Springfield's 375th Anniversary

As we celebrate our city's 375th anniversary, PCJ takes a look at some of the city and state staff members that worked tirelessly to make our community a great place to live.

The state's oldest profession, the lifeguard, is featured here in this group photo, a selection from the photo gallery, "the Blunt Park Pool lifeguards of the 1980s."

Thanks for helping us to learn swimming! -- bob genest, a staff member of PCJ, is featured in the upper left.

Factory work is tough.

Do you think these barrels will move themselves?

Bob knows they won't because he's been told that.

At least 5 times in the last 20 minutes.

It'll get done.

They will be moved.

And this area here should be cleaned up and organized.

There's a lot to get done. We need a plan.

Photos by Bill Kudla.

Area man looks for sneakers

Bob contributes:

Now that I'm spending time around downtown Springfield I thought I'd go over to the Center Square Mall on Main street and try out some new kicks at the Foot Locker. Check out the new Air Jordans, maybe.

Pretty cool place, I recall. This photo from the Foot Locker at the Center Square Mall, 1986. I hope it's still there!

Here is a rare photo of a salesman in the back room. Hey, he's the official! I wonder if he still works there? We'll see!

Stops along the way

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the early morning, before a long day as a senior accountant, Jay likes to stop at the warm-up court near the fields along Marina Blvd. to do some pull-ups.

Before any exercise it's important to stretch first. Everyone knows that.

It's also important to know when to breathe.

Is this 50? Smooth. Nice shoes, by the way.

Location of the warm-up court as captured by Google Earth.

We chatted with Jay via email:

PCJ: Why do you do pull-ups?

Jay: Doing pull-ups ensures that my back is strong and I've been doing them for about 23 years. I stopped for about a year and had a coupla bad back strains from golf (upper and lower). Better to keep doing them.