The North Main Street Princess…

If you surveyed the kids of the forties…the melting pot of children from so many different nationalities…the kids of North Main Street, Palmer, Massachusetts would vote Gracie Carlson as their princess. Back in those days we didn’t know about beauty pageants, but without a doubt the sweet smile…the blonde hair…the magic personality of Gracie Carlson was inescapable. Gracie loved everyone and everyone loved Gracie.
 

I have read of Gracie’s passing and her early life as a four year old radio personality. It brought back the memories of Gracie and Bobby Barrett performing on North Main Street. In my home, my mother would wake us up early to listen to our old Philco Radio because Gracie and Bobbie were on-the-air. My favorite was their rendition of “You’re A Sweet Little Headache”. I never forgot the song and later when my life afforded me the opportunity to spend thirty plus years on Texas Public Radio, I had many occasions to play that song and to tell my audience about Gracie Carlson and her girlfriend, Bobby Barrett…from North Main Street, Palmer Massachusetts.

When Gracie recalled a rare memory of Bibby Barrett’s home-made RIP, best described as the world’s largest and longest sled, she remembered the night we lost her Mom, Greta, as we roared down the great hill on Schearer Street. Bibby Barrett had placed Mrs. Carlson strategically as the rear anchor…but we lost her to a severe bump and Mrs. Carlson made the remainder of the trip on her own.

Last year when I returned home to visit with my children, the Class of Forty-Nine, Palmer High School, gathered for a luncheon. Gracie sat next to me and we reminisced about that great memory. 

What a wonderful life was that of Our North Main Street Princess, Gracie Carlson Kulpa.