'The Life of a Woburn Native:' David Crampton

 Putting away the dishes in his dirty work clothes, David Crampton is reminiscing about his childhood. Memories flood his brain of all the good times back when he was a kid, while I ask questions that require him to recall the lost memories.

 To the community, David Crampton is a carpenter who has lived in Woburn his whole life. To his family, he is known as “Daddy” or “The Taxi” because of all the rides he gives. Since he is a Woburn native, he knows all about the city. If you ever need directions, he’s the man to go to. 

 Back when he was young, Woburn was full of open land, and there were many greenhouses. When walking the streets, David said, “There were pheasants around everywhere.” 

 One of his favorite hangouts was Horn Pond. Back when David was a kid, you could swim in the pond. You could also fish and camp out there. He has a lot of good memories at the pond with his best friend, John Golles, and his dog, Jessie. David has grown up in Woburn and doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

 All through his life, sports have been very important to David. Playing basketball, baseball, football and street hockey were his favorite things to do in high school, but his ultimate favorite was basketball. David made the varsity team his freshman year! That year they went to the championship. Even though they didn’t win, David is still proud of his accomplishment of making it to the championships. In David’s life, basketball was the most important thing. His brothers, Kevin and Paul Crampton, played basketball also. All of them looked up to their father, who played as well.

 But, with all this basketball, who had time for school work? Certainly David didn’t. He struggled his freshman year because of this distraction. After admitting he flunked freshman English, he wished he “took school more seriously and tried harder.”

 Even with all the pressures of school and basketball, David still had time to get in trouble, like any other teenage boy. When he was only 14 years old, David stole his dad’s car when his parents went out. He and his brothers would go for a drive. “I was actually a pretty good driver,” he said proudly. 

 When asked if he was ever caught, he laughed and said, “One day we were driving and we saw my dad’s friend, who was also a police officer. We waved, and, of course, he laughed and told my father. I was grounded forever, but it was worth it.”

 Back when he was only a young boy, David had a great time hanging out with his friends and family. One of his favorite memories was at Hampton Beach. His family rented a cottage on Dover Avenue and they went to the beach, fished and golfed. He now takes his daughters to Hampton every summer; it’s almost a family tradition!

 When David was a teenager in the late 70’s and early 80’s, a lot was going on. But, the historical event he remembers most took place while he was a student at St. Charles. While in class, David watched while the first man ever walked on the moon. When asked what he thought about this event, he said, “It was unbelievable.”

 The childhood of David Crampton differs greatly from any of the kids' lives today. Even though he is a grown man now, he doesn’t have trouble remembering the past that has made him who he is today, a well known carpenter and a family man. Being “Dad,” he always drives his two daughters to parties or after-school activities. This is why he is known around the house as “The Taxi.”  I would know, because I’m his oldest daughter, Emily. 

Thanks for all the rides Daddy!

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