John Berry at the St. George Theatre
A Framingham legend passed away today, and here’s a reprint of the short article I wrote about him last winter.
Pictured here as an usher in 1951, standing proudly at the ticket chopper inside the St. George Theatre downtown, John Berry probably didn’t expect that a few years later, he would become the Manager. John would take over the theatre from Jim Collins, eventually seeing the St. George close in 1967. From there he became the Manager of the Natick Drive In, and eventually the Cinema in Shoppers World in 1983, until he retired in 1994.
Those were the years when movie theatres were a gathering spot for hundreds of people every weekend. Ushers wore military style uniforms, and were proud to be working what lots of kids thought were the best jobs in town. Where else could you get free movies, popcorn, and girlfriends too?
Back then, people went to the movies every single week. And there were ushers showing you to your seat, patrolling the aisles, and generally making sure the audience behaved. They even guarded the exit doors, from kids sneaking in.
Downtown Framingham was an exciting destination, with three theatres, and lots of department stores. Most of what it once was, is just a memory, and as the years go by, fewer remember how glamorous it all was back then.
More from the Dennison
Eddie Byrnes was called the Gateman, as he guarded the front gate where most of the workers entered on the corner of Howard Street. Here’s a photo of Eddie, from the 1943 salute. 
Here’s the Howard Street entrance with lots of people waiting to get their picture taken. 
Dennison on the Home Front
In 1943, the Dennison published a couple of glossy pictorials, meant to be sent to the boys at war. It was intended to give them some hope for what was waiting back home. A good job, and friends. Here’s the cover of one of these magazines. 
Of course what else would the GI’s like to see while in their foxholes overseas? How about petite Helane Dugan, new girl in the transcribing department? 
She must have been wondering what kind of a company she hired onto. Of course what better than a girl from Saxonville, and here’s Jane Suprena of the Sales Service Department with a photo on a wagon wheel, maybe taken at the Twin Maple Farms? 
New Website for Framingham Events
Sharon Gartenberg has a new website for things to do in Framingham. Here’s a link to click on. http://www.framinghamevents.com/
Irving Square in the 1950s
Browsing through some things I’ve saved through the years, I came across this photo from an article in the Middlesex News.
As you can see, there was a Sears store where the Store 24 is now. It was called the Smith Building, and burnt down in 1966. From the age of the cars in the photo, I’d date this view to the early 1950s. Thanks to the Framingham Historical Society, which let the newspaper reprint the view.
Amazing Things Coming Soon
Mike Moran was tossed out of downtown Natick like a used dishrag. There were political forces at play there. But he’s coming back strong, as this article explains: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/11/22/is_amazing_downtown_next/
Best wishes for success.
Floodwaters over the Saxonville Falls
Here are a couple of photos, courtesy of Walter Lech, showing floodwaters going over the Saxonville falls, probably taken after the Hurricane of 1938 which flooded much of New England.
First, this view of the waterfalls which was Framingham’s version of Niagara, and probably powered the Mill. The second photo from the opposite direction. Compare the volume of water to the way it looks today. This must have been a pretty awesome sight back then.
Walter Lech in His Victory Garden
Victory Gardens were popular and Saxonville had them off of Water Street.
Here’s a picture of the senior Walther Lech, checking the progress of his.
Saxonville Memories
From Walter Lech, here are a couple more memories: First, the Saxonville Troop 12 Boy Scouts. 
Saxonville’s Boy Scout Troop 12 in 1942 included Walter Lech standing in front with his thumbs hooked in his front pockets. To his left is Paul Shock who lived on Concord St. and over his left shoulder is Norman Burke. Between Walter and Paul in the rear is Stanley Karp. The tallest boy on the right is John Antul who lived on Fuller Street.
The Edwards Street Hill was a great place to go sledding in the winter. 
Walter remembered “If we gained enough momentum we’d make a sharp left at the bottom and coast all the way to where Chestnut Street deadended.”
The Ladies of Saxonville in the 1930s
Much thanks go to Walter Lech of Saxonville who recently sent me this photo of some familiar Saxonville neighbors, circa late 1930s. My Grandmother (Mary) is seated on the left. 
Standing in the back row, l-r is Mrs. Joseph Korona, Mrs. Wm. Buinoff, and Mrs. Floryan Ruchwa (Walter Lech’s Grandmother.) Seated alongside my grandmother is Mrs. Stanley (Julia) Karp. Walter said “there seems to have been a close friendship with Julia because your grandmother was at her house often and if I remember correctly she took care of the Karp kids once in a while. The picture was taken in the back yard of 22 Chestnut St., where the Karp’s lived. One of the ladies pictured got on a bicycle one day after a picnic at the Novaks and rode down Elm St, crashing into the fence at the bottom of the hill by the Roxbury Carpet. Luckily she wasn’t hurt, but the fence had a dent in it for a long time.
The Buinoff’s were furriers and owned and did business in that brick building that is right on the corner of Concord and Danforth Streets.
Among the Polish people your grandmother was always referred to as “Gabrisha” where that name originated I don’t know.” According to my copy of the 1937 Framingham street list, my Father and Grandmother both also lived at 22 Chestnut Street, and in 1937 they moved to 34 Elm St. I would guess that maybe the Chestnut Street house was a two family. Gabrisha might be a variant on Gabriel, I’m not sure.
Thank you, Walter, for finding and sharing this picture.
