And that has made all the difference.
by imageguy
Yogi Berra, in all his wit and wisdom, once said, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” More than likely a reference to Robert Frost’s sentiment in The Road Not Taken. And Thoreau once wrote, “When you think your walk is profitless and a failure, and you can hardly persuade yourself not to return, it is on the point of being a success, for then you are in that subdued and knocking mood to which Nature never fails to open.”
It doesn’t matter whether my walk is a nature walk or a city walk or a drive through the rural countryside, if I can simply go about my explorations with sufficient openness I will usually be rewarded with images I like and didn’t expect. When I take a road trip by myself I usually try to allow some extra time so that I might take myself off the beaten path and travel the back roads for a while. I’ll take a random exit off the interstate to drive the two-lanes for a while in search of photos and experiences that are easily missed when driving the expressways. These excursions have produced important images for me. I particularly remember stopping on the roadside in the Catskills one day on my way back from New York City to photograph a group of fall trees by a small pond. The image later was translated into a stained glass installation for a client in Binghamton.
My Sunday morning photo excursions have often proven to be the most profitable for surprises. I took a trip one day in the mid 70’s to Lawrence, Massachusetts.
I had never been to Lawrence before. Nor did I plan to go there. It was simply a Sunday morning wandering and that fork in the road ended up there. It was also one of those Zen types of photo shoots where everything happens in a single role of film. Almost every image I shot that day was a “keeper”. I love those days.
Lawrence is on the northern outskirts of Boston on the Merrimack River. It was once a thriving mill center for textiles and was the site of the Bread and Roses strike of 1912 when numerous arrests and many deaths of striking mill workers, including many women and children, eventually led to higher wages for all New England mill workers.
The town saw a decline in the 1950s with the closing of many of the mills. When I was there the population seemed to be mostly Italian but today it is heavily Hispanic and the site of redevelopment along the riverfront since about 2000.
The day I walked the streets of Lawrence the town was quiet and the streets were empty as they often are on a Sunday morning. I could occasionally hear music from open windows and smell breakfast cooking in the triplex apartments and houses along the city streets. I could imagine the families rising slowly, prodding the children out of bed to prepare for Mass. The storefronts were closed and many were vacant in the slack economy. The buildings and storefronts had the look of a city that had changed little since the 50’s.
I love the feel of the aging mill town, the ethnicity and culture apparent in the stores and the neighborhoods. The backbone of blue collar America. The descendant families of migrants from Europe and the more recent influx from Latin America and the Caribbean. Lawrence had a very similar feel to that I experienced in Willimantic, CT more recently.
It’s important to take that fork in the road. To divert ourselves from the normal everyday path to keep from getting complacent and bored. Walk a different path to work, take the next left. When in search of visual rewards the familiar often hides new visions. Can’t see the forest for the trees so to speak. It becomes necessary to shake up our everyday experience and feed it with new pictures, new roads to someplace we’ve never been before. Whether across the ocean or simply across town doesn’t matter. There’s always somewhere we’ve never been and pictures to be taken.
All images are copyright © George Cannon / All rights reserved.
Thanks for sharing these shots. These are great images that tell a story. I enjoyed the tour of Lawrence. It is so true about forks in the road. I enjoy getting in the car and driving to some place I have not been before or at least for quite a while and it seems that I am usually rewarded for doing so.
Great images of Lawrence! I enjoyed looking at the pictures of Lawrence in the 70’s. Some of the pictures I know exactly where you took them! I grew up in Lawrence and still live there.
-Thank You
Loved the photos of Lawrence! I’m on the lookout for the Keleher Family homes at 121-125 Elm St. I wonder if this photographer, or anyone that may have photos of these buildings on Elm St before they were demolished in the Urban Renewal of the ’70’s will contact me at icksanford@yahoo.com
Contact the Lawrence History Center on Essex Street. They do have a collection of Urban Renewal photos.
What year did you take these picture? I would love a copy of that Beas Sanwich shop picture. I’ve written a couple of books about growing up in Lawrence. And Beas was big in my day. That is the Beas shop that we all went to as kids back in the 50’s and 60’s.
Great pictures! Thanks. I’m making a revised edition of my book “A Summer with Charlie.” It’s on amazon right now but I’m going to update it and put in some pictures.
I just received these from a friend. Remember the Veal Cultlet sandwhich at Beas. I have not had one and cannot find one since 58. I went to Cross Street school and Henry K. Oliver 1955. I am now going to amazon to get your book. I hope you are still alive!
Best regards
Grew up in Lawrence in the 40’s, 50’s and loved the city….
Thanks for the photos and the trip down memory lane.
So did I. Cross Street School and Henry K. Oliver 1955. I left in 62 to go to California.
Bill, I graduated from the Oliver School in 1955!!! Sorry, I do not remember you! I still have very fond memories of those days…..
I so much enjoyed the trip back in time,there were some good times and there were some tuff times for me my family and freinds,we made our own fun without getting into to much trouple.Going to the pool by the river every other day.Going to the movies on Broadway for a dime and seeing the ragman walking down Essex St. with his horse and buckboard yelling “Bring out your Rags”,seeing the giant Planters MR.Peanut Man who I was so afraid of.Memories that made me who I am today. I thank you.(Beacon Projecst 1954)
I can relate Joe…Maginnis Ave 1953 🙂
Wonderful shots~ I enjoyed looking at them.
Many places are fond reminders of how simple life was back then.
Prospect Hill (1965-1980)
It is a sad reminder of how wealthy mill owners oppressed and exploited the many diverse peoples that it shackled to these eight square miles of hell.
There are two ways to view a phote, bro..
I really enjoyed your pictures of Lawrence Ma. I remember the sauce sandwiches for 10 cents at bea’s in the 80’s and when they would flood the playstead park in the winter for skating. Thanks for the pictures.
That’s funny, I got Beas suace sandwich back in the late sixties for a dime. Me and my friends call them the bum sandwich but, my fav was the cutlet. Lived on Oak street and hung out on Tremont and Broadway. Went in the Army in 1970.
Fidel.Pichardo – i been born in Lawrence and raised too itsnot as rough as people say it is am going off to college soon its gonna suck to leaave thanks for the pictures(1992-….)
Love the pics, I was born and raised here,and still live here.I can place almost every single pics. location. Thanks for the great memories of a once beautiful city.I was born on Chelmsford st. and lived most of my life on bunkerhill St near the playstead.
I remember everyone of the pictures when I once lived in the city of Lawrence and the memories of each scene just about brought tears to my eyes. I still love this city in spite of the recent changes.
Born in Methuen, MA in 1935. Thanks for the nostalga trip. From the best Veal Cutlet sandwich ever, BEA’S, to the corner store, where I bought many items I shoud not have been able to buy, I recognized them all.
Phil Bamford
My Dad worked at Broadway Bonded Cleaners. I went there a lot 🙂
My dad worked at Bea’s Sandwich shop and I remember so well the Veal cutlets with extra sause and the fried mushrooms were one of my favorites. I love it when we visited him for lunch or he’d bring home some yummies. Thanks Dad. I also went to Dancing School for 11 years at Alice Franz Dance Studio across from the mill, what fond fond memories, Oh and I was born in Lawrence, but a true NH New Englander and always will be.
i worked my way through college there, but for only an 8 month period, full & part time. Those were not veal cutlets, but only pork cutlets. That’s why the menu said cutlet sandwiches, & not veal cutlets.
This was a wonderful trip down “Memory Lane!” Was born and raised in Lawrence. Was able to pinpoint nearly all your photos in terms of location. In fact, a couple of the pictures were of my old neighborhood at Cross Street and Broadway. Grew up going in and out of places like the Broadway Bonded Cleaners (the family that operated it were friends of my parents) and Bea’s Sandwich Shop. Like Janet, I also attended the Alice Franz Dance School while I was a grammar school kid (hated every minute of it, until I was older and looked back and realized that I might have been another Fred Astaire if I’d stuck with it). My parents signed me up to help straighten out my slightly “crooked” ankles! Lawrence was a poor town, but none of us knew we were poor. It was a great place to grow up and learn what it means to work hard and make a success of one self. It was HOME! Like many others, I’m very proud of that heritage.
I grew up in Lawrence in the 40’s and 50’s. Back them my grandmother worked at the mills on Union St. Don;t recognize too many of the pictures because I grew up at Prospect Hill. Remember the theaters on Broadway, the stores on Essex St and the Italian section on Common and Union Sts. Dances at Central Catholic. Have some fond memories of Lawrence. Football season when we would walk from Prospect Hill to the stadium and back home. I wouldn’t trade those days for today.
Bongi’s Market is the window display of the Italian horns. They seemed to only sell during the Feast on Labor Day. One thing I noticed in all of the pictures is the cleanliness of the streets and sidewalks. Even the barrels of trash were neat and clean. Sad to say that’s not the case today. We are proud Lawrencians forever no matter were the winds take us. Thanks for the grewat trip through memory lane.
In order to avoid disappointment…do not return to what is left of the city as you remember it…….unless you are bilingual……..we’re broke and are trying for the 2nd time to recall our “alcalde”,who is under investigation by multiple federal and state entities…our police dept. has been decimated by our esteemed mayor……..crime is rampant…..the streets are unsafe..and the most thriving part of our economy is the 20 or more “nightclubs” that have blossomed under the aegis of the “alcalde”……
Thanks anyway for the “memories”
Thanks for the great pictures and memories. Although I grew up in Methuen, my brothers grew up in Lawrence. My father owned a music store/school on Newbury St. I’ll bet half of Lawrence took lessons on some instrument at one time. It breaks my heart to see the store all closed in now
and being used as an apartment. The building was erected in 1910 and my father’s initials are still at the top.
Wonderful pictures. Grew up in Lawrence. I remember the music store Dot and Uncle Phils shoe repair next door. My dad owned Daniels Shoe store downtown. I remember you Dot as we were related in some way.
What a great city is was…..sadly not the same today. I love all the familiar pictures and especially remember the delicious “veal on a heal” from Bea’s sandwich shop. I lived on Sunset Ave. off Lawrence St. and my mother and I would walk thru the Common to Essex St. on Tues. and Fri. nights when all the stores were open. We would have something to eat at Morin’s. Then we would take the bus home. I still drive over to Lawrence to Tripoli Bakery….it has the best pizza, italian bread and pastries. I now live in No. Andover and believe me it is like going into another world when you cross over the bridge into the city….what a shame. I have wonderful memories of growing up in that beautiful city!!
Great photos of the ” Old Lawrence”.. I remember shopping Tuesday nites and the Santa parade. Yes, those were great memories. Thanks for sharing
My father was a cousin and Godson of Dr. John Hilton of 336 Haverhill Street. Though looking well worn and overgrown in the photo, it was a magnificent house in its day. It was the vantage point from which to watch the many parades and May processions that the city hosted. I visited the home often when I was young, and the photo evoked many happy memories of the wonderful people who lived there. The house was sold in the late 70s, and unfortunately became a victim of one of the arson fires so prevalent in Lawrence in the early 80s.
What a tragedy to lose such a beautiful piece of history.
Thank you for sharing.
What wonderful pictures. Weiners on Essex Street, South Broadway and so many more! Both my brother and I took guitar lessons at Consentinos on Newbury Street where I bought my 6 and 12 string guitars.
There is such a rich history in the city of Lawrence.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the great trip down memory lane. I too took guitar lessons at Consentino.s on Newbury St in the late sixties. My father grew up on Chestnut St and mom grew up on Broadway near Cross St. Dad had a printing business on Jackson St. Such fond memories, my brother and I went to Holy Rosary and spent much time in this great city that my parents grew up in and worked. We lived in Pleasant Valley but spent our growing up years in and around this great city. I feel a bit of sadness every time I come into the city. What once was so beautiful is now in such disrepair. The mill renovations are wonderful, maybe there is still hope for revitalizing the rest of the city. Thanks again for the memories…
I to grew up in Lawrence;on 179 Elm street. Memories too numerous to mention, enjoyed every moment of it’ I have often thought of taking a stroll down memory lane;miss all my classmates,left to pursue medicine,then to Lynn. Who knows, maybe I will make it again there to “remember”— Thanks for the memories—Tommy
I, too, was born and raised in Lawrence. I lived at 215 Elm St. These pics are wonderful. A great stroll down memory lane. I still have a soft spot in my heart for dear old Lawrence, tho I am in Florida now.
Thanks for the memories.
Patty
I lived at 313 Oak St. Back in the sixties until they tore the old tenements down. Right over Goerges Meat Market.
Thanks for the beautiful walk through Lawrence (memory lane). It was the greatest place to grow up. My father owned Calderone’s Pharmacy at the corner of Newbury and Elm St. To go way back, my parents’ first apartment when they got married was on top of Consentino’s music store! Enjoyed all the Feasts and the Christmas shopping on Essex Street with the Salvation Army bells ringing in front of Grants !!! It was a beautiful close family knit city.As for Beas, the sauce sandwiches were the best especially after the Central Catholic Dances !!!! Will hold these memories deep in our hearts!!!!
I remember your father like it was yesterday I was in his drug store! He was such a sweet man. I remember him telling me he lived over my father’s music store when he first got married. I was in his drugstore a lot. He bought it from McGowan’s.
Wow!!Pictures & comments brought tears to my eyes.Grew up on the north end of Park st.,quite close to the Turn Hall where my buddies & I played handball,basketball & football on its lower field.My house faced Hall st.,& directly across the st. from “Mrs.Foster’s variety store.Didn’t leave the neighborood much in my early years.My Buds & I had plenty to do right there,including-“stick ball”- facing the “3 deckers” on Hall st.,using a broom handle & “tassles” from my Mother’s bedspread for baseball.Summer days would find us walking to the Kennedy & Geiser(?) pools on “boy’s day”.
Walked around the “long”block to attend grammar school @ Holy Trinity.High School @ Central,class of ’60,where I played Football,Basketball & captained the Baseball team.My “Buds”all matriculated @ public schools-Hood School & Lawrence High.Their classmates found it “rather peculiar” when they would cheer for me during Central-Lawrence contests.
My career was spent in education.No.Andover H.S.Initially as Biology teacher & then as Ass’t Principal.Wonderfully glorious years.
“Wow” am I ranting.All of this brought on by your marvelous pictures.
Thank you so very much.
Dick “Gino” Rozzi
I grew up on Cross St. so most of those photos are of my old neighborhood. What a joy to see them!
Some good memories (& some bad) of Lawrence – As a teenager, I worked for high school tuition at Central Catholic delivering groceries for SCUDERIE’S market on common St. in a day when your groceries were actually deliveed to your door front (for free) by stappling young lads (as myself) sometimes carrying up 4 flights of staires.
Those were the days…When you could walk the streets and fell safe Those of us how grew up in Lawrence were and still are a special group..our hearts will always carry great memories.of lawrence.I also thank you for the great pictures..
Born in Lawrence, lived in back of the “City Barn”, moved to White St. and then to Bunkerhill St. Remember when they flooded the playground in the winter and we would skate till dark. Had many veal cutlet sandwiches at Beas on Broadway. Brings back some very fond memories. Was a great city filled with many good people. Thanks for the memories!
Great B&W photos. I am both a Photographer and I grew up in So Lawrence on Inman St. So I remember the tennis courts, the Ledge, Den Rock, Jim’s Subs(original location near St Pat’s), The Falls and canals, Lawton’s and going to Central Catholic HS, The Rec Bowling Alley, Fino’s Pool Hall, Tripoli’s Pizza on Common St and at Salsberry Beach, swimming at Steven’s Pond in No Andover then Aunt Marion always took us to the Dairy Queen, The Ayer Mill Clock Tower, Cedar Crest on Broadway, May Processions at Sacred Heart Church. Pingree’s Lumber and the Boston and Maine RR behind Nassar Ford, Weiner’s Fur on Essex St – my 1st job, The Palace Theater, The Feast of the Saints with crespelli’s and rice cakes, passing the paper for the Eagle Tribune on Crosby and Salem St’s near the Fire House and Table Talk Pie store, Ralph( the big funny black man) who used to raise and lower the tracks on Andover St close to Broadway – God Bless You Ralph and RIP – you always made us laugh at your many many jokes,
dynamite caps, Couton and Tokcaire Pie, Black Moons, Pork Pies, Pickle-Lilly, playing in “The Mills”, Sledding on Brookfield St Hill till there was no more sunlight and the streetlights coming on was the signal to come home for dinner…excuse me…come home for Supper.
Loved the photos and the re-generating of old memories of the place I love and the town I grew up in.
Al Newcomb – Rockaway Beach, Oregon email: bigalfishman@yahoo.com
I really enjoyed the photos and reading everyone’s thoughts about their lives in Lawrence. I was born there but lived in Salem, NH. My grandparents lived in Methuen but my grandmother, Grace Furnari had a dry goods store on Essex St next to Horace Privittera’s Photography Studio. The Racket Store was close by as well. It was the 60’s when Grace had her store in Lawrence. I rememeber visiting her when I was around 4 years old with my mother Nellie. I’d spent a lot of time around Lawrence when I was younger. It is sad to see how different it is today. My mind always goes back there because my family history is drenched in Lawrence from the turn of the 20th century. Funny thing is that on the ship manifests for both sides of my Italian familes, Spina & Furnari, everyone has their destination as 44 Common St! I had to wonder who actually lived there back then who was taking in all of these family members. A bit of a mystery because so many folks used that address. They all seemed to belong to The Society of Santa Maria di Licodia as well. Does anyone know about this society or have info on it? I’d love to learn more about it. I’d found out about it through one of my family members obituaries.
Thanks for all the memories everyone!!!
Julie Pagliarulo
I loved the pictures. Brought back so many memorieos. Went to the Wahington St school, Bruce School and Lawrence High school graduated in 1952. Beas was the best. Veal Parmigan. Went to one movie at the star theatre. Dad would not let me go again very protective. Remember the Palace, Broadway and Modern Theatres. My name Was Kathleen J. Azevedo now last name is Hibbard. Great memories of the Portuguese Club on Saratoga St. across from the Playstead. Great City to grow up in then. Always dressed up to shopping downtown with Mom.
It’s great that you remember her store. It makes me feel like her memory is still alive. That’s interesting about the people who wore the red sashes at funerals. I wonder what that was about? Were they at the funerals of Italians possibly? I love sharing bits of info like this. It’s like putting the pieces of a puzzle together.
That’s interesting about the wedding gown store and that you got to design your own gown. Wow! My grandmother traveled a lot to buy here supplies for her store. Brave soul!!
Thanks for responding to my post. It’s nice to go back in time together isn’t it? God bless!
Julie
Hi! Claire LaPlante Cooper MacInnis
I was brought up on Tower Hill and attended St. Joseph Grammar school on Haverhill St.Graduated from Lawrence High in 1953. Walking down to Broadway to go to the movies and stopping in at Bea’s for a sandwich are some of my best memories of Lawrence. Yes, back then it was safe to walk anywhere. Also,sledding down the double banking at the water reservoir, it was a short walk from where I lived on Crescent St. My sister Janet and I would walk down to May Street to fill gallon bottles of water from the everflowing spring water fountain. Spent many fun days bowling at the Lawrence Rec Center, where my brothers Junior and Bob were pin setters. Loved all the pictures, brought back many memories. Attended St. Anne’s church,and was maried there,sorry to see it is now closed.
Still live in Lawrence after 72 years, never left. We hope to move to NH soon, but if I could have the old Lawrence, I would probably stay. I guess you could say I’m only remembering the good times and forgot the bad times. I wish there were photos of Central Catholic’s hall as I remember the dances, most of all.
Ben
If you join Facebook, there is a Lawrence group there. Lots of old pictures and news about Lawrence. It truly is a walk down memory lane. Patty
Like it was yesterday! Thanks
Are there any pictures of the old St. Mary’s school and the beautiful auditorium that was inside the grammar school?
MORE, MORE!!!
Thanks for the memories of a Lawrence we were proud of. I grew up in S Law. attended the Packard School and Graduated from LHS. Essex St was the place to be on Tues. Fri. And Sat. Beas was the stop after Central dances. Remember the DenRock Drive-in/ The yankes Doodle Resteraunt? Unfortunately the city is a disgrace and we have only our memories to keep us going
Thank you everyone for all your memories. I often reminisce of growing up in Lawrence. Gosh I sure miss those days. Went to the Leahy/Oliver schools and graduated from LHS in 1958. We had a great football team!! Also CCHS basketball team of 1957. I lived at 144 Jackson St untiI was 10, then 20 Park St, then on Thorndike St. So many good times, like stopping into the K & H bakery on Chestnut St on the way to girl scouts. Stramando’s, Tripoli’s, Fisichelli’s bakeries.
Ritzy’s Diner, Morin’s, all the movie theaters we had. Wow!! All the stores on Essex Street. Sledding on closed side streets. Taking our bikes all the way up prospect hill to the Geisler pool. Grandfather burning leaves.
Most of all, the Friday night dances at Central Catholic. They were the best. Being able to walk thru alleys w/o a care. People would sit on their porches and would know everyone who walked by and everyone was a friend. Brought my kids to the Alice Franz dance school also. Remember skating on Hillsy’s (sp?) pond on Milk St., Methuen. Meeting friends at the Cove (Forest Lake) for a swim. I remember jumping into that lake from a high tower. I did a lot of crazy stuff when I was kid. Thanks again for the memories. Have also seen the Lawrence group on Facebook.
I honestly appreciate all the comments and that you have enjoyed these photos. I would ask you to please limit your comments to those pertaining to the photos, please. If you wish to have a conversation with old friends, please use social media sites or email with each other rather than my bolg.
Thanks you for being considerate.
OK. Sorry about that. Everyone appreciates your wonderful pictures.
OK. You can find lots of Lawrence memories on Facebook. Yes I do remember you but Image guy wants us to limit comments to his pictures.
Everyone does appreciate his pictures and the nostalgia that comes with it. Thank you.
Dear Imageguy,
I’d like to connect our 2 blogs (queencityma.wordpress.com). At some point I would love to see your photos in our collections.
Lawrence Public Library
[…] background.* Which is why the post ‘And That Has Made All the Difference,’ at the blog Image Guy, really struck a chord in me. As Image Guy […]
Loved the pics and the posts. I was Born in Lawrence, but moved to Andover, and later went to CCHS. What great memories. I remember feeding the pidgeons at the Campagnone common, Swimming at the Allicon pool, playing ball at the hayden schofield park, my dad’s garage on Common St, right next to the old police station, Sutherlands, Cherry and Webb, Russems, Ford’s tavern, Dolce’s restaurant, and many other great memories
there’s no place like home…
So many memories those pictures bring back! Love the photos Imageguy! Thanks very much for sharing them with those of us who wax poetic.
Grandfather had a package store on Park Street would walk to the Star Theater on Sat. Friday nite dance a Central Catholic then of to Beas, Great to have grown up in the 50s.
Yes, absolutely the best time in a great city……at that time.
great pix imageguy…thx fo the memz 🙂
we all remember Beas but they never served veal cutlets it was pork cutlets
but they were still great
Loved the photographs. I only wish there were captions like what street and what was the name of that church. I grew up in S. Lawrence and pretty sure the first pic. was the swimming pool in the common?
I believe it was the fountain in the Lawrence Common. My son used to use it as a wading pool. The only church in S. Lawrence I can think of is St. Patrick’s. I went to the Holy Rosary.
my family, the Caruso’s lived at 240 chestnut st in the plains . i remember the frozen lemonade sold on white st. and also on white st. the best pizza and spinach pies sold in Lawrence were at Doc’s pizza. also the public swimming pool next to the d.p.w along the spicket river. its so sad to see what happened to that most beautiful city. Tommy Caruso.
I lived right around the corner on Oak Street over Georges Meat Market. Went to that pool many time over next to a catholic school? Docs was right around the corner, kahills pharmacy and Bishops. 😀
Thank you. I live in Lawrence and sometimes we forget.
Oh my! Such memories for me as I grew up on Fairmont street, swam @ Kennedy Pool in the 50’s and went to the dances at Central as well.
All of the photos & posts have brought many memories to the surface for me
I am 73 years young, living in NY and appreciate your bringing these posts
from people who “remember” Lawrence back in the day!
Thank You one&all
Bea’s cutlets were the best ever, still looking for something similar if anyone knows a sandwich close to Bea’s cutlets please let us know.