WEST WARWICK
ARCTIC
Arctic is a section, (once a village) located within West Warwick. I make an association with my mother’s family with the Arctic section of West Warwick as the family lived there or on the “fringes” before the move to North Kingstown. I believe the Cummiskey family landed in West Warwick when Frank’s parents moved from Massachusetts for work at one of the mills in Arctic Village.
ST MARY’S PARISH
St Mary’s church/parish is the church the Cummiskey’s belonged to when they lived in West Warwick.
HEPBURN STREET
As addressed in a previous puzzle, Frank and Flo lived on Hepburn Street in West Warwick – actually they lived in two different houses on Hepburn Street before moving to Tower Hill Road in North Kingstown.
THE DMV, BACK IN THE DAY
The Department of Motor Vehicles no longer has any presence in West Warwick but it did so for many years. How many of us took our driver’s license test in West Warwick? I know I did. I wonder if any of the cousins did.
CAMPS ATTENDED
RAMSBOTTOM
I was looking for a camp that I could throw into the mix that not everyone was aware of – either in the sense of a family member attending or of the camp’s existence at all. Enter Camp Ramsbottom, located in Rehoboth, MA operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket. It turns out that this is where Jay spent some number of summer days in his youth. He recently described it along the lines of a big open field and 8 hour chunks of time devoid of adult supervision. That’s not a direct quote, but it is the gist of it, you’ll have to ask him about it. When he did make his comment, the “devoid of adult supervision” part caught Cecil’s ear. Seems like this is a camp Cecil can (would like to) get behind. Jay also noted that yes, all the alternative names to be derived from “ramsbottom” were in fact routinely used by all in attendance.
FULLER
Michaela attended Camp Fuller in South Kingstown for a few weeks for a few summers. She loved that camp. It was from there she wrote her infamous (in my mind) letter requesting that I send nails and rope. I wonder if I still have that letter somewhere.
ALTON-JONES
So many of the cousins and a few of the next-generation went to Alton-Jones (and some even worked there), and yes, we know it was loved by all – near and dear to the hearts of all. I could NOT do a camps grouping without Alton-Jones!
Enjoy a few photos I found from various Alton-Jones camp stays.
First we have (L-R) Rick, Mike, and Brian.
Next, Megan J, Michaela and an unknown counselor.
Next, Mike at a winter camp.
Rick in one of the cabins.
I believe Dave is in the bottom bunk. I have no idea of who the other kids are. Looks like Alton-Jones may have had some moments “devoid of adult supervision” as well.
Brian at a winter camp when there was actually snow.
One final photo — I can’t identify who is in the photo or even who took the photo, I just know that over the years I ended up with numerous rolls of “camp film,” with most images looking similar to this one. This is actually a “good” image. Most feature a subject about 200 feet away, and are blurry.
GIRL SCOUT
I don’t think I can accurately compile a list of the girls in the family that have attended a girl scout camp but I do know Jan attended Hoffman as did Michaela and Catherine. Sarah went to Camp Nokewa on Gilbert Stuart Road and thought she had traveled 700 miles to arrive there on the camp bus. Molly and Megan, I believe went to GS camp as well but I’m not sure if they went to Hoffman or Nokewa (or both). Michaela went to a GS camp in Seekonk one summer, chosen specifically because it had a pool, I think. Catherine was in a very active Girl Scout troop and they made use of many girl scout properties for weekend troop outings/camping. One that stands out to me is a girl scout property just off Ocean Drive in Newport…yeah, Ocean Drive. Who wudda thunk it? It was a nice place, not a mansion, but it was a nice camp for sure. I recall that Ellie attended at least one girl scout camp in Massachusetts last summer. I believe it/one involved extended cycling excursions.
I couldn’t find Michaela’s “nails and rope” letter but below is a letter Megan M. sent to Jim and I from her camp one summer.
Below is a picture of Jan at camp.
SPORTS WE MIGHT BE GOOD AT
I don’t immediately think of the family overall being particularly athletic but there’s been sports participation here and there and some of us were actually pretty good at stuff.
Lowell, for example was named the MVP of his high school TENNIS team. Ellie, as mentioned on the puzzle published on her birthday, is a pretty good at ARCHERY, having won trophies at events. Megan J had an outstanding run at high school and college-level GYMNASTICS competition. Let’s not forget Norma though – she too participated in high school gymnastics. And, last on my list, but not least, Tommy has a few 300 BOWLING games under his belt.
ITEMS IN THE 2024 YANKEE SWAP
It’s been nearly 8 months since the Family Yankee Swap at the Crhistmas arty, do you remember any of the items – either much sought after or duds?
BLANKET
There was a record number of blankets in the family Yankee Swap this past year. I believe there were at least 5. Was your winter warmer because you scored one?
CANDY DISH
There was never a question who would be leaving the party with the hippo candy dish.
FIRE BLANKET AND AIR FRYER
Now that’s a blanket of a different color! In addition to the cozy, keep-you-warm blankets in the Yankee Swap there was one fire blanket to keep you safe. Maybe the fire blanket and air fryer went to the same home…just in case something went wrong with the air fryer.
CHEESE
Cheese, there was cheese. Fancy cheese.
2 responses to “August 16, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
Let’s start from the top. I took my driver’s test at the West Warwick DMV. As for camps, I went to Yawgoo every summer I can remember. I was a Boy Scout, an Eagle Scout. All my kids went to the South County YMCA day camp almost every summer all summer. It’s in Peacedale on Broad Rock Rd. Last my bowling. I have 3 perfect games. My accomplishment in bowling I regard as my best was cashing at Nationals in Reno in the early 2000s. I came in the top 10% out of over 80,000 bowlers that bowled that year.
Wow!
I finally got one. Yay!
Love the camo pictures.