Newton's village of Auburndale was once the 'it-spot' 

My parents used to take me and my brother to Norumbega Amusement park in the 1950s and very early 1960s. I still remember the "haunted tunnel", which was pretty scary for a small child! My Dad and brother used to go out on the paddle boats. Great childhood memories.

I was a small child but I do have vague memories of the park. My last visit there was about 1962, That was a time when Commonwealth ave had huge commercial bill boards and there was even an ice cream stand along the way. My late father told me he saw a lot of famous big bands there in that era......he told me he saw Ozzy Nelsons band with Harriet Hilliard as the lead vocalist. Never heard of them? Look up Ozzy and Harriet here on youtube/ They had quite a long carier together.

I grew up in Auburndale. I remember Mama Toula as a child when my dad would take me and my sister there. He loved the hashbrowns, I would get something like an omlette or pancakes...and sometimes lemon meringue pie. And every sunday we would read the comics. I credit the Knotty Pine for my love of pie to this day. I wish Newton wasn't so cost prohibitive (unreasonably so tbh) because even though I have a good salary, I still can't afford even a 1 bedroom apartment there. Too many residents have a disdain for affordable housing and the "element" it might bring (NIMBY). it is a shame.