tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post6639773571908609126..comments2024-01-13T11:39:38.441-05:00Comments on Lucie's Legacy: History of Lawrence, MA - Immigrant CommunitiesLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-84059583795874385852023-04-07T04:09:43.777-04:002023-04-07T04:09:43.777-04:00Tony Martin my whole family is French Canadian the...Tony Martin my whole family is French Canadian the Moroes I'm a Martin. Oh I can tell you the nun stories of St. Anne's school. Lol they were all good though. I lived on exchange Street. I believe there was an very very old location across from my grandmother's home 68 exchange Street. In not sure I was young I have no brothers or sisters and most of my family has moved this world , but I miss this very very big old oak trees we used to have across from my grandma's house used to be like five big old oak trees. The fall was so beautiful I remember playing in the street with all the leaves making beds of leaves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-90268324832022276452022-06-23T09:45:03.262-04:002022-06-23T09:45:03.262-04:00Hi Lucie:
Wonderful articles on the churches and...Hi Lucie:<br /> Wonderful articles on the churches and Lawrence in general.<br /> My Paternal Grandfather immigrated to Lawrence in 1895 and Mom’s ancestors in 1860. Both families were business and civic leaders in Lawrence for decades. It is tragic and incomprehensible to see the total destruction and devastation of that city….churches, stores, businesses all closed, abandoned, demolished etc. I’ve travelled a lot in the U.S.A. and foreign countries and have never seen anything even remotely similar to that which was done to Lawrence in the last 4 or 5 decades. My family church, Lawrence St. Congregational, and later Trinity…both forced out of existence.<br /> Thank you for your lovely stories about the churches.<br />DAVIDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-69174688150336636232021-11-09T21:27:42.015-05:002021-11-09T21:27:42.015-05:00Hi Lucie! I was thrilled to find your site and to...Hi Lucie! I was thrilled to find your site and to know you are from Lawrence/Methuen. My dad was born in Lawrence ...his family surname. is Bourque and they owned the Bourque Construction Co in Lawrence... they were Acadians. My mother was born in Methuen and was a Parent Surname but from Quebec. We grew up with strong Acadian and French Canadian tradition, well rooted. Thank you for all the hard work you have done. I'd bet that your relatives knew mine since it was a pretty close knit coomunity!<br /><br />Judith Marie Bourque-Olmstead.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03058239177938391235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-31495998381075612162018-06-29T07:28:18.163-04:002018-06-29T07:28:18.163-04:00Great reading. However, as usual, the Lithuanians ...Great reading. However, as usual, the Lithuanians were overlooked. My maternal grandparents were married in St. Francis that was on Bradford St.,around the corner from St. Anne. The parish, formed in 1903, before many of the other ethnic parishes. They purchased land at Forest Lake in Methuen for parish outings. The church was closed in 2002, 1 year prior to its centennial. They had a school on Franklin St. staffed by the Sisters of Jesus Crucified from Brockton.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18047308603359198065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-38450878538275102332017-12-05T22:47:37.586-05:002017-12-05T22:47:37.586-05:00Hi Lucie,
This is really interesting! I am big in...Hi Lucie,<br /><br />This is really interesting! I am big into stories about immigration myself and happen to have some ancestors from Massachusetts. One question I had was in addition to the immigrant groups you mentioned, were there others that settled Lawrence, like, i.e. Swedes or other Scandinavians? I know Worcester had a sizable Swedish population, as did other cities around the Bay State. along with many groups that came to Lawrence. Being from Wisconsin, where we have lots of Germans, Irish, and Poles, I can appreciate that connection . Let me know what other information about this you have. Thank you!<br /><br />Jack PlastererJack Plasterernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-24692176306400396772017-04-03T10:34:06.605-04:002017-04-03T10:34:06.605-04:00Good Morning,
I have very recently purchased 7 st...Good Morning,<br /><br />I have very recently purchased 7 stained glass windows. I think they might be from St. Anne's but I am not sure. I believe they are the litany of loreto and they appear to have been donated by the family of Wilbrod Dancause he and his wife appear to have lived in Methuen in the early part of the 1900s. I have pictures of the windows. They appear to perhaps be from a rectory because they are not huge. 6 are about 4 1/2 ft. tall and arched with the sixth being a half round with the inscription "don de la famille Wilbrod Dancause" If anyone remembers these I would love some confirmation. THanks so much! <br /><br />Ken BClubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529604780803092892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-50655483731408435952016-02-18T15:29:13.515-05:002016-02-18T15:29:13.515-05:00Hi..I don't have your email. Blogger sends m...Hi..I don't have your email. Blogger sends messages with revealing the addy.Lucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-41947975864436438742016-02-18T15:00:08.497-05:002016-02-18T15:00:08.497-05:00It turns out that it is Latin not French. I used t...It turns out that it is Latin not French. I used the translation on google. My mom knew latin but she has since passed. I was wondering who the priest was. I'm not sure if the end part of his name is his title or the rest of his name. If you'd like I'd gladly email you a copy of the image. I believe you have my email. It's interesting to see how the records from St. Anne's that are now protected in the Archives. If you send me your email I'll gladly send you the image. <br /><br />Thanks, again. <br /><br />ElayneAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04589633899675149395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-75120316337588992762016-02-18T14:43:44.050-05:002016-02-18T14:43:44.050-05:00Hi Elayne.. do you need a translation of the marri...Hi Elayne.. do you need a translation of the marriage record?<br /><br />LucieLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-17104047878180654542016-02-18T14:38:55.353-05:002016-02-18T14:38:55.353-05:00Lucie,
Thank you for all of your research and re...Lucie, <br /><br />Thank you for all of your research and reflections. I am the daughter of 3 generations of Lawrence family on one side and two generations on the other. I am also the "collector" in the family. So many stories lost in my family with the passing of many. <br /><br />The Archdiocese of Boston was able to obtain information on my grandparents marriage at St. Anne's in 1919. My grandmother was French Canadian and my grandfather came from Beverly, MA and converted. The only way he could marry my grandmother was to convert and to move to Lawrence. He ended up being the compositor for the Tribune his whole life as he raised 9 children in Lawrence and Methuen (back and forth). <br /><br />I didn't know if there is a list of priests names listed somewhere. The person obtaining the handwritten copy of my grandparents marriage (great by the way as it's all in French) could not read the end part of the priest's name. All I have is Fr. Grimal. Just curious. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04589633899675149395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-46204301600289934122011-06-22T18:26:17.073-04:002011-06-22T18:26:17.073-04:00Hi Richard,
Nice to meet another Lawrencian.
All...Hi Richard,<br /><br />Nice to meet another Lawrencian.<br /><br />All of the parishes aren't being closed but certainly the ethnic parishes are. Ste Anne is gone, Sacred Heart in So. Lawrence and others in Lawrence. Some parishes have been consolidated and the name of the parish changed.. not liking it at all. lol<br /><br />Thank you for signing on as a follower of my blog. I'm most appreciative.<br /><br />LucieLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-29798837022920139822011-06-22T17:44:26.323-04:002011-06-22T17:44:26.323-04:00Hi Lucie, My name is Richard Edward Noble. I'm...Hi Lucie, My name is Richard Edward Noble. I'm of Polish, Irish, English heritage. My Grandma was a founding member of the Polish Church. I went to St. Rita's and attended the Immaculate Conception Church and St. Mary's. I have now published 11 books and many of them deal with my life in Lawrence in the 40's 50's and 6o's. all my books are listed on Amazon. I recently heard a rumor that the Roman Catholic Church is closing all of its churches in Lawrence. A real shame. Loved reading your blog and I have signed up to follow. Take care of yourself and keep up the interesting research.Richard Edward Noblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14422042111309891572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-10358338074278580482011-05-22T08:33:03.261-04:002011-05-22T08:33:03.261-04:00Hi Melanie,
Thank you for your post. I grew up i...Hi Melanie,<br /><br />Thank you for your post. I grew up in Ste Anne's parish and its schools so I was very attached and involved in all that went on.<br /><br />Ste Anne's did not go bankrupt. The Marist Fathers could no longer provide priests to staff as many parishes as they'd done over many years. There were no other orders available to take over and no diocesan priest either because of the shortage of priests.<br /><br />Yes, at some point that beautiful weather vane on top of the church was stolen..a mystery never solved.<br /><br />As for Ste Anne school it was bound to close as well due to the aging nuns and a shortage there as well.<br /><br />The church has been up for sale for quite a while. It had been considered as a performing arts center. That would have been great but it fell through. For a short while a catholic Hispanic community held its services there but as you know it is a large building and takes a group that is financially well funded to maintain it. It is sad to see it sitting there boarded up all of these years. By now there must be deterioration on the interior.<br /><br />Again..thanks for posting.<br /><br />LucieLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-78311155927376757672011-05-21T19:00:45.682-04:002011-05-21T19:00:45.682-04:00Thank you for posting this. My brother and I were ...Thank you for posting this. My brother and I were the 4th generation at St. Anne's school and church. I love learning all I can about St. Anne's. My brother was lucky enough to have the opportunity to graduate from there before they went bankrupt. We moved to Haverhill the year before they closed the school. It was very saddening. I would love to be able to go back and see the church. <br />I noticed the church is for sale. Do you know if this is the first time it has been for sale since it has closed? <br />Wasn't the weather vane stolen? <br /><br />Thank you once again for sharing this with everyone.<br />MelanieBraunBunchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13008338748899637210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-28053858250071969842011-02-22T13:32:17.866-05:002011-02-22T13:32:17.866-05:00Hi Heather,
Unfortunately, Ste Anne's church ...Hi Heather,<br /><br />Unfortunately, Ste Anne's church and school closed long ago. St. Mary's is now an "academy"; Holy Trinity school and church is closed; there are others that closed as their churches closed. Not many left at all. Times are a changin'.<br /><br />Thank you for your post. We miss the religious presence we once knew in the area.<br /><br />LucieLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-4789827095266373112011-02-22T13:23:32.322-05:002011-02-22T13:23:32.322-05:00Thanks for the photos of all the churches. 25 yea...Thanks for the photos of all the churches. 25 years ago I was teaching for Chapter One in Lawrence, and I had to go around to all the larger parochial schools to train teachers. All these ethnic churches had their own schools, and the students names all reflected their neighborhoods. I remember the French nuns at St. Annes and how I trained them to use computers in the classroom. It was a hoot working with those ladies! I don't think all those separate schools exsist anymore in Lawrence- have they been consolidated?Heather Wilkinson Rojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704949156266722016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-6034078568855921052011-02-20T17:09:11.913-05:002011-02-20T17:09:11.913-05:00Hi Ginger,
You are correct.
Lawrence is not the ...Hi Ginger,<br /><br />You are correct.<br /><br />Lawrence is not the city I grew up in at all. The school population in Lawrence at this time is 80% Hispanic. All immigrants go to the inner cities when they arrive here.<br /><br />I'm pleased that you appreciated the photos, etc.<br /><br />Thank you for your post.<br /><br />LucieLucie LeBlanc Consentinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480035657625949265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-70170196866557296692011-02-20T16:53:28.046-05:002011-02-20T16:53:28.046-05:00Great photos and stories about all the immigrant c...Great photos and stories about all the immigrant communities that came through Lawrence. I lived in neighboring Lowell, MA in the late 80s and I remember the huge Hispanic communities in both Lowell and Lawrence. These two areas have really changed a lot in the last 20 years though! Thanks so much for sharing!Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011504164207885278.post-65898590494442201022011-02-20T16:53:15.283-05:002011-02-20T16:53:15.283-05:00Great photos and stories about all the immigrant c...Great photos and stories about all the immigrant communities that came through Lawrence. I lived in neighboring Lowell, MA in the late 80s and I remember the huge Hispanic communities in both Lowell and Lawrence. These two areas have really changed a lot in the last 20 years though! Thanks so much for sharing!Ginger Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17453442334718861407noreply@blogger.com