By Mayor Emeritus Eugene C. Brune

Traveling to Assembly Square always brings back great memories of my early years as Mayor. I think that many of the new residents in Somerville might like to know some history pertaining to Assembly Square.

Ford Motor Co. assembly line.

Many will be surprised to know that the Ford Motor Company in 1926 opened a Ford Motor assembly plant in Somerville, which had been one of the region’s largest employers until 1958, when the Ford Edsel failed and was no longer successful. A developer turned the assembly plant into the Assembly Square Mall and in 1981 serving my second year as mayor, I cut the ribbon.

The mall did extremely well, and it had two anchor stores, K-mart on one end and the former Jordan Marsh before it became Macy’s on the other end. Jordan Marsh was so successful that the President of Allied Stores flew in from New York to meet with me to tell me how pleased he was to be in Somerville, and that the store per square foot was one of their best stores.

I had asked the developers if they would make the mall user friendly for some of our programs. They agreed, and every year the Somerville Council on Aging would hold a food contest. Seniors would make their best recipes and enter them in the contest. They had different food groups, including deserts. I always enjoyed being a judge. The best thing was that we always had something going on at the mall.

Governor Dukakis and State Rep. Paul Donato speaking at Gene Brune’s Inaugural Ball at Assembly Square Mall.

During my 10 years as mayor, I held two of my Inaugural Balls at the Assembly Square Mall. I started having them there as we were renovating the high school and adding a new vocational wing. The mall was a great site, and so pretty with all the Christmas decorations still hanging. They would close the mall late afternoon, for us to get everything ready.

I was proud of the wonderful job our high school Culinary Arts Department was doing so I wanted them to get the attention of our citizens. I had the students supply and serve food with different food stations around the mall. Dapper Dans Restaurant also set up wine and beer stations at separate locations. We had a 21-piece orchestra playing dance music.

We always had several hundred in attendance, and everyone had a wonderful time. Governor Dukakis, Congressman Joe Kennedy, and Senator John Kerry always attended my inaugurals, along with several State Senators and State Representatives.

Also, at that point in time, Paul Carafotes a Somerville native and friend, was an actor in California and landed a role in Knots Landing, as well as later in The Right Moves. Both top television shows at that time. Paul had a big following in Somerville and across the Commonwealth. He and his family enjoyed the evening and Paul was remarkably busy that night signing autographs.

Knots Landing cast member and Somerville resident, Paul Carafotes with Gene Brune at the Inaugural Ball.

Paul, his family, and I are still friends today and enjoy each other on Facebook especially when Paul is with his son Charlie. Paul wrote several children books about his son, called Charlie Bubbles, and I understand that his books are highly successful.

 One of the other wonderful highlights of Assembly Square Mall was when we opened the Sack Theater. That was a night to remember. Ben Sack held the Boston premiere of Raiders of the Lost Ark. There were searchlights all over the mall flooding the sky with beams of light. Several Camels were walking around, led by their handlers, all dressed in fancy attire. It was a great evening with everyone having a fun time. It was open and free to all Somerville residents, and the mall was packed. The people loved it. The sack had several theaters, all playing Raiders of the Lost Ark again, free to the public for their opening night.

I also had great plans for the rest of Assembly Square. Several developers wanted to build apartments and additional stores wanted to lease. We were also speaking with Sears Roebuck’s and Lechmere Sales.

The Home Depot team came to my office as they wanted to locate at the same spot that they are occupying today. I did not want to give up that great piece of land as it was the beginning of Assembly Square from the Sullivan Square end. I felt that Home Depot would not have made a good first impression. Home Depot was not too happy with me, but we had a developer that wanted that land to build four office buildings on each corner of that lot with a hotel in the center and all underground parking.

Assembly Square Sack Theater held the Boston Premiere of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Several camels and their handlers were on the site the night of the Inaugural.

The drawings were all prepared for the first office building and the contractor was working on the financing. Sad to say that if many of you recall in 1988, the banks were in trouble and the economy went bad. All of which caused the downfall of Assembly Square. Also, the developers were at fault as the mall tenants were becoming upset with them because they were extremely unfair. Rents and fees for open space continuously rose this force many to leave. including Dapper Dan.

To tell the truth, my real reason was that as mayor, I felt that yes, it was my job to bring in new business, but I also felt that it was also my job to protect a business such as Somerville Lumber that started out many years ago very small, and continued over the years to be very large and successful. The two owners Melvin and Harald Cohn were two great guys and very community minded. Always ready to help youth groups, nonprofits, and the elderly.

I told those representing Home Depot that if I allow them to come into Somerville, they will put Somerville Lumber out of business within 18 months. After I left office, the new administration allowed Home Depot to come to Somerville and yes, I was right as Somerville Lumber did close.

My question to all of you, has any organization or nonprofit been successful in receiving any help from Home Depot since they have been in Somerville? I think not.

I also applied my practice of not hurting our long-time small businesses when I brought big business into Somerville. As much as I wanted Market Basket to come to Somerville, I refused to help them in obtaining a beer and wine license as I knew that it would hurt Jerry’s Liquors that was located directly across the street from the Market Basket location.

Big Band music entertaining at the Inaugural Ball at Assembly Square. — Photos courtesy of Errico Studio

Mr. Demoulas called me several months later and thanked me for not allowing him to sell beer and wine as the store was doing a great business, and he stated that he would not have had any room. I could write a chapter on how wonderful the Demoulas family is in being a good neighbor in Somerville. Today, I am still going to Arthur Demoulas for financial help for our Somerville Museum and as usual he continues to be generous.

In 1988 Assembly Square One, as I like to say, could have been successful if we did not have a recession and the banks did not have problems. I even got a commitment from Governor Dukakis and Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci that once the mall did develop, I was promised that they would support me in bringing the Orange Line to Assembly Square and extending the Green Line into Somerville. With Governor Dukakis help, he and I did cut the ribbon for the Red Line into Davis Square in 1984 and I am pleased to say that eventually the Orange and Green Lines did come to Somerville.

Having said all this and referring to the 1981 Mall as Assembly Square One, I would like to give a huge shout out to the present flourishing Assembly Square Mall that’s helping to bring in well needed tax dollars to help pay for the high cost of education, police, fire, DPW and the several other services that are necessary to keep Somerville as one of the best cities to live in.