Michelle! Great job, although I wish you had talked to me too. Although you couldn't have known, my husband and I live in the very first Campanelli house built in 1959. It was the model house that was shown to prospective buyers. The farmhouse you show is directly across the street from our house, and for many years it was a B&B. I even knew the man who had the milk delivery route here in the 1960's and would tell me tales of the ice house down the street, and that our house was his very first stop in the morning. I don't know exactly when the term Woodvale became commonplace. When my mother wrote for the Danvers Herald she and others referred to it as "The Cherry Hill district" of town. We bought our house in 1993 and have seen very little turnover in neighbors directly around us. The farmhouse was sold in the late 90's, and another elderly neighbor passed away a few years ago. Other than that, it's all the same people on our section of Burley St.

I'm so happy that you liked the article and it was able to inspire your great memories of your old neighborhood. Thanks for your comment.

I lived in Woodvale from 1963 til 1998, my mother bought the ranch style house on Cabot Rd for $16,000 and I graduated high school, got married and had kids there before moving to the "big colonial" in 1980. It was probably one of the best places to raise kids, my kids walked to Thorpe school, than the high school, I have so many fond memories of Woodvale. Since moving to Florida 12 years ago, I come back every summer and of course ride through Woodvale and check out my old homes and can't believe how some houses have changed so much. Why buy a house because you need more room, just add on and enjoy where you live. Linda (Clewes) Warren

I do not believe that I know you, but my family moved into a house on Trinity St. in 1961. I lived there until the day I got married. The neighbors were great, it was a different world back then. Thanks for the memories.

I agree, it certainly was a different world-but the neighbors are still great! I'm happy to have brought back good memories of growing up in Woodvale. Thank you for your comments!

Glad to hear it, Bev-Will do :)

I lived in one of the few houses that wasnt built by Campenelli (2 Cornell Road). I have many great memories from there. Every summer we would have the never ending baseball game with kids from Sherwood ave. (on the property of what is now 3 Cornell Rd) Jim White, John Costanzo, Dave Bezanson, Gary Kelly, Tony Spadorcia, my brother Joe and many others from the neighborhood too. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Michelle!

Another great memory sledding down Crane's Hill on Trinity St. It realy wasn't a hill but we thought it was the greatest place to go. Also the nieghborhood Wiffle Ball games at the Lang's House on Princeton St.

Lived across the street from you John. How about kickball in front of the Bealieu's. The field was painted in.

Speaking of the Lang's house, we bought it in 1994 & have thoroughly enjoyed living in Woodvale. Having been raised in a typical colonial in the Montserrat area of Beverly, & then living for 7 years in the Back Bay section of Danvers, it was a big change to accept living in one of these slab style houses, especially when we were faced with the heater in the kitchen. (Growing up, I thought friends homes in the Campanelli-Raymond Farms development were strange). I had wanted to add to Michelle's article regarding the "single-story structures had six basic floor plans" reference. Ours is one of the (not so common) original two-story Campanelli's built in Woodvale, identifiable by their box-like shape & a single story 2 car garage. We have photos of the house when it was bought by the Lang's in 1960, which we have shown people, to prove that it was built this way, when they insist that we must have added a second story to our ranch. This house is referred to as a hip-roof Cabot Colonial. According to paperwork we received when we bought this house, the Lang's purchased it new sometime in the early 60's for around $24,000-quite a bit more than the smaller homes that were being offered. They did raise 6 kids in this house & ironically, when I have spoken to people over the years who were raised in Woodvale & I tell them which house I live in, they inevitably ask me "do you live in the Lang's house? I practically lived there!". Woodvale memories definitely live on.

Yes many fun times at the Langs especially on the weekends and Kevin had one of his many weekend parties. Jack and Mary Caroll God love them they must be in thiere 80's and he still works in his yard and they are always on the move.

Thank you everyone for your added comments-I love reading all about the good 'ole days, and am happy to have conjured up some great memories for you. Keep them coming!
~Michelle

I lived in the Langs' house for 20 years. Yes, my parents raised 6 kids in that house. The only thing they changed was to convert one side of the two car garage to a playroom. I am glad the new owners are enjoying Woodvale as much as my family did. Our side yard was home to football, baseball, softball, wiffle ball - you name it, from morning until the street lights went on at night. Great memories (good to hear from Bev and John) of a great childhood.

Thank you for sharing your memories of childhood in Woodvale!

I've just learned of this site and had to add my comments, too. My husband and I bought 38 North Belgian Road in 1963 for $16,500 (!!!!!) and raised 3 little girls for a while there. (Laurie , Maureen & Chrissy) We had an inground pool for a while, too and entertained lots of kids, including our "cousins" The Hennessey's who lived across the street. No fear of playing in the streets til after dark, walking to Thorpe school or the playgrounds. We eventually moved just 2 streets away to Chapel Road and the kids still had the same friends and still walked to Thorpe and the same mailman delivered our mail. Yes, buying in Woodvale was one of the best decisions we made and who knew?????

We bought a house in woodvale in 1965 and raised two daughters there, Karen and Linda. We lived across the street from Pat and Demo Agannis. We were brought up in Vermont and when my husband retired moved back here. We lived in Danvers (woodvale) for 39 years and have lived here for 7 years. I still miss the old neighborhood and many friends.

Thank you for sharing-I love hearing all these stories. I wonder if there should be a neighborhood reunion for all of the folks who grew up in Woodvale, back in the day. How fun would that be?

This was a wonderful walk down memory lane..I spent MANY days nin the Agganis pool...learned to dive there. Grew up in the "Hennessey's" home..35N Belgian Road. They had to PULL my out of that creek in my backyard every night. sledding at the "sledding hill",Playing in the flooded small streets. Yes..Kickball, softball, tag..EVERY night. when the street lights came on..the kids all new it was time to "go in". I lived there until I got married. I know the peopel taht bought "my" old home enjoy it as much as we did..have made many postivie changes to the home (no more furnace in the kitchen or refrigerator hanging on the wasll). It makes it nicer to know that people still care and love the old nieghborhood, so full of memories. I second the Woodvale nieghborhood kids reunion..game of kickball anyone? Karen Gabbeitt