MAPLEWOOD MATTERS BLOG
SEPTEMBER 1
With Founder’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to revel in all things Maplewood’s history. In case you missed it, the Maplewood Paper Mill Museum and Historical Society has expanded its permanent collection celebrating Maplewood’s origins as a refuge for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals in the region. They have also added some temporary, quirkier exhibits, such as a history of Maplewood’s wins at the state fair. There’s a charming photo of Maxine Ducas’s three-eyed Pygmy goat.
In my opinion, the most provocative addition is a display about the origin of Red’s Restaurant and Sparky’s Diner—no offense, Maxine. A photo of Red Brewer and Sparky Flynn running their original food stand outside the paper mill during its heyday in the 1940s has graced the museum’s walls since it opened. Until now, the museum has never dared to address the falling out between the two. I know I’m not the only one who wants the real answer to what sparked the feud that’s lasted to this day.
In case you’re not caught up on the lore, one-time best friends planned to open a brick-and-mortar diner in the Worcester dining railcar that now houses Red’s Restaurant. That’s what the historical records show, but somethinghappened between Red and Sparky, and they each chose to open their own diner at opposite ends of Maple Street in Maplewood’s original downtown. Town folk at the time tended to side with one or the other—loyally only patronizing one of the two diners. Over the years, generations of Maplewoodians have followed the tradition, joining “Team Red’s” or “Team Sparky’s.”
And, no, I’m not telling you what team I’m on. Quit asking.
Some rumors claim there were accusations of theft of a maple pie recipe. If true, the recipes have diverged into one diner offering maple cream and the other offering maple custard, and many debate the true original. Others claim the feud started over a beneficiary clause they couldn’t agree on in their partnership agreement, but it’s likely only Red’s and Sparky’s descendants know the truth. The blog’s email address is on this page in case any Flynns or Brewers want to fill me in. I don’t disclose my sources!
As a third generation of Brewers and Flynns keep these diners operating, the rivalry continues. No one could argue that Red’s Restaurant and Sparky’s Diner aren’t integral to the community. They’re generous to the town—sponsoring recreational sports teams and community events, igniting fierce loyalty among their patrons. Though most residents remain loyal to one or the other, only a special few openly patronize both diners.
If you want to dive deeper into the complicated history of Red’s and Sparky’s, visit the Maplewood Paper Mill Museum and Historical Society for a fun glimpse at this piece of Maplewood’s historic pie. Before you go, make sure to add your thoughts on the interactive element of the exhibit, where you can submit the reasons you’ve heard about the original falling out. Then swing by Red’s or Sparky’s—whichever team you’re on—to enjoy their Founder’s Day specials. Don’t forget to comment on this post and let us know what team you’re on!
ONE
MICKEY
Laughter and happy chatter filled the cool night air as I walked the block from Red’s Restaurant to The Striped Maple Irish pub. The earlier evening crowd of trick-or-treating families had pretty much cleared out, and now the costumed adults moved from business to business to collect freebies.
At Red’s, we’d had a steady stream of costumed families wanting our samples of Mabel’s Mint Chocolate Milkshake all evening. By the time I’d clocked out ten minutes ago, there were fewer families and more adults. A handful had even tipped the contents of their flasks into their milkshakes.
I approached the bustling pub behind a handful of people in cheerleader costumes. Live music and raucous laughter spilled out when they opened the door. I entered, tensing at the crowded space. The Striped Maple was always a popular spot in our small town, but it was even more so on Halloween.
“Nice Bob Ross costume, Mickey. Going to do some painting tonight?”
I turned toward the voice and saw Rory, one of the pub’s owners, carrying a box of beer bottles. He wore a Ghostbuster uniform, complete with a proton pack. He’d bought the pub not long ago with the other two members of his throuple, Adrianand Zach. Rory had been a few years ahead of me in school, but I’d gotten to know him through the Maplewood business community when they’d taken over The Striped Maple.
I laughed. “Unfortunately, the best I can do is a stick figure. Despite the jeans strangling my legs, it’s nice to get out of the diner uniform for a while.” I hadn’t worn so much denim since I was a kid and thought the Canadian tuxedo was the height of fashion.
Rory laughed. “Your friends are at your usual spot. Make sure you try the Smashed Scarecrow. It’s a maple-bourbon cocktail Conall whipped up.”
“Thanks for the tip. Have a good one.”
Rory nodded and hustled the beer over to the bar.
My head bobbed to the live band playing a Prince cover as I scanned the bar. Working at the diner sucked up most of my social battery, and I usually saved the rest for Dungeons and Dragons nights with my friends.
As I approached the bar, I looked for familiar faces. Instead, I saw a guy in a blond mullet wig, black-rimmed glasses, and a flannel shirt. I smiled at the Garth costume. I’d always had a soft spot forWayne’s Worldbecause it was one of the few adult movies my parents had let me watch with them as a kid. I had a fuzzy memory of watching it and sharing a bowl of popcorn with my brother. It was one of my fondest memories of us before he passed away decades ago.
I was so lost in my memories that I didn’t realize Garth had returned my smile. It lit up his whole face, and my heart skipped a beat under his full attention. I hadn’t felt those flutters deep in my belly in a long time. The ones sparked from a single look that had no rhyme or reason to exist. A current pulsed under my skin. Usually those jolts came after conversation and flirting, but this was a rare exception. There was something familiar about his warm smile, but I couldn’t place it.
Movement behind Garth caught my eye, and I spotted my friend Jason waving me over from where he stood next to his boyfriend Bellamy. I waved at them, took one more look at Garth, then headed toward my friends.
I was fortunate to have remained tight with the same group since we graduated fifteen years ago. Then again, we’d all stayed in Maplewood after high school, so odds were we’d stay great friends. Even when I’d commuted to college in a nearby town, they’d remained my core group instead of me finding new people.
Now, our group had doubled in size, with everyone having paired up this year: Jason hooking up with his brother’s hockey rival; Finn falling for the famous musician who’d come to town to help at a music festival; Alex connecting with the new firefighter in town; Sam finding their person with their students’ dad; and Andre connecting with Ethan, another high school friend and hockey player. Unfortunately, Andre and Ethan spent most of their time on the other side of the country.
Then there was me. Dumped by my last boyfriend three months ago, which was becoming an uncomfortable pattern. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled for my friends and our growing group of misfits, but it was hard not to feel lonely when smothered by all this honeymoon-phase lovey-doveyness when I couldn’t get anyone to stick around beyond a few months.
Finn, Alex, Sam, and their partners had commandeered a dart board, per usual. We changed the rules each time, but it was always fun. After greeting them, I joined Jason and Bellamy at a standing pub table.
“Love the costumes,” I said, laughing. Bellamy wore his own professional hockey jersey and held a hockey stick. Jason wore his younger brother Ryland’s jersey.
“I couldn’t let Burlington be the only one represented tonight. Gotta represent Columbus too.” Jason winked at mewhen Bellamy nudged him playfully. “Digging the Bob Ross look. I haven’t seen you with this much hair for, what, ten years?” Jason patted my synthetic brown curls.
