Anyone have any old photos (pre-1970) of Davis Square?

[fefie.livejournal.com]

Does anyone have any photos of Davis Square pre-1970? The Somerville Musuem is looking to borrow such photos (not for an exhibit, but for a fast approaching project they have been asked to help research.) They need the photos within the next week.

The Somerville Museum is located at One Westwood Rd, at the corner of Westwood Rd and Central St.
Tel 617-666-9810   Museum Hours: Thurs 2-7, Fri -5, Sat 12-5

Comments

Re: Try Flickr

[svilletheatre.livejournal.com]

My love of old signs would be outweighed by my dislike for endless DSTF meetings if I even TRIED to put that sign back on the roof!!! Much as I would love it, though. :)

The Blarney Stone was in the Woodbridge Hotel, where Ciampa Manor is today. There are many stories about that place (this existed of course before my time as I am only in my early 30's) but the most notable I have heard involved a rather large amount of gunfire outside behind the place one night when a neighbor got tired of people pissing/making noise in the alley between his home and the bar.

There were a lot of small bars in the city... I think Jimmy DelPonte did a Somerville News column on NYE that mentions a bunch of them - more than I could possibly recall due to my age, but many I am sure my parents would recognize them. The others I remember were more like restaurants; The Venice (where Orleans is) and Frascati's (where Hollywood Express and Anna's Taqueria are) are two that I remember going to as a kid to have a Shirley Temple while adults had dinner or drinks; friends of my family owned Frascati's, which burned down and closed when I was really young.

If we ever lost MOBA at the theater (not that that would happen anytime that I could foresee), I have always thought that a museum of Davis Square history would be a good replacement - a series of photographs of each block from as many eras as possible, something like that. Maybe we could even track down an old sign or two.

Re: Try Flickr

[ron_newman]

Do you or Mel or Richard or anyone else know what happened to the roof sign? I mean this one, not the one you have in the lobby. Everyone I know at DSTF would love to see it again.

I remember the Venice (though I never went in), but I think Frascati's is before my time. The Woodbridge certainly is.

Re: Try Flickr

[svilletheatre.livejournal.com]

No, the only persons who might possibly know about that would have been Arthur or Bob Viano, and unfortunately Bob died in 1995 and Arthur died in 2002 if I recall correctly. And even they might not know, as evidence suggests it was taken down before the Viano's bought the theater from Joseph Hobbs in 1926. It would have been a pretty huge sign, but by the looks of it it was probably of simple construction - metal frame and tin/wood letters. It seemed to last at least a decade, 1914-mid 20's. It was definitely gone by 1927.

Re: Try Flickr

[ron_newman]

Thanks. If it was that old, it wasn't neon. I wonder then if it was even lit at night?

Re: Try Flickr

[svilletheatre.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was a bulb sign, like the one in the lobby. If you look at a blow-up of the classic 1914 photo of the building, it is possible to see the bulbs. Yes, I have scrutinized the photos! And yes, I am emotionally attached to my workplace. It makes vacationing difficult for any loved ones who are with me.