In the Sport-light: Roundup of news from Hull's wide world of sports

/

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• The Hull High Pirates Varsity Football team fell to Cathedral High School during last Friday’s game, 42-7. It was Senior Night – those honored included players Ayden Pike, Jack Gagne, Lawrence Bodley, Jayden McCarthy, and Logan Griffin; and cheer team seniors Olivia Creech, Bree Simpson-Sliney, and Emma Preston. This Friday, the 2-4 Pirates are southbound, playing Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich under the lights at 7 p.m.

GAME TIME: As part of the Senior Night celebration at Hull High’s varsity soccer game Tuesday, the Hull Youth Soccer 5/6 Boys team had a blast scrimmaging during halftime. [Courtesy photos]

• Boys 5/6 Soccer did not have a game over the holiday weekend and plays next on Saturday, October 18 at Hull High School against Marshfield at 2 p.m. However, the team did scrimmage during halftime of Tuesday’s high school soccer match and had lots of fun on the field.

• Boys varsity soccer Senior Night was Tuesday, October 14 – the Pirates tied, 0-0, against Carver. Seniors honored were Matt Thomas, Max Lofgren, Teddy Hipp, Thomas Brasil, and student-manager Chris Resnick. The team’s next games are on Monday, October 20 at home against Mashpee at 5:30 p.m. and then on the road in Holbrook on Thursday, October 23 at 3:30 p.m.

• After a holiday weekend break, Hull Youth Soccer’s in-town season resumes on October 18. Games are on Saturdays at the Dust Bowl field in Hull Village and teams have the same schedule each week for convenient planning – Guppies (coed): 9-10 a.m.; Kindergarten (coed) and Girls Grades 1 & 2: 10-11 a.m.; Boys Grades 1 & 2: 11 a.m. to noon.

• Hull High girls varsity soccer defeated Carver on the road on Tuesday, October 14, 7-0, to improve its record to 5-4-2. Up next are Mashpee on the road on Monday at 4 p.m. and then back home on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to host Southeast Regional Vocational-Technical High School. Upcoming season highlights include EM20 Night on October 24 against Pembroke, a fundraiser for the Emma Ryan Memorial Fund. JV plays at 4 p.m., and varsity takes the field at 5:30 p.m. Senior Night – honoring Montana Alibrandi, Emily Irby, Hannah Pearson, Abby Jeffries-Ranger, and student manager Sofia Provost – will be on Monday, October 27 vs. Abington at 5:30 p.m. (JV at 4 p.m.).

• Hull Youth Football action continues this Sunday, October 19 with a home game against Lower Cape. Mites (C Squad) will play at 10 a.m.; Midgets (A Squad) will pay at 11:30 a.m.; and PeeWees (B Squad) will play at 1 p.m. The Nantasket Beach Salt Water Club will host the players, cheerleaders, and their families for breakfast – C Squad from 8-8:45 a.m., A Squad from 9:30-10:15 a.m., and B Squad from 10:45-11:30 a.m.

• Hull Pirates Youth Basketball is now accepting registrations for its travel program, supporting boys and girls in grades 3-8. The season begins in late November, and registration will close on October 31. Families are encouraged to register players as soon as possible at https://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Residents invited to ‘visioning open house’ to share ideas, learn more about the master planning process

/

The Town of Hull is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to develop a town-wide master plan. The planning process allows Hull community members to evaluate the town’s strengths, identify issues and challenges, and envision the type of community Hull would like to be in the near future.

A “visioning” open house is scheduled for Thursday, October 23 at the Memorial School, 81 Central Ave. There is no formal presentation, so residents can drop in anytime to learn more about the process.

At the end of the master planning process, the town will have a clearer understanding of what Town priorities should be and how strategic investments and other implementation efforts can achieve the community’s desired future. The master plan will provide a foundation for future decision-making by the town’s boards and committees, including town meetings, and provide opportunities for the community to hold leaders accountable to achieving shared goals. 

The MAPC also is conducting a survey to solicit opinions and ideas for the plan. Visit https://mapc.ma/hull-MP-vision for additional details and to take the survey.

For more information, visit www.mapc.org/resource-library/hull-master-plan or email  the MAPC’s Sarah Scott, sscott@mapc.org, or Jiwon Park, jpark@mapc.org, or Hull Director of Community Development and Planning Chris DiIorio, cdiiorio@town.hull.ma.us.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

'Community conversation' event to explore the history of housing discrimination

/

The Hull Affordable Housing Committee, in partnership with the Council on Aging, Wellspring, and The Anchor, invites residents to a community conversation on the history and lasting impact of housing discrimination. The event will be held on October 21 at 7 p.m., via Zoom, and is free and open to the public.

Featuring guest speaker Bob Van Meter from the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), the program will explore how historic housing policies such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and exclusionary zoning shaped communities across Massachusetts. Participants will also learn how these systems continue to influence housing access and affordability today.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion, share experiences, and learn about ongoing efforts to advance fair and equitable housing in Hull.

To register, click here or the QR code: https://us06web.zoom.us/s/81224243632

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Is Hull’s historic library haunted? Paranormal investigators set to reveal their findings October 18

/

Are there spirits lurking around the Hull Public Library?

Come to the library on Saturday, October 18 to hear the findings of Paranormal New England’s exploration of the building and you will find out!

This paranormal presentation fundraiser is sponsored by the Friends of the Hull Public Library and will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Hull Public Library building and its land are steeped in history, dating back to 1644, with the town purchasing the building for a library in 1913. During the summer, on the night of July 12, Paranormal New England, an investigative

ghost-hunting team with more than 50 years of combined research activity, spent six hours exploring the library.

Did they meet the English soldier who is buried in the yard after being wounded during the attack on Boston Light in 1775? What about the building’s former owner, Irish poet and activist John Boyle O’Reilly, who is said to haunt the upstairs rooms?

“We had a great time investigating the Hull Public Library,” said Joe Rainone, the lead investigator, “so come and review some of our evidence from that night.”

“It was an amazing experience to join the investigation and see the behind-the-scenes of a ghost hunt,” said library Assistant Director Betty Thompson. “I learned a lot about the process, as well as learning hidden secrets of the library I spend every day in.”

Tickets for the event, which will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 18, are $25. Visit hullpubliclibrary.org/about/friends and scroll down to the Paranormal Presentation button to purchase tickets, or stop by the library and pay with cash or check.

“This event is a great opportunity for the Friends of the Hull Public Library to raise money for future programming and services,” said library Director Brian DeFelice. Come on out, support the library, and maybe meet a ghost!

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Lifesaving Museum’s Hull-O-Ween Pumpkin Trail illuminated by the talents of Hull artist Jeff Menice

/

The Hull Lifesaving Museum’s Pumpkin Trail is right around the corner – and it would not be nearly as special without the artistry of Jeff Menice.

From October 23-25, step into a family-friendly celebration of pumpkins, creativity, and spooky fun. Follow a glowing trail of more than 100 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, each tucked into hidden corners, lit with humor, wonder, and artistry. Stroll across the pumpkin-lit deck, venture down the haunted wilderness trail (if you dare!), and gather back on the lawn for festivities.

What makes Hull-O-Ween truly shine is not just the pumpkins, but the story behind them, and the artist who brings them to life. Every single jack-o’-lantern inside the museum is carved by Jeff Menice, a Hull resident whose lifelong passion for art radiates through his work.

Jeff’s journey began early, leading him to the Vesper George School of Art, a BFA at The Art Institute of Boston, and a master’s in art education from Framingham University. He taught art at the Home for Little Wanderers before finding his calling at the Grace Farrar Cole School in Norwell, where he has been inspiring children for 24 years.

Outside the classroom, Jeff is a devoted father of five, a painter, and an active member of a plein air group, continually deepening his craft. For Hull-O-Ween, he pours that creativity into pumpkins that are more than decorations – they are gifts of joy, imagination, and community.

Alongside the glowing trail, kids can enjoy Halloween activities while adults relax with local brews in the beer tent sponsored by Vitamin Sea. Costumes are welcome, adding to the festive spirit.

Hull-O-Ween is more than an event, it’s a celebration of art, community spirit (with the Hull girls basketball team and the South Shore Neptunes Dive Club), and the joy of coming together. Thanks to Jeff Menice’s artistry, this year’s Pumpkin Trail will be the most magical yet.

The event will be held at the Hull Lifesaving Museum, 1117 Nantasket Ave., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 23-25. Visit www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org for more information.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Allerton-area seawall project ‘on time and on budget,’ with completion only months away

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

During an hour-long meeting Wednesday night, the select board heard an update on the $15.6 million Nantasket Avenue seawall project – including the taking of a construction easement from an abutting property owner, signed a Purple Heart proclamation, and accepted a plaque listing past Veterans of Foreign Wars post commanders, to be displayed at town hall.

WALLED IN: The select board this week heard an update on the seawall construction project currently under way near the Allerton lagoon. The project manager said that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. [Richard W. Green photo]

Kevin Mooney, project manager for the seawall construction at the base of Allerton Hill across from Mariners Park, reported that the work is on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already constructed out of a total of 1,576 feet. The work is expected to be completed in several months.

The signing of an order of taking by the board for 948 Nantasket Avenue related to a permanent construction easement – with a payment of $94,000 to the owner of the single-family home whose land would be affected – is an important piece in getting the work done on time, Mooney said. The property is located near the end of the seawall construction, close to the intersection with Point Allerton Avenue. The vote was unanimous. Board member Greg Grey was not in attendance at this week’s meeting.

Click here for the latest updates and details on the seawall project

Town meeting voters in 2024 approved the taking after some discussion. Town Counsel Brian Winner said that the current owner was offered the opportunity to talk about possible other options.

“We [referring to himself, Mooney, Town Manager Jennifer Constable, and another attorney] actively engaged with the owner, who lives out of state most of the time, to see if there was an alternative way to accomplish this short of an eminent domain proceeding … and we told him what would happen if we were unable to reach an agreement … because we needed to preserve the project schedule,” Winner said.

“This involves completing a critical portion of the wall as we head into nor’easter season, and we need to get the work done as soon as possible,” Mooney said.

Mooney also described a proposed change to the grade of the road just past 1 Point Allerton Avenue and a rain garden to help alleviate flooding in that area, contingent on conservation commission approval. An easement is also necessary for this work, Mooney said.

Excess construction materials would be used for the project, which means they would not need to be trucked from the site, as required under the contract if the materials were not being used.

Neighbors have been notified to expect truck traffic starting sometime soon.

“I have an open-door policy. Residents in the area do stop by for updates, and I take care of any issues right away,” Mooney said, noting that he is the only inspector for this quarter-mile-long project.

The select board also heard a presentation from Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo, who requested the select board’s signature on a Purple Heart Town proclamation, making official Hull’s designation as a Purple Heart Community under the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Springfield.

Board member Jason McCann read the proclamation out loud. The document proclaims Hull a “Purple Heart Town” honoring the “service and sacrifice of those from our community who were awarded the Purple Heart while serving in our nation’s wars” and August 7 as “Purple Heart Day” annually.

The board urges Hull’s citizens and organizations to display the American flag as well as other public expressions of recognition of the town’s Purple Heart recipients on that day.

The proclamation also acknowledges that the people of Hull have “great admiration and utmost gratitude for all the citizens of our community who have selflessly served in the armed forces that have been vital in maintaining the freedom and way of life enjoyed by all our citizens.”

The Purple Heart is the oldest American military decoration and was created as the Badge of Military Merit, made of purple cloth in the shape of a heart with the word “Merit” sewn on it on August 7, 1782, in Newburgh, N.Y., by General George Washington, then reestablished as the Purple Heart on February 22, 1932, by General Douglas MacArthur.

In other business

• Kevin Beck, past commander of VFW Post 1787, presented a plaque to Sordillo and the select board commemorating all past VFW Post 1787 commanders dating back to 1929 for display at town hall.

• The board approved – subject to legal review – the new board and committee handbook.

This guide is designed to assist both new and current members of the town’s boards, committees, and commissions in understanding their roles and responsibilities. The handbook also provides an overview of procedures, legal requirements, and best practices to ensure that the local government operates “transparently, ethically, and efficiently.”

Contents include the structure of Hull’s government, how to become a committee member, oaths and term of office, vacancies and attendance, organization of boards and duties of officers, adoption of rules and regulations, select board liaisons, meetings, conduct of committees and public officials, legal resources, communication and public relations, training and development, use of town resources, and annual reporting.

• Constable reported that the town recently was awarded three grants, including $332,000 “to advance resiliency work in the Hampton Circle neighborhood;” $252,000 from Coastal Zone Management to explore the resiliency of the DPW and municipal light plant facilities; and a $32,000 grant to the Hull Police Department for bulletproof vests and other items.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Town awarded $252K state grant to help fund plans for combined DPW, light plant at West Corner

/

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management has awarded the Town of Hull a $252,000 grant to help pay for plans for a combined public works and light plant building at West Corner that will be protected from sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding at high tides.

COMBO PLAN. The town is considering a proposal to replace the DPW barn at West Corner with a building that would combine the highway department and light plant into a single structure. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

A CZM grant awarded in 2023 funded an evaluation of the two existing facilities, which are both currently in the floodplain. Both are considered to be undersized and beyond their serviceable life. The main light plant was built in 1880, with several additions and outbuildings added over the years. The highway department garage was built in 1946. Climate resiliency measures would be built into the new building, which would replace the brick DPW barn at 9 Nantasket Ave.

Preliminary reports by the town recommended designing new buildings with floodproofing and climate resiliency measures.

Hull’s grant was one of 12 projects receiving a total of $3.8 million in CZM’s Coastal Resilience Grant Program. Grants advance feasibility assessments, public outreach and engagement, design, permitting and implementation of projects.

“Erosion and storm damage already threaten homes, businesses, roads and infrastructure along the 1,500 miles of coastline in Massachusetts, and impacts are getting worse,” Governor Maura Healey said when announcing the grants. “With these Coastal Resilience Grant awards, we are investing in solutions to protect housing affordability, business competitiveness and safety in coastal communities.”

Hull’s current DPW building area is 21,702 square feet, and the proposed structure would dedicate 25,256 square feet to these uses. The current HMLP building area is 12,407 square feet, while the proposed building is 12,795 square feet. The new building at West Corner would feature six equipment storage bays for the DPW (facing the Hall Estate side of the property) and four bays for the light plant (facing the Weir River).

“Investing in resilient coasts supports strong local economies and healthy communities in the face of worsening climate change impacts,” said state Rep. Joan Meschino. “We appreciate the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s partnership. This investment in our local infrastructure and public safety building means that for years to come, residents of Hull can continue to be prepared to address increasing inundation events, more intense storms and extreme weather events.”

The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

In the Sport-light: Roundup of news from Hull's wide world of sports

/

On Friday night, students and community members celebrated Hull High School’s annual Homecoming football game under the lights. Members of the Homecoming Court were introduced at the game – Montana Alibrandi, Olivia Creech, Emily Irby, Dorothy Gavin, Erin Walsh, Lawrence Bodley, JT Gould, Logan Griffin, Brendan Julian, and Chris Resnick. At the dance on Saturday night, Homecoming King Logan Griffin and Queen Olivia Creech were crowned. [Photos courtesy of Taylor Duhaime]

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Boys 5/6 Soccer lost to Norwell on Saturday, October 4, with a score of 3-2. Liam Palermo scored both goals for Hull. Enki Mundo and Owen Bilodeau did great at defensive and midfield positions. North Saforrian did great in his debut as goalie, not letting any goals past him in the second half. The team will not have a game this weekend and plays next on Saturday, October 18 at Hull High School against Marshfield at 2 p.m.

• Girls 5/6 Soccer had a close game in Marshfield on Saturday, October 4, coming from behind to win, 4-2. In the first half, Hull fell behind 2-1. The whole team rallied with exceptional effort by forwards Magnolia Harbin and Emma Medina and defenders Leah Dibley, Laila Dolan, and Hadley Dolan. Willa Britton scored two goals and Frankie Rockett added another. Rockett also played goalie in the game.

• Hull Pirates Youth Basketball is now accepting registrations for its travel program, supporting boys and girls in grades 3-8. The season begins in late November, and registration will close on October 31. Families are encouraged to register players as soon as possible at https://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com.

• Hull Youth Soccer’s in-town programs are off this weekend – there will be no in-town or travel soccer games on Saturday. The in-town season resumes on October 18. Games are on Saturdays at the Dust Bowl field in Hull Village and teams have the same schedule each week for convenient planning – Guppies (coed): 9-10 a.m.; Kindergarten (coed) and Girls Grades 1 & 2: 10-11 a.m.; Boys Grades 1 & 2: 11 a.m. to noon.

• Hull Youth Football action continues this Sunday, October 12 at the West Bridgewater Middle/High School field. Mites (C Squad) will play at 10 a.m.; Midgets (A Squad) will pay at 11:30 a.m.; and PeeWees (B Squad) will play at 1 p.m.

• The Hull High Pirates Varsity Football team fell to KIPP Academy during last Friday’s annual Homecoming game, 40-10. This Friday, the Pirates are home again, playing Cathedral High School under the lights at 7 p.m.

• Hull High girls varsity soccer split games this week, losing 5-3 to East Bridgewater on Monday and defeating Middleborough, 3-2, on Wednesday. Up next for the 4-4-2 team are Carver on the road on Tuesday, October 14 at 4 p.m. and Cohasset at home on Thursday, October 16 at 5:30 p.m. (JV at 4 p.m.).

• Boys varsity soccer has two upcoming home games – Friday, October 10 against West Bridgewater at 4 p.m. and Tuesday, October 14 against Carver at 5:30 p.m. The Pirates then hit the road, traveling to Cohasset on Thursday, October 16 at 4 p.m.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Seniors can reduce property tax bills by performing up to 100 hours of community service

/

By Carol Britton Meyer

Hull’s senior homeowners have the opportunity to reduce their property tax bills through a program that gives them a tax credit for community-service hours.

The purpose of Hull’s senior tax work off program is to provide qualifying low- to moderate-income older citizens with an opportunity to use their skills and knowledge to provide a service to the town in exchange for a partial reduction in their property tax burden.

The program is currently limited to 12 participants, with no more than one tax credit – which is offered in lieu of wages – granted to each family per calendar year.

“When homeowners contact me, I forward them information about the program, and we chat about opportunities that are currently available,” Hull Council on Aging Director Lisa Thornton told The Hull Times. “Property tax work-off programs provide one more way to help our community’s senior citizens to ‘age in place’ and have more economic security.”

Public notice about the program – established in 2013 – is given prior to the beginning of each year in time for the Council on Aging to review applications, verify eligibility, and match applicants’ skills with town department needs.

“A proxy can do the work for someone who physically cannot work,” Thornton said.

Seniors 60 and older who meet the eligibility requirements – including income – must perform 100 hours to qualify for the maximum tax credit of $1,000 a year per family. Fewer hours worked will amount to a lower credit.

Another eligibility requirement is that residents or their spouses must own the property and occupy it as their principal residence, in addition to producing a copy of their current real estate tax bill upon applying.

“Most tasks are not strenuous and typically involve light duties, such as office work (computers and typing), serving as a receptionist, and senior center activities such as helping with events and the lunch cafe,” according to Thornton.

If a home is owned by a trust, the resident wishing to participate in the program must have legal title.

Applicants are required to complete and sign an application and a volunteer services contract.

For details and an application, call the senior center, 781-925-1239, ext. 205.

For more information on other property tax breaks available to senior citizens and veterans, visit www.town.hull.ma.us/assessors/pages/2026-senior-tax-exemption.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.

Locals make the pilgrimage to Maryland for ‘one last ride’ on Paragon’s old roller coaster

/

Essay by Christopher Haraden 

On the rainy afternoon of June 12, 1985, I clearly remember looking up at Paragon Park’s Giant Coaster as it was auctioned off to the highest bidder, believing it would be one of the last times I’d ever see it standing.

Fast-forward a full 40 years later to the misty afternoon of September 27, 2025, when I once again looked up at the roller coaster’s 98-foot-tall first hill – this time in its “new” location at Six Flags America in Bowie, Maryland – once again believing it would be the last time I’d ever see it standing.

The serendipity of those two events, four decades and 450 miles apart, highlights the magic of Paragon nostalgia that defines the childhood of generations of Hull kids – enough to prompt three of them to plan a road trip to ride the roller coaster again before Six Flags closes for good at the end of this season.

THE LAST RIDE: Three Hull ‘kids’ made the pilgrimage to Six Flags America in Maryland to ride the former Paragon Park roller coaster before the park closes for good – from left, Sean McGowan, Chris Haraden, and Jim McGowan.

Last weekend, that’s exactly what three of us did.

Wearing custom-made T-shirts promoting our “One Last Ride” pilgrimage, longtime friends (and brothers) Jim McGowan, Sean McGowan, and I achieved our goal on Saturday and made some new memories in the process. The trip was extra-special for me, as my grandfather, Frank Infusino, worked as part of the roller coaster’s maintenance crew for decades. Growing up in the Rockaway neighborhood behind the park, the sound of the coaster’s daily operation was the soundtrack of our summers. And just before the wooden structure was taken down, I had the chance to walk the track to photograph its place in history, retracing the steps my grandfather had taken so many times over the years.

ON TRACK: The author’s grandfather, Frank Infusino, worked on the roller coaster for decades as an employee of Paragon Park.

But first, some background.

Paragon Park opened at Nantasket Beach in 1905 and always had a roller coaster in some form, although changes resulting from a series of fires in the early 1900s dramatically altered the park’s landscape. After a devastating fire in 1916, owner George A. Dodge commissioned the construction of what he called the Giant, a 98-foot-tall wooden roller coaster that dwarfed any previous ride at Nantasket Beach in both height and distance.

At the time it opened in 1917, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world.

Paragon Park and its Giant Coaster survived the Roaring’20s, the Great Depression, World War II, the opening of Disneyland and Disney World, and the rising popularity of automobiles and airplanes as modes of travel – meaning that families no longer were limited to vacation destinations near their homes. As one amusement operator observed, the same methods of transportation that helped bring people to the beach resorts now could bring them to places even farther away.

The park’s roller coaster changed along with the times. Its first drop was made steeper and the speed of the ride increased as park patrons began to look for more thrilling rides. A significant fire in 1963 changed the Giant’s design, as it burned the rear section known as the “helix” that brought riders around a double-level circular track that shook them up one final time before heading back to the loading station. Time and cost considerations meant that the rebuilding of the ride in the fire’s aftermath left out this section, and the layout of the Giant Coaster that reopened later in 1963 is the one most of us remember riding right up until Paragon’s last season.

As Paragon lumbered along, relatively little changed during the next two decades except the names and locations of some of the rides. Every few years, rumors would circulate that Paragon was for sale and that the owners would retire. But then each spring, the gates would swing open to welcome another season of visitors from all over New England.

Until they didn’t.

By 1984, the Massachusetts real estate market was blossoming, and the factors that in the past had limited Paragon’s ability to expand now gave it extra value – it was sandwiched between two bodies of water and the views that came with them. A developer made the owners an offer they couldn’t refuse, and as the new year dawned in January, an announcement was made that the 1985 season would be the park’s last. Within weeks, however, the sale was rescheduled to springtime, as the owners decided that there were too many risks from souvenir-seekers, litigious loiterers, and potential vandals.

Without even knowing it, we’d had our last ride at Paragon Park.

At the June auction, the most visible prize didn’t attract the highest bid, but garnered the most attention. Wild World amusement park near Baltimore – which later became Six Flags America – paid $28,000 to buy the Giant, and promptly announced plans to dismantle the ride piece-by-piece and have it rebuilt in time for the next season.

Incredibly, Paragon’s Giant had a new lease on life.

VIEW FROM THE TOP: Times Editor Chris Haraden climbed the roller coaster as part of a photography project prior to its dismantling in 1985.

As the crews arrived to start disassembling the ride, another quirk of fate presented me with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The photographer hired to chronicle the coaster’s last days in Hull needed someone to carry his camera equipment and asked me to come along. I put aside my fear of heights and spent a day walking the track, just as my grandfather had done all those years before.

The Maryland park found the old blueprints and rebuilt the section that burned in 1963, so the coaster as it exists is slightly different from what many remember at Paragon. The park renamed the ride the Wild One and opened it on May 3, 1986. Like it did at Nantasket, the roller coaster survived changing economic conditions, world events, and changes in the park around it. Eventually, the Six Flags chain bought the park, and in May of this year, announced it was closing. No mention was made then – or since – of what will happen to the rides and attractions once the park closes for the last time on November 2.

A GOOD TURN: This section of the roller coaster, known as the ‘helix,’ was destroyed by fire at Paragon Park in 1963. It was rebuilt when the ride was moved to Maryland.

It was against this backdrop that the three of us decided to make the trip to Maryland for “one last ride.”

The Wild One has seen better days – similar to how it appeared in its final years at Paragon – and Six Flags America itself was bathed in a melancholy air. The late-season attendance was sparse and there were no lines at the rides, games, or food stands. The sight of the three of us wearing identical shirts with a picture of the roller coaster attracted some attention, both from employees and from other patrons. One of the ride operators told us they’d encountered others from this area who had made a similar nostalgic trip in recent months.

Whether caused by the occasional rain showers, lack of maintenance, or the ghosts of Paragon Park, the roller coaster had one final surprise for us. After a few rides, the three of us explored the remainder of Six Flags and then returned to the Wild One for our true “last ride,” only to find that one of the trains was stuck about three-quarters of the way up the lift hill. A park employee had to climb up and give it a push. While this happened often at Paragon without interrupting the operation of the ride, the crew at Six Flags was more cautious and closed it for the afternoon.

Once again, without even knowing it, we’d had our last ride.

SLOW RIDE: On Saturday, one of the roller coaster’s trains became stuck on the first hill. A park employee can be seen climbing up to push it over the top.

While watching this unfold, we met some members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, who said the group had heard of plans to try to save the Giant – I mean, the Wild One – but there was nothing concrete to report. The probability of it being saved from the wrecking ball a second time is remote, but not out of the question. After all, we didn’t think it was possible 40 years ago, either.

That’s the great thing about amusement parks – there’s always the chance for something wonderful to happen.

Times Editor Christopher Haraden is a member of the Hull Historical Society and is compiling a history book about Paragon Park. For more information, visit www.paragonparkbook.com.

Like what you’re reading? Stay informed and support our work with a Hull Times subscription by clicking here.

Do you have an opinion to share? Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

© 2025 The Hull Times. All rights reserved.