This Week in Danvers History: the Early '80's

We can easily find out what was making the national headlines this week in world history.

But what about the important things happening this week in Danvers history?

Here are some fun tidbits of information from back in the day, found in the archives at the . Let us know if you remember any of them, or feel free to share what your life was like back in the 80's in town.

1980:

Danvers was described as a "paradise for the car thief and the center of that Garden of Edin is located in the sprawling parking lots surrounding the and Sack Cinema Complex." Police analysis indicated car thefts in 1979 dramatically increased by 31.6 percent. Police Chief Bouras told the Herald the increase was probably due to insurance fraud cases and vehicles being stolen to resell parts.

In the midst of the country's energy shortage, 700 Danvers kids received a 288-page little yellow paperback guide to practical energy saving. The result expected, the Paper said, was for children to pass the book along to their parents, who would then hopefully end up with savings on their heating bills.

1981:

State Representative Ted Speiliotis confirmed he would be meeting with state Department of Public Works officials to make safety improvements to Route 114 (referred to in the article for being known locally as a "death trap.") The proposal would reduce the highway to two single lanes with a third lane in the middle reserved for turning only.

The Varsity Hockey Falcons traveled to the Boston Garden to take on the Peabody Tanners. Danvers coach John Gilliss said "it's the dream of every schoolboy hockey player in this state to play at the Boston Garden."