The Sounds of Saugus

By Mark E. Vogler

 

Good morning, Saugus

And happy Fourth of July to all of our readers and the residents of Saugus, as we prepare to observe and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Ever since I can remember going back to my childhood days growing up in Swansea, July 4 has always been a special holiday. There was the giant barn fire in Fall River on the night before the Fourth. I saw my share of fireworks lighting up the skies over the Taunton River, whether watching it from a beach area in Somerset or in Fall River.

And my dad used to take my two brothers and me to the nation’s oldest and longest continuing Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island. The parade has been running since 1785 – two years after the Revolutionary War ended – and this year will be the 241st. What I remember most about that parade is seeing the center line of the 2.5 mile parade route painted in red, white and blue.

There were, of course, illegal firecrackers, cherry bombs and sparklers brought back from Warren, R.I., which borders Swansea. The Swansea police knew it was going on, but tolerated it because practically every family with kids was doing it. What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? Right?

But the way I was brought up, July 4 was special because of the event and the American heroes it honored. Swansea and Greater Fall River were a part of that. Swansea was and is a proud New England town.

So is Saugus, which is steeped deep in a rich history that marked the early days of this country, especially the Revolutionary War. I spent Monday afternoon this week for an hour or so walking around the Revolutionary War Cemetery, right before the Rotary, at the corner of Main and Central Streets. There’s a lot of local history buried in the old cemetery – highlighted by the tombstones of local Minutemen from Saugus, which was then part of Lynn. The most notable tombstone was the one for Parson Joseph Roby, the minister who led 62 men from Saugus to the Battles in Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775, according to historical accounts.

After milling around in the cemetery, I walked over to the Saugus Public Library to do some research. I leafed through a copy of the Centennial Anniversary of Saugus (July 3-4-5, 1915) and read Horace H. Atherton, Jr.’s “History of Saugus” article. Atherton wrote about Rev. Roby and also about Saugus during the Revolution.

“From the fact that Parson Roby was active in a portion of the Revolutionary period it probably is not a violent assumption to say that he was instrumental in seeing to it that Saugus did her full duty in that period by sending forth such a large representation of men to participate in the stirring times of that historic era,” Atherton wrote.

Nearly 100, by some accounts. The names of 99 Revolutionary War soldiers are inscribed on the monument in the cemetery.

As part of my research, I also skimmed through a small book titled “The Saugus Chronicles,” coauthored by Marilyn Carlson and Elliott Hurvitz. Longtime Saugus writer and historian Janice Jarosz calls Carlson “a great historian.”

“She’s unbelievable. She knows everything about Saugus,” Jarosz wrote me in an email this week about the former Saugus woman who now lives in Peabody.

Carlson, who was honored as the woman “Person of the Year” during the 2006 Founders Day celebration in Saugus, apparently continues to be a source of historical information about Saugus. Copies of the patriotic coloring book that she authored in 2000, with illustrations by Bob Sacco and Elliott Hurvitz, will be distributed to kids attending the America 250th celebration at the Saugus Iron Works tomorrow.

Hey, Saugus parents. If you want your children to be better informed about the town they live in, and you don’t have plans for the July 4 weekend, go down to the Saugus Iron Works tomorrow. It’s also a chance for you to learn facts about Saugus’ early days that you may not even now. Pick up a copy of that coloring book, too.

 

The Lynnhurst Block Party starts today

There’s only one Fourth of July celebration that’s been going on in Saugus for more than a century. It’s the Annual Lynnhurst Block Party, which gets underway today (Friday, July 3) at the Dana H. Johnson Memorial Park, next to the former Lynnhurst Elementary School. This will be the 109th year for this rich, neighborhood tradition, which takes parts of two consecutive days to celebrate July 4. The Brian Maes Band, which has been performing at the event for years as a local favorite, will do a concert tonight and be around town tomorrow. Organizers Jaclyn and Derek Hickman, who took over as organizers of the event in 2019 to keep the tradition alive, have been working hard to make this year’s block party a success.

The playground is named after Dana H. Johnson, who in 1971, at age 18, lost his life saving two boys at a beach in Marblehead. A stone memorial near the entrance of the Lynnhurst School honors the teenage hero from Saugus.

This is a super July 4 event that packs food, fun and games into a festive two-day celebration with patriotic pride. Tonight, there will be the concert by Brian Maes. Tomorrow will feature sack races, three-legged races, bike decorating, hot dogs, pie and, of course, watermelon.

The Lynnhurst Elementary School has been closed for several years. But multiple generations of Lynnhurst students will be there to reminisce about old times and celebrate new ones.

The neighborhood has held the block party on the Lynnhurst Playground since the 1960s. Before that it was held at the old Upper Lynnhurst School and Fairmont Avenue and the corner of Cleveland and Jefferson Avenues. It was originally organized by the Lynnhurst Men’s Club with publicity fliers distributed by Boy Scouts.

These days, social media helps organize the neighborhood in the planning of this huge Fourth of July party. If you’re a Lynnhurst area resident or a Saugonian who wants to be a part of something special and Americana, you might want to check this event out. The Saugus Fire Department will probably be there to spray the kids with some water to keep them cool.

 

Extreme Heat warning

Town Manager Scott Crabtree is urging residents to take precautions, as the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for Saugus that began Wednesday morning and will extend until 8 p.m. on the Fourth of July. The National Weather Service has forecast dangerously hot conditions for July 1-4, with heat index values that could rise up to 112 degrees for much of Southern New England, including Saugus.

Here is a message from the Town Manager’s Office:

“The National Weather Service cautions that this will be a prolonged and dangerous heatwave with little relief at night, noting that heat-related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.

“Residents are encouraged to take precautions during the predicted extreme heat, such as:

• Never under any circumstances leave children or pets alone in a vehicle
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Find an air-conditioned space or other cool spot for relief
• Watch out for heat-related illnesses
• Stay out of the sun

“Please check on your family, friends, and neighbors to make sure they are safe during the extreme heat. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 911.

“Please contact us if you are in need of emergency services, including needing a cool spot for relief.

“We are here to help. Anyone in need of emergency services should contact Saugus Emergency Management (SEMA) at 781-231-4175, or call 911.

“Our Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and Public Works Departments and our emergency medical services are here to assist the residents of Saugus in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to call. Thank you and be safe.”

 

Saugus United Parish Food Pantry

The Saugus United Parish Food Pantry will be open today (Friday, July 3) from 9:30-11 a.m. at 50 Essex St. in the basement of Cliftondale Congregational Church. The food pantry welcomes all neighbors facing food insecurity on Friday mornings. Volunteers are also welcome. Please call the Food Pantry Office (781-233-2663) or go to the Website cliftondalecc.org for details.

 

C.H.a.R.M. Center closed July 4

The Town of Saugus C.H.a.R.M. Center for compost/recycling drop-off will be closed for the Fourth of July holiday on Saturday, July 4, and will reopen for recycling and compost services on Wednesday, July 8. Please contact Solid Waste/Recycling Department Director Scott Brazis at 781-231-4036 with any questions. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

This week’s “Shout Outs”

This week’s special praise goes to members of the Saugus 250 Celebration Committee, the Town of Saugus, the numerous volunteers and donors – businesses and individuals – who helped make tomorrow’s (Saturday, July 4) Saugus 250th Celebration at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site happen. Hats off to these community leaders, town officials, businesses, individuals and others – particularly former Saugus Selectman Corinne Riley, who worked hard to organize this event before leaving office last fall and chaired the Celebration Committee. Hopefully, this is one of those great townwide events that Saugus people will be talking about for years. I certainly plan to get down to Saugus to cover it and take photos tomorrow for next week’s paper.

As Editor of The Saugus Advocate for more than a decade, I decided that this week’s “Shout Outs” should be reserved for anyone connected with the planning and execution of this event. So, I requested a list from the committee of everyone involved. I received several versions and updates of the list before our newspaper deadline. And I want folks to know that in the event that somebody is missing from the list provided by the Celebration Committee, the committee has offered to provide the names of those people and groups overlooked for next week’s paper. The people who have an asterisk after their name will also be appearing in costume and will be a part of the history reenactments.

So, let’s give a huge Fourth of July “Shout Out” to the following folks: the Saugus 250th Celebration Committee; the Saugus Iron Works – Mike Parr; Corinne Riley*; Janice Jarosz*; Ellen Leclair*; Jean Swanson*; Gail Cassarino*; State Representative Donald Wong; Selectmen Deb Panetta* and Anthony Cogliano*; Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)*; Pastor Wayne Shirk*; Ret. U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Castinetti; Mary Beth Mayes; Town Manager Scott Crabtree and Jeannie Meredith; Elementary ELA Instructional Coach Kristin Barclay; the staff of Saugus Cable Television; the Saugus Veterans Council/Randy Briand; DJ Anthony Arone; Laura Eisener and Paul Kenworthy*; Tom Raiche*; Anthony* and Karen* Speziale*; Joyce Vecchiarelli and Peter Rossetti; Chris and Sirlei Tarantino; Mary Mackenzie; Chris Riley; the Saugus Police Department; the Saugus Fire Department; the Saugus Health Department; the Saugus Senior Center; the Precincts 4 and 10 Town Meeting Members who submitted patriotic pick-up trucks that will be on display at the Saugus Iron Works; Webster First Federal Credit Union; Kayem Hot Dogs; Big Y; Socs Ice Cream; the Saugus Lions Club; Trader Joe’s – Saugus; J Pace – Saugus; Nevron Plastics; Engineering Alliance; Rick Salvo and the Goldberg Family Chiropractic; Dr. AJ Goldberg; Kowloon Restaurant; KLP Associates DBA Tax Shop; Sue Palomba – Mango Realty; Mark Panetta; Nino’s Plastering; Sherry Campbell and Marilyn Carlson – for her contributions of historical information about Parson Roby.

If anyone needs to be added to this list, please let us know.

 

Want to “Shout Out” a fellow Saugonian?

This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mv***@*****st.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo.

 

Free Summer concerts series underway

You know it’s truly summer in Saugus when the Wednesday night crowds start to gather at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, where they sing, clap and dance to the music. It’s that time of year again. Another summer of free outdoor concerts over an eight-week period at the Iron Works began this week (Wednesday, July 1).

This marks the fifth consecutive summer that the Saugus Public Library and the National Park Service are collaborating on a local outdoor event that seems to get more popular every year. The Saugus Cultural Council (a local arm of the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency) is also a key sponsor of the event. The concerts are free and open to the public. The concert series celebrates local musical talents in Essex County and creates opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the park during evening hours.

Shows begin at 6 p.m. each Wednesday in July and August. People can bring blankets and chairs, snacks, etc. Don’t forget to bring a friend, too, to enjoy a couple of hours of music outdoors. The events take place on the stage behind the museum building, and spectators can settle down on the upper lawn. It is suitable for all ages. Restrooms are available until nearly 8 p.m. when the concerts conclude. If weather looks bad for any particular Wednesday, concertgoers are urged to check the library website (www.sauguspubliclibrary.org), which will update for cancellations on that day.

This year’s lineup features a combination of new bands and familiar faces. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on the Big Lawn each Wednesday through August 19. Atwater~Donnelly, a traditional American and Irish folk, percussive dancing group, opened the series this week. Here is the rest of the schedule for the next two months:

• July 8: Brian Maes Band (Classic Rock).
• July 15: Renee Leavitt & the Renegades (Lively Country/Rock Blend).
• July 22: Memorylaners (50s, 60s and 70s, Doo Wop).
• July 29: Ditto Band (Acoustic American Rock).
• August 5: The Implications (Rock & Country).
• August 12: Squeezebox Stompers (Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Folk).
• August 19: Coco Brown & The Invitation (Motown & Soul).

Watch https://sauguspubliclibrary.org for weather updates and cancellations.

 

Summer Reading time at the library

The 2026 Summer Reading Program at the Saugus Public Library is underway and will last through Friday, Aug. 21. Preregistration using the Beanstack app has begun this week. Here’s a summary of the program:

WHO: Kids Pre-K through 6th grade.

WHAT: Kids read the books they love, log their reading and earn prizes! They’ll enjoy reading what they love, free programs, crafts and activities.

WHY: Don’t lose those hard-earned skills! Summer reading plays a vital role in helping reduce the “Summer Slide” – the learning loss experienced between school years, which can leave students significantly behind their peers. The Saugus Public Schools recommend kids read at least 20 minutes every day. We also recommend reading to your child, even as they become an independent reader. Talk about what you’ve read together. Help them find books they like – we can help with that. Make it a fun part of a daily routine they look forward to!

PRIZES: Every reader wins prizes, and books to keep. We’ll also raffle vouchers for ice cream, pizza, roller skating, mini golf, bowling and much more. Grand prize drawings include tickets to Canobie Lake Park and Nova Adventure Park!

HOW: Download the Beanstack App!

• CREATE AN ACCOUNT: If this is your first time participating in one of the SPL’s reading challenges using Beanstack, here are step-by-step instructions [https://www.loom.com/share/0efe0cc7c0f64b96b3c0a38ade8b04f6] on how to create a Beanstack account. If you’ve used Beanstack before, simply register for our 2026 Summer Reading Challenge.
• REGISTER FOR A CHALLENGE: This video [https://www.loom.com/share/9cfd52f03a4c4444bc9ab86d94b51cea] will show you how to register for a reading challenge using the app.
• LOG YOUR READING: This video [https://www.loom.com/share/fda67bebf80e443faaad2529fa3ca486] will show you how to log your reading using the mobile app.
• FROM A COMPUTER: If you prefer not to use the app, here’s a link to access the SPL’s 2026 Kids Summer Reading Challenge using a computer. Beanstack Link [https://sauguspubliclibrary.beanstack.com/reader365]
• Or Register in Person: Stop by the library to register in person and use our paper reading log.
• Download free e-books and e-audiobooks from the library!

Can’t make it to the library? Our digital collections provide easy access to the books kids love, 24 hours a day seven days a week. Download free, fresh titles all summer using the hoopla and Libby apps! [https://www.sauguspubliclibrary.org/children/family-resources/]

 

KOC Crafts Fair Aug. 8

The Saugus Knights of Columbus No. 1829 will host a crafts fair Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 57 Appleton St. in Saugus: baked goods, candles, handmade textiles, jewelry, wood carving and much more. Visitors can also enjoy making their own sundaes, or popcorn, hot dogs, hot coffee and donuts and raffles.

 

Veterans Day Brick Program is back

The Saugus Veterans Council is pleased to reinstate the Brick Program! After our vendor retired last year (thank you, Del from Pavlok for working with us over the years), we have found another engraver who will be taking our orders for Veterans Day! Proceeds from the brick sales are devoted to the upkeep of Saugus Veterans Park. If you are interested in purchasing a brick, a 4×8″ is $100 (three lines) and an 8×8″ (five lines) is $200. Please contact Corinne Riley, 781-231-7995, for an application or more information. All orders must be in no later than Sept. 10.