A few weeks ago in my article “Saugus Mysteries” I told how Alden Trenholm in Of Time and the River told of the disappearance of his friend Wally Green after the two of them walked home from seeing a movie and having a cup of coffee. It appeared that Wally was never seen by anyone after that night.

Mr. Trenholm contacted me after the article appeared and asked me to let him know if anyone responded to the story about his boyhood friend who disappeared over half a century ago.

Saugus Looks Back

In the meantime, Trenholm talked to his friend Charles Thompson from Wenham about Wally Green and Thompson found a posting to a newsgroup from a year earlier. Dated January 19, 2007, the material posted by Sharyn Pumpfrey from Borger, Texas reads in part as follows:
Jan. 19, 2007

Hi Saugonians! Just received my book yesterday and spent most of the afternoon reading in it. I am so glad my high school friend called me and told me I had to get it. She motivated me and what a joy the book is, so many names and places take me home to those years spent growing up in Saugus.

Who hasn’t eaten a Kanes Donut or a sub from the old Sub Villa or played in one of the schoolyards that don’t immediately get transported back to those days when reading this book? What a treasure to give our children and grandchildren so they will know where we as humans came from. I would like to tell Alden Trenholm I can give him a little information on Wally Green. His name jumped off the page at me. I lived with his Mom and Dad in the days you spoke about. His parents took in wards of the state and children like me whose parents were unable to care for them for a period of time. My mother was quite ill for a period and the doctor made her find a place for me. Somehow they connected with the Greens and I lived there for several years. They were wonderful people to these children but apparently he was very hard on his sons. I remember them both quite well and they treated us like their little sisters. Bobby did go in the military and sometime later Wally did as well. I suspect the night you are referring to may have been the night he went and joined up. He didn’t tell his folks until he had left for boot camp and they naturally were not happy. At some point I remember he came home and his dad would not speak to him for several days. I lost track of the family for many years but in the early 80’s I saw “Auntie and Unkie” in Florida. For the life of me I don’t remember them telling me about the boys. (I) thought you might find all this info interesting. You know where the ice rink was built at the edge of Breakheart-that was where Wally’s house was, and every time I skated there I thought about the Greens.

Well I am going to finish reading my book and am sending many kudos to Mr. Burns and associates for a great book.
Sharyn Lowe Pumphey

Charlie Thompson wrote to thank Ms Pumphey in the following words:
I am Charlie Thompson of Wenham, and a friend of Alden for many years. A most extraordinary thing just happened and you have made Alden happy, and settled something that has troubled him since 1951.
He actually called me this evening about it, and quite by chance I found your posting to a newsgroup over a year ago in a search result. Your note put his heart at ease, and he is very touched.
Sincerely,
Charlie Thompson

It is nice to know that at least ONE Saugus mystery has been solved!