Revere Through the Years

10 years ago

July 7, 2004

Parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church have launched an appeal of the decision of the Archbishop Sean O’Malley announced May 25 to close their parish, which has been in existence in Beachmont for almost 100 years.

Developer Louis Porrazzo, who has been locked in a battle with neighbors over his plan to build five, two-family homes on the site of the former Giannino’s Greenhouse at 404 Malden St., now has filed for a permit to build a 21-unit apartment building.

Building Inspector Lance Kelley has announced that he is stepping down from his position, effective last week. Mayor Thomas Ambrosino has asked Kelley to stay on until a replacement can be found. Ambrosino also said he is considering creating an Inspectional Services Dept. that would merge the Building, Health, and other related departments.

A two-alarm fire at 38 Gennessee St. caused heavy damage to the home there last Wednesday afternoon.

The Parks and Rec.Dept. observed the Fourth of July in fitting fashion with many activities for local children.

King Arthur, Spider Man 2, and The Notebook are playing at the Revere Showcase Cinemas.

30 years ago

July 4, 1984

City Councillor William Bell has been named an administrative assistant to three School Committee members, Hal Ford Abrams, John Correggio, and Charles C Moschella. Bell will serve in the post on an unpaid, voluntary, and part-time basis. Both Abrams and Correggio are subject to the possible submission of a recall petition being spearheaded by Fred Balboni, the head of the self-styled Committee to Keep Integrity and Decency in Our Schools.

Gerald Foley is the new Commander of American Legion Post 61.

The city will hold its annual Fourth of July celebration with fireworks at Harry Della Russo Stadium on July 4 eve and races and other contests in the city’s parks and playgrounds on the holiday morning.

Revere’s Brian Crossman, a recent graduate of Dom Savio High, has captured the New England championship in the 440 yard event. Savio head track coach Paul Dakin commended Crossman on a stellar career, which included the setting of a Class C state record in the 400 meter dash in a time of 48.9. Crossman also won several All-Catholic titles and holds Savio school records in the 100, 220, 440, and 330 low hurdles.

Three term City Councillor Robert Haas has announced his candidacy for State Representative.

40 years ago

July 3, 1974

Mayor William G. Reinstein has announced that the traditional city celebration of the Fourth of July will take place over a two-day period with fireworks at Harry Della Russo Stadium on the evening of July 3 and contests for the children in the parks and playgrounds on the Fourth. A musical program featuring an orchestra and several vocalists will precede the fireworks show with Ron Mottola, Reinstein’s administrative assistant, serving as MC.

Chelsea District Court Judge Salvatore Aloisi has upheld the constitutionality of the city’s so-called “cover-up” ordinance that requires employees in all businesses in the city to wear appropriate attire. The city had filed criminal charges against three employees at the Squire Club for allowing nude dancing on the premises. Aloisi found all three guilty and fined them $500. Their attorney, Morris Goldings, said they will appeal Aloisi’s verdict to the Supreme Judicial Court.

The city has won a case before the State Appellate Tax Board that will result in the city receiving $708,000 in back taxes from Freedom Realty Corp., which owns land on American Legion Highway across from the new Revere High School.

James Sorrento, state education officer for the Italian-American War Veterans, presented the award to the winner of the recent state essay contest to Patrice A. Moccia of 16 Page St. at the state convention held recently in East Boston. Moccia read her essay, which was entitled, “Has America Lost Faith in Its Political Leaders?”

Guy Meli, President of the Boys Club of Revere, has announced the start of Phase II of the fundraising effort to build a new club headquarters in Beachmont.

50 years ago

July 2,1964

A Suffolk County grand jury has indicted former City Manager Edward P. O’Toole, City Engineer David Calichman, Engineering Dept. Timekeeper Harvey Corin, and Louis Insalaco, a businessman doing business with the city under the name of the Revere Engineering and Excavation Co., on a total of 190 counts of larceny and conspiracy. Joseph Laurano of Beachmont is the Assistant D.A. in the office of Suffolk County Garrett Byrne who has conducted the investigation. O’Toole, who resigned from the City Manager post abruptly in December, previously was indicted on 200 counts of fraud and embezzlement in February and on another 50 counts of larceny and conversion of public funds in May.

The City Council has voted 4-3 to create the new position of Housing Inspector in the Board of Health department. The vote was a controversial one, with councillors George V. Colella, Raymond Carey, and Daniel Smith charging that the post was created by new City Manager Melvin Taymore to give a job to a former city councillor who had voted for Taymore to become City Manager.

Congressman Torbert Macdonald has announced that he has obtained a $485,000 federal grant that will study the flooding problems in Revere, Malden, Saugus, and Lynn.

RHS Guidance Director Samuel Samuels reported this week that 47 percent of the RHS Class of 1964, 231 students, will continue their education after high school, an increase of 12 percent since 1962.

More than 20,000 residents are expected to attend the city’s Fourth of July celebration tomorrow and on the Fourth. A program of entertainment and fireworks will be held at Paul Revere Stadium on July 3, with the Fourth set for the events and activities in the city’s 18 parks and playgrounds for the youngsters. Some 10,000 ice cream bars and refreshments are expected to be served to the children on the holiday.

The three members of the City Council subcommittee studying the issue of pool room licenses refused to take Council member George V. Colella’s challenge to state publicly their reasons for supporting a pool room license at 372 Broadway so that he he could debate them on the issue. The matter will come before the full council next week.

60 years ago

July 8, 1954

City Manager Edward P. O’Toole has named William F. Duffy as the new Chairman of the Licensing Commission. He succeeds Charles Nelson, who resigned the post after four years in office citing his increased job commitment as the manager of the Forbes Lithograph Plant in Chelsea.

Approximately 85 children, whom Mrs. Grace Rizzo, chairman of the polio inoculation program in the city, termed “little soldiers,” gave blood for the second time last week at City Hall as part of the ongoing, nationwide polio vaccine trials. They will give blood for a third time in October. The children were treated to a party with ice cream, other treats, a movie, and entertainment after their blood was drawn.

The month of June continued to earn its place as the preferred time of the year for weddings, with 63 couples filing their marriage intentions with the city clerk last month.

“A glorious Fourth for every child” was promised by city officials and they delivered, as some 8000 children took part at events and activities at the city’s 12 playgrounds in what was termed the best Fourth of July ever in city history. In the evening, a crowd estimated at 15,000 enjoyed entertainment and fireworks at Paul Revere Stadium.

70 years ago

July 6, 1944

The War Department announced this week that First Lieut. Ragnar E. Gustafson, a navigator with the U.S. Army Air Forces, has been declared missing in action over France as of June 17. He had completed 30 missions and was due to receive a furlough before his downing.

Harold C. Smith, a member of a Coast Guard crew who guided the first wave of U.S. forces through the reefs and onto the beaches for the invasion of Saipan, has described the hellish trips to the reef during which enemy shells were exploding all around his boat.

The International Red Cross has informed Mrs. Charlotte Bopp of 17 Blanchard St. that her husband, 2nd Lieut. Richard L. Bopp, 27, who had been declared missing in action in France when his fighter was shot down on June 4, now is a prisoner of the Germans.

Joyous news also was received from the Red Cross by the family of 2nd Lieut. Harold C. Noel, who had been declared missing in action over Corsica on May 27, that he also is a German prisoner of war.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.