…but that’s just me.

Last week, we learned that Haverhill’s Bradford College was the basis for spooky Miskatanic University in H.P. Lovecraft’s stories.

However, Lovecraft was not the only writer inspired by the Shoe City: Bob Montana, the creator of Archie Comics lived in Bradford and attended Haverhill High for three years.

Guess where he got the inspiration for his characters and settings?

Two Girls, One Archie

That’s right – Bob based the characters on his classmates and the locations of his favorite Haverhill hang-outs.  From Wikipedia:

His friends Skinny Linehan and Arnold Daggett were the basis for Jughead Jones and Moose Mason respectively. School librarian Elizabeth Tuck inspired Miss Grundy and principal Earl McLeod was the model for Mr. Weatherbee….Pop Tate’s Chocklit Shoppe, a soda shop where Archie’s Gang hang out, was based on real-life locations frequented by Haverhill teenagers during the 1930s — Crown Confectionery and the Chocolate Shop on Merrimack Street and the Tuscarora on Winter Street.

Man, I wish I had friends named ‘Skinny Linehan’ in High School. (Side Note: If you happen to KNOW Skinny – then let us know. We’d love to talk to him!)

Good choice, my man (It was all a dream...)

After 69 years, the story of an ageless small town high school love triangle is still going strong.

But I guess that’s what the kids are into these days.

And in honor of Archie Comics and today being Caturday – here is a picture of my cat Archie* reading a comic book:

Ironically, he's reading 'Mice Templar'

*He is named for Archimedes, not Archie Andrews.