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Back in 1994, I decided to give up my small, rent-controlled flat in the Republic of Cambridge, to get married. My late wife Dianne said, “I am convinced you loved me, because you gave up a rent-controlled apartment for me.”

As it turns out, rent control was soon to be abolished, and there was a mass exodus to Somerville, where – if you can believe it – rents were cheap.

But moving to Ibbetson Street and Somerville proved to be the best move we made. At 33 Ibbetson Street, we had a huge apartment, with a parlor, dining room, large kitchen, a bedroom and a study.

“City of Poets Anthology” (Don DiVecchio, Richard Wilhem and Doug Holder editors) 1998, produced at 33 Ibbetson St.

It was there the idea of the Ibbetson Street Press was birthed. We started this press in 1998, and threw a party where many people from the community and small literary presses gathered.

We got coverage in the Boston Globe and other local papers. That unassuming, orange house will always have special meaning to me – the heated editorial meetings, the documentary that was filmed there, the late-night sessions getting the books and magazines ready for print, the City of Poets anthology we put out – with a diverse group of poets like the late Jack Powers, Don DiVecchio, Aldo Tambellini, Linda Conte, Richard Cambridge, Askia Toure, Harris Gardner and many others.

I wrote my first book introduction, and helped mediate the many differences that these talented folks had with the anthology and each other.

In 2001 we moved to School Street, just outside Union Square. These were the most productive years. We produced books, and we are releasing our 50th issue of the Ibbetson Street magazine.

We couldn’t have done it without our great landlords – who are supporters of the arts – and have given us a break on the rent, so we could still afford to live in Somerville.

During this time, I was able to help get the Poet Laureate position up and running in Somerville, I have an arts column in The Somerville Times, and for years have had a TV show, Poet to Poet/Writer to Writer, on Somerville Community Access TV.

I think this all happened because we moved to Somerville, where all these opportunities are available. On the rare occasion that I pass that unassuming, orange house on Ibbetson Street, I can picture that group of Ibbetson poets sitting on the front steps, gazing out into the street, probably contemplating another poem.