By Mike Browne

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

My passion for history and nostalgia began over 20 years ago while I was dating (my now wife) AnnMarie.

Her family home (The Carey’s) was one of the warmest most inviting homes I had ever been invited into. Her mom always seemed to have something baking in the oven and the family dog (Snuggles) was always waiting for you at the door with her tail wagging.

Their home was tastefully decorated with beautiful antiques mixed in with a few contemporary pieces. The consistent aroma was and remains best compared to that of a visit to Yankee Candle. This was my first taste of simplicity since I was a kid. With all of that being said, there was one thing in particular that grabbed my attention the minute I walked in the front door (The wall hangings). You couldn’t help but overlook her choice in the selection she displayed on the walls.

One particular painting always seemed to stand out and capture my full attention:  Norman Rockwell’s portrait of Main Street, Stockbridge. I couldn’t help but stare at this wonderful piece of art. My imagination would always get the best of me as I gazed at this wonderful picture. I would often imagine how simple things must have been in those days and it would always put my mind at ease and relax my soul.

Over the years my mother in law took notice of how I had always admired Rockwell and this particular work of art. I often hinted that I would like to get one for my own home someday. Being the generous loving person that she is, she gave me a framed print of my favorite painting one year for Christmas. I have to admit that this was probably the best Christmas present I had ever received.

I finally had my own masterpiece to gaze into anytime I wanted.  Not a day goes by that I don’t admire this treasure at it hangs proudly in my living room. I can’t help but imagine how life was back in that era. Being born in the late 60’s, I am fortunate enough to remember some of the less complicated times as a child and teenager. However, as an adult, I (along with our children) have become spoiled by many advances in technology. Things like the Internet, computers, smart phones, and iPods to name a few. At the risk of sounding pessimistic, I believe some of these advances have had an adverse effect on what could be a simple society as a whole. By allowing these modern devices (that were supposed to make our lives better) into our lives, they seem to have made our lives more complicated and stressful.

This is one of the reasons I am so passionate about history and nostalgia. Once bitten by the nostalgia bug, I began sorting through and searching for old images of Somerville. As a lifelong Villen, I could obviously relate more to the historical treasures that Somerville had to offer than my favorite Rockwell painting. It was then I made it a mission to compile as many images of vintage Somerville as I could. (Some of which can be seen on my Facebook page “Views of Historic Somerville”)

These images are invaluable when one tries to escape the day-to-day drama and stress of modern city living. It’s really quite amazing how looking at a simple image can make you forget about life’s problems (if only for a moment). Personally, I love my city and what it has become. However I do enjoy fantasizing about small town living and what life was like without the hustle and bustle, the traffic jams, and other (more serious) issues we face in today’s world.

I know it’s impossible to turn back the clock and rewrite history, but there are some little things we could do in our beloved city to make it feel a little less contemporary or for a lack of a better word “cookie cutter”. I have always voiced my opinion when it comes to preserving the historic look of our city. Places like Prospect Hill and the old Powder House are a couple of landmarks we honor and cherish. They are historical icons that will always be protected and preserved.

Nonetheless, there is much more we could do to make Somerville a vibrant mix of old and new. I have often suggested we return Foss Park to its glory days when it was a beautiful park with a pond in the middle. By surrounding the park with dense trees, we could suppress the obnoxious sounds of McGrath Highway while enjoying a tranquil fishing pond surrounded by a walking path with benches and a picnic area. This small change would give us a much-needed place to enjoy the outdoors without having to pack up the car and travel outside the city. This and some minor restrictions on future development designs could go a long way in preserving and making Somerville (and other cities) a less stressful place. Experiencing a bit of nostalgia is far better than looking at a painting or a photo.

That’s my View of Historic Somerville and I’m sticking to it.