April 1, 2023
What was it like to be living in Medfield 70 years ago? Thanks to a donation by Jane and Warry Lomax of almost all the issues of the Medfield Enthusiast, edited by Joe Coan, we have been granted access to first-hand, and in some cases, quite personal, information on what was happening in our town.
In 1950, the population was 4,945, and the median age was 38. According to the 2020 census we are, today, 12,904 strong, with a median age of 40.8 years.
The Enthusiast, which began publication on or about the 6th of February 1953, was technically a “newssheet”, a publication defined as a report or open letter giving informal or confidential news of interest to a special group. The size of the paper was 11×17, folded in half, having four pages for text. It was later increased with an insert, making it six pages and ultimately eight pages.
Except for the increase in population, living here hasn’t changed a great deal. Not only did the Enthusiast cover taxes, town meetings and zoning – but also announcements of concerts, births, marriages, and deaths — and, of course, meetings, to wit: the American Legion, the International Order of Odd Fellows, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Garden Club, and the Hannah Adams Club. In short, virtually everything we read about today in our Hometown Weekly.
There have been a few noteworthy changes since 1953, though. For example, “Mrs. Warren Bois of North Street has asked you to announce that she is accepting members for the 4H Garden, Poultry and Livestock Clubs. These Clubs are open to boys between the ages of 10 and 16 years.”
Changes are particularly prominent in the help wanted advertisements. One company, looking for a salesclerk read, “Position available for young married man in sales office,” and also for a stenographer who was “a personable young lady.” Another firm wanted a “young man for general work.”
Advertising sustained this publication, displaying ads for Medfield businesses, some of which are still going strong today. Among them, the Medfield Package Store, Inc., now known as Larkin’s Wine & Spirits. Pederzini the Florist, established in 1918 and sold to the Lovells in 1969, is now Lovell’s Florist and Nursery. Vets Package Store has become Palumbo Liquors. Roberts Funeral Home has expanded to the Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home. Then, as now, real estate offices abounded.
The above notwithstanding, many businesses, large and small, have disappeared since 1953. Gone is the Medfield Cooperative Bank, the Medfield Lumber Supply Co., the Buchanan Press, Tom’s Electrical Appliance Repair Shop, the Medfield Oil Company, Medfield Theater and, last but certainly not least, Lord’s, which is still fervently missed by those of us who have lived in Medfield for longer than 10 years.
Company and home phone numbers were just that . . . numbers. Medfield Package Store Inc., was 38, Roberts Funeral Homes, Inc., had 133 for Medfield and 70 for Millis, and Pederzini the Florist was 10.
Culture was alive in Medfield in 1953 with an Opera Society and an orchestra. On March 14th the Sixth Annual Mid-Winter Concert was given by the Medfield Community Orchestra performing the Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture by Glinka; Symphony No. 2 by Haydn, and Concerto No. 1 in G Minor for Violin by Bruch. When did they disband? Why did they disband?
The Enthusiast was strong on human interest stories such as: “From Mrs. Charles F. Smith of Harding Street we learned that her two sons, Pfc. Charles F., Jr., and Pfc. John J. met one another two miles behind the lines in Korea on February 9. They had a pleasant visit together for about three hours before Charles had to return to the front lines. Charles and John are both in the 1st Division, 7th Marines together, stationed in Korea.”
Even a child’s birthday demanded recognition. “Jane Etton Mair entertained a group of her little friends at her home on Spring Street last Saturday, May 24. The occasion was Jane’s sixth birthday, although her actual birthday was May 21.”
From My Window on Main Street, by the redoubtable Dick Porter, was a simple column that appeared every week with such homespun notes as, “Mrs. John Swallow of Pine Street just passed by with her little daughter on her way to do some shopping, and they both gave me a big smile.” Another observation was that he saw “Joseph Ryan of Main Street talking things over with a couple of his friends over in Post Office Square. Joe is not very big but he sure has plenty of personality.”
There were always announcements of bridal and baby showers, births, deaths, and marriages. Wedding announcements gave great detail about what the bride, bridesmaids, and mothers of the bride and groom wore. Grooms’ outfits were not mentioned.
School news was always a part of the Enthusiast, including one headline, in bold print, reading “H. S. ANNUAL JUNIOR PROM FRIDAY. The prom was to feature Bobby Vespa and his orchestra and the crowning of a May Queen. Barbara Bowker and her escort Alan Newell of Millis were the prom Queen and King.
Another major headline, dated Thursday, May 28, 1953, was KELLY TO PURCHASE LORD’S. It was reported that Ray Lord was going to manage only the Lord’s Village Store portion. Bill and Ray were described in the article as being “sound and forward-looking business men.” They certainly were!
As the French have so profoundly observed, le plus ça change, le plus c’est la même chose. We have supersonic transport, computers, iPhones, people living on space stations but, really, has life in Medfield changed that much from 70 years ago?