2009 Archive

Saturday, March 28, 2009

And then.....nothing happened

Hey, guess what’s happening at the Base. Ya, nothing. For those non-locals the Base is, and forever will be, the South Weymouth Naval Air Station. For those who came to town thinking they were going hit the lottery at the new version of the Base, Southfield, think again, because nothing ever happens there. It reminds me of the Monty Python skit, Nothing Happened, where you hear all the sounds and effects of the big story but, in reality, nothing is happening.

Not long ago, they spent lots of money on a new entrance to the Base. They’ve also spent lots of money on a cute little clubhouse (brand new, by the way), repainted da plane, da plane, cleared some land and knocked down some buildings. Of course, 100 yards beyond the new clubhouse is the old Navy Base Officers Club that is not being used and falling into disrepair. Evidentily that’s not up to LNR, Tri-Town corporate standards. What the hey, Wahey, its not their money, right?

I keep reading (Patriot Ledger) about all the things that are going to happen at the Base, then nothing happens. There’s gonna be a road built, there’s gonna be a new studio, there’s gonna be jobs galore and then….nothing happens.

Supposedly they’re installing utilities over in the northern part of the property getting ready for the new residential section. Oh really! Um, how about a picture of that because, ya, not happenin’!

So here’s another Base trivia question. What is the Base being used for? A parking lot for South Shore Hospital, rental property and raising deer.

And the last question is…..where’d all the money go? I don't know, but I know where it didn't go, into town revenue.

No actually, this is the last question…. when did the actual Air Base close? 1997. And now for the math portion of the test….that’s over 10 years ago.

click on Nothing's Happening at Southfield.

POSTED BY STAN at March 28, 2009

Return to top

In 1960 the Town Of Weymouth accepted an F9/F6 Cougar Fighter Plane as a gift and memorial to the Naval Air Station. The plane was at the entrance to the Air Station for many years. The Grumman F9F/F-9 Cougar was an aircraft carrier-based fighter aircraft for the United States Navy. Based on the earlier Grumman F9F Panther, the Cougar replaced the Panther's straight wing with a more modern swept wing. The Navy considered the Cougar an updated version of the Panther, despite having a different official name, and thus Cougars started off from F9F-6 upwards. Presently, further up Commander Shea Blvd. from the Route 18 entrance to Southfield, an A-4B Skyhawk sits in place of the original gift, as part of the Shea Memorial Grove.