Category Archives: Reed Corp/ONEG History
Happy Holidays!
Remembering “Ace” Bailey
One would expect that in the fifty years or so of being in business, we’d have the opportunity to encounter many characters… and people with CHARACTER. GARNET “ACE” BAILEY was of the latter, although some could make the point that he could, at times, be a bit of a “character.” …
Charlie Meeker – and “Settling the Score or What Comes Around Goes Around”
In 1974, the final year of The Lynnfield Colonials era, the euphoria and success of the previous season had faded… along with the pitching… and the left handed sluggers who had carried the team in ’73 had been courted by and left for the more prestigious Boston Park League and …
Bushels of Baseballs OR Political Rightness in a by-gone era
The recent passing of our dear family friend and devoted “Lynnfield-ite”, Warren Mason, (third from left – front row) invoked a recollection of the infamous “bushels of baseballs” story of some 40 years ago… in an era when common sense prevailed in decision making. In 1973, the sponsorship and general …
Moonlighting in the Postal Business or Trenches… Hand Dug
Long before we had backhoes and excavators of all sizes some of us Reeds had mastered the fine art of trench digging – by hand. Pat DiPietro and Roger Lummus gave us landscaping fundamentals. Sammy Shire of Woburn taught us how to “ball, burlap & transplant trees & shrubs… and …
Lesser Park
Through the years, The Reed Family – with the assistance of The Reed Corporation has been involved with numerous civic endeavors in Lynnfield… hosting “Town Days” on their property and organizing events to raise funds for school programs to name a few. Lesser Park, named for Robert G. “Coach” Lesser …
Reaping What You Sow (sometimes)
Fifty years ago the landscaper’s scene in Lynnfield was vastly different then it is today. Most, if not all, of the major players are gone now but, in their heyday, the likes of George DeCoste, Ed Patterson, and Nick Valente had quality “operations.” Jerry Pezzella (upon graduating from Stockbridge) had …
Honing Our Professional Skills… Tutorials from a Master
During the fifty some years of business experience we have certainly encountered our share of larger-than-life personalities – who left a lasting impression. This is the first of a series of anecdotal musings recalling some of these people. Patrick “Pat” DiPietro was one-of-a-kind… charismatic, confident, passionate, creative and multi-talented. A …
The Origins of Snow Work & Life’s Lessons Learned
It would seem that snow work (and how we got into it) would be a good topic for the first of a series of lookbacks and anecdotes commemorating our Fiftieth Year. As our history page indicates, clearly it was “The Blizzard of ‘78” that put us “on the map”, but …
