Neighborhood nicknames gave East Cambridge flavor

By Beth Folsom, 2025

After retiring from a long career at New England Telephone in 1970, Cambridge resident John Carver compiled a list of areas in the city that he remembered from his youth. This list was picked up by the Cambridge Chronicle, which published it under the headline, “Bottle House, Lava Beds, Hippodrome: What and Where Were They?”

Carver’s sizable list includes nicknames for places around the city, some of which were still in common use and some whose monikers had been all but lost to history. Many of these places are in East Cambridge, History Cambridge’s focal point this year, and we are inviting readers to weigh in on these and other local nicknames past and present.

Among the East Cambridge locales:

Argonne Forest, now the Roosevelt Towers apartment complex

Benzy’s Bologna Factory at Sixth and Hurley streets, of which Carver wrote, “Uncle Charlie Benzy gave each kid a slice of bologna with every purchase of frankfurters and liverwurst … all homemade.”

Bottle House on Third Street near Charles Street, a store run by former alderman “Bottle House” Gaffney

Butternut’s Old Boxing Club, also on Third Street near Charles Street

Conlon’s Court on Third Street, named for Patrick Conlon, who owned the entire block

Conroy’s Alley on Cambridge Street between Sixth and Seventh streets

Goepper’s Barrel Shop at Ninth and Spring streets

Gold Coast in East Cambridge on Warren Street (distinct from another Gold Coast on Mount Auburn Street), so called because of the state police that were stationed there during Prohibition

Hippodrome on Fourth Street, also known as the “Old Hip.” This was the site of the former St. John’s Church

Hurrugurri Hall (also spelled Haruguri Hall) at the corner of Sixth and Spring streets, of which Carver says: “Nobody knows how to spell the name of this hall where German clubs used to hold their parties and socials. Many a wiener schnitzel I had in this spot. My grandmother was a German so I had access to the club at the German affairs.”

Libby’s Barn at Fifth and Charles streets

Mullins Court on Winter Street between Fourth and Fifth streets

Pickle Block at Thorndike and Eighth streets

Squire’s Court, a housing complex on Gore Street built by the John P. Squire Co. for its workers

Do you recognize these East Cambridge place names? Did you grow up going to socials at “Hurrugurri Hall” or snacking on bologna slices at Benzy’s? What other neighborhood nicknames do you recall? Let History Cambridge know and help us learn more about the East Cambridge community and its gathering places.

This article originally appeared in Cambridge Day.