SAUGUS — Author Janice K. Jarosz considers her new book, The Golden Leaf Love Affair, to be both a nod of respect and an apology to one of Saugus’ most influential citizens.
As her fourth historical work, Jarosz’s 200-page book — which was released late last month — explores the history of the town’s wealthy Cliftondale neighborhood and its infamous former resident, Charles Henry Bond.
Although now an expert on the subject, Jarosz first became acquainted with the Bond family in a somewhat unusual way.
“When I worked as a clerk at the town hall years ago, before the renovation, Mr. Bond’s portrait was hanging in the building, and I was told that he was (well-known industrialist) Andrew Carnegie. When people would come by and want tours, I would introduce him as Andrew Carnegie,” said the lifelong Saugonian, who has previously served as both a Town Meeting member and Selectwoman. “One day, a gentleman came in and told me that it was not Andrew Carnegie, but the gentleman’s grandfather, Charles Henry Bond.”
Jarosz was immediately intrigued.
“That was my first meeting with Mr. Bond,” she laughed. “He was looking right at me every day with that look, like, ‘you are an idiot, Janice. I am not Andrew Carnegie.’”
The moment launched what would ultimately become a decade-long hunt for answers when Bond’s grandson, Charles Dailey Bond, later called Jarosz to ask for help in resolving a family controversy.
“The town was supposed to name (Cliftondale) school after him, and they didn’t, so Mr. D. Bond called me and asked if I could find out why they didn’t name the school after his grandfather. That’s how it started,” Jarosz said. “I had to redeem myself. Somebody told me something and I believed it, and I’ve been paying the price ever since. This book is my apology to Mr. Bond.”
She soon became acquainted with D. Bond, and the two worked together for several years to compile a comprehensive history of Saugus, Cliftondale, the Bond family, Waitt and Bond cigar company, and Cliftondale school, which is now known as the Marleah Elizabeth Graves (MEG) building.
The book, which took an estimated 13 years to finish, became Jarosz’s longest-running project.
“We connected right away, and he kept sending me all this great stuff,” Jarosz said of the younger Bond, whom she affectionately nicknamed Charlie D in an effort to differentiate him from 20 ancestors who share the name. “I got such a wonderful education through him.”
Despite her already extensive knowledge of local history, Jarosz said her journey into the family’s rich past unveiled numerous details about Saugus that even she didn’t know.
“I didn’t know how generous the Bond family was,” she said. “(Charles Henry Bond) allowed his mansion to be the first library in Saugus, he donated to the theater and encouraged people to come to Saugus to act in plays, he donated property to the church and where Cliftondale school now is.
“He did everything in this town.”
As a ‘thank you’ for all his help, Jarosz decided to dedicate the book to Charles D. Bond — who died on Nov. 7, 2017 — describing him as a “great friend, a fellow Saugonian, and a true patriot.”
“It was such a relief,” she said of seeing her book finally in print after 13 years of research. “It just kind of consumed me. I loved every moment of it, but it was also very demanding.
“It was a wonderful learning process. I learned so much about history and about the people of Saugus.”
