Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, May 14, 2021 Malden Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday – The Miracle of Father Power By Peter F. Levine F or me, the Malden Evening News will always be the G.O.A.T.! How could it not be? I grew up reading it during its glory years when David Brickman was the editor-in-chief – the “Capo dei capi!” (the boss of bosses) – respected by his peers and considered one of the most influential men in journalism at the time, in the whole flippin’ country actually. The Malden Evening News was a must read. Unlike today, if your name was mentioned on those pages or your picture appeared on those same pages, it deserved to be there! The Malden Evening News was hard hitting when they had to be. They covered local sports (thank you, Paul Leahy) as did the Globe or Herald Traveler at the time. And they had boots on the ground throughout Malden bringing you, the Malden reader, everyPAYLESS OIL 877-688-7667 $2.29 SPRING Go GREEN LANDSCAPING & CONSTRUCTION LLC 9 Senior/Veteran Discounts Serving All Communities Lawns Cut CLEANUPS CHEAP FREE Estimates and Fully Insured $100 (COUPON YOUR CHOICE * THESE SERVICES ONLY * LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER) NEW SPRING OR FALL FLOWERS * NEW SHRUBS * TREE REMOVAL OUTSIDE PAINTING * JUNK REMOVAL * SIMPLE HANDYMAN REPAIRS * COUPON IS REDEEMABLE FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Services include: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * Fertilization * Mulching *Junk Removed * Aeration * New Shrubs/Trees * Demolition * Irrigation Systems * New Lawns/Sod/Seed * Dog Poop Scoping * Dethatching * Tree Removal * Masonry * Lawn Cutting * Stump Removal * Landscaping * Spring/Fall Clean Ups * Gutter Cleaning * Sealcoating * Pruning * New Fences SERVING THE NORTH SHORE 877-688-7667 thing you should and need to know about your hometown. Dogged news gatherers like Deb Burke, Rick Rappoli, Marcia Dick, Bill Breslin, John Hahesy, Archie Birtwell, Norvin Leach, John Novak and John Dillon kept you informed. Never fake news! Later on Shawn Brickman, Steve Freker, Kevin Maccioli and a cast of many others kept the paper afloat years after Brickman’s passing and did a fine job keeping the spirit of the paper alive. Unfortunately for some, times changed, for better or for worse. The paper eventually became a quaint relic, leaving the whole Lucey family, the late David Deane Haskell, the Larson family and myself very much saddened when they closed their doors. The long green Malden Evening News sign that sat on the front lawn of the Malden Evening News building on the corner of Canal and Medford Streets was saved from the JRM crushers, though. One sits in my front yard, the other side in Earl Barter’s backyard. Which brings me to the story. As I have written in the past, I usually spend Sunday mornings immersed in print media. Donut Villa (or Honey Dew) small black coffee accompanied by (most mornings, a combination of) the Boston Sunday Globe, the Malden Advocate, The Jewish Advocate, The Observer and The New York Times. I love the remnants of what we still have left as far as newspapers go. There are still a couple of us around (hello, Greg Lucey) who love the feel of that paper in our hands. The location of the marathon reading session rotates: the (rejuvenated) Pond at the Forestdale Cemetery, the “Ed Larson Big League Diamond” side of Father Power’s grave, April 2021 (Courtesy Photo) Devir Park, the Rez. But my fave recently, as I have mentioned from time to time in the past, has been Father Power’s grave site at the Holy Cross Cemetery, where hawks do battle with crows for air supremacy, squirrels dumpster dive like professional acrobats and the occasional mangy coyote makes a special guest appearance. It’s quiet, as you would well expect. The silence was broken only by the occasional pilgrim. They park, empty excess debris from their vehicle into the cemetery barrel, slowly walk to the black wrought iron fence, recite a short prayer, make the sign of the cross then depart for brunch. Which again brings me to the story. I am reading an old issue of the Sandy Bank Sentinel from 2004. The Sentinel was printed by the Malden Historical Society, and this particular issue has an informative (and fun) article written by “Mr. Malden Historical Society” (the late) Frankie Russell. The title: “Miracles in Malden: 75 Years Ago, this Month, Thousands Flocked to Holy Cross Cemetery.” So, the Malden Evening News on October 31, 1929, proclaimed “Miracle Cures at Holy Cross” on their front page and explained how over the past two years miraculous cures had been reported by those who visited the grave of a little-known priest, Father Patrick Power. Power was born in 1844, ordained in 1867 and died in 1869 at 25 years old. Long story short, the next 60 years were unremarkable at the cemetery until a “hearing impaired” resident of Everett named Mary O’Hearn, after three visits to the grave site, where she prayed and anointed herself with rainwater that had gathered in the carved chalice atop the Power’s grave, reports to the Malden Evening News that her hearing had been restored. Another pilgrim named Lillian Viola of Malden had an especially large mole on her face. She supposedly washed her face with the same rainwater and guess what, another miracle occurred! No mole, no scar. After praying at the grave, a six-year-old is reported to have spoken for the first time since birth. Five-year-old Antonette Boudreau from Salem, born unable to stand, walked for the first time in her life. Revere’s very own James Panora, mute since birth, when prompted by his mom, spoke the words MALDEN: TODAY| SEE PAGE 8
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