Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I actually almost went nuts trying to find a photo of the Kemp’s factory that used to be in Somerville. I can’t imagine how many times I drove past the building and smelled that heavenly aroma of roasting peanuts, cashews and more. If you went down Walnut St. from Highland Ave., or from Medford St., past the building on your left after the bridge, the smell was soothing and yummy.

The Kemp Nuts factory, formerly at 19 Walnut St., was among other buildings in Somerville built by the Edward F. Kemp company which he founded in Somerville in 1915. The other buildings were at 152 School St. and 226 Pearl St. where Kemp actually lived. That three-story brick building is a state historic asset which is currently Pearl St. Studios.

Many Somerville people remember that sweet aroma as they walked by the building at 19 Walnut St. on their way back and forth from the high school (before everyone’s parents dropped them off and picked them up). Today it’s the beautiful Edward Leathers Park, but many Somerville long timers worked there, or had family members who worked there. Thank you to my friends who shared their Kemp’s memories with us.

“My Mom worked there as a teen packing peanut butter!”

“My aunt worked there in the 50’s and, trust me, we always had snacks in the house when she did!”

“When I was in high school, I heard if you walked in there they would give you free nuts. I tried it and I got some. But I didn’t really do it too often. I wish I did it more.”

“I used to work there it was the best, when they were roasting the nuts.”

“All the nuts you could eat! I think that triggered my love for cashews!”

“My mom worked there until she married in 1948. My wife worked there for a short time after we married and there were some of the same people 30 years later that had worked with my mom.”

“Lived across the street from 1965 until 1983 can still smell the nuts.”

“You could buy nuts there. The place smelled amazing.”

The factory shut down, the building was condemned and finally torn down.

Kemp’s, along with The Hostess company formerly on Lowell St., provided the world with two products from Somerville … Twinkies and nuts. Actually three … Twinkies, nuts and a whole lotta Fluff! But most of all, a lot of nice, and scrumptious memories.

Be sure to check the beautiful Edward Leathers Community Park at 19 Walnut St.

Thank you Mike Devereaux for sharing the photos of the building.