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Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 8, 2023 ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 of Route 1. So, the population density is less than what you would find on the east side of Route 1. In some ways, it’s like being in two different communities. But, on the other hand, people like myself and my wife, we come from East Saugus. When we moved up here, this place where we are right now, there was a horse corral out here. They had horse shows on Sunday afternoon. None of this was here. On the street going toward Wakefield, there was another horse corral there. As far as historical places go, we have the Scotch-Boardman House on Howard Street. That’s an old house that goes back more than 300 years. Another interesting thing about the precinct – up on Golden Hills, you have three ponds there that were used for recreation: swimming and boating HISTORIC LANDMARK: The Scotch-Boardman House on Howard Street is 331 years old – making it one of the most famous buildings in the Precinct. (Courtesy Photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) and activities like that; not so much now, though, because of the algae. Q: When people talk about Precinct 9, what comes to mind right away? A: What comes to my mind is the space between the homes. Not mine [Bennett Avenue], by the way. I live in an old neighborhood and the houses have only 60 feet of frontage. Most of the houses in 9 require 100 feet now, so there is greater distance between the homes. What’s also happened, too, is Golden Hills has been developed more than when we first moved up here. When we moved from East Saugus, we had a state rep named Beldon Bly. And when he went up to Golden Hills, I would go doorto-door with him and help him deliver his pamphlets. Up there, you had a couple of other horse corals. And, we didn’t have a leash law, so you would have dogs running around up there, much more than now. Up there, you’d have these very expensive homes. Q: What historic characters or important markers are in the precinct? A: So much of the precinct was farmland at one time. My street is Bennett Ave. And over there, there’s a house that A KEY PRECINCT 9 ISSUE: Future use of the Oaklandvale Elementary School and its property looms as a major issue for residents in Precinct 9, where the school is located. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) looks like a plantation type of house on the top of my street. That used to be all farmland; out here, by the Fellsway, was farmland. This was some years ago. Another important feature – the entrance to Breakheart [Reservation] is in Precinct 9. The Oaklandvale School is in Precinct 9, and we have the hockey rink [Kasabuski Memorial Skating Rink], which is located on Forest Street, down the road from the Breakheart entrance. And Breakheart gets a lot of foot traffic – not just from Precinct 9 – we get a lot more from neighboring towns. Here’s something interesting. Do you know, at one time we had a Nike base in Saugus? Q: In Precinct 9? A: Yes. As you go up Main Street toward Wakefield, just beyond where the Public Works Building is … well, back in the 50s we drove on Main Street and there was a Nike base with barracks, guards, a mess hall. So back in the 50’s, that part of Saugus was rural and it had a Nike base. Q: Did you have any famous people who lived in Precinct 9? A: We had Gus Gannon, who was a Town Meeting member and an attorney. And they named him as a judge back in the late 1980s or early 1990s. I actually wound up getting called to jury duty in Salem. I went in there and they asked all kinds of questions. I’m sitting there, sitting there, sitting there, and finally Judge Gannon says, “Oh, Mr. Long, you are excused. You’re my neighbor.” Actually, he’s the one who got me interested in Town Meeting. Q: What’s the most famous landmark in the precinct? A: Well, if you’re looking for something historical, it’s the Scotch-Boardman House. If you are looking for everyday use, it’s Kasabuski Rink, Breakheart and Hockey Town. You can see I’m a hockey enthusiast. All my grand-kids played through High School. Q: What do you consider the top issue facing Precinct 9? A: I think changes in our precinct boundaries are going to be a hot issue. We’ll have a lot of people showing up to vote in Precinct 9, only to discover they are now in Precinct 4. That is something that affects me and my neighbors on Bennett Avenue. Q: So, do you plan to run for another term on Town Meeting, this time as a resident of Precinct 4? A: I’m leaning that way. But my family members aren’t too enthused about it. And I’ve also been asked to run for the Charter Commission. Q: What do you think about the interest in changing the Charter? A: To me, it’s not the form of government that matters. It’s the people in it. It boils down to having good people run for public office. ASKS | SEE PAGE 15

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