Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Here we are at the beginning of another summer. In the old days, we did day camps and playground activities. One year, we built a cool buggy. That was a fun summer back around 1967. Summers mean no school and fun.

I asked my social media friends what they remember most about the summers when they were growing up in the 60s and 70s, and 80s in Somerville. Each new commenter is in quotations.

“So many things. Always been with my best friend since I was 8 years old. We would take long walks to see her cousins in Cambridge, go to Foss Park pool, dance in the rain, lie in the sun, and get into all kinda of Shenanigans. The best times were even doing nothing as long as we were together, kindred spirits forever. Still best friends 47 yrs. later.”

“I worked at the Museum of Science and rode my bike every day to work!”

I loved watching the Sunsetters perform on the street where I lived. Alston Street off of Cross Street. And I am reminded of music class, and your mom (Mary Carafotes) was obviously our instructor. She was very good at her chosen profession. I think this was 1974. What I love about this memory is how your mom put us in groups according to our voice tones. I am an alto. We performed patriotic songs for a Memorial Day concert. It was so awesome how she instructed, and she was proud of our performance.”

“The summer of 1957, when I was 11, I spent practically every weekday playing pickup baseball on the sanctified dirt at Trum Field. I’d walk the tracks from Ball Square, Boston Ave., right after breakfast, and stay until lights out at 9:30 after the softball games were done. I loved playing ball and the kids there. You’d think I would be better than I was for all that time, but I really loved the sport and still do.

“Project Star and Sunsetters.”

I signed up my brother, Paul Carafotes, sisters Victoria Macrokanis and Margo Carafotes Popken, along with neighborhood friend Linda Spence Christman. We performed in Fiddler on the Roof, ToyLand, and HMS Pinafore. Also, those years, my brother Paul Carafotes starred in You Can’t Take It With You and Of Thee I Sing. We all enjoyed singing, acting, and dancing. It was really a wonderfully organized 6 or 8 weeks of fun and a great educational experience of Summer Theater Arts and Recreation.”

“Took music classes with one of the founders of STAR, the infamous Andy J. Smith, and the sweet voice teacher, Mrs. Scott. Both her sons were in it too, David and Ralph Scott. Who could forget the artistic scenery designer with Donna Wade and Richie Senessi, and costume making with Amy Parrish? But one of my favorite classes was with dance instructor Al Cremmins. He and his sister Ann would teach us a new dance in no time at all. We went on field trips to the North Shore Music Theater, where we met Rita Moreno.”

“Played baseball every summer and of course, the Mystic Lakes for a swim. My best summer was when the Babe Ruth team that I coached won the State Championship. It was a very good summer. Hey, but wait, every summer ended with the best track meet in the country at Trum Field. I still imagine those thousands that were in the stands.”

“After that summer, I worked every one as a helper to one of my uncles’ trades or businesses. It was invaluable experience, just not as much fun as playing the unstructured, self-ruled baseball games.”

“I remember going to the YMCA day camp and visiting Hood’s Cherry Hill farm. We had a blast on the bus up and back. I still remember the bologna sandwiches my mother packed for me.”

I was also in the epic summer theatre Project STAR.

You can still have a lot of summer fun in the city, unless you have to park your car.