University Avenue Shops
Nice to think of a teenage Kerouac having a bite to eat or going to buy stuff in of the shops that occupied these buildings in his time. University Avenue in Pawtucketville was on his way from the family’s various residences in the late 1930’s (and early 1940’s when Kerouac’s family moved back to Lowell … Continue reading
Textile Institute, Lowell
Kerouac wrote about the then ‘Lowell Textile Institute’, which is now part of the University of Massachusetts, in a number of his books, especially ‘Maggie Casssidy’ – no wonder, since he had to pass it on the way from the house on Phoebe Avenue the family lived in for some time, on the way to … Continue reading
The Merrimack River
The Merrimack River, as seen from the downtown side of Lowell and Bridge Street. It did capture Kerouac’s imagination (as it did with Henry David Thoreau before, who wrote his short story ‘A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers in 1949) throughout his life and especially as a kid. But it was also responsible … Continue reading
Lupine Rd, Lowell, MA
Looking northwest, towards Dracut Looking southeast, towards Centralville Tree opposite the house Jack Kerouac was born in Entrance to Lupine Rd. from Fred St.
Entering Lowell / Entering Dracut
Kerouac’s home turf in the first few years of his life when the family lived in Centralville, the house he was born in on Lupine Rd is just a few streets away from where these photographs were taken.
The Cassidys
Like many on my blog, this is a highly speculative post. Both photos were taken from Chelmsford Street in south Lowell, but not in the part of Lowell that is actually called ‘South Lowell’. In the book Maggie Cassidy the Cassidys live at 31, Massachusetts Street, but that street doesn’t actually exist (at least not … Continue reading
The 11:10 am to Lowell
North Station, Boston, MA Waiting for the train to take me to Lowell, Jack Kerouac’s birth town, and I was suitably excited.
Submarine Signal Building
West End, Boston, MA. I am not sure which function exactly this building served in its time, but given the name ‘Submarine Signal Building’ I had to think about Kerouac going to Greenland on the SS Dorchester in 1942 and his fear of being hit by a Torpedo fired from a German submarine (as described … Continue reading
… when I lay in the grass of Boston Common…
… thinking of death…’ (Visions Of Cody p.132 Flamingo Modern Classic edition)
Retracing Jack Kerouac 