January 4, 2022
While exploring memories of childhood on Coltland Drive, I remembered watching “Mr Persip,” as we knew him, striding purposefully across the field in front of our house, ramrod straight, lean as a rail, wearing his garrison cap and U.S. Army uniform jacket. I didn’t have the word in my young vocabulary yet but distinguished, dignified, and proud come to mind.
His home on Pomeroy Avenue was within sight of 7 and 15 Coltland Drive, the only two houses on the dirt road, where Sammy Colt and I lived.
Sammy Colt and I were the "eddieandbill" of Coltland Drive. From kindergarten to 6th grade, we were inseparable. We walked to school together, were safety patrol "officers" holding red flags to halt motorists when kids crossed the street in front of Redfield School, a fifteen minute walk from home. We found endless ways to entertain ourselves...yet another story to unpack.
One day when we were playing marbles on the dirt road in front of our houses, 8 or 9 year-old Sammy and I got invited to visit Mr. Persip's home.
We didn't know it but we were about to be introduced something we'd never seen before, probably the reason Mr. Persip invited us, a large macaw parrot, with shimmering tropical hues of green and gold on its feathers that made it appear regal, housed in an oversized wire cage in the living room.
We were transfixed watching its herky-jerky movements, the way it would watch us with its head cocked, one eye turned our way. Its giant scary looking beak that gobbled sunflower seeds made us keep a safe distance from its cage.
On the day it actually talked, we were gobsmacked…”Polly want a cracker,” I swear it said.
I can see Mr. Persip chuckling to himself. He enjoyed watching our youthful rapture while looking up at that big golden wired cage every time we visited, waiting for that miracle to happen again.
To us, he was Mr. Persip, happy to be known as a kind neighbor by these two little kids.
Recently I learned that he was the grandson of Civil War veteran Charles Hamilton of the famous all black Massachusetts 54th Regiment. Looking back, I know he felt a connection with his grandfather, reflected in the dignity and pride in the way he moved, behaved, and likely the reason he entered the army.
I had no idea about his charitable work cited in his obituary. I wonder what it was in his chemistry that pushed him to act with such empathy and kindness. I speculate that being a man of color, he was not always afforded the respect he showed to others. Maybe ‘calling’ is a better word to describe what he did.
He did some of his charitable work mentioned in the news clipping at the former Union Railroad Station, a hundred yards from my immigrant great-grandfather's store on West Street… a trove of memories for another time.
How I’d love to talk to Mr. Persip today.
Local History & Genealogy Department
Berkshire Athenaeum
One Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201
POST SCRIPT
A charter member of the American Legion Post 68 since 1919, his 151st Depot Brigade took part in the Meuse Argonne offensive in WW I. He was district Sergeant At Arms for 25 years and Post Commander in 1956. He never missed a Memorial Day or Veterans Day parade that I watched every year as a kid. He was, in fact, known as "Mr. American Legion." He made 92 trips to Union Station with the legion color guard to give local draftees a proper send off. A story in his obituary that I love; for 12 years, he led collections at movie theaters for the March of Dimes, Jimmy Fund, Will Rogers Fund and Multiple Sclerosis Funds. He collected about $75,000. When he was presented with a purse of $500 at one of the many testimonials for his activities, he turned around and gave it to the hospital for which he had been raising money. To a man living on what I assume was a small military pension, he could have used it to pay for food and utilities for a long time. He was a giver. It just did not square with his nature. His service, let alone the grace with which he lived his life, is a shining example of America's "greatest generation".
Wonderful reminisce. So vivid. I can imagine what reliving that experience is like for you.
Posted by: Susaan | January 08, 2022 at 02:03 PM
Once the memory resurfaced, the story wrote itself, an incoming tide of memories leaving these vignettes on the shore. I loved tapping into it…felt so uplifting to live in those moments, so innocent, so rich, so uncomplicated.
I feel other stories knocking at my door, asking to be brought from the shade of an idyllic period of my life into words that consecrate it today.
PT
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. | January 08, 2022 at 02:05 PM
So moving and a remembering. Great writing.
Posted by: David Connor | January 08, 2022 at 03:22 PM
What a wonderful memory Paul. Well done!
I’m glad you are reviving the childhood memories and sharing them.
Posted by: Susan McCulloch Bennett | January 08, 2022 at 05:13 PM
Thanks for sharing this delightful memory, Paul. As much as I like your rendezvous with the parrot, I mainly enjoyed your description of the relationship between you and Sammy. I can just picture you in that safety patrol outfit (which was probably just a vest/sash over your school clothes!!) and playing marbles in the dirt! Happy New Year to you and stay safe!! Joanne
Posted by: Joanne Yeomans | January 08, 2022 at 05:14 PM
Earl Persip III is
Director Of Facilities at The Mount, Edith Wharton's
I am on the board of The Mount, and know Earl. He is one terrific chap,
and has a _____? month old baby. His uncle was one of the best barbeque chefs in the Berkshires. I remember that we called him Mr. Persip and he came to our cottage every summer to run the Doctors' Picnic. I was probably 5 years old when I met him.
Didn't know some part of the family lived near you.
Ahh, no coincidences.
Didn't know that a Persip was also part of your life
love with hugs
C/C
Posted by: CC Raymond | January 08, 2022 at 05:22 PM
Great memory of your neighbor Mr. Persip Paul. I can totally see you as a young safety patrol officer too.
Paul
Posted by: Paul Sinopoli | January 08, 2022 at 09:18 PM
Pretty close, Joanne, a white over the shoulder sash with a silver badge around the waist to buckle it!
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. | January 08, 2022 at 09:22 PM
C/C,
A wonderful six degrees of separation story...Mr. Persip being the chef of choice that your doctor dad hired for his annual cookout at your lakeside summer cottage. And yes, the back of Mr. Persip's property on Pomeroy Avenue was adjacent to Sammy Colt's house on Coltland Drive
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. | January 08, 2022 at 09:31 PM
Lovely story Paul. We need to follow this gentlemans example. xo
Posted by: Susan Sullivan | January 10, 2022 at 08:46 PM
Thank you, Prez,
It’s one of the most detailed autobiographical stories I’ve written, given how rich the experience was, it won’t be the last.
Posted by: Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. | January 10, 2022 at 08:47 PM