Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 22, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ Barry Hitchcock Remembered By Peter Levine W arning! The following content includes the word “Edgeworth,” so if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired reading about Edgeworth, “turn the page,” as Bob Seger once sang... It’s an Edgeworth time capsule. This photo, in all its 1970’s glory, was captured at “The Conna” – Whitman and Highland – sometime in 1972 (we believe). Beer’s Drug Store would have been on the left (before Nick and the Big A took control and expanded with the purchase of Mickey O’Brien’s house), Charlie Moreno’s Sub Shop directEastern Bank Building on Rte. 1S 605 Broadway, #301 * Saugus (781) 233-6844 www.bostonnorthdental.com Dr. Priti Amlani Dr. Bhavisha Patel * Restorative Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Implant Restoration * Zoom Whitening * Teeth in a Day - All on 6 * Invisalign * CEREC Crowns (Single Visit Crowns) * Root Canal Treatment * Sedation Dentistry ~ Full Mouth Rehabilitation ~ Before After ly across on the corner of Whitman, DiPietro’s Bakery across Highland, and JT’s (Maher’s) Liquor Store across from DiPietro’s (before it morphed into Pumpsie’s Sub Shop – before Ronny Hogan and Johnny Cagno took control and turned it strictly into a purveyor of fi ne alcoholic beverages). Johnny Angelo’s Gossip Shop (oops, I mean Barber Shop) was around the corner. A few yards away, China Garden would also bless/enhance our lives and expand our waistlines a mere six years later. The “Crossroads of Edgeworth” – where you learned more at that intersection than you did at Emerson, Beebe, and MHS – combined. These three fi ne young gentlemen are classic boys of summer. And what a summer it was! Check out my “Musings” column on the year 1972 a few months back for (if I don’t say so myself) a nice look at Malden during that period. These boyos owned Edgeworth in 1972 with their shaggy hair, suede Converse low riders, classic elephant bells (Sparks specials?) and undeniable swagger. They are, left to right, Johnny “Moe” Molinari, Barry “Hitchy” Hitchcock and Keith Powers; with Hitchy being the impetus for this look back – the 13th anniversary of his passing (March 6). And as my brother Frankie noted on Facebook, Hitchy was a dead ringer for Veronica Lake in this picture (insert smiley face)! The handsome young man on the left with the extra-large bells, cigarette dangling in his right hand, wise guy smirk and fashionably long black hair is Johnny “Moe” Molinari. Moe graduated from MHS in 1973 and lorded over Pearl Street after his older brother Frankie abdicated lordship and right before his youngest brother, Jimmy, took control. JohnJohn Molinari, Barry Hitchcock & Keith Powers ny’s family are Pearl Street/Edgeworth pioneers with kinfolk still residing on Pearl in the family homestead (Hi Mary!). By the way, Jimmy just started a new Facebook page, simply called “Edgeworth.” Try it, you’ll like it! Keith Powers is the young man on the right with the engaging smile and low-cut gold suede Chuck Taylors. Keithie grew up on Folsom Court and, no lie, everybody knew and liked him and his family. The fi ve siblings were legendary in Edgeworth folklore growing up on Whitman: Rab, Cheryl, Candy, Scotty and Keith. Back in the day, if you didn’t know one of the Powers, your membership to the Whitman Street gang was delayed or fl at out denied. Barry was a special youngster as was his twin brother Brian, older brother Billy and sister Carol. All grew up on Watts Street along with the Timmons, the Govers, the Carrolls, the Hallorans, the Edemans, the Paganos and a mess of other neighborhood kids that populated Edgeworth in those days (including Massachusetts Junior Senator, the “Pride of Townsend Street” – Eddie Markey and his two brothers). Barry was popular, funny, street smart, a wild child and a wicked good kid, as we used to say. As a youth Barry ran the streets of Edgeworth and Malden like he owned them – Coytemore Lea Park, Al’s Pool Room, Granada Bowling Alley, HIBO’s, Devir and Amerige Park, the Conna, Frenchie’s (corner of Charles & Presley), Anthony’s on Canal and every corner bar in Edgeworth – he called them all home. A friend to all, beloved by all (no kidding!). Missing you, Hitchy, 13 years later. It is said in “Malden Musings”... • We’re fast approaching the fourth anniversary of the passing of one John Lincoln Coughlin aka Preacher Jack. Covid-19 did what gallons of Budweiser, cheap ciggies and a bad diet could not. Jack was a barroom preacher and had the gift of gab and a killer left hand introducing us to a strange new genre of music, boogie-woogie. His heroes – Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, and Papa Jimmy Yancey – became ours. Over the decades his sermons, to both believers and unbelievers alike, became stuff of legend! At times insane, but mostly the best musical theater you ever witnessed. We miss you, Jasper Jack, Killer of the Keyboards! • Happy March 5th birthday to hizzoner, Mayor Gary Christenson and happy March 28th birthday to Anna Tse in the Clerk’s Offi ce at Malden City Hall! • On a back street in Malden a couple mourn. West Street will never be the same again after the passing of George and Lisa MacKay’s beloved pup, Marley. George’s and Lisa’s lives will never be the same again. Their grief will not end soon. This hurts us all who know George, Lisa and Marley. I think I can speak for your many friends when I say our hearts go out to you two. I swiped this but I am sure she will not mind... “Only time moves onto the next scene, memories remain in the heart forever.” More “Musings” from the incomparable mind of the late John O’Brien, whose wit and MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 20
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