a movie,short subject,serial previews,and intermission.If needed larger items we would go downtown to our great stores Denholms,kresges,woolworths,JC Mcinnes,Barnards,Grants and on and on what memories.Every Christmas season our parents on a wednesday nite would take us out for supper downtown,then walk up and down Main st. looking in all the store windows at their displays.Each store also pip[ed music outside their store so everyone in and outside the store could hear the music,and people carried CHRISTMAS packages wrapped and everyone greeted you with Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year or Happy Holidays. What can be done to improve Worcester they asked? Back then I would have said nothing "IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE" PAUL

We are from a military family and lived at 12 Hitchcock Road, Worcester, Massachuetts in the 1940's and we lived at Assumption Prep as Greyhounds. The Varsity basketball team won The New England Catholic High School Basketball Championship. They beat St. John's of Worcestor for the Championship. This team was coached by Charlie Bibaud. The team was made up of John Conners-C; Bob Potvin -F; John "The Shot" "Seaweed" Foley-F; Roger Dibuque-G; John Granger-G; Bill Harding; Dee Conners; Roger Roberge and others. This team went on to play for the All New England High School Championship at the Boston Gardens---losing th Hillhouse of Connecticut who had a High School All-American Player-John Egan who later went onto Providence College then the pros. This Assumption Prep Team was as good as you get---They played team ball. most of these players graduated in 1957. John "The Shot" Foley was only a junior and stayed on to break Wilt Chamberlain's High School Scoring Records. John Foley was a High School All-American First Team Basketball Player. My brother and I played on the Junior Varsity with Dickie Conners, John Connolly and others. My family moved back to soutern California before our junior year. We made a great many good friends at Assumption Prep. Coach Andy Alaska was the Assumption College Basketball coach who led his team in a Charity Game for A Holy Cross Baseball player who was hit in the head. It was the first time that Assumption College Basketball team ever got to play Holy Cross. Assumption College beat Holy Cross by one or two points in the last seconds of the game. Go Greyhounds!

I grew up in Worcester until I was 25 - one of my favorite memories as a child was going down to Water Street on a cold Sunday morning with my dad and getting fresh hot bulkies for Sunday dinner....I can still smell them =) I've move around alot and am now in South Carolina I love it, but Worcester will always be with me and remembered fondly.

I was born in 1953 and actually grew up in Shrewsbury, but swam on the YWCA Synchro-Maids until I graduated high school in 1971. I remember swimming at the pool at Denholms and then at the Y where it is now. Many happy memories.

My oldest sister Carol was born at Fairlawn Hospital in 1948. Nancy came next in 1955, then I was born at Fairlawn in 1957. We lived in Spencer MA. above what was known as Roy's market...for many years. We lived in Spencer until 1959 then moved to New Hampshire. For many years, our parents made trips to Worcester to visit neighbors and friends. We love watching the old 8mm films of our family trips to White City Amusement Park. We have fond memories of the Saliba family on Uncatina(sp) Ave. Our parents often talked about the hurricane and it's horror. We often talk about the Black and White Restaurant in Spencer. I am amazed at how Worcester has changed over the years. I am very interested in seeing photos of Fairlawn Hospital as it was back in the 1950's. Reading the memories of Worcester on this sight has been fun! It is a great idea. Thanks!

Guess I could write a book. So many memories. Went to Woodland Prep near Clark U., traveled some with Murray Broder and Danny Duggan, sang at Kelley's Rainbow, The Moors,got married and went into community theatre. Remember having season tickets to The Little Theatre at the back of the Auditorium and loving it! Guy Palmerton Players were there during the summers. Started a young performer's group, Theatre Showcase. Had the Nadeaus and Walter and some really great talent. Performances were at Mechanics Hall (Washburn Hall). Loved the Palace (Loew's Poli), the Capitol, The Warner, and The Plymouth. Sang in a radio show held in Denholm's of all places! AND on WORC. Miss the friends I hung out with. Most of them are gone now. Remember well the tornado. Never will forget that thing. Mom was called by the Red Cross to hail any vehicle she could and get herself to Memorial Hosp where she was put to work with a pair of tweezers to take glass out of children's faces. Had nightmares for years. Dad was one great guy. Ran the fights at Mechanics Hall and then at the Municipal Auditorium, and then went into the clergy! Remember my first boyfriends and how exciting a time that was. Barn dances, hay rides, even proms at Worcester Poly in a strapless gown I imagined might do a downward glide if I danced anything but the slow dances! Coes Pond wasn't my hangout. Mostly Tatassit Beach in Shrewsbury. We'd head for a ride near Clinton Dam during the hot summers, and skate at Elm Park or Crystal Pond across from Clark U.in the winter. ... As I said, I could write a book! Claire Cameron (nee Shapiro)

I was a boarder at St Anne's Orphanage on Granite St. from 1933 to 1943 when I was sent back to my mother because boys were not allowed to stay there after the age of 12 but I never remember the Nuns being known as the Grey Nuns. Does any one else out there have any memories of St Anne's during the first half of the 20th century?

I lived in Worcester as a child from 1958 to 1963. My dad was in the Air Force and stationed at the little Worcester airport. We lived on 9 Mt. Vernon St. across from a large park. I went to the Belmont Street School from Kindergarten to the beginning of the 4th grade. I remember the school was big and old. My mom still has school pictures that we used to take with our class every summer. I remember my parents taking us to Green Hill Park to feed the ducks and see the reindeer. I also remember going to some lake or pond in the summer that had a playground and a grassy area to picnic. I didn't think about White City Amusement Park until I read the other emails but I think my mom has some pictures of us taken there. That place was a real treat for us as kids. I remember that around the corner from where we lived was a little candy store that was owned by the family of two of the kids I went to school with, their names were Cheryl and Rusty. I had a friend who also lived around the corner named Corinne Daley. I remember Lincoln St. and the plaza where we used to go shopping and Ralph's super market. Somewhere on Lincoln is the church where I made my first communion too. There was a family that my parents were friends with named Payne that lived on Grafton St. I think. Spagg's was kind of a hardware store there and their slogan was "there are no bags at Spaggs" meaning they never bagged your purchases. I had a lot of happy memories of Worcester. I remember that late in the 60's we went back there but it had changed so much. I wasn't at all like I remembered or my parents remembered. In 1963 we moved from Worcester because my dad was stationed at Cape Cod and I have great memories of that too.

I took dancing lessons from Tointon-Hickey in the lae 50's and early 60'. Wasn't Mrs. Hickey grand? I don't know how old she was, but she was elegant and VERY limber. I was born at Memorial Hospital in 1946 - word was that my mother went to another one (Hahnemman I think), but there was something going on healthwise in the nursery so she was referred to Memorial. I remember the tornado having watched out the window on the 5th floor of the apartment building we lived in at 14 Oread Street. It was the janitor and his family's apartment and why we went there instead of to the basement was always a mystery to me. It was eerie feeling the building sway, and then when a big tree fell in the yard next door, I ran from the window. I remember dances at the Ionic Ave Boys Club, at St. Peters, at South (where I graduated from), fish and chips from the little storefront, the "I bet you can't's" from the corner diner (May and Main), walking the streets and not being afraid, the Queen Street Spa, being a candystriper at City Hospital, the night Old Woodland Street School burned down, going to the movies for a quarter - and buying a gallon of gas at the Merit station going towards the lake for the same price, Speedy's, my good friends that I've lost touch with, ah, yes... But, the 1978 blizzard was enough for me and I've been in Southern California since then. Barb

What wonderful memories these letters provoke! I lived in Worcester from 1940 until 1960 but my parents continued to live on June St., until the early 80s. I attended schools Greendale; Andover Street and Greendale Grammar and I went to both North and South High School. Greendale was a wonderful community in which to grow, up populated by hard working families who worked at Norton Abrasives and Wickwire Spencer Steel. Who could forget Indian Lake and Norton Beach, the Boulevard Spa and the Higgins Armory? Being a musician, I was friends with many of the people mentioned in other letters, Perry Conte, Emil Haddad among them, and played at clubs between Worcester and Framingham including. The Speedway, The Driftwood, 371, The Bonfire, The Barn, Montecello, Maridor and so many more. I remember restaurants like Kimballs and Dinty Moores and going to Water St. for fresh bread and delicatessen meats, Shrewsbury St. for Italian food at the Boulevard and Speedway Diners, and who doesn’t’ remember the Wigwam on Qunsigamond for the best pizza. Then there were the sub sandwiches at Maurey’s Delicatessen in Tatnuk Square, and Coney Island for the hot dogs. And the El Morocco was legendary especially among musicians and night clubbers. Downtown Worcester was paradise. I worked at Denholms while I was in High School and remember the wonderful stores that surrounded City Hall. I recall getting the bus in front of McGinnis’s (sp?) Department store, the smell of the Planters Peanut’s Store, catching a movie at the Loews Poli, or the Plymouth or the Elm street, roller skating at the rink in Tatnuk Square. I live near Los Angeles now and it wasn’t until I traveled throughout the country that the experience if growing up Worcester impacted me. It was a truly wonderful city and the memories it inspires continue to enrich my life.

Does anyone remember the roller skating restaurant that was off Chandler Street (across Park Avenue) and near the Tatnuck Book Store now? I have been trying to think of the name of the place because some of my work mates don't believe there was one. To come to think of it, that was a pretty nutty idea, give a lot of adults roller skates and drinks at the same time. It was a lot of fun, but didn't last very long. If anyone knows the name,that would be great. Sharon Francis

I remember living on Montague Steet in Worcester. There were many drug dealers and guns going off constantly. I couldnt walk down my street without worrying that I am going to get shot or such. The sad thing is, everybody remembers the happy things that happened when they were younger...like playing sports in the streets, walking wherever they wanted to, not worrying about anything. The thing is, me being 20, I grew up worrying about being broken into, or being jumped walking around my neighborhood. I wish the old neighborhood hadnt turned out like this...

I too have fond memories of Worcester. I lived at the Summit until I turned 18, moving then to Auburn. I remember Burncoat Elementary School when we had to walk to and from, even at lunchtime and even in the dead of winter. I then went to Burncoat Jr. High and Commerce High class of '61A. I worked at PaperCraft Greeting Cards lying about my age while I was in Jr. High and Speedy's later on. My first real job was at Worcester County National Bank. Life was so good back then. There were dances every weekend somewhere. Sometimes at South High School, sometimes at Chaffin's in Holden and the best of all - Lakeside on Lake Quinsigamond. We'd also go to White City when a good group would come to town. I can remember meeting Dion. He could have used a change of clothes as he had breakfast schmoots stuck to his shirt. I grew up going to day camp at the Greendale Y and also trying so hard to learn to play drums for the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corp. I was terrible. I was in Holden at my aunt's the day the tornado struck. I was 11 years old. The hail stones were big and the air was an odd color. As soon as I ran into the house we were hustled down to the basement and shoved under a utility sink for protection. The storm was very loud and when it was over and we went outside, it was awful. The smell was like nothing I had ever smelled before or after. I guess it was from all the broken and uprooted trees. My aunt's house had moved off the foundation and the garage was gone. It ended up going through the side of a home two houses up. I got hysterical because my bike was in that garage and now it was destroyed.(Remember, I was 11) Clothing, drapes, everything was hanging from the trees that were still standing. I learned later that a baby had been pulled from his mother's arms and, well, let's just say he died. I too went to Hot Dog Annie's many times, shopped at Denholm's and Barnards, had dinners at the T & T Grill and Eden Gardens. To be truthful, I didn't think I had any fond memories of Worcester but I was wrong.

I couldn't sleep thinking of things I overlooked when I wrote last night. I wonder if you also remember: Filene's Bargain Basement that eventually moved to the Galleria and ended up on the second floor. Am I the only one that found a problem with this? Sharfman's? I remember shopping at Sharfman's when it was on Main Street across from Denholms. It remained a classy store even after it moved to Worcester Center but I have no idea where they are now. I worked at Ulian's while in high school and even got credits for it. It was fun shopping up and down Main Street during the holiday season. We'd make our way all the way from Denholms to Barnards, arms loaded with bundles in high heels. If it started to snow - great. Every corner had a Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell hoping for a little pocket change from shoppers. Liggets(sp)on one corner and Eastens (sp)on the opposite side of Main Street. Nearby and behind was Sampson's Deli where I would have lunch often. Yum. Also, Putnam & Thurstons and the Hong Fong Chinese Restaurant above White Owl Tobacco Shop were great for lunch also. One of the very best memories for me was cutting class and going for coffee and a doughnut at the Cottage Donut Shop "down the hill" on Main Street. Great coffee, greatest doughnuts. One last comment about Brownie Beach. Someone mentioned this place in their comments. My only memory is when this beach made the paper because of the raw sewerage that was in the water along with all the people. I guess that isn't considered a fond memory, huh? Penny McHugh (Gould)

It was great to read the various comments from the different generations and brought back a lot of great memories for me. Many memories that were brought back by reading the various comments on this site. I must admit it made me feel my age and I was amazed by how much I had forgotten. Worcester is a great American city....something I certainly did not realize when I was a resident. Much more historically important than I ever realized. Go Worcester!

how did you forget the perley's. Also how could you forget the rahalls. Bill Sturtevant I remember you so well. We hung out in almost every day. I remember being the first girl to become a member of the Ionic Ave. Boys club. They