“For five decades, people crossing the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge have noticed markings that indicated its length in ‘Smoots.’ Some may have assumed that the engineers at MIT, which sits on the Cambridge side of the span, had invented a sophisticated unit of measurement. Those who inquired further were told a quirky story that has become part of Boston lore. The Smoot was invented at MIT, yes, but not in any lab. It was the brainchild of a group of fraternity brothers on a cold night in 1958 who, in a fit of whimsy, used Oliver ‘Ollie’ Smoot Jr. as their unit of measurement when they marked the bridge. ‘It was 10 at night, and the wind was blowing, and so it was cold,’ said Smoot, who appeared at a ceremony at MIT yesterday in his honor.” [editor’ snote: Those who have never seen this should take a walk across that bridge; it’s frankly hilarious, and reading here that they actually DID physically roll him across the whole bridge … just makes it hysterical - SAT] (10/05/08)