SOME PLACES CLAIRE WORKED
URI
Claire spent the bulk of her working years as an employee of the state of Rhode Island in various locations including the Ladd School/Ladd Center in Exeter, the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI) in Cranston, and at the University of Rhode Island (URI) in Kingston. These jobs were held after all 10 children were school-age. All of these jobs were in accounting or related fiscal departments.
Something I remember about her time at URI was that she often purchased passes for the pool at the Tootell Aquatic Center (opened 1971). I remember some combination of my older sisters bringing some combination of the younger kids (and inevitably a few tagalongs) to the pool on Friday nights. I also remember we only went in winter. I’m guessing we had the pool in the yard by this time so we didn’t go in the summer or maybe, the aquatic center wasn’t opened during the summer. Anyone know? Also, does anyone remember bouncing off the nearby “inflatable” building while waiting for everyone to be ready to go home?
CAMP ENDICOTT IN NEARBY SPOT
Camp Endicott was located within the same complex/base as Naval Air Station Quonset Point – where Claire worked during WWII.
I was curious about what jobs Claire may have had or where she may have worked between graduating high school and getting married. From what I’ve found out, she worked at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point during WWII.
Also located on the larger base complex as NAS Quonset Point, was Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center which included Camp Endicott, the Seabee training facility. Claire would later have both a son (Bill) and son-in-law (Chris) that were Seabees.
MONOWATT
At the time of Gil and Claire’s wedding, she was employed by Monowatt Company in Providence.
Based on a conversation with Aunt Eileen (Claire’s sister), Claire most likely worked in Payroll and took the bus to the city from Belleville.
OLD BPTST RD-NOTFAR FRM ABODE
I don’t have much of a clarification for this item’s clue as I don’t actually know the name of the business that it refers to…read on…
As previously mentioned, once all the the kids were in school, Claire had several jobs working for the state of Rhode Island, but those jobs were preceded by one just down the street on Old Baptist Road. I haven’t been able to solidify information on this, but I thought she was employed at a piece-work packaging facility – in this case, packaging the small cushiony pads designed to augment nose pads on eyeglasses. I don’t know if she did the actual packaging or if she worked in Payroll/Accounting. Regardless, I thought she only worked there for a short time (less than a year?) and left because the building burned. In my mind the facility was near or where Metal Commodities is now. I’ve searched the Standard-Times archives but cannot find any report of a catastrophic building fire on Old Baptist Road during the timeframe I believe she would have been working there (prior to 1971, I believe). I wonder if anyone else remembers anything about the job, location, or fire.
SOME POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED
A&W=RT BEER—THS PLCE=OFFICE GR
In an attempt to make some of these puzzles harder, to slow down participation just a tiny bit, I have sometimes created group item names in the form of a mini-puzzle.
For many of us A&W does in fact equate to root beer, and many will recognize J&W as a local post-secondary school. Claire’s course of study was focused on office machines (in my puzzle machines = gear, which had to be truncated to “GR” to fit into the 30 character limitation set by the puzzle generating website). “Beer” and “gear” rhyme.
J&W was founded in 1914 and when Claire attended in 1942 it was still strictly a business school. It is now a full-fledged university with course offerings greatly expanded from that available when Claire attended. I wonder if current day certificates and diplomas bear the signatures of Johnson and Wales themselves.
UNH
Molly is currently in her junior year at the University of New Hampshire, excelling academically and seemingly enjoying every moment of the experience.
WPI
Catherine attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduating in January 2014 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering.
TRAVERSE OF H2O IN MA NOT OHIO
This is another of my puzzle-for-group item name situations. So “Traverse of H2O in MA, not Ohio”? The “traverse of H2O” is…bridge water. The “in MA, not Ohio” part provides info on where the university is and Ohio works for its sing-song/rhyme-y quality. Additionally, while there isn’t a Bridgewater State University in Ohio there is a Bridgewater township.
Megan started at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts this past fall. Every indication is that it has been a good match for her. More than anything, she seems to be enjoying her cheer participation. Go Bears!
JOHN’S DOT/DPW AFFILIATIONS
RATIFIED IN 1790 BY THE SEA
In short, RHODE ISLAND ratified the US Constitution in 1790 in Newport (city by the sea) and Rhode Island (DOT) was one of John’s DOT/DPW work affiliations over the years.
When Rhode Island ratified the US Constitution in May 1790 it was the last of the original 13 colonies to do so. At that time Rhode Island’s General Assembly split its legislative sessions between the state’s then five counties – Newport, Providence, Kingston, East Greenwich, and Bristol.
John started his career with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation as a summer intern before joining RIDOT full-time after his 1975 graduation from URI. Initially he worked in the Computer Division, then Traffic Design and eventually the Maintenance Division.
RI’S PRETTY OR GRITTY CAP CITY
Rhode Island sometimes pretty, sometimes gritty capital city is Providence. John worked for the city’s Department of Public Works after his time with the state DOT.
My kids remember seeing him on local news reports either for RIDOT or Providence DPW responding to questions regarding pending winter storms and RIDOT’s or Providence DPW’s road clearing readiness.
PETE WAS BOSS, HE’LL BE TOSSED
Pete Buttigieg currently heads up yet another DOT affiliate (federal DOT) of John’s but there’s a new administration coming so Pete’s days are numbered.
John eventually left the Providence DPW for a position in the federal Department of Transportation. His first federal DOT position brought him and Jan to Hawaii for 3 years. They returned to the contiguous 48 in 2012 when he moved into a position in the Albany area. I’m sure they were happy to make the move to be closer to family, but that move from Hawaii to Albany in December must have been brutal weather-wise. Eventually John transferred to a federal DOT position based in Providence.
NO PAY WHN IT’S HIS OWN DRVEWAY
I didn’t really have a fourth affliate lined up for this grouping but eventually decided that the last item/affiliation could be the work John does in his own driveway when we get winter storms – work for which he doesn’t receive a paycheck.
I don’t think local TV is interviewing him for insight on clearing his driveway but if they did, he might tell them that folks should be aware of the possibility of black ice or that “crews” would begin salting and sanding soon or he might throw in a note of caution about the steep grade at the street-end of the driveway.
A note about info resource for this group: I didn’t just happen to know that many details of John’s early career with RIDOT. I did happen to come across a cutout of an article about John in what I assume is a RIDOT employee newsletter. The paper was in the rolltop desk in my house, presumably cut out and placed there by my mother. The article was trimmed in such a manner that neither publication name nor date is indicated but John had been named Employee of the Quarter and the article provided a timeline of his career up to that point. My best guess is that the article is from the late 80s or early 90s.
STATES’ HIGHEST POINTS CLIMBED/VISITED
JONI TOOK A STAB-SANG ABT CAB
Joni, as in Joni Mitchell… and Mount Mitchell is a tall mountain in North Carolina. The part about taking a stab by singing about a cab is just for the rhyming factor but Joni did sing about a Big Yellow Taxi so that was there to help you identify which Joni was being referenced.
I visited the Mount Mitchell observation deck in October 2022. Mount Mitchell is the highest point in North Carolina at 6,684 feet.
B/W MX SECURITY DEVICE IS NICE
A mixture of black and white is GREY and a LOCK is a security device. The Greylock in this grouping is indeed nice.
I received the postcard below from Karen, Lou, Norma and Annette this past July. The text on the card says all you need to know: Mount Greylock, highest point in Massachusetts, elevation 3,491 feet.
I believe Catherine may have hiked here with a Girl Scout troop and I believe Brian hiked here as part of an Alton Jones camp outing. Anyone else? I’d love to go, this tower looks rather amazing!
GEORGE WAS 1-THAT’S IT IM DONE
George is a famous WASHINGTON. “One” and “done” rhyme, simple as that.
Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, is New Hampshire’s highest point. Multiple members of the family have visited the summit either by hiking, cog railway, or the Auto Road. I had several images to choose from for this group item and although the picture I ultimately chose is not from the summit, I picked it because it’s one I hadn’t seen in years. I came across it recently, did some digital cleanup and am happy to include it here – that’s Karen and Gil on some Mt. Washington trail (my bet is the Jewell Trail) circa late 70s. I’d guess this is 1976 at the earliest since I remember something about Gil hiking to the summit after he turned 50.
In addition to hiking, cog railway, and driving to the summit, both Karen and my cousin Ann have done a road race (via the Auto Road) to the summit. I salute them on that because…never in a million years for me!
I have a lot of Mt. Washington photos in my chaotic collection, most are not labeled and I’m sure there are many trips I don’t have photos from – who’s been? When did you go? Did you hike?
LOT OWNED BY MALE-IT’S NO DALE
A lot/piece of land (a FIELD, perhaps) owned by a man = Man’s field….MANSFIELD. Combine this with the information that it is not a dale, so the opposite of that…a mountain.
Mount Mansfield in Vermont is that state’s highest point at 4,395 feet. Russell and Ayida visited in September 2024. They drove to the “summit” which I think is technically not the summit, but close enough for me.
I borrowed some photos for this posting (from Sarah and Russell and a few historical web resources). I’m kind of going with the “do first, ask for forgiveness later” approach here (and many more times throughout the year I imagine).
If there were issues with understanding this week’s puzzle-like group items, be warned, you’ll hate next week but honestly it’s one I won’t change….simply too easy without the extra challenge.
Mike sent along a few photos of his girls at states’ highest points. First picture is on Mt. Washington in 2022 and the second is Abbie at Mt. Greylock in 2024. It looks like it was a beautiful day on Mt. Washington but I somehow doubt it was as warm as the girls seem to think it was. Also, Abbie…oh my goodness. When I’m just standing around somewhere, that’s my go-to pose, too!
6 responses to “January 4, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
Not sure is it’s possible to put pictures in the comments, but our Christmas card has one of Abbie at the top of Greylock and we did Mt Washington last year.
Wow! That one was a doozy! I made some random guesses but essentially gave up! SO tricky but fun answers and explanations!
I think I have – or had a copy of that employee of the quarter newsletter about my dad, I think it was mailed to me when I was in college, so early 90s checks out!
The girls and I have taken the cog to the top of Mount Washington. I also hiked some part of it with Senior Outing Club in high school but not to the Summit and I don’t know what part – maybe Tuckerman’s – Maybe Crawford’s Notch??? I have never really remembered.
Mike -as of now I don’t think photos can go in comments. I tried last week. Maybe Michaela can do some magic, idk. Alternatively, photos can be emailed to me and I can append them to the end of the week’s answer post.
Thanks for commenting. I love hearing what everyone has to say.
I’m going to have to check out that MA Nickelson’s CMAS card again.
Last time I went on the cog railroad was September 1999, maybe, with Bean.
The article about John was quite the find and then I put it in a geneology book I brought to Michaela’s house and forgot I had put it in there. I went crazy trying to find it right up until yesterday when mentioned it to Michaela. She said, “oh yeah, that’s here.” It’s going to be a long year.
Oh Mike – I had NO IDEA you guys did Mt Washington last yr. Would love pics.
Great puzzle got the all on the first get. Maybe try and make them a little harder next time. Yeah right. Still trying to figure out how A&W became J&W. Truly if you had. Mt Washington Greylock joni Mitchell and Mansfield I’m still not sure I would have gotten this one. And I’ve been to Greylock and Mt Washington. If Bridgewater was the clue I might have gotten the colleges. But I was thinking canal for the water way as Ohio has a canal.
So Russ and I are pretty much on the same page as far as bouncing off the building at URI and Claire’s job at OBR location in that we both remember the same spot in the road and yes, I agree, after Bill started school. I think I have document that puts her at a state job in 1971 so maybe that’s why she wasn’t at the OBR job long. I could have sworn there was a fire though.