1938, 1944 ...

My cousin Stuart Brewster, who lived at 98 Preston Street ("Pine Knoll") as a boy, wrote to me via email from CA this week in response to reports of Hurricane Irene and a story I had sent him:

"Your Hurricane story brings back many memories of Hurricanes especially the 1938 disaster where hundreds were killed.  It happened on Sept. 21, 1938, if I recall correctly.  On the two days before, we had driven my brother Dudley to Proctor Academy in Andover, NH, and David to the U. of Mass. in Amherst.  It rained continually on both these day trips.

"Late in the afternoon on the day of the big storm, we (Aunt May, my mother, Mayon and myself) were out in the back yard at Pine Knoll watching the clouds that were passing overhead at an unbelievable speed. Aunt Margaret had been in Salem at some Church affair and drove in, put her car in the barn and announced that we were going to have a Hurricane.  What is a Hurricane? was the response.  We then noticed that a hugh locust tree that was near the western side of the house was leaning, fortunately away from the house.  We all stood there and watched it fall, closing off the Western driveway.

"For the rest of the night, the wind blew and blew. The noise was like that of a freight train roaring by at top speed.  This lasted all night. We could hear trees crashing all around and were worried that one might fall on the house but none did.  I don't think anyone went to bed or considered getting undressed since we were worried about a possible fire from lightning or if the chimney fell.  Also there was a big Maple tree on the South side that was a big worry for hitting the house and then rain would pour in.  Of course, we very quickly lost all power and did not get it back for weeks. But we had a coal stove in the kitchen so were able to cook.  Many in town who had electric stoves were not so lucky.

"The next day, we could not believe the carnage.  The Pine Grove which is why it was called Pine Knoll was almost all gone.  A few White Pines were left but the grove area was far more open. The Eastern drive entrance was not blocked.

"I was still attending Speedwell School held at Locust Lawn.  The drive up to the house was blocked by many fallen trees. School was to have opened on October first but was delayed for a number of weeks.

"The next Hurricane came in 1944. I was in college at Tufts living in Somerville. It didn't cause much damage since it went up the middle of the state somewhat like your current storm.  Renate talked about how she had just arrived as a freshman at Mt. Holyoke when the storm hit causing extensive damage to trees on the campus.

"The 1954 storm was strong but there wasn't the loss of life as in 1938. Pine Knoll lost more trees. I also drove over to Marblehead early in the day before it really hit in order to see the surf.  It was very scary with the waves smashing against the shore on the Neck and the spray spreading over the road.

"My last one was the weekend of [my nephew's] wedding in Rockport, held on the day after what had been projected to be a hugh one. [Hurricane Gloria, September 27, 1985]  I had been at a ... retreat held on the Cape in Chatham.   [... People debated] about staying or moving up to Boston.  I made a strong statement pointing out that if the storm hit as predicted and the two bridges were closed, then we could be caught there for days.  Cooler heads finally prevailed and we moved.  Andy and Sally who lived on the Cape could not get to the wedding.

"Thus endeth my recollections of Hurricanes in New England."

Hurricane!

As Hurricane Irene threatened New England this week, I thought about the hurricanes we experienced in Danvers during my childhood: Carol and Edna in 1954 and Connie and Diane in 1955. Downed trees created green jungles to play in. That was my perspective as a youngster.

During Reunion last month I heard a hurricane memory from Chuck Roy, who grew up on the Burley Farm in Danvers. During Hurricane Carol he watched a farm worker there attempt to put a truck into a barn:

"From the safety of my home I watched as the storm raged on. At one point I saw Nate heading to the “A” barn to put a truck inside. He rolled open the two large barn doors that would allow him to drive into the barn. As he turned and walked back to his truck a gust of wind blew into the barn and lifted the entire A-shaped roof right off the barn, dropping it just a few feet to the side! I can just imagine what was going through his mind when he turned around and saw what was left of the barn. I was thinking I would have lots of wood to make a new fort."

Forts, jungles...  Hurricanes can create new playgrounds for kids. See what I wrote in 2007 in my column: Hurricanes in my childhood [now copied into this blog, as the newspaper archive isn't accessible.]

For another perspective, read Mr. Richard Trask's article: Of microbursts and hurricanes in Danvers. (November 2009).

Today as an adult I'm relieved that Hurricane Irene weakened to a 'tropical storm' before reaching us.

Reunion!

Last weekend I attended the "Big Fling"  - the 50th Reunion of the Danvers High School Class of 1961.

I want to thank the 50th Class Reunion Committee (Marsha Yetman Coogan, Sue Halupowski Evans, Elaine Hayden Roy, Sue Ellen Tagg, and Barry Robertson) for organizing such a wonderful weekend of events. They chose a variety of locations and planned several different activities (e.g., bus tour of historic places in Danvers, a cocktail party, a tour of the Richmond-Holton school, a breakfast) -- each drawing a mix of classmates. Over 70 people attended the Saturday night dinner and dance party.

This was the first time I'd been invited to a Danvers school reunion (because I had left Danvers High before graduation). Quite a few other classmates were also coming back for the first time. I enjoyed making some new friends and well as connecting with old pals. A fun time!  

I especially enjoyed the stories told by my classmates about their experiences growing up in Danvers.  I hope to share many of these stories in coming columns or on this blog. I've invited my classmates to write down their memories and send them to me for inclusion in "Remembering Danvers."

See my August column "Reflecting on a High-School Reunion" (published in the Danvers Herald August 4, 2011).  Or view this version of it:

Reflecting on a High School Reunion

By Sandy Nichols Ward

Nametags! Thank goodness! That was my first thought as I entered the patio area where Danvers classmates were gathering for an informal "Welcome Cocktail Party" at the start of our 50th Reunion weekend. The people did not look familiar, but some names jumped right out at me. I then looked from the nametag up to the face and gradually recognized features of the younger student I once knew. This was my first-ever reunion with the Holten High School Class of 1961. I had left Danvers schools after 10th grade, so I was now attempting to recall faces from 52 or more years ago.  

Friendly smiles and a few greetings of "Hi Sandy!" helped draw me into conversations. Whether they really recognized me, or were just reading from my nametag, didn't matter. We were soon exchanging stories about where we grew up and what we remembered. Ken Beck recalled the dinner parties my mother and father used to host before square dances. That reminded me of the fun of being able to invite FOUR boys and three girls to join me in making a "square" for a dinner and dance date. The only trouble was that these boys would then meet my beautiful younger sister and flirt with her, not me. I laughed with Ken about these long-ago memories. 

And so the weekend went, with much laughter and story-telling among classmates as each story triggered someone else's memories. "Do you remember Nesson's Dept store?" asks one; "I worked there!" answered another.  Orpheum Theater (25 cents for 2 movies, 1 cartoon, and world news)… Snow's Bakery… good fries at Woolworth's… the Rat Hole … late night visits to Cherry Hill…  the soda fountain at Almy's…  

On and on the stories flowed, especially on Saturday morning during the bus tour of Danvers. George Meehan, our tour guide, talked of historic sites and events in the 1600's, while we told of our own history and experiences in the 1950's and early 1960's. He took us to visit the Endicott Pear Tree, now safely preserved behind a high fence. Some classmates recalled climbing on it or painting it; others never before had seen the famous tree. We were quite impressed that a tree planted in the mid-1600's survives and STILL produces pears!  The 50-year span since our high school days seemed trifling compared to lifespan of that tree.

I discovered that I wasn't the only first-timer. Helga, a German exchange student, was returning for the first time since her 1960/61 school year when she had resided with a Danvers family. She and I had never met, but we quickly connected. She's from the Munich area, which I had visited. Her son works in scientific research at Stanford University, where I had worked as a science librarian for 15 years. Helga needed a ride back to her hotel, which turned out to be the same one I was in!  I enjoyed getting to know her. One of the joys of a reunion is making new connections as well as renewing old friendships.  

Of course I had fun reconnecting with old childhood friends. I'll write more of our stories in future columns. I thank Gordon Lindroth for telling me about the reunion and passing my contact information to the organizing committee.  I thank the organizers for a very well-planned weekend that included a variety of activities from which to pick and choose.

I am SO glad that I attended this special reunion.