He lost business when those companies moved away, he said, but the store survived on sales to contractors building and renovating homes. Near present-day Alewife Station was an industrial park with steel companies that bought goods at his store. Peters Field and Danehy Park are now, that used to be the Cambridge dump,” he said.īefore that, Masse said, it was the New England Brick Co. “When I started working here 60 years ago, across the street where St. Over the decades, David Masse watched the area’s transformation. Upon his death in 1953, he passed the store on to his son Frederick, who passed it on to his son David when he died in 1992. He founded the store at 26, buying a building diagonally across the intersection from the spot where he built its current location in 1900. Four years later, he borrowed $20 and took a train to Cambridge, getting off at Sherman Street and finding work that day at a bakery down the street. Masse is the grandson of FX Masse, who left his family farm in Quebec at 12 and took a job to help support his 15 siblings. He and his wife of 31 years, Patricia, plan to devote themselves to travel - she has her eye on a trip to Italy, for starters. “I’ve been coming in every day for 60 years.” “I’m looking forward to retiring,” he said. While customers reminisced Tuesday, David Masse sounded more pragmatic. He told the famous chef he was making stuffed peppers for dinner. I said, ‘I’m buying doorknobs,’ and she said, ‘Strangely, so am I,’ ” Harlow said, imitating at Child’s distinctive, burbling voice. “I said, ‘Miss Child,’ and she looked over.

buying doorknobs, and I looked over next to me and there was Julia Child,” he said.

Harlow’s favorite memory involves a chance run-in with a famous Cantabrigian. “I just wandered in as a stranger, but I kept coming back and it started to feel more like home,” he said. Those Kids from Fawn Creek will enchant fans of Rebecca Stead, Jerry Spinelli, and Kate DiCamillo.Robert Harlow, 68, said he’d been a customer since 1974. Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor winner Erin Entrada Kelly explores complex themes centered on family, friendships, and staying true to yourself. Who will claim Orchid Mason? Who will save Orchid Mason? Or will Orchid Mason save them? She's wearing a flower behind her ear.įawn Creek Middle might be small, but it has its tightly knit groups-the self-proclaimed 'God Squad,' the jocks, the outsiders-just like anyplace else. Orchid-who was born in New York City but just moved to Fawn Creek from Paris-seems to float. When Orchid Mason arrives and slips gracefully into Renni's chair, the other seventh graders don't know what to think. Renni's desk is empty, but Renni still knows their secrets is still pulling their strings. That's because Renni Dean's father got a promotion, and the family moved to Grand Saintlodge, the nearest big town. There are thirteen desks in the seventh-grade classroom. And in this small factory town where everyone knows everything about everyone, that's not necessarily a great thing. There are twelve kids in the seventh grade at Fawn Creek Middle School. From Erin Entrada Kelly, the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this contemporary school story set in small-town Louisiana is about friendship, family, deception, and being true to yourself and your dreams. 'A raw, real exploration of belonging that's also sweetly hopeful.'-Publishers Weekly (starred review)Įvery day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana, is exactly the same-until Orchid Mason arrives.

'An emotionally resonant story about authenticity and belonging.'-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

'A powerful and thought-provoking story.'-Shelf Awareness (starred review)

David masse