The Devil Made Him Do It

And now for a little local color.

Hotter than... it is today...My younger one want to go to to the public pool in my little corner of the world. Not a bad idea.

The Underwood Pool in Belmont Massachusetts has the distinction of being the first public pool in the United States -- assuming you exclude as pools the cesspools of Upton Sinclair and the riverways of Mark Twain.

Plopped down on land donated by William Underwood, it is an icon worthy of fame to any man, yet our Mr. Underwood, like so many greats, holds claim to another title of fame.

Yes, the Devil was the source of Mr. Underwood's wealth. We're not talking Mephisto here; we're talking Underwood Deviled Ham.

Not to be the only multi-man from Belmont, we may offer you the diversity of Robert Welch Jr.

Scurry from the pool's location on Concord Avenue up yonder about a one minute walk towards the center and stop at 395 Concord (next door to the post office). Today the building is the Armenian Studies Center, yet until 1958, it was the headquarters of one of Mr. Welch's babies -- the John Birch Society. If that nugget leaves a bitter taste in your mouth the ponder another of Mr. Welch's inventions: it is sweet, it is refreshing, it is "delicious" as Seinfeld's friend Kramer says.

Yes readers, we are talkng about nothing less than the Junior Mint.