Curious Traveler | C.J. Fitzwater Feb 15, 2024
I approached the back door of a tidy old-style colonial with an oversized lot located in Newburyport’s south end. At the right of this home is a remodeled historic center chimney home, dating back to the 18th century, adorned with a distinctive white paint and a black band encircling its summit. Local lore suggested that this painted chimney marked the house as a stop on the Underground Railroad, while other accounts implied it signified the homeowner’s allegiance to the British crown during the American Revolution. This house is nestled between Joppa Park and Simmons Beach, with the expansive Merrimack River visible from the front, broadening at this precise location. Across the river to the left lay Rings Island, and to the right, the gleam of an orange triangle atop a Sphinx-like river marker, colloquially known as Ben Butler’s toothpick, caught my eye.
I’m here to meet with Frank Cousins, the colonial-style home’s third-generation occupant, a former state representative and the first black sheriff in New England. His family lineage had deep roots in this dwelling. Upon my knock, Frank’s voice beckoned me inside. The interior was as orderly as the exterior promised. Frank, concluding a phone conversation, proceeded to prepare breakfast, offering a choice between French toast and an omelet. Opting for the omelet, our conversation turned to the reason for my visit. I had learned through my good friend Lance Wisniewski, about an incident involving Frank’s father and its effect on a girl from Rings Island during the 1940s. This girl, Gertrude “Trudy” Woodard, voted most individual as a graduating senior in the 3-year-old almost brand new Newburyport High School in 1941. Trudy was an actress, singer, poet, and one of five children born to a fisherman and boat builder. She resided just northeast across the Merrimack from the Cousins’ home on Rings Island in Salisbury.
“Frankie” Cousins, the youngest of eight siblings raised by a single mother after his fathers death in a car accident when he was just 7 years old. He was a speedy track athlete with aspirations for a “good job” post-graduation. Having met all graduation requirements, he looked forward to his high school commencement. Traditionally, students are arranged alphabetically by last name. Yet, Frankie’s experience in 1941 at Newburyport High School deviated from this tradition due to the color of his skin. Principal Rupert Nock decided that Frankie, being African-American, would not line up with his classmates, an act of segregation influenced by a neighbor of his Judge James F. Carens, whose daughter was scheduled to walk with Frankie.
Despite the overt discrimination, Frankie walked the graduation stage alone, embodying dignity and grace. This moment of prejudice did not embitter him but rather fortified his resolve to champion diversity and equality. This commitment became a cornerstone of his life, a legacy he, alongside his wife Ruby, imparted to their children. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a “beloved community,” the Cousins family upheld principles of peace and justice, embedding these ideals deeply within their ethos.
The 1941 incident not only shaped Frank and his family but also left an indelible mark on others, including Trudy Woodard. Moved by the unfairness of Frank’s solo walk. Trudy, who later married Issac Taylor the eventual Dean of The University of North Carolina Medical School became influential at establishing the university’s first affirmative action admissions policy, a ripple effect of Frank’s experience.
The Class of ‘41 epitomized the resilience of the “Greatest Generation” enduring the hardships of the Great Depression and witnessing the tumultuous events leading up to World War II, including the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Comprising the finest individuals from Newburyport and Salisbury, this graduating cohort boasted remarkable individuals such as Buddy Knox, a distinguished World War II veteran and esteemed educator in Newburyport; Ruth Porter, Brud Ryan, a valiant World War II pilot; Nick Vovos, the revered principal of Salisbury Memorial School; and Trudy, the mother of popular musicians James and Liv Taylor. These esteemed alumni shared a lifelong bond with Frank Cousins, all graduates of Newburyport High School’s class of ‘41.
Over the years, letters poured in to Frank Jr. from his father’s classmates, expressing their sentiments about the pivotal event that marked their generation. Yet, Frank Sr. remained steadfast and unperturbed by the memories. His love for Newburyport ran deep, and he took immense pride in his city, a sentiment reciprocated by its residents. Frank Jr. continued his father’s legacy, breaking barriers in the North Shore of Massachusetts, further cementing the Cousins family’s esteemed reputation in the community.
Frank Cousins’ journey from a high school graduate facing discrimination to a decorated Merchant Marine and advocate for civil rights underscores a narrative of resilience, kindness, and the enduring impact of standing firmly for one’s beliefs. His actions, from advocating for the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Navy Shipyard to influencing future generations, highlight a legacy of enduring strength and the capacity for kindness to ignite change in the face of adversity.
James Taylor recorded a song written by Carole King called “You’ve Got a Friend.” The bridge goes like this: “Now, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend when people can be so cold? They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you and take your soul if you let them. Oh, but don’t you let them.”
The Class of ‘41 were friends for life, Frankie may have walked alone, but he knew that he had friends.
(With help from Lance Wisniewski, Frank Cousins Jr., Salisbury Public Library, Newburyport Public Library, Nina Fitzwater, Monique Greilich, Kristen Packe, and Charlie Cullen.)
Salisbury resident C.J. Fitzwater is a curious traveler, perpetually on the lookout for fresh frontiers. With each journey, he blends historical threads into his stories. Email him at: cfitzwater@ymail.com.
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