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| William |
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I remember
when I was 9 years old, standing next to my grandfather,
on what was then a dilapidated Lewis Wharf. It was
very early, and the sun was just coming up over Boston
Harbor. The sky was a brilliant bright orange, and
the seagulls squawked over us trying to get a piece
of our “day old” bagels. He held me close as the morning mist and fog burned off, and then…it happened. First there was one…and
then two. In less than a half hour there were over
twenty.
Appearing in front of us, under full sail…the Tall Ships were cutting through the morning mist. Boston was celebrating the Bicentennial. It felt as if we had traveled back in some sort of time machine. To this day, it still stands out as the most majestic thing I had ever seen. My grandfather stood silent and proud, and I could tell he was crying. This is the day I fell in love with Boston. Sometimes, when I tell this story to our guests…I
cry, too.
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| Dick |
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My name is Dick. After leaving the telephone company after 25 years I’ve had several different jobs, the last of which was working at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. A friend and I have often spoken about doing tours of Boston in our next life and so it seems that I have arrived at my next life a little ahead of him. I live in Boston and really love this city and I think showing it off to the world is a pretty fun thing to do.
My wife Shelly, and I live in the West Roxbury section of Boston. We have three great kids, two girls and a boy, all them grown, and one grandson who just happens to be about the best little guy in the entire world, not that I am biased or anything like that. For fun I like to play golf, listen to classical music, travel, draw cartoons and bake pies – ‘cause I like to eat them!
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| "Irish" |
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Hi!
My name is "Irish". Born and bred in the area, I
studied History and the Classics at the University of
Massachusetts and Boston College. I entered the magical
world of tour guiding as a “step-on” guide for the
motor coach industry. It’s so much fun to welcome
visitors to New England and to show them our most interesting
and beautiful places. One particular delight is to
conduct walking tours of Boston in Nineteenth Century
costume.
My most memorable travel experience
was the year and half I spent on the Mediterranean
island of Crete. I lived a few short kilometers from
the ruins of Knossos. Many scholars believe that this
ancient Minoan city was the basis for the legends of
Atlantis. Now, I take my pleasures closer to home.
My hobbies are studies of history, Greek mythology,
and masterpiece painting.
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| Ken |
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Back in the last century, I traveled so much to Boston that I decided to move here. Then my visits always included some of Boston’s sights and sounds. Now I have a chance to tell others about what a great city it is. I started out in south New Jersey, near exit zero on the Turnpike. I spent my university years in San Antonio. Chicago was where I began my career in tour and travel sales and marketing that includes airlines, steamship companies, hotels and resorts over the course of thirty-something years. Besides Chicago, I’ve also lived in New York City, Phoenix and Fairfield County, CT. I’ve also been a tour escort, mainly to Alaska but with a few other trips to the Caribbean and Europe. I hold a yacht captain’s license. I’ve done some charter captain work and some yacht deliveries over the years when I’ve had those brief chances to get away from life as we know it. I play golf and tennis when the opportunities permit.
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| Peppermint Patty |
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Charlestown
has always been a part of my life. My grandparents
settled here in the early 1900’s and five
generations later, the family remains. I am the
youngest of six children and the only daughter.
Some may think that I must have been spoiled, but
that was never the case. The greatest joy and love
of my life is my son Brendan; the time and experiences
we’ve shared are immeasurable. I love Boston
for its rich history and all that it has to offer.
I like the fact that I can be in the city one day
and the next day I can be enjoying the peacefulness
and tranquility of Maine. My most rewarding work
was when I worked as an English writing tutor. I
sat at my table and the world came to me. Now years
later, I enjoy the rewarding journeys I give in
Boston as the world joins me on my trolley!
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"Frida" |
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Hi, my stage name is “Frida”, after my favorite female artist Frida Kahlo. I grew up in Revere, Massachusetts and the North End of Boston. I graduated from Tufts University and the Museum of Fine Arts, then went and got a masters degree from the Massachusetts College of Art. I have a fine art studio in the South End where you will find me most evenings and days off, now that I am empty nesting. I show my work at the Bromfield Gallery and the Copley Society and in my studio, during the spring and fall open studios. For the past 25 years and for the foreseeable future, I live in Charlestown with my husband Chip. We have three children: Ian, the oldest, a recent college grad, and Emma and Oliver, twins, who are freshman in college in Montana and Scotland respectively.
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Marc |
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“On
the right side of the trolley you will see the Key
West Customs House…. Or could that possibly
be the New England Aquarium?” For a number
of years now I have performed in both Key West and
Boston as a tour conductor, and I’m pleased
to bounce back and forth between these two beautiful—and
very different—cities. I Presently live in Salisbury
Beach, with my sweetheart Carol and our cat Missie.
My free time is spent remodeling, remodeling, remodeling
a 1915 beach house that only I would purchase. I love
to read, take walks and my passion is sailing. I hope
to see you on my tour, whether you’re visiting
Boston in the spring and summer, or Key West in the
winter! |
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Paul |
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Hi, my name is Paul. I was born in Boston and have lived and worked in Boston or Cambridge my entire life. I love Boston and New England and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. My wife and I recently moved to Marshfield, on the South Shore, where we spend most of our spare time with fishing rods in our hands. |
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Neal |
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I
recently retired after 30 years in human resources,
affirmative action, and human services at the federal
state and local governments, as well as in grass roots
community based organizations. I was elected to 7
terms as a Malden City Councilor and was recently
recognized by the city with the dedication of a baseball
field in my honor. My passion is boating and I am
proud to serve as the Malden Harbormaster. I enjoy
serving as Master of Ceremonies and lecturing on Malden
black history. I am a graduate of the University of
Massachusetts College of Public and Community Service,
married to the former Paula Latham and Alpha Kappa
Alpha dad to Joy, Wendy and Kristy. |
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Jeff |
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I grew up as a service brat (USN). During this maturing period, I learned a principle of life that has enabled me to successfully drive in Boston: look over your shoulder every 5 seconds.
I found Old Town Trolley Tours of Boston to be the perfect place to draw upon my affinity for history, to overcome a fear of public speaking, and to learn to conquer Boston traffic by patience.
Another principle of life I’ve acquired,
one that I use constantly and by which I measure
myself, I found at the base of Arthur Ashe’s
statue in Richmond, VA. It’s originally from
the book to the Hebrews: “Seeing we are
surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
so easily besets us, and let us run with patience
the race that is set before us.” |
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"Huck" - Safety Officer |
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I was born and raised in Wakefield, MA, growing up in a large family. My father was a construction worker and supervisor, and his nickname was Huck. Because he was a great storyteller, I chose this for my trolley stage name.
Shortly after finishing high school I went to
work for New England Telephone Co. and stayed
on for 34 years, working in several departments
and at many levels. At the age of 54, I accepted
an early retirement offer and after 4 months
of not working, I realized that I still needed
to work.
In January of 2004, I saw an ad for tour conductors
in the Boston Globe and decided to give it a
try. The first sign that I had come to the right
place was when I learned I had to audition as
well as interview. At the end of the audition
G.M. Matthew Murphy’s loud applause and
infectious enthusiasm told me that this was the
place for me.
My lovely wife Linda and I have 2 grown sons. We live in Quincy, MA a few miles south of Boston. I thoroughly enjoy working here at OTT and have never in my life met a nicer group of people who truly understand how to do a good job and have fun, at the same time. |
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Welby - Operations Manager |
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Hi! My name is John, but in “trolley world” you’ll know me better as just Welby. I came to Old Town Trolley in 1997 after working in the limousine and bus industry for twelve years. After leaving a very stressful job, I was looking for something fun to do. I’ve always had a love for my hometown of Boston, so I figured giving trolley tours would be the perfect fit and it has been. Over the years here at Old Town Trolley, I have had the pleasure of giving tours in our Key West operation in the winter months. That was great while it lasted, but now that I’m in management my focus is strictly on the Boston operation. The one thing that makes this place so great is the people. We have the best group of workers anyone could ask for. They are the most dedicated and fun-loving people you can find anywhere. Everyone here goes out of their way to make our guests feel welcome and to insure that they have an awesome visit to Boston. |
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"Li'l Bean" |
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Hello everyone!
My name is “Li’l Bean”.
I am probably the smallest tour conductor for Old
Town Trolley, thus my nickname. I spent two years
in sunny San Diego at the OTT operation there, and
then returned to good ol’ Beantown, where
I grew up (although I didn’t grow very large).
I guess you can call me a trolley veteran. San Diego
was warm and nice but it just wasn’t the same
as Boston. So I decided to move back, but I’m
not alone! Before I left for S.D., I had a wonderful,
beautiful baby girl, her name is Gabriela a.k.a. “Lil'
Buddha”.
My favorite thing about giving tours is that I can always learn something new, whether it’s about a museum that I’ve been to several times, or some historical fact that I thought I knew all about, and then getting to pass this along to my guests. I love to share with them all the great things Boston has to offer. |
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Sue - Trainer |
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I was born in Boston and have lived most of my life just outside it in Somerville. I have a lifelong love of history. When I was a kid I always wanted to visit all the historic places (and I still do). I love to visit old burial grounds and to read about the people found in them, to know that the names in history books were real live people.
I have worked for Old Town Trolley for over 12 years and most of the time as the instructor, teaching the conductors how to drive the trolleys safely and to give a historically accurate and entertaining tour. I love the training, but I also like it when I get back behind the wheel and give tours myself! There is no better city, chock full of history and great stories, and there’s nothing I love more then sharing this wonderful place with others. |
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Ron |
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It’s fun to come to work everyday at Old Town Trolley so I can show you what Boston is all about, both from historical and contemporary perspectives.
I draw from my background as a broadcast journalist, having anchored news on radio stations from Maine to Mississippi to right here in Boston. I’m an Air Force veteran who did the “Good Morning Vietnam” gig in Thailand. I also teach broadcasting at two local schools. And as an extension of my profession, I DJ many dances throughout Greater Boston. I’ve also been very fortunate to have some of my travel writing published in the Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune. I was born in Seattle, Washington, but was raised in suburban Boston. My wife Denise and I have two great kids, Brian, a member of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, and Marisa, a dancer and fashion nut soon to graduate from high school.
I look forward to meeting you and showing you around our great city! |
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