james mcminn:
CLASS OF 1967
Billerica Memorial High SchoolClass of 1967
Billerica, MA
james's Story
"Here's my story, sad, but true", gotta love those "oldies" ! I was in 1st grade when Elvis had his first #1 hit, Heartbreak Hotel, we had the best music growing up ! It all started for me on 9/11/49, the 4th son of my Charlestown family. We moved to my Nana's summer home in Billerica,1950. My only sister arrived in 1951. I went to the Ditson Elem. School in Pinehurst 1955 - 1961, the beginning of the Gemini Space Program, the Right Stuff Times. Speaking of the Ditson School, Channel 5's Chronicle did a story on Billerica last week (mystery towns), there was a story about Thomas Ditson, I missed most of it. I looked it up, In March of 1775, he was a 33 year old farmer, living in what is today Pinehurst, his farm, was where the school is today. Anybody remember the old green wooden school out front ? Anyway, Ditson goes into Boston, looking to buy a couple of guns to protect his family, from the ...Expand for more
British. He bought one or two guns from British Soldiers, The deal was witnessed by a British Captain, who had Ditson arrested, he was tarred & feathered, & paraded around Boston. He survived the ordeal, & was the inspiration for the song "Yankee Doodle Dandy". A month later, in April 1775, he was at the Battles of Lexington & Concord, Thomas Ditson has to be the Greatest man who ever lived in Billerica, circa 1741 - 1828, died at 87 ? I just wanted to share that little story on Billerica Histoty.
OH, back to my history ! I ran away from home in the summer of 1965, at the age of 15, only 1 block over to a friends home, started my junior year, didn't finish. Started my career in the construction business (1967 - 2002), in 1975 went into business for myself. In 35 years, we framed approximately 1000 units of housing, I still have blisters & splinters ! I'm being called for lunch, be back later !
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!