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 John Callahan, accompanied by his eldest son “Ginty” mentored us in the fine (and now lost) art of “trench digging”… by hand
During the 1970s, John (“Big Jack”) and Ginty worked with us on numerous projects… a situation which was a little unique – since John held the prestigious position of Postmaster of Lynnfield. We felt truly honored to have the guys in our midst.
John was always ready & willing to give The Reed Boys a hand, even when “on the clock.” In short order he’d transform from “Postmaster shirt and tie” to his signature pants-tucked-in-to-high-socks (see “plus fours” of turn of the 20th century men’s golf attire.) John told us that the tucked trousers kept snakes from crawling up his legs. It made a lot of sense… and it was a sight to behold! John, usually with “Ginty” in tow, would show up and lead the charge in the trench digging, the hand dug shallow water well or whatever else we had going on. They were indeed the “Trench Kings” of their day, but there was much more to John Callahan’s resume…
And how did this all happen… and how did “Big Jack” acquire his skill set? The story started many years ago in Malden where he grew up. After High School, John took a job in the Malden Post Office, and, after serving in the Army in World War II, he returned to his old job and became reacquainted with a Malden High School friend, classmate, and football teammate, Torbet H. “Torby” McDonald when, by chance, Torby turned up on John’s mail route.
Torbet McDonald had, by this time, some rather interesting life experiences of his own, which would ultimately impact his new mailman. After transferring to Philips Academy to finish High School, Torby went on to Harvard – where he would become Captain of the football team, but most importantly for his (and others’) future – the roommate, friend, and confidant of the future 35th President of The United States – John F. Kennedy.
Torby had served in The Navy and was working at a Boston law firm while living in Malden. With their friendship renewed, John Callahan (and his family) soon had an expanded role in Torby’s life – starting with looking after the McDonald house when Torby was away… and eventually doing odd jobs and yard work. Hence John’s start in “landscaping.”
Billy Callahan, the youngest of John’s sons and a life-long Reed family friend recalls ”I remember my father loading the lawn mower, rakes, shovels, hedge trimmers, brooms, etc… into the trunk of our car. We’d all pile in and head off to Torby’s house for an afternoon of “fun.” We would mow and rake the lawn, trim the hedges, sweep the driveway and do general cleanup work. This would happen at least twice a month or more during the summers of our youth. Torby’s wife would always bring out refreshments to us. Torby, Jr. was a nice kid but never seemed to be around on landscaping days.”
In 1954 Torby ran for The United States Congress in the 7th Congressional District and was elected. John and his wife Rita worked tirelessly on this campaign and many more to follow. They collected signatures, erected signs, held placards and did all the other tasks campaign workers do – anything to help Torby, who served in Congress from 1955 until his death in 1976.
John Callahan and his family would soon be richly rewarded for their loyalty and hard work. When Torby’s good friend Jack Kennedy, by now a Massachusetts United States Senator, ran for President in 1960, John and his family were enlisted by Torby to continue their campaign support roles. After Jack was elected President, the Lynnfield Postmaster position opened up in 1962. John Callahan was quickly nominated for the post by Congressman McDonald and then appointed by President Kennedy (which was the process in those days.) Back then, being Postmaster was a very big deal, for it was a Federal Government position appointed by the President. The person holding this position had respect and prominence much like Selectmen, Chief of Police and School Committee Chairperson.
John enjoyed his role as a prominent town power-broker, in his official capacity… and he certainly had his own gravitas. No one we knew, after all, had a direct line to Washington. Yet, he never forgot his humble beginnings and his start as a “moonlighting landscaper” in Malden, often reprising his “alter-ago in Plus Fours” with The Reeds.
Click here to learn more of John “Big Jack” Callahan, his “Gym.”
