A moment wyh Michael "Red" Berberian
By Sarah Menesale/ Staff Writer
Friday, August 25, 2006 – Updated: 01:24 PM EST
Westborough News, MA
Aug. 25, 2006
Sitting on the porch in his rocking chair, reading the paper and
enjoying the weather is how Michael "Red" Berberian spends most of
his retirement days.
Traffic whizzes by his home on Otis Street, once a skinny dirt
road. Now it’s home to many industrial buildings and soon a housing
complex. Along the porch rail grows tomato plants ripening in the
sun. They’re the last vestiges of a once booming farm.
Berberian, 91, stopped working the fields long ago. Now they’re the
playground of weeds and wildlife. But ask him about his life and
plowing the fields, and he immediately jumps in with a story about
Billy, his horse.
A true character, Berberian is known for his sassy wit and
unpredictability, whether he’s sharing his opinions at Town Meeting
or during his term as a selectman years ago. Plus he’s sure to tell
you he’s Armenian. One friend called him, "always entertaining but
not afraid to get under people’s skin."
But his cantankerous nature is endearing, and he’s gathered up bushels
of friends over his more than 80 years in town. Many came out for
his 91st birthday earlier this month, gathering at his home on Aug. 6
(his birthday is Aug. 5) to eat hotdogs and hamburgers and toast him.
The sign outside his home for Red’s Farm Stand, while no longer open,
reads "Happy 91st Birthday Red," and many cars drive by with a honk
in acknowledgment.
The News sat down with Berberian this week to reminisce on a life
well lived, the many changes in Westborough over the past century
and what it’s like to be a farmer.
How did you get your nickname?
I was loaded with freckles and had red hair. They’re all merged now
into one big freckle. I got my nickname when I was really little.
We used to live in Worcester on Chandler Street across from the
Chandler Street School and the cop on the beat used to hold my hand
and walk me across the street saying, "Come on Red."
How did you get into the farming business and what are your most
vivid memories of that time in your life?
I was born in 1915 and my family moved to Westborough a few years
later. My father bought this 34-acre farm on Otis Street for $1,500.
The only building on it was a chicken coop. The previous owner had
burned the house and barn to collect the insurance money.
I’d get home from school. I was just a little boy, this high (he
raises his arm waist level.) I’d hitch up the horse Billy and start
plowing. On Saturdays and Sundays my whole family used to plow.
My parents, Mike and Agnes, were only home to work the farm on the
weekends. They worked in Worcester. When we were done we started
planting. It was all done by hand. I liked everything about farming.
It was my job. We had cows, goats, cats and dogs. I loved the
animals. I miss the horse more than anything.
I’d take the produce to Salem Square, the farmer’s market, and sell
our crop. Rte. 9 used to be a dirt road with big rocks in it. It used
to take three hours to get there with the horse and wagon.
Whenever the horse needed a break I’d stick a big rock under the wheel
to stop the wagon from rolling down the hill. We had a market garden
so we had all kinds of vegetables.
We used to go swimming in the afternoon after we finished the rows
at Hoccomocco Pond.
How did the farm progress over the years? And why did you stop?
I took the farm over for my parents. We had the farm stand for
years. My wife, Isobel Mitchell used to take care of it. We did a
good business here.
I stopped farming. I don’t want to farm it anymore. And my kids don’t
want to farm it. I enjoy my retirement so much. Now I’m resting on
my laurels. Let the rabbits and woodchucks enjoy it. I’m letting my
farm rest.
I sit on my porch on the rocking chair. A few people visit and sit
with me a few minutes. But, I’m mainly alone.
What was your education like as a self-described "farm boy"?
The farm kids had it all over the city kids. I graduated from
Westborough High in 1933. I wasn’t a dumb kid but I wasn’t the smartest
either. I had to do my homework by the light of a kerosene lamp. We
didn’t have electricity. I loved going to school. The bus used to
pick us up right in front of the house.
Armstrong was the superintendent. I don’t remember his first
name. There’s a school named after him now. He gave me permission to
come in later after going to market.
What are some of your favorite memories? When you think about your
life what pops out?
We used to go to Nantasket beach with my mom and dad. They’d buy us a
hot dog or an ice cream cone. It didn’t take much to keep us happy. I
hate salt water. The first time I went swimming I got a mouth full
and that was it. From then on I only swam in fresh water ponds.
I remember the tornado. I had to go pick my sister up at the top
of the street. The wind was whipping by and the chicken coop and a
bunch of bushel barrels went flying by me. Our neighbors never did
give back those bushel barrels.
My wife, who’s from Marlborough, died a few years ago. She used
to work in Worcester and my sister worked in Worcester for two
attorneys. I don’t remember how we met. I think Isobel was going to
Salter’s secretarial school with my sister and she used to come here
visiting with my sister. So that’s how we met. I have three children,
Richard, Cindy and Scott and a couple of grandchildren.
I used to be a selectman. The only thing I hated about it was the
lack of privacy. Someone would call me up at two in the morning
complaining. If I wanted to I could still be a selectman. I was a
good selectman and I was fair to everyone.
My sisters Irene and Betty both died within the last few years.
Irene was a WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp) in the war. I got
deferments because I was working a farm. I belonged to the state
National Guard, that’s the closest I came to Army life.
That’s the nice thing about getting old. You reminisce. I think about
all the things I’ve done in my life. I remember the good people and
the stinkers.
What kinds of changes have you seen in Westborough?
When I was growing up those were the good old days. You knew everyone
in town and they knew you. You went to Town Hall and paid your
bills. Then drove down to Uhlman’s and bought an ice cream cone.
It was a big celebration.
We used to shop on Main Street at the bakery, the butcher, McDonald’s
grocery, the drug store, Chamberlain’s newspaper store, the Strand
theatre. It was all downtown.If you had a dime in your pocket you
were rich.
Now in this country it’s a lot of hurry up and wait. This country is
full of (crap). Everyone has their hand in the till.
We have a nice town, a nice Town Hall and nice schools. The town’s
been good to me and I’ve been good to them.
How was your birthday celebration?
My birthday is August 5. There was a big celebration (held Aug.
6). It was a surprise. There was a sign out front that said "Happy
Birthday Grampy." The yard was full of cars. It was a hell of
a party. There was grilling and the rotisserie and hot dogs and
hamburgers. Anybody who’s anybody was here.