Category: Humarock

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Some Memories of Going to Humarock

From a very early age, I remember my Mom pulling my wagon to Humarock from our home in Seaview, to visit with her sister Margie. My Dad attached a box onto the wagon and I fit inside. It was a long bumpy ride. The roads were not paved as smooth as they are today (later in my youth, I was always frustrated trying to roller skate on the rough Seaview streets).

As we came over the knoll on Sea Street, Humarock came into view with the old wooden bridge to cross. During one of these trips across the bridge, my wagon wheel slipped down in between the boards, and my Mom couldn’t pull it out. She had me get out and we tugged at it — to no avail. I was pretty scared and in tears. My Mom took hold of me and across the bridge we went, leaving my wagon behind. She knew where help would be.

Into the Humarock Garage we went, to ask her friend Dick Smith, the owner, for help. He said, “Sure, Ruthie.” He came out with a pry bar and off we went back to the wagon. One pry and out it came. My wagon was saved!

Mr. Smith told my Mom not to use the wagon, with its narrow wheels, on the sidewalk — to use the roadway instead, because the boards went the other way and so the wheels would not get stuck.

Mr. Smith, Mom, & I in my wagon were now off the sidewalk and on our way to visit with my aunt Marge. I don’t remember any of the visit, but I do remember the trip back across the bridge. We now were in the roadway, past the hump, and almost off, when a car came along and the driver hollered at us to get off the roadway and onto the sidewalk! My Mom hollered back at him and told him to go-somewhere! There was quite a bit of talk — about that person — at the supper table that night with Mom & Dad. Mom knew who the driver was that hollered at us, but she never told Dad.

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Learning to Drive on Central Ave. in Humarock

It must have been 1940. I was coming up to 6 years old. On Saturdays, late afternoon, Dad would drive his old Chevy to Steads store to get a bottle of Ballantine Ale and a cigar. I would beg him to drive to Fourth Cliff. We would drive over the hump in the old wooden bridge, pass Dick Smith’s garage, and make a left on Central Ave. Stopping near the Humarock Lodge, I would climb into his lap so I could steer and shift.

Dick Smiths Garage & Residence, Corner of  Marshfield Ave. & Central Ave., Humarock. c.mid 30s.

                                                      Humarock Lodge. c. mid 1930’s.

Dad taught me how to shift the 3-on-the-floor. Dad would operate the clutch and gas; I would steer & shift.

“Okay, into first,” he would say. Away we went.

“Okay, into second.” We went faster!

“Okay, into third’.” We were flying! Maybe 30 miles an hour past Hatches boat yard.

We turned at the base of Fourth Cliff and returned to the Lodge. I would take my place in the passenger side, then urge my Dad to go fast over the hump in the bridge — which he did. All the wheels flew into the air! Or at least that’s what I thought. No, we didn’t tell Mom ’til years later.

During the war years, there were fewer trips to the Cliff because of travel restrictions. Dad worked for the Boston Record American Newspaper and had a news reporter pass, so we were let through the barricade, and no, he wasn’t a reporter. Dad did not allow me to drive in Humarock during those times.

After the war, I could drive without sitting in Dad’s lap, so off to Humarock for a drive out to the Cliff, or south Humarock to Carl Moreheart’s parking lot next to Rexhame Beach.

 

W. Ray Freden, Marshfield/Seaview 70 Years.

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WWII Air Raid Patrols & Military Convoys

There was an air raid horn mounted atop the Seaview Garage roof. It was tested every week at night. My Dad was a warden. The horn would sound and scare the —- out of me! Dad would don his air raid outfit, a helmet, an armband, a flashlight, dark clothing, a nightstick, a whistle and a notebook.

He patrolled from the Seaview Garage to the O’Donnells’ at 90 Summer Street.

The wardens were to be responsible for all lights out and no driving of cars. One time a car came down Summer Street during the test and my Dad stopped the driver. He said, “Harry you can’t drive. Pull over to the side and wait for the all clear.” Harry responded, “Bill, go to Hell,” and drove off. Dad never reported him as he should have. Harry apologized later.

When my Dad was on his air raid patrol beat, he would pass our house (189 Summer Street) and give a little flash of his light to the special window, where I’d be sitting, watching and waiting, on the second floor landing. This window had a clear center with different color stained glass around the border. I could see clearly to Central Ave, near the bottom of 4th Cliff during the day.

During the war years, military convoys would come down Summer Street past the Seaview Garage and past my house, sometimes during the day. That’s when I would wait until they passed, then run into the house, up the stairs to my window, and watch them moving slowly up Central Ave. in Humarock. They were going to the Air Force Base on 4th Cliff. At night, it was a different story. When a convoy came through at night, one could barely hear or see them, with no lights on or very small slits on their headlights. After they passed, I would take my Dad’s binoculars, go to my window, and try to see them approaching the Cliff — usually with no luck. I always thought enemy subs or ships were off 4th Cliff, and so reinforcements were sent to the base. It was pretty scary for an 8 or 9 year old!

Convoy stopped on Summer St. for a break, c.1944.

 

by Ray Freden
Originally published in the Marshfield Mariner, January 21, 2009