Stoneham: More Little Known (or Remembered) Trivia

Stoneham Mass. is the only community to lose a father and son,in the Vietnam War.The family surname is Fitzgibbons.Stoneham,Mass.was in "The Guiness Book of World Records" in the mid-1960's,for having the most gas stations per square mile.Did you know that the Stoneham Theatre once had a 10 lane "Bowling Alley" in the basement,and a 4 table "Pool Hall." That "Bear Hill" is the highest point in Stoneham,according to a USGS marker at the top of the observation tower,at 318' above sea level."Bear Hill"is not the proper spelling of the hill;it's true name is "Bare Hill."At the Northern entrance to "Bare/Bear Hill" you are on the old South Street & as you walk toward the base of the hill,if you look to your East,you can faintly make out the footprint of the original road.In fact,there are still a couple of utility poles,among the trees.When you turn onto Fallon Road,from South Street and travel west (under the overpass of Route #93)the industrial area you see,was once upon a time,Fallon's Dairy Farm;from Fallon Road (eastbound)years ago,if you went straight across South St.,what is today called Mosley Park Condos was the other end of South Marble Street,which is where Dike's Pond is located.Dike's Pond is man made,and was created for the cutting of ice.South Marble St.was once a small marble quarry.(It was filled in when Mosley Park was built.)Travelling west on  Marble Street,the last street on your right in Stoneham is Hill Street.Next to MacDonalds restaurant on Montvale Ave.,Woburn is the other end of Hill Street.