MEMOIRS OF SCHOOL STREET VILLAGE

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A special thank you to those who have passed it on to others. We are heading quickly to amazing page visits to this blog! Welcome to folks from all over the country and other countries as well, including Lisbon!!

The "Village", as it was called, is located in the northwest corner of the city of Taunton, Massachusetts U.S.A. It covers about 1 square mile with the center being School Street. A large portion of the Village population was Portuguese when I was growing up.

This blog covers a lot of the history of the Village, much to do with my years as a child there: 1940 through the late 1950's. I do have many wonderful photos and information prior to that that and will share those as well. Always looking for MORE PHOTOS AND MORE STORIES TO TELL.

If you would like to send photos or share a memory of growing up in the Village
e-mail me at spinoart@comcast.net
feel free to comment on the posts. Directions are on the right side of the blog posts. Jump in, the water is fine and it is easy!!!


I will be posting photographs but not identifying individuals unless I have permission or they are a matter of public record. It you wish to give me permission, please let me know.

I am looking for any and all photos of the Village...

Please note: the way blogs work is that the latest post is first. It you would like to start from the beginning of the blog, check out the post labels on the right of the blog and go from there. Thanks.


Sunday, November 4, 2012

THE VILLAGE VARIETIES...

Other than the small markets, there was another type of shop in the Village called The Variety.

The first of these, in my time, was Jigger's Variety.  These photos will really kick your memory drive into high speed...they did me.  Jigger's sat facing Braga Square.
The Village denizens who frequented Jigger's were mainly the teenagers  since that was the place to see and be seen.  My Tia Annie Fostin lived right next door and we often
went to visit her before I was old enough for Jiggers.


                                                            Jigger's Variety circa 1950's


The famous old tree to to the left of the building was a great place for swaggering male teens to lean and play "big shot". Their mode of transportion was the bicycle,
 however, and not the hot rod.

Jigger's sold sundries, newspapers and had a soda fountain (which I had forgotten) as well as cigarettes and candies. Note the gumball machine next to Jigger himself below.
 Also, the paper cups that fit into plastic holders, the frappe metal cup.

 Just keeping looking and let us know what you see and remember.
 I kind of recall dark wooden floors and that there was no seating.  I may be wrong.

                                                                Jigger's name was Jerome.



3 comments:

  1. bought alot of candy at jiggers what memories

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  2. Part of growing up was being old enough to go to Jiggers.5 cents would buy a nice bag of candy. I had a crush on a boy in the neigborhood and always hoped to see him there. We would walk to the baseball field to see games on Longmeadow Road.Did not want to walk by Ruby's house, never knew if the Monkey was loose.That was our world.Couldn't get in trouble because some one would call your mother. Everyone knew everyone else. A protected place. Life was simple then,it seemed.

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  3. The lady with a white flower in her hair is Mae Perry Parker, future wife of Mayor John Parker. She is holding the hand of her niece who is either Janet Vieira Custer or her sister,Norma. Jigger was Mae's uncle as he was her mother's brother.

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