“I bless it.” Does that phrase intrigue you? That’s the meaning of Nonantum, a unique village within Newton, Massachusetts. Nonantum is also known as Silver Lake or The Lake. It sits along the Charles River. This village boasts a rich history and a distinct cultural identity.
Let’s dive into Nonantum’s past. In 1637, the Massachusetts Bay Colony designated this area as a village for converted Native Americans. Missionary John Eliot worked here. Waban, believed to be the first Massachusett convert to Christianity, lived here. However, there is no clear evidence of his conversion. Interestingly, the Nonantum neighborhood was originally called the North Village. It only adopted the name Nonantum later. The Nonantum Worsted Company bought the Dalby Mills in the 1880s and became the area’s major employer.
Over time, European settlers seized the land. They forced Waban and his people to relocate to Natick. The settlers divided the land into small farms. The Indigenous people originally called this region Cohannet. The settlers renamed it Nonantum. It became the first village of “praying Indians” gathered by Eliot. That is why it was given the name “I bless it.”
In 1778, David Bemis established a paper mill on the Charles River. His son was Seth Bemis. Industrial uses began to replace farming. Nonantum became a site for producing cottons, woolens, and rope. This industrial growth attracted Irish, French Canadian, Italian, and Jewish immigrants to the village.
Imagine the winters here. Silver Lake became a popular spot for neighborhood children. They cleared the snow and played hockey on it through the 1950s. Sadly, the lake was filled with construction rubble. It was built over from the 1930s until its complete demise in 1971.
But the story doesn’t end there. Nonantum is also known for its unique language: Lake Talk. This cryptolect is mainly spoken by older Italian-American residents. The origins of Lake Talk remain unclear. Some speculate it’s a blend of Italian and World War II code. Others see similarities to Angloromani or Italian Romany slang.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, immigrants from Castelvenere, Italy, settled here. They were the first Italian immigrants in Nonantum. Many current residents claim their ancestors from San Donato Val di Comino discovered “The Lake”.
Lake Talk has its own vocabulary. A “mush” is a guy or man. A “jival” is a chick or woman. “Quister jival” means pretty woman. “Cuya moi” means shut up or go to hell. Imagine hearing someone say, “Mush is the earie.” That means, “The guy is listening.”
Joe DeNucci, a Nonantum native and former Massachusetts State Auditor, explained it well. He said that only people from Nonantum can truly understand Lake Talk. It involves improvisation, mixing it with carnival talk and bebop. Nonantum students have even spread Lake Talk to Newton North High School.
Today, Nonantum maintains its Italian-American identity. The village celebrates with annual street festivals like the St. Mary of Carmen Festival in July. Nonantum is more than just a place. It’s a community with a unique language, a rich history, and a strong cultural identity.