Category Archives: My Irrational Love of Albert Southwick

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Southwickian Festivities

As not one but two readers have pointed out to me, tomorrow is:

135th Annual Meeting of Worcester Historical Museum
Wednesday, November 10, 2010

4:00 Annual business meeting
Fletcher Auditorium

4:30 Presentation of the first
George Bancroft Award to
ALBERT B. SOUTHWICK
in recognition of his decades-long
commitment to sharing and
celebrating the history of Worcester

A reception will follow in the exhibition
IN FOCUS
in the Booth Gallery
R.S. V. P. to 508.753.8278

(Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend as I have a prior engagement.  Otherwise, you know I’d be there.)

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Leicester: a gentler pace of life

Travel a bit northwest of Auburn to a place where we don’t worry about flying girls and frenetic boys.  If you’re late for work, tell the boss you stopped to let a turtle cross by you on Peter Salem Road.  What’s with all that rushing around, anyway?  Roll down your window and enjoy life for a few minutes or a few hours, or however long it takes that turtle to cross the road.

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Ninety

Albert Southwick thinks turning ninety isn’t a big deal.

While that may be true, ninety years of AWESOME is totally worth celebrating.

Thank you, Mr. Southwick, for your always-interesting columns, for continuing to inform the public about our history, for being an inspiration to young people, and for knowing the difference between “jerry-built” and “jury-rigged.”

(Also, in honor of your birthday, today’s BBC One Planet programme devoted the better part of a show to aging.)

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Albert Southwick at the Leicester Historical Society Annual Meeting

On Tuesday night, my husband took me to the Leicester Historical Society’s annual meeting, where Al Southwick was the featured speaker. 

Before I get to the main event, there were a few things of note about the evening:

  • My husband and I were easily the youngest people there, barring a couple of teenagers who looked as if they’d been dragged there.
  • We sat next to an extremely entertaining couple who’d moved to Leicester from Chicago thirty years ago.  Lately, I’ve found that every time I meet people slightly older than my parents, they try to sell me their house.  In this case, their house was extremely tempting (farmhouse, five acres,  located in a town my husband is a touch obsessed with) but, as always, my response is the same: “There’s no way I could afford it…sorry!”  The wife also gave me valuable tips; for instance, you should always order non-cocktail alcoholic drinks at restaurants, because they tend to go heavy on the tonic in a G&T.  So, she had Jack on the rocks.  (Granted, it’s a tip of limited use since I’ve never had hard liquor, but I’ll store that away somewhere; goodness knows I may need it.)  I also gave her some tips on how to request Playaways from the Worcester Public Library, since she and her husband are as passionate about the library and reading as we are.
  • The salad dressings on the table had some kind of complicated code.  I mean, obviously “I” was for “Italian” and “R” was for “Ranch”, but what exactly were the numbers for?  Bizarre…

My husband took numerous papparazzi-esque shots of Southwick, because I refused to let him use the flash because then we’d look like the groupies we are.  I especially like the picture of Southwick in between our water cups, in the top left corner of the collage:

Southwick spoke for a bit about certain aspects of the history of Leicester, especially the comparative religious tolerance of the town; see below for an example of a Quaker forebear’s exemption from the taxes paid to support the state church: 

Many present were quite impressed with Southwick’s ability to read (at one point he looked something up) without glasses.  (I would have been equally impressed, but I haven’t had that ability since I was about six, so I’m impressed with anyone who can see without corrective lenses.)  There was a Q&A session in which he had a bit of trouble hearing a question, but he was, on the whole, pretty awesome.

(His sisters were there, and he said that he and his sisters had been residents of Leicester for over 280 years, which drew a lot of laughs.)

The best part of the evening was as my husband and I were leaving.  Husband wanted me to say hi to Southwick; I was all “How exactly do I explain that I write a blog in which I discuss my obsession with him without coming off as a stalker?”; then he said, “you’re a citizen journalist”; I pled shyness; I didn’t meet him.  (But I really didn’t want to say anything, because I am incredibly shy.)

Anyway, we’re leaving right behind his sisters, whom we have previously identified as the cutest old ladies this side of my 90-year-old grandmother, and all of a sudden, Sally Phipps stopped, looked at the whiteboard on which the restaurant’s specials are written, and erased the extra “m” from “ommelette.”

“I used to be a schoolteacher,” she said as an explanation.

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You Knew I Had to Say Something About This

I slacked off on my usual end-of-the-week blog roundup on Friday, but I’ve been meaning to write about how much this column meant to me.  One of my grandfathers served in an Allied (not American) navy during the second world war; the other grandfather tried to enlist in the American armed forces more than once, but had such poor eyesight that he was not able to serve.

Albert Southwick’s column on the boredom of war, and the flukes that saved his life, reminded me of the stories my grandfather (who served) used to tell.  He had a friend who relieved him so that he could have a short smoking break; during that break, his friend was killed.  The boredom of war was also related to me by a former coworker who served in World War II.  So the column was a nice reminder of two gentlemen I knew and admired.

So, this.

Specifically, this:

…overly nostalgic looks by Southwick of a city that really never existed. A city that wasn’t racist, classist – or even dirty.

Let’s look at some of what Albert Southwick has written in the past two months:

This is, of course, contrary to someone’s idea that Southwick is discussing an ideal society that never existed.  (In fairness, though, one might argue that his column on Jeffery Amherst could have been more sympathetic to the Indians who contracted smallpox via infected blankets, and that Southwick’s dismissal on the “war is hell” grounds is not convincing.  But, on the whole, Southwick is more sympathetic to non-Wasp males than the Canal District Chick would have her readership believe.)

Southwick has written and continues to write about the unvarnished history of our city in an interesting way.  His columns are usually as relevant to the issues facing the city as anything the two local columnists write.  And he can spell.

My love for Albert Southwick is a bit excessive, but it may not be as irrational as once I thought.  Southwick is a continual reminder that there is at least one person in the greater Worcester area who is literate, intelligent, well-read, and well-spoken.  Should there be younger writers on the Opinion page?  Without a doubt.  But let’s take advantage of hearing from a local gem as long as we have the opportunity.

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What I Learned from Blogs This Week

Administrative Stuff
I’ll be putting up a few items on the Virtual Assignment Desk for next week.  If you register at the WorcesterActivist site, you can update this as well. 

If you don’t have a blog but want to report on something, let me know and I’ll post it here.  Also, please feel free to send in nominations for ”What I Learned from Blogs This Week.”  I tend to collect news-ish items during the week, but please let me know if I’ve missed anything of note.

Contests & Other Publicity
Hearts for the Arts tonight

Center for Nonviolent Solutions annual meeting on Saturday morning at the WPL (via 508)

Worcester Tree Initiative on Sunday from 4:00-5:30 at QCC, regarding It’s All about the Trees!

 Arterial Street Sweeping next week.  (I was going to make a joke that included stents, but I’ll refrain.)

Worcester Arts & Culture Connection

News from Kate Toomey

Think Local, Thank Local campaign

Low-cost rabies clinic – April 10

Edgar Allan Poe/Big Read festivities.

Shameless Begging
As some of you know, the Regional Environmental Council is holding the 21st annual Earth Day Cleanups on May 1st, and for the third year in a row, I’ll be site coordinator for the Swan Avenue/God’s Acre site. 

A regular reader and future volunteer has taken extensive pictures of the area, which will either make you really want to help or (much more likely) scream in horror.  (The “free beer” washer has been number one on my list of things to get rid of since I started the cleanups, so if you’re interested in having that as a conversation starter in your home, or if you need some used PVC pipe or a couple of used wood pallets, let me know and I’ll bring them to you!) 

If you like reading this blog and you have a few spare hours on the morning of Saturday, May 1, please consider helping us. 

For interested volunteers, my husband has offered to discuss tree species (in addition to the previous offerings of Millerite theology, which is extremely important in relation to God’s Acre, and the Irish language).  Those who are interested in discussing which nighttime soap showed the most compelling insight into the eighties — my votes are either Dynasty or Knots Landing — can come work on my side of things.

You can email me if you’d like more information on the cleanup.

What I Learned This Week
Best mall idea of the week.

Jeff discussed two different online jerks (in a period of less than 24 hours), why that building on Mill Street won’t get a tenant anytime soon, more toxic players, anonymous pontificating, an excellent post about Taxi vs. Livery, CSX, and the reason five minutes were added to this morning’s commute.

Bill on another digital billboard rejection, wishful thinking, 47 Mason, and affordable housing.

Lance: Scott Brown’s legacy, wicked bad day, and dubious amendments.  Also, bringing new meaning to “ready for you”, which is so awesome I cannot express it in words.  (I think by now everyone knows how much I adore Lance’s blog.  Seriously, it’s all I can do to keep this weekly roundup from turning into a lovefest of No Drumlins posts.)

Tracy on the auditor’s report, the FY11 budget, NCLB, the power of no, and turnarounds.

Dee on Dress for Success, Macey Sign article (with a mention of Virginia Ryan), salutes to the WPD, happiness, and Saigon at Canal Nightclub.

Awesome post about volunteering at AAS.

Washburn & Moen fire in pictures and video.

Ada Lovelace, Seuss-isms, pills, saving the Google students, community service, the things I see in my nightmares, Coney Island, BBQ, and the potentiality of brick ovens.

Quote of the week: “There’s a big difference between being a resident and being a citizen of a community.”

The Week in Southwick
The Leicester Historical Society is going to be having their annual meeting/banquet on May 18th (it’s incorrect on the website), featuring the totally incredible Albert Southwick.  (My husband called me the other day and all he needed to say was, “Steak or haddock?”  Seriously, with Albert Southwick in the same room, I would be able to live without food for a week.)

Also — appropos of a comment to his column this week – you can find a reference to the Northborough mastodon here and a fuller account of it here.  (I was actually confused by the commenter’s reference to a Northborough mastodon, because I’d only ever heard about the Shrewsbury mastodon.)

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Actual Conversations From My House

Husband: “Albert Southwick doesn’t get many comments on his columns.”
Me: “Sure he does.  He sometimes gets one or two.”
Husband: “I’m sure most of the telegram.commenters don’t even know how to respond to him.”
Me: “He raises the tenor of that website about five hundred percent every time a column appears.”

***

Me: “Did you know that Unum might pay almost a million bucks a year less in taxes for fifteen years if this deal goes through?”
Husband: …
Me: “And they promise 50 more jobs!  Fifty jobs is the magic number in this city!”
Husband: …
Me: “Did you know that Unum needs to sign a lease in order for them to get the $25 million from the state for the Front Street project?  And that they estimated it would take two years to complete?” [see p. 12 of this presentation for more on that]
Husband: “I said years ago that all they need to fund that project is to rent a wrecking ball and charge Worcester residents fifty bucks to hit the mall with the wrecking ball.”
Me: “Just fifty bucks?”

***

Also, since Thanksgiving at Centerfold’s remains one of my more popular posts, I wanted to share the epilogue to that story:

So, we checked out the Buick wagon (my husband only buys Buick Century wagons from model year 1989-1996) and it was lovely.  He went during the day to ask how much they were going to sell it for (because my husband doesn’t pay more than $1200 for a car) and the owner of the lot said that it was his mother-in-law’s and wasn’t really for sale but he’d try to convince her to sell it.

He was never able to convince her to sell it, and my husband still talks about that car.  And I’ve tried to watch far fewer Lifetime movies than I used to.

***

(I share these with you to show that most of the good ideas and funny anecdotes on this blog are actually stolen from the man I married.)

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Updated, 2:02pm — Not three seconds after I posted, my husband sent me an email telling me to use “fewer” instead of “less.”  He’s told me before that if he’d realized I didn’t know the difference between “less” and “fewer”, that would have been as large an impediment to our marriage as his mortal hatred of Daryl Hall.

Also, he said that station wagon ”was the one that got away.”  He even put a frowny face in the email.  Seriously, folks.

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What I Learned from Blogs This Week

Administrative Stuff
I’ll be putting up a few items on the Virtual Assignment Desk for next week.  If you register at the WorcesterActivist site, you can update this as well. 

If you don’t have a blog but want to report on something, let me know and I’ll post it here.  Also, please feel free to send in nominations for ”What I Learned from Blogs This Week.”  I tend to collect news-ish items during the week, but please let me know if I’ve missed anything of note.

Contests & Other Publicity
If case you know someone who could benefit from this…
My friend Emily at River Valley Acupuncture will be holding the first Veterans Acupuncture Care (VAC) clinic in Worcester at Dodge Park Rest Home on March 10 from 5:30pm-7:30pm.  We’ll get up more detailed information before the event.

What I Learned This Week

CSX just received $98mil in stimulus money and more commentary on the proposed C S X Expansion.

Anyone itching to edit WoMag?

Liveblog of the City Council Meeting.

Bill on blanket code sweeps.

Tracy: Board of Ed meeting, and School Committee (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Activists at Israeli Ballet; Sean on number of protesters.

Victor went to Meanwhile…and Bret posted photos and commentary.

Lance provides the week’s best Tiger Woods media commentary.

There are plants, and then there are plants.

Who’s more subversive: Sarah Palin or Johnny Rotten?  (I vote neither…)

Honey Farms, Honey Dew, whatever.

Kelley Square, misdirected anger, As Seen on TV, I am forced to show that I have a sense of humor, dummy cops, electronic waste gets a new life.

Saturday the 20th was the anniversary of the day in 1872 when the city of Worcester put up the home of Stephen and Abby Kelley Foster for auction.  (Seriously, those of you who love Albert Southwick should really follow MassMoments on Facebook.)

Telegram.comment of the week
I have to confess that I really liked this comment to the Rick Rushton/parking column:
To all,
Boy did I mess up on this one. Going forward I am going to pay these parking tickets as I get them.
The only part of this story Clive misunderstood is for a stretch I did not receive tickets because I was able to finish my work before the meters ran out. Pumping in 50 cents for 2 hours is usually cheaper than paying the 10 dollars, but I’ve learned paying the tickets without late fees saves me alot of headaches and money. That being said by not paying them on time opens me up to fair criticism. I will continue to use the meters downtown, but if I do get tickets, which I invariably will because as you can see I receive no special treatment, I will pay them promptly and not let them build up. I am also bummed for my wife being mentioned as she is a great wife, and mother, and a much better parker.
Sincerely,
Rick Rushton

The Week in Southwick
I am going to remember Southwick’s misspelling of Lord Jeffery Amherst’s name (Southwick uses “Jeffrey”, which isn’t incorrect, but isn’t how Amherst spelled his own name) for every time someone takes me to task for my spelling.  It’s always nice to see our heroes can be human.

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What I Learned from Blogs This Week

Administrative Stuff
I’ll be putting up a few items on the Virtual Assignment Desk for next week.  If you register at the WorcesterActivist site, you can update this as well.  Hint hint.

If you don’t have a blog but want to report on something, let me know and I’ll post it here.  Also, please feel free to send in nominations for ”What I Learned from Blogs This Week.”  I tend to collect news-ish items during the week, but please let me know if I’ve missed anything of note.

Contests & Other Publicity
Worcester Mag’s Best of Worcester has a category for Best Local Blog.  Vote your conscience, as long as your conscience directs that you vote for Wormtown Taxi!   (Also, Albert Southwick for best columnist!)

Thursday, February 25 – 7:30 p.m. at AAS — Researching and Writing African American Biography: The Life of William Wells Brown

 Pecha Kucha, vol 4, Saturday night.

What I Learned This Week

508 turned 100.

Bill on super markets, task forces

Tracy on the possibility of a new charter school in Worcester, and follows the Central Falls story.

Sean finds no fault with Robert Z. Nemeth this week.  I also nominate him to evaluate every local candidate’s website, as he did with Karyn Polito’s.

Jeff on the T&G’s anti-cop agenda, WooTube controversy, and the omnipresence of Thiro trucks.

Paulie discusses housing loans and the Dismas House Family Farm.

The abyss between left and right, and the need for a senator’s clarification.

Victor on a weekend in the literary life of Worcester.

MassMoments discusses Esther Howland.  (Also, AAS on hairy valentines.)

The need for a Worcester TARDIS; “Worcester Illustrated“; the best T&G letter of the year; CitySquare rumblings; tracks, sightings, and more tracks; the city recycling rate; a reminder that I need to brush up on my Finnish.

Telegram.comment of the week
Sean pointed out the comments to the article on Jill Stein.  While I was tempted by some of the comments referring to “moon bats”, I think the “George Washington died of an STD” non sequitur of this comment puts it over the top:

Presidents Day is finally here and not one headlined article.
Two great presidents,one was murdered,the other died of syphilis,how sad for both. — Happy Holiday

 
The Week in Tirella
Sean did it for me.

The Week in Southwick
This column is Southwick at his best.  I’d been meaning to read The Naked Quaker, so I was glad to hear a glowing review of the book from him.

Albert Southwick always seems to bring up topics that I’ve been thinking about.  We were watching the second installment of Faces of America, and I was overwhelmed by the story of Kristi Yamaguchi’s grandfather.  I can’t imagine that it was comfortable for her to hear about the sufferings of her ancestors (rights taken away, relocated to internment camps, the inability to become citizens for a ridiculously long time), but I’m sure it was equally wonderful to hear all sorts of great stories about their successes.

My husband and I talked about whether I’d ever be interested in doing genealogical research.  I said at some point, I’d put together what’s rattling around in my head, for the benefit of our children, but that I wouldn’t go to the old country to do any additional research.  I don’t think there are any records to be found.  Even if there were, I’d be afraid of what I’d find.

Many of the celebrities profiled can be proud of their ancestors.  Their ancestors worked hard, were positively profiled in the New York Times (as in the case of Queen Noor) and escaped forced famines (as in the case of Stephen Colbert).   I don’t get the sense that anyone profiled in the series was worried that their ancestors left their countries of origin not to make a better life, but because they’d done something so bad that coming here was the only option to save their skin.  And that’s what I worry about, with a certain side of my family.

What I appreciate about Albert Southwick is that he’s very honest — here and in other places — about his family’s history of owning slaves.  It’s very easy to be proud of your ancestors, and it’s very easy to only see the best in those long dead.  It’s much harder to know their flaws and wonder if those flaws could just as easily have been yours, had you been in the same circumstances.