Why's it called that? Thomas Jolly loved his neighborhood, and there's a bridge to prove it

For decades, Thomas Jolly worked as a tester at Worcester Wire Works, the once-buzzing factory blocks away from his Heard Street house.

He spent 39 years with the company, retiring in 1975.

Jolly had much to accomplish in his free time. He had already established himself as a feisty and respected neighborhood advocate, having become the head of the Heard Street District Area Improvement Society.

He and his wife, Jeannette M. (Hopkins) Jolly had no kids of their own, but his commitment to the younger crowd was unmistakable.

Once, when explaining his motive for lobbying for the restoration of Hadwen Park, Jolly said: "Not only do I like them – they're my life. When I saw this park (Hadwen) and its view of the city below, I knew something had to be done to let the kids enjoy it."

Jolly died in 1999, but a reminder of his legacy is clear to motorists who traverse the bridge over rail lines on Heard Street.

In 1982, the Heard Street Bridge, which had been rebuilt a few years earlier, was renamed the Thomas A. Jolly Bridge. Gov. Edward J. King signed off on the name change on Nov. 30, with a formal ceremony held at the crossing on March 15, 1983. Jolly was on hand.

For years, Jolly led the push to replace the Heard Street Bridge. He argued that it was too narrow to handle traffic and the foot traffic of students from three schools - Our Lady of the Angels, Gates Lane and Heard Street.

The bridge made an unwelcome return to the news last summer when a water-main break caused a rush of water that undermined an earth embankment at the base of the bridge. Part of the surface gave way. The repairs took more than a month.

Two signs declaring the span the "Thomas A. Jolly Bridge" were returned to their spots once the repairs were completed.

There are other signs of Jolly's contributions.

In the 1950s, while working at Worcester Wire, he was among the neighborhood residents who reshaped a nearby meadow into what would become the home of the Ty Cobb Little League. In 1989, he was on hand for a ceremony marking the transfer of the former meadow from the factory to the city. The well-kept baseball complex, on South Ludlow Street, remains a gem of the neighborhood.

For years, Thomas and Jeannette organized the Winter Carnival at Hadwen Park. The multi-day event featured sliding and skiing, with the park once having a tow rope.

Besides being known as neighborhood advocates, the Jollys enjoyed a reputation as enthusiastic and accomplished square dancers.