Greater Southbridge: Street of the Week

Everyone has a favorite street in Slowtown . . . . what's yours? Click here to send us your comments.

This week's selection: Chestnut Street

The facts:
Originating at the base of south Main Street, just inches from the famed Southbridge Rotary, Chestnut Street manages to be surprisingly nestled away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. With an Ideal Pool warehouse on one side and the former Food n Fuel gas station/convenience store on the other, the initial steep incline has a handful of older double and triple deckers for a spell, as you travel further up there are large single family homes on bigger lots with a few surprises mixed in. There is some sort of youth center about halfway up this dead end street and right at the very end there is a National Guard office/armory hybrid (I think that's what it is?). The dead end part of Chestnut Street abuts Morris St. field, known to most 10 and 11 year olds for its minor league baseball games.

This somewhat camouflaged street is home to several well-known Southbridge legends. I'd assume they and other residents like it because of its close proximity to the pageantry of downtown while still keeping a sense of anonymity.

Author's note:
In 1992, while I was home from college, Justin Earls and I worked for a local contractor painting a large white one family house on Chestnut Street for a few weeks. At the time I was chronically suffering from a parasite. I unknowingly ingested moose scat tainted water while in Maine earlier that spring on a camping trip with my dad. This Gardias (I think that's Latin for non stop shits, pukes and scary-ass weight loss) as its called, made its presence known all over the woods and sidewalks of our chosen street of the week. In retrospect I apologize to all residents, rodents, birds, insects and co-workers during this uncomfortable period of my life in slow-town.

Audience note:
I used to work at the Savmor at the bottom of Chestnut, while at work one day my car stereo was stolen while working. The neighbourhood is full of pubescents who always try to shop lift, or be sold blunts. And no matter how often the parking lot was swept there were always tons of losing scratch tickets strewn everywhere.

Share your stories about Dresser Street or nominate
your own pick for Southbridge Street of the Week.

Past Streets of the Week:
Dresser Street
High Street