Walter Epimenio "Sheik" Carbone (1908-1993) and Edith Hope (Berry) Carbone (1907-2000)

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Narrative provided by Tom Sheridan, DPW Superintendent 1975-1988:

Walter Epimenio Carbone was born in 1908 in Maynard to Pasquale and Raffaela (Tedesche) Carbone. He had one brother, Guido born in 1914, and two sisters, Ida born 1910, and Gilda born 1918. They grew up on Thompson Street.

He graduated from Maynard High School class of 1927. His nickname was “Sheik”. He played the drums and managed the art department of the “Screech Owl”. He was voted as having done most for the class. Walter worked for the La Pointe Machine Tool Company in Hudson, MA as a designer/draftsman. He built his own home at 185 Great Road. The home was moved after his death to Powder Mill Road, and the land developed as Carbone Circle.

Walter was an original member of the Planning Board, serving from 1951-1959. He was an original member of the Conservation Commission, serving from 1967 until his death in 1993. He also served on the Memorial Gym Building Committee from 1954-1957, High School Building Committee from 1962-1966, and Green Meadow School Building Committee from 1953-1956. While on the Conservation Commission, he was instrumental in acquiring parcels of land in town for protection from future development.

I first met Walter at the old Town House, the current Post Office (143 Main Street), around 1960, while visiting with my father, Ray, who was a DPW Board member. Later on, when I was the DPW Superintendent in the 1970s and 1980s, I would have many interactions with Walter. I would often visit him at his house where his wife, Edith, would bring us tea. He had a special room with a southern view, where his desk and files were. It was like a little town hall with a lot of information. He would run a lot of his thoughts by me, not only those concerning conservation issues. It's fair to say that the town's best interest was always foremost in his mind.

Edith Hope (Berry) Carbone was born in Fruitvale, California in 1907 to James N. and Marion M. (Walker) Berry. Her father was a carpenter who worked on the Panama Canal from 1905-1906. After the San Francisco earthquake, he went there for work, and his family followed by train. They settled in Fruitvale, a part of Oakland. A year or so after that, they moved back to Massachusetts, initially settling in Waltham, and later moving to Arlington Street in Acton. Her mother was a housewife. Her siblings were Ralph born 1888, Ruth born 1892, Marion born 1895, and Emma born 1903.

Edith worked as a salesperson in retail stores in Concord. She married Walter Carbone in1936 at St. Bridget’s Church in Maynard. They moved into the house Walter built on Great Road. She continued to work in retail and opened a small shop on their property across from Louise Street called “Edith’s Gift Shoppe”. She operated the gift shop in the 1950’s and 1960’s. She served as a library trustee from 1953 to 1962. I met Edith at the then new Library, currently the Police Station at 197 Main Street. She was the head librarian 1962 to 1972 and ran a tight ship; quiet meant quiet. When she retired, the selectman declared March 26, 1972, her 65th birthday, as Edith Carbone Day. A reception was held at the library with some 300 people attending. She also served on the Woman’s Club, Garden Club, and Emerson Hospital Auxiliary.

One of the parcels of land that Walter helped the Conservation Commission acquire was on the corner of Summer Street and Florida Road. This parcel was named Carbone Park by the Conservation Commission in 1987 to honor his 20 years as a member. They were both dedicated town servants in their various roles. They never had children; the town was their child, and they hoped to make it better. Every summer they would go to Bar Harbor, Maine to spend some time. They loved the area. Walter passed away in1993. Edith passed away in 2000.

Photos:
1. Walter and Edith at her retirement party - 1972
2. Edith cutting the cake at her retirement party - 1972
3. Walter - 1980
4. Walter's high school yearbook - nickname "Sheik" - Class of 1927
5. Walter's high school letterman sweater - 1927
6. Walter (back, second from left) and Edith (right, next to flag) at the Green Meadow School grand opening. He was a member of the Building Committee - 1956
7. Walter, while on the Planning Board, was a chief architect of the "Land Use and Major Street Plan" - 1958
8. Walter was also a chief architect of the "Central Business District Plan" - 1958
9. Walter at the Reo Road conservation site, taking elevations of the land - 1975
10. Edith at a Garden Club event - 1957
11. Edith (center) in front of the Library Bookmobile - 1970
12. Edith (left) at a Women's Club event with Betty (Jarmulowicz) Britt - 1969
13. Walter and Edith's 50th Anniversary Party - 1986
14. Selectmen's proclamation of Edith Carbone Day - 1972
15. Edith Carbone newspaper article - 1972
16. Carbone Park Conservation Land, Corner of Summer St. and Florida Rd - 2005