The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #102235   Message #2069947
Posted By: mrmoe
06-Jun-07 - 10:10 AM
Thread Name: anyone remember the Pesky Sarpent? (Massachusetts)
Subject: anyone remember the Pesky Sarpent?
......on paige boulevard in springfield, massachusetts.....a link to its history....
http://www.randyshiltscenteroftroy.org/sarpenthistory.htm

Text copied from an archive of the Web page at archive.org -Joe Offer-

The original coffeehouse was opened in 1965 at 612 1/2 Page  Blvd.
in Springfield Massachusetts. It was located in a renovated, below
street level, former neighborhood bowling alley.

The rose  colored  cinderblock  walls lined with  original art, the
black  ceiling, the gleaming hard  wood floors,  cabaret seating,
large  stage & superb sound system, the massive  antique cash
register  at  the  entrance, the  immaculate  kitchen  lined  with
coffee  urns and espresso machines, the gourmet desserts, and
the signature beverage of the club, 'Red Stuff' are now legend.

It was a first establishment of  its kind in Springfield, and caused
some controversy, ( as all pioneering good ideas do ), and  had to
overcome a series of code enforcement hassles with the city.

We prevailed, the club became a legendary stop on the northeast
folk performers booking  circuit, and  the city council  went back
to doing  what  most  politicians  do best, rather than  protecting
the citizenry from folk singers.

The 'we' above refers to the clubs owners, and  associates, all of
whom contributed  to the  many details  that are now  part of the
Sarp's  history . . . Jay 'Bear' Avon,   David Boyd,  Art  Carroll,
Connie &  Doug Bradway,  Phyllis Grossman,  Harriet  Golden,
Suzanne Sickler, Rick 'Mouse' Berger, Bob Lee, Dave Mowry,
Mike Fairbanks,  Ellie  Avon, Eddie  Hogan,  'Gus'  Gustofson,
and many others.

The Name, 'The Pesky Sarpent' derives from an early American
folk song  from 1840's that is  reputed  to  have  been  originally
penned about two unfortunate lovers who dwelled on Springfield
Mountain. The song  has evolved through many verse and  title
changes in 200 years. Title  variants are: Springfield  Mountain,
'The Pesky Sarpent', and, 'Rattlesnake Mountain'.