Life in Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Back In the 60s there was a guy who worked at the YMCA on Highland Avenue and we called him Brownie. He would help out in the pool area and exercise programs. I don’t really remember too much about him So I asked our neighbors to share their memories of Brownie.  His name was Knowlton Brown.

“Who doesn’t remember … big part of a lot of our childhoods.”

“Oh yeah, he was the one who taught swimming. A little gruff but a good guy.”

“Who doesn’t [remember]? And the mysterious tales of boys only swim time.”

“He also helped out at Glen Park. Everyone liked him!”

“Absolutely, I remember Brownie. I also remember Cecil at the desk who referred to the girls as … you birds.”

“He made a great impression on hundreds if not thousands of people. I wouldn’t know how to swim without Brownie. Deserves the utmost respect.”

“Little League coach too. Got tossed out of quite a few of them.”

“If you jumped into the pool off the lions head he tell you to get out of the pool for 5 minutes, in his unique style.”

“Threw me in the deep end my first day of swim class!”

“Of course …. everybody into the pool!”

“I definitely remember Brownie from the ‘Y’ in the ‘50’s. All my memories of him are pleasant, nothing untoward.”

“Yes, he taught me and my sisters how to swim.”

I’m sure a lot of us would love to know if he is still alive. About 10 years ago I looked up the name Knowlton Brown and found one in Fall River but that’s as far as I took it.

Growing up in Somerville during the 60s and 70s we have lots of great memories. It’s nice to know that there were so many fond memories of a man named Brownie.