The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce recently posted this photo from a ribbon-cutting event supposedly in the 1970s, though it could be later. Can you identify everyone in the picture? That fellow on the right is lookin’ pretty sharp!
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I believe that fellow on the right is our former congressman Joe Kennedy. The photograph may have been snapped in either West Cambridge (perhaps in or around Fresh Pond) or Mid-Cambridge (perhaps in or around Harvard University)?
Also, since there’s nine of them, could it be the City Council (meaning not Joe Kennedy)?
Comment by Philip Michael Mitza — June 29, 2014 @ 3:35 am
The senior gentleman in the center could possibly be former mayor Walter J. Sullivan?
Comment by Philip Michael Mitza — June 29, 2014 @ 3:44 am
Front row: Bob Jones, Mayor Al Vellucci, Robert Healy
Middle row: David Clem, Walter Milne, Ned Dixon
Back row: (unknown), Peter Vellucci, Joe Kennedy
The occasion was the opening of the new location of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce on Mass. Ave. at Clinton St. I’m not certain about the date, but it had to be during one of Al Vellucci’s terms as Mayor (1970-71, 1976-77, 1982-83, 1988-89). 1970-71 is too early. David Clem was a city councillor for 1976-77, but this seems clearly to be afterwards when he was in real estate. Joe Kennedy was in Congress from 1987-99. Peter Vellucci preceded Tim Toomey as a state representative until 1992. My best guess at the date would be during Al Vellucci’s last term – perhaps 1988.
Comment by Robert Winters — June 29, 2014 @ 8:36 am
I’d have to think it’s earlier than ’88.
People weren’t wearing plaid suits and seriously wide ties that late.
I put this in the early 80s at latest.
Wouldn’t the COC know when that location was dedicated?
I seem to remember walking by that location in younger days, perhaps as
early as ’84 or earlier.
Comment by FRED BAKER — July 14, 2014 @ 5:01 pm
UPDATE – Now that this building (859 Mass. Ave.) has been purchased by the City of Cambridge (June 2016) in a friendly eminent domain taking, it’s worth noting that the previous sale date was August 4, 1976. It seems pretty clear then that this photo was most likely taken in 1976 when Al Vellucci was Mayor and David Clem was a city councillor. Robert Healy would have been Deputy City Manager then – working under City Manager James Leo Sullivan.
Comment by Robert Winters — June 26, 2016 @ 12:10 pm