August 24, 2007 Meeting

Song and Invocation

Following the Pledge of Allegiance Joan Johnson filled in for Marie by injecting Cal's favorite song, My Country tis of Thee. (As yet no living person can explain the grammatical construction of the title.) Cal's final invocation was, short, sweet and a powerful demonstration of the power of brevity. There will never be another like him.

Guests and Make-ups

The club was introduced to our youth exchange student from Brazil, Felipe Pedrosa, the latter of whom made a startling contrast to Paul Brown with his tall, lean build. Newly adopted sister Elizabeth Troiano welcomed Felipe with a poster of the United States. The rest of the expanded Troiano household, Gretchen and favorite guest Perrin, were on hand for the official welcome. Felipe handed out pins and cards that linked Brazil and the United States through himself.

On hand for the Shawsheen Renaissance Project were town planner Paul Metarazzo, historian Don Robb and committee chair Karen Herman. Dick Harrington made his usual pilgrimage. Dennis Crossen's buddy Kevin came to sample the eggs and fellowship. Lawrence club President Frank Firricano came back for a second consecutive week. Better half Nancy Broekhoff, raving beauty and daughter Ali DeGalla and junior entrepreneurs Cole and Jason Spencer rounded off the cast of guests. The only make-up was Len Wilson who visited his usual haunt in Dracut

Rotary Minute

An expanded "minute" was set aside for departing Cal Mutti. Cal launched into an account of Pomp's Pond which came to be called "Pomp's Pip" at the height of the polio scourge in the forties. Many feared at the time that the polio virus was transmitted in water. Cal's own mother became a victim herself but has recently celebrated her 94th birthday. Rotary International has spent $600 million so far to eradicate the once dreaded disease and its achievements have been heralded by an exhibit at the Smithsonian, "What ever happened to Polio?"

Cal likened his Friday morning home as the place where "everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came." He thanked the club for its inspired leadership and he concluded with "thanks for the sunshine."

Hey Cal... Thanks being for the sun.

Announcements

Rick Stern distributed a photograph of the benches in our adopted Centennial Park for which the club anteed up $3000. Dennis Crossen will e-mail all members a list of donations from last year's auction that are heretofore of unknown parenting. The next auction meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the library.

The Main Event - Paul Metarazzo and Friends

Rotary's stewardship of Centennial Park positions it perfectly for the Renaissance project of the historic Shawsheen district. Director of planning Paul Metarazzo began his presentation by giving credit for the financial underpinnings of the project to Tactician Corporation and other businesses. He invited Advisory Group member and historian Don Robb to give an overview on the Shawsheen area:

William Wood worked his way up the ladder to the presidency of the American Woolen Company. He married the boss's daughter but earned his legacy by transforming the way wool was sold to the public. In 1915 he saw the writing on the world wall and bought up all the worsted wool he could and sold it to the U.S. Army.

Wood's two mills are now Brickstone Square. The community around it was a company town unlike any other. On the west side Wood build "Brick Shawsheen" for his upper managers. On the east side of Main Street he built "White Shawsheen" for his middle managers. Mr. Wood's obsessive control over his planned community resulted in a complete absence of driveways, garages and clothes lines. Two large central garages served as depositories for cars (the most prominent of which is still standing on Route 28 as part of Woodworth Motors). The central laundry facility was situated on Haverhill Street. Wood's control was cemented by his owning all of the homes and leasing them to the inhabitants.

The triangular building in Shawsheen housed the village's post office and today's Balmoral Apartments was then the company headquarters. The Balmoral Spa served as the social center for many a dance, party or concert. The "square" that is now land owned by Woodworth Motors was surrounded by open space that bordered on the river.

It was the recreational area that bordered the Shawsheen Village that initiated the renaissance project. Paul took over the podium from Don to expound on the ambitious plans. The entire project is privately financed by a consortium of Shawsheen businesses, the bulk of which comes from Tactician and Trans-Western Corporation. The stone wall that rambled along the Shawsheen will be restored to bring people back to the river banks. The square will be "necked down" to make the busy intersection more pedestrian friendly and Wood Memorial Park will be made more inviting.

Karen Herman finished the presentation with a brief overview of the pedestrian walkway that will wind through the village and the bridge over the river that was approved at the last town meeting.

Want to know more? Then log on to wwww. beautifulshawsheen.com.

Raffle & Happy Dollars

The pot rides on as little Perrin Troiano edged out big guy Paul Mercandetti for the consolation $10.

Sargent-at-arms Henry Broekhoff expedited the late starting happy dollars. Bob Troiano celebrated being tossed out of the Lanam Club for inappropriate attire. Peter Cotch's Mom just turned 89 while junior turned 56. The other Peter C (Caruso) saluted Cal for his years of service. Deborah DeGalla and your's truly followed suit. Joan Johnson's grandson is now a Boston College Eagle. Paul Mercandetti threw one in for Felipe and Gail did likewise for both Felipe and Cal. Jim Greeley was happy to have the Shawsheen guests and Felipe join the breakfast crowd and Dick Harrington celebrated two new grandsons. The tall one, Paul Metarazzo, contributed to the coffers for his introduction and Dennis coughed up a buck for his friend and guest Kevin. Paul Brown contributed for reasons unknown, Matthew Gold was "veklempt" over Cal's departure, Felipe's arrival, a son in college and the 5th congressional district debate. Howard Perkins gave for Cal and Felipe and Lawrence president Frank Firricano dug deep for the festivities with one for Cal and one for Lawrence's ambassadorial scholar.

Closing out the love fest was none other than our own Cal. The good reverend held Jonas Salk up as his personal inspiration for the doctor's wishes that he be a "good ancestor." "Thanks for the memories" were his departing words and Helene ended the fanfare with a salute to Felipe, the speakers and, of course, Cal.