What outsiders call Nonantum, one of the "villages" of Newton. "No one calls it (Nonantum)," says Newton Corner native Lucia Kegan. "EVERYONE calls that area 'the Lake.'. I think it is called that because of Silver Lake which dried up, so there is no lake now, but you could hear someone say, 'Where's Joey live?' 'He lives down the Lake.' The Lake is so Italian that once a year they paint all their fire hydrants and street stripes red, white and green.
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Re:the lake
By Tw
Thu, 01/23/2014 - 4:54pm
Silver lake was off Adams street and once went almost to the Carr school, several of the older folks will tell you they swam in silver lake when they were growing up. There is a very very small puddle of silver lake av that was once silver lake.
marzilli
By scott clardy
Mon, 02/03/2014 - 5:19pm
You related to my recently deceased uncle Rocco and my mothers twin Anna?
the Lake and it's language
By Brenda Spalding
Thu, 11/20/2014 - 12:06pm
I grew up on Chandler St. right behind Dunkin donuts. Born in 1948 I know 'The Lake' was always 'The Lake'. When I travel around and meet people from the Newton area, I tell them I'm from 'The Lake' and they know exactly where I'm talking about.
I'm an author and writing a mystery novel about 'The Lake' and the 'Lake Language' . The title is Bottle Alley which is the old local nickname for Adams Street. It's been fascinating researching this project and amazing how many still use the language. I hope it never dies out.
You were born in raised in
By Divya Mush
Mon, 04/06/2020 - 1:07am
You were born in raised in Newton and you never heard of Nonantum's official nickname The Lake?
You knew Leon and Larry
By Divya Mush
Mon, 04/06/2020 - 1:12am
You knew Leon and Larry (Large) Pellegrini?
Really?
By Divya Mush
Mon, 04/06/2020 - 1:15am
All the people from The Lake suck are losers?
You musta gone to South
By NicoleShieldsKrieger
Tue, 03/23/2021 - 1:50pm
Because south of Beacon if you're going to the Lake, you're having a swim.
Da Lake, Great Neighborhood
By Joey
Thu, 04/30/2009 - 11:54pm
Marc is a lonely girl, dont listen to him for he would'nt last 2 minutes walking down Hawthorn St.
I grew up on Clinton St. and Fats Pelligrini returned my fathers stolen tools to him after he heard that he had been ripped off. Thats the kind of Guy he was. He told my dad not to ask any questions about who did it and I'm sure he told the divia who stole them never to steal from your own neighborhood again before he gave him a dope slap.
Anyways I always admired Fats and the things he did for all of us especially the elderly. People like Marc dont get it and never will. They dont know what its like to grow up in a neighborhood everyone knows each other the way we did. The Lake is not the same any more but the Legacy will always be there. From Ray's Del to the Boy's Club, from Hawthorn to Our Lady's, from catching a beatin to having that same guy stick up for ya later on, the Lake always taught you lessons about the important things in life. Love, Loyalty and Community. The Lake was a great place to grow up.
Da Lake Marc e Marc Clark!!!!!
By Billy Mush
Thu, 06/25/2009 - 4:19am
Hey all you Mushes and Givels!!!!!!! No matter where you are in life, Cali or here, you can always connect!!!!!
Love you all!!!!!
Billy Mush!!!!
The lake
By Adams-02495
Thu, 01/23/2014 - 10:49pm
Wish we knew of this page when we lived in the Lake! Â That was where we had our first home (10 years ago) and only have fond memories. Â We were not familiar with the area and knew that we stuck out like sore thumbs when we moved in (we are asian immigrants). Â That said, people have always been warm and welcoming. When our family visits, they felt the same way. We would go to Eddie's for breakfast, Yerardis and Francescas for dinner. Â We loved the parade festivities. Â One time they were playing squares at Yerardis for an upcoming Pats game and invited my husband to join in for $5 while he was waiting for takeout. Â A month or so later, he was back for takeout and the bartender immediately recognized him and gave him the $50 he won (which they set aside, waiting for him). Â And yes although we didnt grow up there, we knew who the 'other mayor' of Newton was!! Â I take offense to earlier posts here disparaging the Lake since it is true that it is a neighborhood that looks out for each other regardless of whether you are newcomer or there for generations. We still go out of our way to come back for Francescas, our Neapolitan-born seamstress, our drycleaner, Antoines and many other places. Â Maybe still not too late to learn a third language! Found this page when I was googling about the nonantum slang definitions.
My mom still lives on Adams
By Joe.
Sun, 01/19/2014 - 1:43pm
My mom still lives on Adams st but I am a cawnah kid. Hung down
Da lake all the time Zeps, wallabys, the place , Adams place
The places were divya.... Remember getting a dime for the poor box
In church and spending it at mazzolas bakery
where is the Lake? it is behind Duncies in Sandi's bark yard
By Frank
Fri, 05/02/2014 - 4:55pm
you mush, The Lake (or 'da Lake') is not in Newton Center (Centre) - that is "Crystal" plain a simple (or as some might say "Polio Pit") - da Lake is in Sandi Beli's back yard - it is geologically a depression left by an old dried up meander of the Charles River ("Chahles Rivva") filled in with old mota cycles from Peoples Cycle, a few old sofas and Fridgidairs, diamond lock roofing shingles, tonic bottles, used crankcase oil mixed with street sand, leaves and old bricks and probably more than a few bodies tossed in by lots of other local divia mushes.
From Watertown but...
By H20 Guy
Tue, 06/17/2014 - 9:47pm
I grew up literally a stone throw from the Watertown/Newton marker on Watertown Street (corner of Morse and Watertown). I well remember The Lake from the 50s and 60s. Living in an Italian family Ray's Deli, DePasquale's, Mazzola's and the Gloria Chain were regular spots. I loved going into Mazzola's with my father where the ovens were. Amazing smell. Man that place smelled great. Saturday lunch was Mazzola's Italian bread (the big long uncut loaf) and link hotdogs from Gloria Chain, eaten in front of the TV. Sunday a huge dutch oven of tomato sauce would be simmering and you could be sure DePasquale sausages were in it.
Even though I was from Watertown I heard it was "The Lake" because of Silver Lake from grandmother and aunts/uncles who lived there.
Was there a death in the family? Then Magni's Funeral Home was where the wake would be held.
Great old memories. Just wish I had a Ray's sub right about now!
Sam Fried and Fried's Dept. Store
By Barry Gordon
Wed, 05/18/2016 - 11:47pm
Does anyone remember or have stories related to my Grandfather, Sam Fried, of Fried's Department Store?
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