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
 

Recollections of Southbridge

Southbridge Images - "Then and Now" Rev 16-Jun-09

Views of Main Street

Southbridge - still the "Eye of the Commonwealth"

Inside stores in Southbridge ~ 1954

Info on Future AO Sculpture

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

Recollections of AO

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

AO Workers Main page

AO Images - "Then and Now"

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

Fires of Southbridge


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 -

Harvey Wells Electronics

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"

Ames Department Store History
 

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)

12 Crane St Complex news

Southbridge Blog - Monique Manna

www.getinvolvedinyourtown.com Events Schedule

Southbridge (and Area) "Retirement" links of interest
 
 

Current Weather Conditions

Town Of Southbridge Home Page

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!
 

Local Area Businesses

Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center- Formerly AO Main Plant

Vienna Restaurant / Bed and Breakfast!

The Flat Iron

Southbridge Downtown Partnership
http://www.southbridgeinfo.com

Tri-Community YMCA Page

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

Recollections of Southbridge

Ames Dept Store

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
 

The North St Gate

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

The Monuments of 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"

Photos & Postcard collection

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

Rainbows 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 People of AO

The AO Reunion of May 28, 2002

AO Recollections


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:

Jacob Edwards Library

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!)
 

Southbridge School Projects

"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

Other Useful Links

Old Webster (MA) History Link

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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