6

Page 6 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 16, 2024 ~ Malden Musings ~ Mid-grade Regular $3.87 3.17 73 57 Over 45 Years of Excellence! Full Service $2.99 Order online at angelosoil.com W Malden 1963, Part 1 By Peter Levine e are Malden. Lifelong Malden or short time Malden. We are Malden. If your peeps put down roots in Yankee Village 150 years ago, you are a Maldonian. If your kinfolk chose Malden when their homes in the West End of Boston were unsparingly destroyed, you are a Maldonian. If you and your Jerry Lewis in Malden, 1963 (Tom Hiltz photo) family escaped a Caribbean Island in turmoil 25 years ago, you are a Maldonian. If you spent your early childhood on Osprey Road in Saugus, came to Malden and made it a much better place than you found it, you are a Maldonian (hello, Neal Anderson!). If your extended family and friends followed you from a faraway Southeast Asian country to Malden for a better life, you are a Maldonian. Long time, short time. No diff . We are Maldonians. If you choose to use the length of time you’ve lived in Malden divisively (which, sadly, some do – no names necessary), that’s on you. These columns, myself and my family have always chosen the high road, drawing no distinction – ever. Which brings this somewhat long-winded diatribe to a point. I had the pleasure of speaking recently with Karen Lynch. You most likely know Karen from UMA, where she greets you warmly as you enter the front door (ever notice the Gordon’s “ghost sign” as you enter?). You may have heard that Karen was recently named Commonwealth Heroine Class of 2024 of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (congrats, btw, Karen!). Ms. Lynch has “only” been in Malden for 25 years, but she loves Malden very much. Our love for Malden is on equal footing. No diff erence. Our love of Malden is in our souls! This is for you, Karen. Gabba gabba, hey, you’re one of us! Long live short- and longtime Maldonians! Before we continue, a brief walk down Peter F. Levine memory lane, which will all tie into the genesis of this article (I think). The Levines originated in Boston’s West End (Scollay Square, Leonard Nimoy, Ruth Roman, The Howard Theater, Joe & Nemo’s, Lawrence Berk). Displaced and exiled to Carney Court in Charlestown by Rappaport and the BHA when they mercilessly tore the heart and souls out of thousands of West Enders with the destruction of the West End. “If you lived here, you’d be home now…” that dreadful and terrible reminder for thousands haunting each and every exile as they travelled Storrow over the years. On a West End side note, one of the only good things to come out of the West End’s demise/ betrayal was that a lot of great families who were displaced by the ruination of a way of life made it to Malden – the Skiffi ngtons, the Spinellis, the Jotkis, the Downies and the Papas, to name but a few. Once again, I digress...Good fortune fi nally rained down on Solomon and Dorothy Levine (as well as their ever-expanding brood) through the sheer goodwill of my father’s employer and patron saint, Agar Supply’s owner Karl Bressler. A mitzvah for the ages, the Levine’s arrived on Charles Street in early 1963 just in time to enjoy the renaissance sweeping throughout Malden at the time. Thank you, Karl (tzaddiq) Bressler. Which at last brings this tedious introduction to (somewhat) of a crescendo. This week’s article will take a “Malden Musings” look at that history making, earth shaking, pants dropping, heart-stopping year of 1963 (sorry, Bruce, I borrowed from you once again). Malden in 1963 is not to be confused with Malden in 2024. It was a vastly diff erent animal in so many ways, yet so similar (as you will see). I’ll explain (eventually). Here ya go, in multiple parts, my take on 1963 Malden, Part 1… First, we’ll look at an event that MUSINGS| SEE PAGE 18

7 Publizr Home


You need flash player to view this online publication