http://subtledagger.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] subtledagger.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] davis_square2008-01-07 11:02 pm
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Ball Square bowling?

Does anybody know whats up with the little bowling place in Ball Square?  I looked in the window, and everything is still set up, but is it ever open?
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[identity profile] somertricky.livejournal.com 2008-01-09 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
You can't make stuff like this up.

According to the Middlesex Registry of Deeds, at some point Herb Foster owned (or may still own) the narrow parcel marked "3", behind the Auto Body Shop and perhaps part of the bowling alley, Medford says the lot size is in excess of 3000 SF. The owner of 675 Broadway granted Foster a small easement at the SE corner of his site, presumably for pedestrian access from Broadway.

I'll let someone else connect the dots.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2008-01-09 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Who is Herb Foster?

[identity profile] somertricky.livejournal.com 2008-01-09 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
He appears to be a semi-sordid figure in local politics. Zoning Board of Appeals member, father of recent aldermanic candidate Kim Foster-Hirsch (he may have been alderman at one point, I can't recall, and it's too late to look right now); allegedly close to Stan Koty. You could search for him over at the Somerville News site (look also for "Herbie").

It would be interesting to turn this over to some of the wolves at the Somerville News site...

[identity profile] wallacestreet.livejournal.com 2008-01-10 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
It appears that this Herb Foster also owns the bowling alley (http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/corpsearch/CorpSearchSummary.asp?ReadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed=&FEIN=042381889) which is indeed in Medford. Interesting.

[identity profile] somertricky.livejournal.com 2008-01-10 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I guess that will be our little secret then, right? (winks)

Right? (elbow to ribs)(flexes knuckles)

This has to be on the books somewhere, but where? I discovered the ownership of the sliver of land by accident; I picked one of the Boston Ave. properties in the Medford database without an address, and Foster's name popped up, so I ran HF's name through the Somerville database, didn't have time to dig through everything, though. Apparently taxes are being paid on the sliver of land.

But the bowling alley's a little mysterious, as are some political ties between Somerville and Medford. At least it hints at who's hanging out in there (DPW guys, all those guys who stand out in Ward Five on Election Day...). Also, who's the current owner of the old animal clinic on the corner?

Ron - you wouldn't happen to know who used to own the Willow Jazz Club in Ball Square, would you?

[personal profile] ron_newman 2008-01-10 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
No, sorry. Not even sure what's now located where the Willow as. I was not very active in local politics then, but I do recall being annoyed that the city would shut down a live music venue just because of a drug bust.

[identity profile] somertricky.livejournal.com 2008-01-10 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I think there was a bit more to it than that, Google "Willow Jazz Club" and see what the posters at the SN site had to say.

[personal profile] ron_newman 2008-01-10 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I remember that discussion -- in fact, I was briefly part of it. I still think the city would have done better to supervise a license transfer to better ownership than to shut down a live music venue.

A little more Googling finds that the Willow was at 699 Broadway, which is now home to ERA Norton Group Realty, co-owner of the Somerville News. Anyway, this is the opposite side of Boston Ave. from the bowling alley.

[identity profile] somertricky.livejournal.com 2008-01-10 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Norton Realty is located where the Willow was? That's gotta be worth something on the Unintentional Comedy Scale.
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