Eagle Feathers #214 – The Conway Complex

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Conway Park celebrates the memory of Somerville’s United States Army hero, Sergeant Patrick Conway, who was killed in action during World War I. Patrick was an immigrant, born in County Galway, Ireland, and is buried in the American Cemetery at Lorraine, France.

Today, his legacy stands tall in a captivating grove of multicolored historic signs sprinkled in the park along Somerville Avenue. In 2000, the site was a dirt park and a previous metal smelting plant. The formerly polluted grounds are now the epicenter of sports, recreation and relaxation for all ages.

It has been 20 years since this Flagship of the Somerville Park System sailed into the city. At that time, “You can’t change lead into gold” were buzz-words. The city, concerned citizens and dedicated volunteers proved that to be wrong. The following is a sampling of the dozens of interpretive signs at the park that acknowledge and honor Somerville residents and events:

• Two of Somerville’s bravest and finest … decorated Firefighter Patrick Sullivan, Jr. and decorated Police Officer John Conway.
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• Bobby Boris Pickett, Captain of Somerville High School’s Basketball team and author of the song, Monster Mash.
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• United States Marine Sergeant Henry Hansen helped raise the first two American flags on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II. They were the first foreign flags ever to be raised over Japanese territory.
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• The world’s first outside telephone line was installed at One Arlington Street in Somerville.
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• Mary Tyler spent her adult life in Somerville. She and her lamb were the objects of the famous nursery rhyme, Mary Had A Little Lamb.
• The Ford Motor Company in Assembly Square produced 1,338,652 cars from 1926 to 1958. The first to roll off the assembly line was Henry Ford’s Model-T and the last 400 were his son Edsel’s model, The Edsel.
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• Somerville native Harry Ellis Dickson for many years was the Boston Symphony Orchestra Conductor and the father-in-law of Massachusetts’ Governor Michael Dukakis. The music room at the Winter Hill Community School honors him.
• Harold “Pie” Traynor became the best third baseman in Major League Baseball for ten years straight playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He then spent the rest of his career managing that team.
• Famous actress Bette Davis lived in Teele Square and Davis Square. She gave Hollywood actors the name “Oscar” for their Academy Awards.
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It was here in this park that the hidden history of Marshmallow Fluff was announced and reborn. The Somerville inventor, Archibald Query, would be proud.