Remembering the Woodworker of Saugus

The daughter of the late Carmine Moschella presented selectmen with a commemorative book about the man who made furniture and other wooden gifts for the town

By Mark E. Vogler

Carmine C. Moschella passed away about two and a half years ago. But residents and local government leaders alike still feel the artisan’s presence in municipal buildings across the town through the furniture and other wooden gifts he crafted that future generations of Saugonians will get to enjoy as well.

On Tuesday night, Moschella’s daughter – Carla J. Moschella – was a special guest at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting, where she presented the town a commemorative book she wrote and compiled titled “Carmine C. Moschella – Master Builder, Woodworker, Teacher, Furniture Maker, Chair Caner and Craftsman.” Carla stood at the lectern that her dad made for the second floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. It’s an important piece of furniture that holds a microphone so any member of the public can address selectmen. As she spoke, selectmen sat in their chairs from behind the three-piece wooden desk that Carmine made with his own hands.

The book includes a special tribute to Carmine “For his multiple handcrafted wood structures that can be found all around the town of Saugus, including Town Hall, Senior Center, schools, the library and other private locations, such as World Series Park.

“This booklet is an attempt to capture and memorialize these structures and to try to provide context for their design and construction. Carmine donated his labor for all the structures, furniture, and refinishing projects he contributed to the town.”

Near the bottom of the front steps outside of Town Hall sets a World War I memorial bearing the names of the Saugonians who served. It’s encased in a wooden frame that Carmine crafted.

“His spirit will always live in our Town Hall,” Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said, referring to all of the furniture and woodwork that’s on display.

“He did an awful lot,” she said.

Selectman Corinne Riley called Carmine “a great man.” “He really loved Saugus,” she said.

Selectman Anthony Cogliano told Carla “Your dad was a good friend of mine … somebody I looked up to.”

Selectman Michael Serino called Carmine “a great guy,” adding, “I think we all had your father in school.”

From 1956 through 1969, Carmine worked as the Saugus High School Industrial Arts teacher, with a concentration in woodworking. He next served as the Industrial Arts Department Coordinator at Saugus High School and Belmonte Junior High School (1969-71). He later served as Vice Principal at the High School (1971-93).

Carmine, a Revere native and 1946 Revere High School graduate, worked 37 years for Saugus Public Schools. And after retiring, he continued to work as a volunteer instructor in the woodworking shop of the old Saugus High School, where he presided over small groups of Saugus senior citizens for more than two decades. He taught them about furniture refinishing, repairing and the art of chair caning.

He was a Korean War Veteran who served in the U.S. Army. He married his High School sweetheart (Audria Burnell) in 1951. They had two daughters (Mila and Carla). The couple had been married for 56 years when Mrs. Moschella died in 2007.

Carmine was active in local government for three decades. He served for 27 years on the Saugus Council on Aging. He spent 20 years as a Town Meeting member. He served two terms on the School Committee, in addition to various other committees and boards.

In 2004, he received the “Man of the Year Award” at the town’s Annual Founders Day celebration, being recognized for his countless contributions to the town – for thousands of volunteer work hours and his many gifts of woodworking.