St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

Page 20 text:

The old... yielding place toynewrs he Henry T. Page house, at the corner of Summer and Harvard Streets, is one of the old houses of Fitchburg. To- day it has been combined with the Cookman house, at the corner of Summer and Goodrich streets and is the convent of our teaching Sisters. The link connecting them is now used for two temporary classrooms. Dale Bresnahan, Linda LeBlanc, Jane Cote, Sheila Mammone, Suzanne Plette, Arline Audet, at the convent door. Pe | va i “f LS pain wers The old look has yielded place to the new—gone are the wide verandas, the Ionic pillars, and the ornamental wooden fence. When the school was built in 1926 the large stable had to go and also the rose garden. The elderly Mrs. Page did not yield to the new order of the automobile but still continued to ride in her coach driven by a liveried coachman. Linda LeBlanc and Dale Bresnahan on the landing of the ma- hogany staircase; Jane Cote before one of the eight large fireplaces.

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At the time of its incorpora- tion in 1764, the population of Fitchburg was about 250. Although salmon trout abounded in the Nashua, this river was considered more of a curse than a blessing, because of the expense of build- ing and repairing bridges. For this reason, it was thought that Fitchburg would never be a flour- ishing settlement. Every day, many Bernardians cross over the Nashua river by this bridge which connects Har- vard Street, on which the school is built, with Fifth Street. In 1764, the roads of Fitch- burg were few and poorly con- structed. Summer Street, a busy thoroughfare today, is not included among the four principal roads leading through the old town. It used to be a cobble-stoned street with huge elm trees on both sides and could boast of some very fine old residences, and a trolley-car line. Summer Street, one of the boundaries of our school campus, is a familiar street to most Bernies. Goodrich Street runs parallel to the back of our school, and was named after one of Fitchburg’s old families. It is related of Deacon David Goodrich that he was fired upon by Indians when he was out looking for his cow. He wheeled his horse and started down what is now South Street. The Indians fired but owing to the rapidity of his flight missed fire. When he reached the garri- son, he gave the alarm. He lost his hat which ten years later was found on the head of a captured Indian. James Altieri, Edward Mc- Caffrey, and Carlo DiNatale on the lawn in front of the old Good- rich house, facing the school grounds.

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