Apartment Complex by the Railroad Tracks, Shirley Village, Mass.

Continuing my survey of Front Street architecture, I did this picture of what is now residential rental units owned by Shirley Selectman Bruce MacDonald. It was built in 1885 and was originally a hotel which had various names, Hotel Haskins, Davis Hotel, Shirley Hotel and Shirley Inn among them. It was a Red Cross office during World War I, and at other times a boarding house for workers at the President Suspender Company factory. Aside from the Front Street storefronts, it is the only surviving structure from Depot Square. As you've perhaps heard, the Gas Station is located where the old train depot used to be.

In addition to the old hotel, I wanted to catch a view of the railroad tracks and associated paraphenalia. As a bonus I also caught the leaves just as they were beginning to come out.

The tracks run parallel to and to the north of Front Street. On the other side of the tracks, Ayer Road runs parallel. Ayer Road becomes Main Street towards its western end and crosses over the tracks to replace Front Street. That crossing point is where I sat to do this picture.

I've seen at least a couple different official versions of where Main Street meets Ayer Road. I go by the highway surveyor who just makes Main Street a two block stretch running between the railroad crossing and the bridge over the Catecoonemaug. I found a sign that says "Main" where Center Road joins things, and there's a sign that says "Front" a few blocks further east.

Meredith at the Historical Society looked into the Main Street issue and reports:

According to Caleb Butler who surveyed the town roads in 1830, Main Street "begins at bridge over Catacunemaug brook east of factory". According to a 1930 report the county commissioners relocated Main Street in 1800, 1856, 1868, and 1900. As of 1930 they said Main Street went from the RR crossing to the Nashua River. A 1971 town report said that Main Street ran from Leominster Road at the bridge to the RR crossing. Fred Gray worked on this plan and wasn't sure that it was ever put into effect.

A kid working across the way at an auto mechanic's shop kept close track of my progress and discussed my work with me. He had taken a course in Concord or some place like that where he was taught the technique of using water color over oil pastel. That might make it easier for me to do the skies and things like that, but I haven't tried it. I have used water color as an underlayer for chalk and conté crayon drawings I've done.

While I was working on my drawing, the kid was working with some others getting this old Studebaker(?) to start. I think they finally got it going, but not without a lot of work.

At another point another kid proudly pointed out he lived in the building I was drawing.

May 8, 1997