MASCOTS OF TEAMS WE SUPPORT/HAVE SUPPORTED
BRISTACO
GOAT
GARY GATEMAN
SMILEY BALL
I don’t know that Catherine really ever actively supported any Worcester Polytechnic Institute sports teams during her time there, but had she done so, Gompei the GOAT would have been the mascot leading the charge against the school’s rivals.
Megan M. is currently a cheerleader at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts where BRISTACO Bear serves as mascot. The bear’s name has roots back to when the university was a college (BRIdgewater STAte COllege). Megan will have to let us know if this name, as the internet suggests, continues to be used.
Many of us would be able to identify Wally as the mascot of the Boston Red Sox but could you name any of the four mascots of the Worcester Red Sox? The first (oldest) of the four is SMILEY BALL. I myself did not know of Smiley Ball until I attended a WooSox game earlier this summer. Apparently the iconic “smiley face” was created by Worcester commercial artist, Harvey Ball. The team adapted and adopted the graphic as its mascot when they moved from Pawtucket.
As far as the other three WooSox mascots, the AI-generated response to my Google search tells me the following: Woofster, a dog, was introduced on International Dog Day in 2021. Roberto the Rocket, a nod to Worcester native Robert Goddard, joined the team in 2022. Clara, inspired by Clara Barton, is the team’s first female mascot, introduced in 2024.
The last mascot rounding out this grouping is GARY GATEMAN. He’s the mascot for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Catherine and Sam have been fans of the Gatemen since their time at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth (near Wareham).
I missed an opportunity to get a better photo of Gary Gateman a few weeks ago. Michaela, Cecil and I tried to go to a CCBL game in Orleans when we were visiting the cape. The Orleans Firebirds were taking on the Wareham Gatemen but believe it or not, we didn’t go because we couldn’t find a place to park. The place was jammed! BTW, Bean and Sam, you’ll be glad to know the Gatemen won, 10-2.
There were a few other mascots I considered using here. Skipper, Paws, Champ, Plummy. Can you name the teams/institutions affiliated with these lucky charms?
NEW HAMPSHIRE PLACES WE HAVE VISITED
OLD MAN
FUNSPOT
CLARK’S
SKI JUMP
The OLD MAN of the Mountain is long gone but many of us visited (multiple times) before his untimely departure from the side of Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire on May 3, 2003. A photo taken by Karen is below.
CLARK’S Trained Bears was another perennial favorite for multiple generations. Apparently the Knotts visited there too; the photo I’ve posted is one of Jim’s dad’s.
FUNSPOT is an arcade in Laconia, New Hampshire. They claim to be the world’s largest arcade. I know the Knott-Miller family has visited and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that others in the family have as well.
Some of the siblings are finishing up a New Hampshire visit, maybe they’ll visit Funspot on their way home.
The Berlin SKI JUMP has been visited and climbed by several family members. I have heard stories of my mother and father climbing this with some subset of their offspring (oldest 4 or 5, maybe) — is this true? They climbed this thing with little kids? Also, were they renegade climbers when they did this (as I know I was) or was this something that was allowed back then? Anyone know?
Also, I’ve always referred to this ski jump as the “Berlin Ski Jump” because of its location in Berlin, New Hampshire but I’ve done some digging and I believe it’s actually know as the Nansen Ski Jump. Additionally, it’s actually just outside of Berlin, in Milan, New Hampshire.
Other facts you might find of interest: its steel tower is 175 feet tall, it was originally built in 1936 and for many years was the largest ski jump in the eastern United States. The jump was refurbished in 2017, has anyone in the family visited since then?
I invite you all to look at some Google images of this thing. I’m amazed I was ever brave enough to climb it – I cannot fathom the idea of strapping skis to my feet and going down it!
THINGS IN THE CABANA KITCHEN
WINE GLASSES
GIANT ROLL OF SARAN WRAP
WAFFLE MAGNETS
LOBSTER POTS (as in cooking vessels)
Simple grouping here. All these things can be found in the cabana kitchen at The 461.
Speaking of lobster pots and The 461…in case you haven’t heard, Lobster Day at The 461 is set for August 2nd. Let Amber know if you plan to attend/need her to grab a lobster for you. Don’t worry if you don’t like/want lobster, Jim’s planning on smoking some ribs too.
RIDES AT ROCKY POINT
WILDCAT
CORKSCREW
FLUME
SPIDER
Ah Rocky Point…it wasn’t summer without at least one vist. Once there, the WILDCAT, FLUME, CORKSCREW, and SPIDER were among the popular and favorite rides. Below is an image from a postcard a tad bit before my time but I saw it on the Wikipedia page for the park and I really kind of like it.
WILDCAT was the rollercoaster located adjacent to kiddie-land, as I remember. The ride had a large offset between carriage and wheel-base so that it always looked like the cart was going off the track at corners/sharp turns. I did not enjoy that!
The FLUME, of course, was the faux log waterway ride comprised of a series of chutes and channels. The ride culminated in a steep, high climb leading to a exhilarating plunge leaving many soaked to the skin yet somehow eager to ride again.
The CORKSCREW was the steel rollercoaster that arrived lated in the park’s timeline. Its name matched the twisting turn that was the highlight of the very short ride with an exceptionally long line.
The SPIDER may not have actually been anyone’s favorite but may be memorable for its puke-inducing motion. Yeah, that’s all I have to say about that. I had a fun graphic from a newspaper advertisement featuring the Spider, but I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I don’t know where I filed it.
Did you have a different favorite?
Below is a photo of a few of the cousins during a visit to RP. My guess this is either summer of 1995 or 1996.
in case anyone is unaware, Rocky Point is now state owned property, the midway is gone but they’ve done a good job with making the area accessible for walking and fishing. I’m not sure that it’s sanctioned but I have also seen rock climbers in the woods near where the upper Skyliner station had been.
15 responses to “July 19, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
Fun one! But I never got it! I was on track and kept refreshing because I was sure I could get it. I was on track with mascots and on track with NH attractions and on track with Rocky Point rides. Could just never get the right combo! I was very thrown trying to put Wildcat in with the mascots. Tricky one!!!!!
Only 4 I actually put together were cabana items.
And yes, the bear at BSU is still called Bristaco. A big part of Family/HoCo weekend is Bristaco’s Block Party AND just this past football season, they had the alum who won the contest to name Bristaco back when he was a student in the 60s there and honored him at halftime!
https://www.bridgew.edu/stories/2024/bearing-his-name
Love that Rocky Point cousin picture!
Yes, I was able to get a lot of ‘overlap’ this week. I thought people might try to put corkscrew in with the cabana items or flume as NH attraction.
I’m surprised there aren’t more RP pics.
Yes! I did try corkscrew in that combo!
And I still don’t remember the Wildcat rollercoaster. Was it the OLD wooded one next to the Corkscrew?
No, I don’t remember the name of the wooden one — it was backed up to the woods, right? I LOVED that one.
But Wildcat was close to the corkscrew – I know that just confuses things.
Sarah – here’s a link to info about the wildcat
https://youtu.be/LnJfsh47-jI?si=6AW5lbzLmal_gve1
and Amber says the wooden one was the Cyclone – that sounds right
Ah, Cyclone, that’s right!
I stole Bristaco’s pic from their web article about the naming alum
Oh and great Old Man picture too!
I did not get it. I kept putting Wildcat in with the New Hampshire stuff.
I did climb the ski jump, it left a lasting impression.
Can not imagine skiing down it.
Although, I kept putting Wildcat in with the New Hampshire things, I remember riding that roller coaster.
The nose stuck out further than the front wheels. Very scary.
Have never heard of Funspot. Must have been after my time.
Jan, honestly I only know of Funspot because of the Knott-Millers having had visited. I wanted to expand the range of NH places and allow myself potential to move overlapping items around, creating a more “robust” puzzle.
Who climbed the ski jump with you? Did both Mom and Dad climb it?
I don’t think Mom or Dad climbed the ski jump. It was a long time ago. I think it was just us older kids. I could be remembering incorrectly.
That may be even more crazy
In June I took Rachel and Will to a WooSox game for her birthday. We had great seats. They were in the front row next to a handicap seating area. In between innings I was looking at my phone and felt someone standing next to me. It was Smiley. He gave me a fist bump. Then pointed over my head. Will pointed at himself. Smiley shook his head no. Then pointed at Rachel. She looked up and Smiley put his hand to the side of his head asking her to call him.
Not sure how many times someone has had a mascot try and pick them up.
Thanks for sharing that story, Tom. It’s pretty funny.