A Perfect Snow Day: Sledding down The Pit
It’s a Southie kid’s snow day ritual – grabbing a sled and hitting the hill next to the Murphy Rink aka The Pit. You would sled for hours then head home – your cheeks rosy red – and warm up with a cup of hot cocoa.
Whether you went “coasting” on a Flexible Flyer without parental supervision or on a plastic toboggan with your parents watching closely, some of the best childhood winter memories have been generated on this hill.
This tradition has been around as long as The Pit has been around and we hope that it never goes away!
South Boston artist Dan McCole captures the magic of The Pit in his painting, “Sledding at Aquarium Hill.”(Did you know South Boston had an aquarium?)
Great gift idea! Dan’s loft is opened by appointment. Please message via Facebook or call 781-901-2250. Special on 16 x 20 watercolor prints on canvas. Ready to hang $95. You can check his available artwork via artdanmccole.fineartstudioonline.com.
Thank you to Nicole Downs for sharing photo!
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
What a cool painting! It sounds like kids have had tons of fun sledding down that hill.
Although I was never a Southie resident, I still remember my childhood days of sledding down our street in Lincoln, MA, on weekends and on holiday vacations. We’d all start in the morning, and not come home until the sun started setting. It was sos much fun.
Never heard it called the Pit until this year. Born and raised in City Point. We called if Farragut Park.
We called it the Pit when I was kid. I grew up in City Point. I’m 56.
wondering whether any of us old timers, original folks, has a pic of the scenery to the right…the old Aquarium where we’d go inside to warm up?!
Google south boston aquarium and u will see pictures
I’m in my 70’s and like I said never heard of that til this year. Seems like that name came out many years later.
I never heard it called The Pit either. I grew up on East Broadway between P and Farragut in the 60s. We just called it going coasting. ❄️