THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 26, 2025 Page 11 Looking Back in Saugus History it was after World War ii that some housewives of Saugus came up with the idea of “Club Nights” By Janice K. Jarosz N o one I spoke with could remember how Club Nights began or even how it ended. But those who were a part of it shared some of the most poignant moments of their young lives – moments that lasted throughout their lifetimes. After suffering through the Great Depression of the thirties, Saugus High School seniors now found themselves facing the beginning of World War II. Many classmates had left in their senior year to join the Armed Forces, and despite the loss of so many student/athletes, the SHS football team kept the spirit of the town alive with games played at Stackpole Field on those fall Saturdays. Neighborhood stores closed for the day and wooden bleachers were filled with over 10,00 proud fans. After the 1941 class graduated, my mother, Mae (Murphy) Penney, along with her classmates, married their high school sweethearts, started families, and when husbands were drafted, they bravely kissed them good bye and prayed constantly that they would return home. For some, it was a very emotional and challenging time for the young brides. Love letters were exchanged across the sea; families gathered around the radio listening for news of the war, and the Glenn Miller Band helped to keep the hopes and dreams alive for those young brides. It was after the war that most of the husbands returned home, and life had settled into a comfortable routine when the “girls” came up with an idea. The plan was probably discussed by them on one of those afternoon FIRE APPARATUS | FROM PAGE 10 into service once all of the Saugus firefighter groups reopened, he looked surprised and remarked, “Aren’t you all a little too old to be trick or treating?” None of them thought they were too old for anything, but Mr. Mitchell got the last laugh when he passed out canned vegetables to them instead of candy! As years went by economA girls’ time out: Jane (McCullough) Moorhouse, Mary (Murphy) Penney and Sally (Doherty) Mansfield. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) walks on Winter Street while pushing oversized grey strollers filled with two or three babies at a time. It was decided that they would start a Club Night! The plan was simple: They would meet every Thursday evening and take turns being the hostess. The first gathering was held at the home of the only one that owned a complete set of china. At the second meeting, a very clever hostess only had enough teacups for eight, and nine were expected so she used her matching sugar bowl to serve as the ninth cup! My sisters and I always knew when it was my mother’s turn to host. The first telltale sign was that she seemed so happy. The curtains were done up, furniture, what there was, was polished, and special little snacks were prepared and hidden away in the back of the refrigerator. We were sent to bed as soon as the company arrived ceive training on the apparatus. Tower 1 will replace Ladder 1 as a frontline vehicle operating out of the Public Safety Building on Hamilton Street. but that did not stop us from sneaking halfway down the stairs to listen in. It seemed on those nights all they did was laugh along with four or five conversations going on all at once but none of them missed a beat. They seldom discussed their children – as those few hours each week were just about them. These young high school sweethearts, now wives and mothers, found themselves faced with buckets of dirty diapers, frozen clothes on the line and extremely limited funds, but treasured those Club Nights, as those few weekly hours drew them together in a sisterhood of life, laughter and friendship. The late Jean Ludwig told me that the hostess for the evening served whatever they had at the time: crackers and cheese or little sandwiches, a cake made from scratch, coffee and tea. Despite frugal budgets, the girls always Chief Newbury stressed that Tower 1 is a welcome addition to the Saugus Fire Department’s vehicle fleet. “I want to thank the Town Manager for his leadership managed to scrape together the 27 cents for Chesterfield or Lucky Strike cigarettes. Sometimes a beauty night was planned: taking turns in giving each other facials. Mary McDonald owned the only good fingernail file, so she became the expert manicurist. Dot Shipulski had a decent pair of scissors qualifying her as the token hairdresser. Baby showers were also a frequent occurrence during Club Night, and gifts were small, but the evenings together were wonderful. At one meeting, Sally Mansfield planned a “come as you are” party, and each club member dressed up as the person they wanted to be. Sally dressed as Superman. On one Halloween/Club Night, the girls dressed up as a group of musicians complete with toy instruments. They knocked on the door of Mr. Jerry Mitchell, then the band leader at Saugus High School. When the door in regards to recognizing the need to replace the frontline apparatus consistently during his tenure,” Chief Newbury said. “The new equipment makes the job safer for ic conditions improved for many of the members. Jean Ludwig was now able to cancel the iceman when she and her husband Sam finally saved up enough coupons to purchase a brand-new refrigerator. Mary MacDonald enjoyed changing her home décor more often than the rest of the girls could. On one occasion my mother asked if she could have her leftover wallpaper! By the late 50’s, most of the children were now in school and several Club members had entered the workforce. With added income, families were able to purchase automobiles, which contributed to more independence with one another. Times were changing. With the coming of so many modern advances and busy schedules, Thursday evenings were eventually taken up with other things. The wonderful and very special Club Nights had served their purpose, and as casually as it began, quietly it was gone. Those wonderful Club Night get-togethers eventually came to an end, but the essence remained. Friendship and moral support though many difficult times, shared dreams for the future and a sense of humor stayed with each one of them. Those attributes continued to sustain club members as they traveled through the rest of their lives, not together as before but still “together” in many other ways. the department members, but as a department we also recognize that the investment in this capital equipment benefits the community as a whole.”
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