Thursday, March 1, 2007 Older Editions

The Back Page: 1946 - First off, a year to remember

By Bill Dalton

There is an earliest memory in everyone's life. In mine, I'm sitting in an open suitcase, floating on the ocean. If I were to leave the description at simply that, you would think it surreal, likely a fragment of imagination. Perhaps when I explain that the suitcase was flotsam from World War II that came ashore on New England beaches and that my parents verified my memory, you'd give me more credence.

The beach: Biddeford Pool, Maine. The year the empty suitcase floated in was 1946.

Here is the memory: My father places me in the open suitcase. It has floated in through light surf. Both parents are nearby. I sit and ride on the white water of small, broken waves. Then, my father pushes me slowly out, just beyond where the waves are breaking, and he stands very close while I sit in my first boat. There are small metal brackets on the inside of my boat. As I push the metal on one side, my boat goes in that direction. I push other brackets, and I believe I can control the direction of the boat. I am very happy. The memory ends.

As I grew older, I thought about where that suitcase came from. Was the owner on a vessel that had been sunk by a U-boat? Very possibly. Did he survive or did he drown in the cold North Atlantic as did thousands of merchant marines, floating for a few minutes, knowing death was imminent, knowing that hypothermia would soon consign his conscious, semiconscious, then unconscious, then lifeless, soulless body to the total darkness where only sightless animals swim and scurry. My memory gained a different depth and meaning.

I have other early memories that may have happened in 1946. Probably because it's my earliest time of remembered awareness, I've had a fascination about the year that followed the biggest war. It was the first year of the Atomic Age, the year Winston Churchill announced the beginning of the Cold War in his "Iron Curtain" speech, the year Andover celebrated its tercentennial. So, when Betty Boudreau sent me the April 4, 1946 Townsman, I savored each page and read every entry and advertisement. Last week, I wrote about James E. Greeley, who was the subject of the main story in that paper. Today, I write more about that Townsman. Tip O'Neill said that all politics is local. To a large extent, all history is local as well.

Many of the stories in April 1946 are about returning servicemen. One of them is Phillip K. Allen. The Townsman story says he'd entered the Army as a private in field artillery a year before the start of the war and ended the war in the Office of Strategic Services as a lieutenant colonel. Allen is entering the Republican primary in the state senate race and lives at 1 Highland Road. (Mr. Allen becomes one of the most remarkable people I ever knew, a close friend for many years. His service to the town and Phillips are of incalculable value.) The Selective Service Board announces that several men received their discharges, including Roy Russell of 62 High St. and William Tammany of 36 Maple Ave. (Both become long-time Andover policemen).

An advertisement by the Townsman says it will publish its Tercentenary Book. The paper-cover editions are priced at $1, the hardcover at $3. (Those of us who own the book know what a fine publication it is.) There is an editorial titled, "Push That Tercentenary." It suggests that readers "...tell friends about our celebration. Write to them; invite them up for the weekend."

A small ad says that G. Potier, located at 33 Main St., does light machine work and sharpens lawnmowers, axes, knives, scissors and saws. (A few years later he moves to Post Office Avenue, a pot-holed dirt street, and adds to his work the repair of bicycles, which becomes his primary business.) Walter's Cafe has an ad saying it is open only from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (Walter's is one of the town's primary watering holes.) Other ads say you can purchase diamonds from John H. Grecoe at 48 Main St. and shingles are ready for immediate delivery by J. E. Pittman Est. at 63 Park St. The Hartigan Pharmacy, at the southeast corner of Main and Chestnut streets, advertises Yardley For Men. A shaving bowl is $1. Shaving cream 50 cents. After-shave powder 85 cents. The ad mentions you can pay your telephone bills there. Andover Lunch says, "Our menus are planned to give a well balanced variety for health and enjoyment." Andover Home Service, at 2 Essex St., is selling coal and gas combination ranges for $194.75.

An important story announces free surplus Army-Navy blood plasma is now available for transfusions to local civilians. The story says, "The plasma is being distributed to hospitals throughout the state as a public service, just as are serums and vaccines ... Plasma, used widely during the war to combat severe shock, saved thousands of lives of wounded American fighting men ... Local physicians will find plasma extremely useful in combating shock suffered during accidents and surgical operations."

On a page devoted to sports, the featured story is about Ed Doherty, who has returned from service in the Navy. The master of the "T" formation will go back to Notre Dame as head backfield coach under Coach Frank Leahy. Mr. Doherty is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Doherty of 125 Main St. He learned his skills under Coach "Pop" Lovely at Punchard and while at Boston College, where he was the No. 1 "T" formation quarterback in the nation.

Another sports story asks, "Will the Townies Dissolve?" That baseball team, coached and managed by Hal Wennick will "...fade into oblivion unless a marked enthusiasm is shown by the fans for local baseball." Mr. Wennick suggests to returning servicemen that "...they keep trim by playing baseball whenever possible so they will be ready for try-outs should there be enough requests for the continuance of the team."

The school committee announces the appointment of teachers, including Miss Isabelle Dobbie as a cadet teacher and Miss Frances Dalton as a part-time art teacher. A $100 pay increase is granted to several teachers, including: Benjamin Dimlich, Evelyn Parker, George Snyder, Mabel Marshall,Donald Dunn, Anna Walsh, Kenneth McKiniry, Eunice Stack, Alice Stack, Catherine Barrett, Owen Hinckley and Alice Bisbee. The committee votes to drop Spanish from the curriculum of the senior high school unless more than 15 students sign up. The school committee gives letters of commendation to the teachers who volunteered their time to evening classes for returning veterans. The teachers are: Bernard Kellmurray, Gertrude Hardy, Lillian Fox and Evelyn Banning.

Maury Shea, a student and the junior high reporter, says that in all three grades a total of 60 students won report card honors. Among those students are Joe Wennick, Dawn Dunn, Donald Mulvey, Joseph Ratyna, Russell Doyle and Betty Ann O'Connor. Maury (now a retired lawyer living in Naples, Fla.) also reports, "Baseball was scheduled to start on Tuesday, weather permitting. It was not permitting."

Columnist Bill Dalton's e-mail address is billdalton@andovertownie.com.