Bridge Street, Lowell
Jack Kerouac’s dad Leo did run a print shop on Bridge Street in the 1930’s. When the 1936 flood hit Lowell and flooded parts of the city the shops was badly damaged and Leo Kerouac had to give it up. These photos were taken coming from downtown Lowell and crossing the bridge in the direction … Continue reading
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
… when I lay in the grass of Boston Common…
… thinking of death…’ (Visions Of Cody p.132 Flamingo Modern Classic edition)
Sometimes Way out of town, say miles out on East Colfax, Cody, waiting for a bus, or a ride …
The above quote is taken from page 109 of ‘Visions Of Cody’ (Flamingo Modern Classic Edition), but East Colfax Avenue is mentioned quite a few times throughout the book. I had a little walk on East Colfax Avenue and found it not especially nice, but I can see the appeal to Kerouac with its myriad … Continue reading
Market Street, Denver
The following shots were all taken on Market Street in Denver, and to me, show traces of a past for that particular street that captured Kerouac’s imagination and fantasy, mainly with regards to his hero Neal Cassady and Cassady’s dad. I chose the building in the first photograph for its well-worn looks and crumbling walls. … Continue reading
What’s all this brownness of light in the railroad station …
… damn damn damn. That’s Denver I always told Pa I wanted – … (Visions Of Cody p111-112 Flamingo Modern Classic Edition) Benches inside Denver Union Station Denver Union Station interior Note the date on the bottom of the right menu ‘Wednesday, November 2, 1949’ (the year Kerouac lived in Denver for a few months) … Continue reading
Then the train came
… As I write this at midnight now she’s somewhere near Omaha. (Windblown World, p.202) He’s talking about his mum who, at that time (July 1949), left Denver again where Kerouac had bought a house for the whole family – his mum didn’t like Denver, so she left for New York with him following later … Continue reading
I eat sandwiches (now down to bread and boiled eggs) in Omaha doorway
… facing Missouri River Street down by warehouses… (Visions Of Cody) This photo was taken in the Old Market area in Omaha, Nebraska which is, from what I can say based on my limited knowledge of the city, the focus of life with lots of bars, restaurants, shops etc. which you find rarely in the … Continue reading
Sacramento Locomotive Works
Sacramento, CA I noticed the Southern Pacific name on the building immediately, as, like I mentioned previously in an older post, Kerouac and Neal well as Al Hinkle, worked for the company for a while, and Kerouac was very much preoccupied with the company and it is mentioned repeatedly throughout his books. As the … Continue reading
… – Wendover, Wells, Elko, Winnemucca, Lovelock, …
… stopping all the time and I walk and dig all over, and it’s deathly cold in Nevady (Visions Of Cody, p 144 Flamingo Modern Classic Edition)
Retracing Jack Kerouac 