Somerville is on eBay!

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

For some strange reason, I started replacing some of my favorite childhood toys - I turned to eBay to accomplish this odd task. I just figured it was another weird part of getting older. So far I have re-purchased a Secret Sam Spy Rifle with the hidden camera in the attaché case, a Girder and Panel Building Set, one of those 20 Mule Team Borax models and a Kenner “Give A Show Projector.” Remember those? It was a small plastic slide projector that showed color slides of Popeye, The Flintstones, Superman, Yogi Bear and other cartoons - it worked with batteries and a light bulb and you would project the image on a wall or a sheet. I got one for 30 bucks on eBay.

Recently I was surfing the big “e” and just for the heck of it I searched the words “Somerville, Mass” - what I found was very interesting. First there were the old post cards - one was of Somerville English High School, dated 1907. The photo was just the High School's main building when there was nothing else surrounding it. Another post card was of Robinson's Round House on Spring Hill and several others were of the Old Powder House. I found these artifacts very interesting.

Other items I found were very old bottles and containers with the First National Stores markings on them. The most intriguing item I found was an old wine bottle - the label says “Elba Brand, bottled by The Goduti Wineries, Somerville, Mass.” Those must have really been the good old days when there was a winery in Somerville - I wonder if there was ever a brewery in the 'Ville of old. If there was maybe they would have brewed a Winter Hill Lager or a Ball Square Ale - how about Magoun Malt, or maybe a brisk Powder House Pilsner. That gives me an idea - anyone want to start a Somerville Brewery? I'll be more than happy to be a taste tester.

I also found some great photos of old Somerville Fire engines from 1933, two factory photos of a booster hose car and a pumper manufactured for the Somerville Fire Department by the Seagrave Fire Truck Factory - all up for bids. I found even more old postcards of the Central Library, Highlands Railroad Station that used to be behind the High School I think and a very interesting postcard of City Hall when they were still using the Highland Ave entrance.  There is also a great post card of St. Ann's Church from 1907. Sadly, not all internet web sites are as entertaining as eBay.

When I entered “Somerville Mass” on Wikipedia, I was not amused at the derogatory things written about our city and it's not so distant history. Try it, and you will see what I mean. But if you want to have a little fun while you're surfing the 'net, go to eBay and see the treasures that are out there from the old days of Somerville.

The strange part is that the people that are selling these items are from all over the country. By the time this reaches print, I will know if I won the auction for that great old Somerville wine bottle.

As for my own project to “replace objects from my past,” I'm still looking for one of those little grey plastic baking soda powered submarines that used to come inside boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. I've purchased some Beatles collector cards (remember those?), a Beatles Rubber Soul album - and believe it or not, some vintage marbles to hopefully replace the ones I've lost over the years.

Finding vintage Somerville items online is an enjoyable way to kill some time. I actually had accumulated a few Somerville artifacts without even trying. Down in my cellar, I found my Western Jr. High School class picture from 1968, my very last report card and my beanie from class day in 1971. I'm afraid that someday when I do a search for “Old Somerville Artifacts” my picture will pop up.

Please e-mail your comments to Jimmy at: jimmydel@rcn.com

Comments

[Frank Bucca]

Back before the original High School building-[Latin)- was built, the basic City Hall building where it currently stands [before add-ons, etc.] served as the original High School for the Town of Somerville.

Town offices were moved into the building after the building and opening of the Latin High School in 1872.
Latin High School preceding and eventually replaced by the English High School....and then the High School as we now know it.
---------------------------------------
Still have my 1946 Western Junior High School graduation class picture.

[Ron Newman]

Where were the town offices before they moved into the current City Hall?

[James Norton]

Ron -

The present city hall was formerly "Somerville Free High School" and the building itself was originally erected on the lot of land it sits now, but the structure was moved slightly to its present location and rehabbed in early to mid 1872 to house the city offices, which prior to that, were housed in the hall at the Forster School (Sycamore Street). The first inaugural was held on Jan 1, 1872 at that location (Forster School) and its fairly well documented that the town offices were there for quite some time before then - I can't find conclusive data which lists anything other than the Forster School as functioning as the center of government for Somerville during the time period leading up to incorporation ratification by the legislature in April of 1871 and onto the move to the previous high school building on Highland Avenue.

[Ron Newman]

Thank you! The next Somerville History bike tour on May 31 will focus on the history of Somerville's schools, and that was very helpful.

[Ron Newman]

One other question, while we're on this subject: was the Forster School where the Winter Hill Community School is today?

[James Norton]

Ron -

The short answer is yes. The main building sat where the back door and the top level playground on the WHCS site are now. The longer answer is that the hall of the Forster School was an addition to the original structure which extended from the back of the main building (which had entrances on Sycamore and Evergreen sides) down towards Medford Street. From what I understand, that hall burnt down sometime in the late 1880's and the main building stood basically untouched in the spot I explained at the beginning of this answer.
The spot where the hall was was eventually split - one half went to St. Ann's and the other corner (Medford and Sycamore) was deeded and private homes were built on those lots.
I remember the Forster School as a very large, old building (I went there for Kindergarten and First Grade before it was torn down to build the WHCS) and considering the amount of history those walls held, looking back now it is a shame such a grand old structure was leveled and not somehow reused - although, when built, the WHCS was state of the art in design (I went there for Second, Third and the first day of Fourth Grade before entering St. Ann's).

Hope that helps.

JN

[thenoseknows]

the forster school must have had three buildings. when i was a kid playing stick ball there it was two buildings. the one on the corner of sycamore and evergreen and another between that building with the st. ann convent behind it and the small school yard belonging to st ann beside it. p.s. if you want to know where the flag pole is that was on the sycamore street side of the building,let me know. i'll lead you to it.

[Jimmy]

The Charlton School was where Kenny Park is now across from Rite-Aid. The Lowe School on Morrison is now condos. The Hodgkins School was across from Hodgkins Spa...or Tony's as it will always be known to me.