Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Now that another summer is in the rear view mirror the kids are back in school and the leaves are falling. Summer went by fast! I asked this question: What was your favorite summer past time growing up in Somerville?

“We had about 25 kids lived in my street. We’d play Relieveo, Buck Buck, Dilboy pool, Woodstock Park leaders, and I used to jump around on my pogo stick.”

“On Heath Street and Langmaid Ave. neighborhood, we played hide and go seek every summer … for years. Both the kids my age, the ones 2-3 years older and the ones 2-3 years younger, probably about 15 of us. This went on for years, 1970-77. Great memories. We even hid on the roof of Belotti Olds – LOL.”

“I used to like to go to Palamacci Playground when they used to be open. Run by Somerville Recreation. They used to have activities, playday and contests. It was fun. I also liked playing games in the street with the whole neighborhood kids on summer nights. We played four corners, statute, red rover and hide and seek! We had a great time!”

“Going to Albion Park, playing dodgeball and jackstones. So excited to see who our park leaders were and we always had good ones, that I remember.”

“Woodstock playground, the trip to Paragon Park. Then moving up to Dilboy to play park baseball. I have to say as proud as I am to be a combat veteran, I’m even prouder to have lived and be from Somerville. God Bless Somerville. Now that’s my home sweet home. Just to have had Mrs. De Naro in my life was a major plus of growing up.”

My summers of times gone by involved making go carts, riding bikes and playing in the street. Ah, the good old days.