Whitney Web Page - Southbridge History & More
Southbridge, Massachusetts
http://www.dickwhitney.net
"The
Eye of the Commonwealth"
and birthplace of American Optical.
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Looking Back at Southbridge's History
Southbridge Images - "Then and Now" Rev 16-Jun-09
Southbridge - still the "Eye of the Commonwealth"
Inside stores in Southbridge ~ 1954
My Top Ten List - Positive things about Southbridge
Slidelshow below -1953 and 1954 Southbridge Photos by
Don Whitney
(this may take several seconds to load!)
How Southbridge
got its name -
Reprint of Joe Capillo article
Southbridge,
the Poll Parish and "Honest Town" Historic Names
Feb 6, 2009 Charette to promote Southbridge
Community Calendar (Submit your event)Rev June 26, 2009
Future
of Southbridge - Meeting info/facts on Access Road
March 12. 2009 photos of the Former AO
Main Plant, now the Southbridge
Hotel and Conference center.
November 1945 AO News Article
about "Steeple Tom"
Dick Whitney photos
AO History Main Page Rev July 3, 2009
AO Workers and Mechanic St (before the Rotary) - 1925
In Memory Of:
Recalling those AO employees
who have passed on Rev June 21, 2009
AO Reunion Luncheons-
Formerly at Rom's Restaurant
Second Tuesday in June and Dec
Next one June 9th, 2009 at 12
Crane St
AO's Lensometer - a ground breaking invention for Ophthalmic Optics Rev May 29, 2009
Now at 12 Crane St
Herman Stoopes AO Paintings
- 4 Original Paintings on display
(The originals hang in the AO room at 12 Crane
St)
Local Artist spotlight - Tom Lapriore
The Marcy St. School Eagles above the doorways
Famous People and their associations with Southbridge
The Thomas Variety Gang - Names in photo provided by George Vasil
Standing (L to R) - Richard Sullivan, George Vasil, Wilfred Lajennessr,
Joseph Yanacci, Del ?, Robert Chrisman, Livio Testone, Louis Favre
Seated (L to R) - Richard McNamara, Steven Lariviere, Frank Digregorio
and Arthur Duffy
This was Frank Digregorio's 80th Birthday Celebration at the old Marios
OSV filming of movie Hawaii - 1965 with Julie Andrews
Impressive
Collection of Historic Southbridge photos on CWMars on-line digital Library
Southbridge Images courtesy of Jacob Edwards Library
/ Margaret Morrissey Adult Services Librarian
Feb 1974 Gas Lines - Photo by Don Whitney
The Optical Heritage Museum (Featuring the "AO" Collection)
Remembering the Blizzard of 1978
1971 Maci Building Fire photo
- Don Whitney
Aftermath of the 1971 Maci Building Fire
Southbridge Floods( 1936, 1938 and 1955)
Recalling the Flood of August 19, 1955 - 50 years later -
The Dennison District School - John Boniface
The Strand Theatre (1926- 1965)
The HippadromeBowling Alley - The 'Hipp' by Al LaBelle
Southbridge Citizen's Celebrate the end of WWII.
Southbridge Images - "Then and Now"
Notre Dame Church - the Building made of Tombstones
Notre Dame High School Reunions page- 1938-1968
The Strand Theatre (1926- 1965)
Demolition of the old YMCA Building in 1975
Jump! Jerry, Jump!
Reprint of SeaverRice 1975 Southbridge News Article
Ames Department Store - Southbridge
How Districts of Southbridge
got their names
Southbridge Wikipedia article (On-line Encyclopedia)
Wikipedia
entry for Michael Earls
Links of current interest:
Community Calendar (Submit your event)
Southbridge Blog - Monique Manna
www.getinvolvedinyourtown.com Events Schedule
Southbridge
(and Area) "Retirement" links of interest
Southbridge Downtown Partnership Page
Local News (Southbridge News Online!)
"Your Southbridge" Events page
Learn about the Downtown Southbridge Redevelopment plans
Celebrations / Parades
The June 6, 2009 Southbridge Fest on the Common New June 11, 2009
The June 10, 2008 Southbridge Fest
The June 9, 2007 Southbridge Fest
Southbridge Festival - June 25, 2006
Southbridge Festival - August 20, 2006
Southbridge Sesquicentennial Celebration 0f 1966
The June 1983 AO Parade - celebrating 150 years!!
Parade
of Brides (part of 1991 175 Anniversary Celebration)-
Check back - more to come for 175 celebration
Photos of 2nd Annual Gay Pride Celebration at JEL - Author William Mann (Kate)
Photos
from Jacob Edwards Library Event
GREGORY
MAGUIRE's APPEARANCE IN SOUTHBRIDGE
JUNE
21, 2006
Southbridge Sesquicentennial
Celebration 0f 1966
(download 1966 Scrapbook!)
1960 Don Whitney photo - Old
Time Days celebration
Jerry Dougherty impressive on line collection photographs of Southbridge (and the State of Conn)
"The
Color of Success" May 17, 2005 article
which
appears Courtesy of the Southhbridge Evening News!
Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center- Formerly AO Main Plant
Vienna Restaurant / Bed and Breakfast!
Southbridge Downtown Partnership
http://www.southbridgeinfo.com
A Tribute to Rom's
after 56 years - last day August 31, 2008
Thanks for the memories!
Check out these Geological Maps of Southbridge!
Incredible Views from far
above Southbridge
1997 Photo of Main Street with AO Complex at Right
Zoom in on your house from far above!
A view of Main St. Southbridge in 1892. Note the pedestrian traffic.
The old YMCA is on the upper left, with the Baptist Church below
it.
More 1892 Views of Southbridge
May 26,
1898 Southbridge Journal
pdf file format
Tuttle Maps of Southbridge, Globe Village, and Fiskdale(1870)
WESO in the late 1950's - Jan Whitney as the Storybook Lady
AO / Southbridge 1955 Flood Slides
(Don Whitney)
Includes audio of WESO broadcast!
Any idea where this house is/was located in Southbridge?
email Dick Whitney with suggestions
/info
March 2009 photo of House on Chestnut stree (moved from Marcy); Bill
Bishop believes this to be the house! What do you think?
My Comet and Astronomy
Photos talem in Southbridge
Southbridge High School Class Reunions
Class of 1969, 1970, 1971
and 1972 Joint reunion Aug 1
Class of 1979 - 30th
August 1, 2009 to be held at the Southbridge Hotel and
Conference Center
Contact Lynne (Lehonczak Girouard at 508-347-9161 or
Beth (Motyka) Croke at 508-764-7275
Photos of SHS Class of 1969 members participating in 1968 Science Fair
Mary E Wells High School Page
New Link to Great Wells HS Website
Includes Photos and names of all Alumni!!!
Methodist Church and Notre
Dame Church Steeples
May 2009 photo from the porch of the Vienna
Restaurant
The Baptist
Church Building, Bell tower and family friends the Crists
Skating at "the Rez"
- 1954 -
photos by Don Whitney in the 1950s
Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center
A Timeline of the History of
Southbridge (More info to be added)
Compiled by Margaret Morrissey
(PDF File Format)
Looking down Central Street from Main Street Southbridge (1960's)
Ken Sylvestri emailed me the following: "Just a little note that there’s
a ’62 Chevy Impala driving past Favreau’s."
My late 1950's time estimated was obviously incorrect.
Quaint Little Town - Susan McMaster
Bosman
Can anyone identify this song from the lyrics???
Paul Coiteux\ Southbridge Memorabilia
Collection
Includes info on Marcy St School Demolition and the Eagles
Looking back at Harvey - Wells
The Harrington Follies of 1979
Photos by Dick Whitney
Don Whitney Photos of 1960 Old Time Day in Southbridge
SouthbridgeVeterans Honor Roll List Project
Dresser Park Honor Role Monument was dedicated on July 10, 2004.
The HONOR ROLL LIST at Dresser Park.
The RR Bridge by the "AO Rotary" is no more!
Evelyn Petrelli and the Poll Parish (now Baptist Church)
Southbridge Sesquicentennial Celebration
Southbridge Centennial Envelope - From the Collection of Paul \Coiteaux
1916 View of Southbridge From Notre Dame
1925 View of Southbridge from the Air
Southbridge "Images of the Past"
Text of Southbridge Directory of 1882
Levi Chase 1889 Article on Southbridge
Click Here for a rare view down Hamilton St.
in the late 1950's
Photo by Don Whitney
Click here to see the inside of Mario's
Restaurant as it appeared in 1967
where the Town and Country Florists are now located !
A long lost color version of comet Bennett taken from Litchfield
Ave, Southbridge, MA
- Added 01-Dec-08
Dick and Don Whitney Astronomy
Photos
Images taken in Southbridge
Greater Southbridge Film
-
Congratulations for winning Best in Show at the F4 Festival
& Best Documentary at Valleyfest. April 20th screening in Los Angeles
Dick Whitney You Tube Southbridge Links above include
several SHS Football games,
town parades from the 1960s. Check it out!
Check out my Youtube Video home page
Check out this 1962 Don Whitney Home Movie clip
showing a walk along Main
to Central St.
More American Optical History below:
The AO Reunion of May 28, 2002
1954 photo of Jan, Dick and Sue Whitney in front of American
Optical Main Plant in Southbridge
Photo by Don Whitney
AO Main Plant Demolition / Construction Index of photos of Southbirdge Hotel and Conference Center
Aerial Photographs of DOD Project
by Bob Arnold
submitted by Bob Clemence-Hydes
The Hartwell building where
AO first started (1833 - William Beecher)
Daniel Wells Schreck, Direct descendant of George W. Wells (Portrait)
in Southhbridge at
Wells Family
Reunion
Family photo in front of the AO Main Plant in the Fall of 1954
Photos of AO Employee's in the
1920's ?
Groups & Organizations of Local Interest:
Elm Street Church Celebrates its 200th
Anniversary!
Mary E Wells HS Reunion / Alumni
Page
Wells HS 1954 Graduation Photos added
Gateway Players
Gateway OldeTimers Reunion
Skating at the Rez - "Then and Now" Photos
Harrington Hospital (View their
Historical Links!)
"Our Town" -
Charlton St. School Grade 3 presents
the History of Southbridge
Photos / Summary of Town Charette Meeting on Feb 10, 2001
Bill Tremblay Poems of Southbridge
Walker Pond / Wells State Park Sturbridge History Rev 4/2/09
Order the newly
published 2007 version of "Street Corners of Southbridge" Joe Capillo book
online!
Postcard image from ~1940s - submitted by Michael LaFleche
s
View of Notre Dame Church
at bottom, Wells Jr High to its left and large lot next to Wells where
Marcy
St School once stood
Imageof Southbridge from
http://local.live.com/
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© Copyright 1998 - 2009 Dick Whitney. All rights reserved.