Tripple decker
Here is the house I lived in until the age of 8. This is a typical 3 decker found in the french hill neighborhood of Leominster. This particular one had 4 apartments, 2 small ones on the first floor and 1 each on the second and third floors. I often miss those days growing up on french hill. French hill ranged from first street to twelfth street and had Water, Spruce and Mechanic streets running the length of them as seen in the google map below. This whole area was our playground and we were outside from sunrise to sunset. I can't imagine how my parents handled it, knowing that we were safe but not knowing exactly where in the neighborhood we were. I can't imagine allowing my children that much free range in this day and age.
Monochrome Monday #2
Here is the view you see while driving out of the French Hill neighborhood out of Leominster. This area looks much as it did back in the 1950's.
Like black and white photography? If so visit other maniacs that participate in Monochrome Mondays at this site Monochrome Maniacs.
St Cecilia’s Door
Pictured here are the side doors to St. Cecilia's Church. Growing up I was an alter boy at this church. The church was built in 1931 and was meant to be used as a cathedral. For reasons unknown to me this did not happen though. The doors you see here are not the original doors. The original doors were made out of wood. I could not find a refference as to when these doors were put in. If I remember correctly they were installed in the mid 1970's.
St. Cecilia
Here is the steeple of Saint Cecilia's church. Not the best quality night picture, but not bad considering it was done hand held.
In late 1899 a delegation went to Springfield to request from the bishop a parish for the french speaking people of french hill. This request was granted in January of 1900 and St. Cecilia was born. The current church was built during the great depression in 1931. This provided work for the neighborhood of french hill in a bleak time.
Bourbeaus Market
I grew up in a section of Leominster called french hill. Running east to west french hill has 3 major streets called Water St., Spruce St. and Mechanic St. running north to south it has numbered streets starting with First St. all the way to twelfth St. I lived on Water St for a period of time then on the corner of Fifth and Spruce streets. The whole french hill area was our playground at the time. That is unheard of this day and age. It is no longer safe for parents to allow their children this much free range.
This picture is of Bourneau's Market. This market can be found between Third and Fourth Street on Water Street. When driving by one morning I was surprised at the metal grates that we rolled down over the glass. Definately not the french hill I grew up on anymore.