History |
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Asher Zamansky
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I recently met with friends at one of the condos bordering the Boulevard. Although these premises leave nothing more to be desired, I cannot forget the amusements and food stands that this building replaced.
As I ambled along the Boulevard, memories returned. It seemed that I could smell the aroma of chop suey, hot mozzarella cheese bubbling on fresh baked pizzas and Howard Johnson's hot dogs had a flavor all their own. If only we could have another taste! Barney Scheff's may have been replaced by a modern condo, but the distinctive aroma of hot dogs sizzling on the grill lingers in my memory. A visit to the beach would not be complete without biting into an oversized beef sandwich with fries from Kelly's. The walk to the MBTA Blue line bus station to board a train for Boston was slower than it would have been during my youth. Turnstiles have replaced the "eagle eyed" motorman watching us deposit a dime in the fare box. A modern train approached the sparkling new station that had replaced the old turn-around on Beach Street. I found a spot to enjoy my lunch on a bench conveniently located next door to Kelly's. I enjoyed listening to a lively discussion group trying to solve the world's problems. The group may be classified as "retired" but they certainly are not stagnant. Further down, old friends were seated around the band stand, enjoying music of the 40's and 50's. The conversation was about the high cost of medication, arthritis and sundry ailments. At this point in our lives no one was interested in whom we should ask to the Saturday night dance. Progress has changed the appearance of the beach, but the ocean remains the same as I remember. Waves lap at the shore on mild days and roar majestically as northeast winds whip the shoreline. New sand has replaced the soft silver tones of the past. The white stones that burned our feet are gone. Times have changed but memories linger on. *Special thanks to our consultant Jeff Pearlman local historian and history teacher at the Beachmont School
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