Billy Cunningham

Tile image

Current name: Bill Cunningham

Age when this tile was made: 11

Where did you live when you made this tile?

16 newbury st somerville

Where else have you lived in Somerville?

beacon st, heath street winterhill

Where do you live now?

Ormond Beach, Florida

Do you consider Somerville your hometown? Yes

What is your earliest Somerville memory?

Playing relevio on newbury street , hopping fences fro yard to yard there had to be 40 kids playing in that neighborhood back then we n ever were in the house.

How would you describe Somerville in the 1980s?

Sopmerville was quite a place in the 80,s . A mix of working class people, gangsters and lawyers, all living in one small city. my family was born and raised here I am the fourth generation. my grandfather was the owner of a roofing company in somerville in the eighties I think he employed half the city back then. I worked for him when I was in jr. highschool or the western as it was called. What a great place to grow up

How would you describe Somerville today?

Somerville is the complete city it is very diversified. there are many cultures , and there is a nice mix of original somerville people and transplants from other parts of the country, and the world. I am proud to be from Somerville.

How has Somerville changed?

Somerville has changed emensly it is no longer just working class people. It has become one of the elite cities in massachusetts to live in the boom in real estate has increased propertie value 80% most of the residents of the 80s couldn't afford to live here.

I remember making this tile in mrs mitchells art class 6th grade then we went on a field trip to see them made how they baked them in a kiln it was quite an experience. Somerville was the best place to grow up there was a balance of street smarts an there was also the optunity to do well in school.