Lawrence Public Library

Marion Basile photographs and artifact, 1933 and undated

The material described in this catalog record is located in the collections of the Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Mass

History of the United Riverside Congregational Church: In the early years, Sunday school classes for children in the area bordering the Merrimack were conducted with the assistance of teachers from various churches throughout the city. Evening prayer meetings were added to these classes, led by laymen from other churches. The next step toward establishment of a separate church came in January 1863, when the former Union Schoolhouse, donated by Deacon Benjamin Coolidge of Lawrence Street Church, was dedicated and became the new chapel. The building had to be moved from Franklin Street and was set up on the banks of the Merrimack on Water Street, the present location of the church (this is what is now our Parish Hall). In January 1875, members began considering organizing as a regular church. Methodist and Congregational ministers lent their assistance. That June, the Riverside Evangelical Church was organized with Frank Hugh Foster as acting pastor. The evangelical phase continued for three years until members voted to join the Congregational Fellowship and became known as the Riverside Congregational Church. In the golden jubilee year (1928), the major effort of parishioners and the generosity of one person, Mr. John E Aldred, resulted in the erection of the present stone chapel. They started out in a small way, seeking only to add a steeple to the converted school to make it look more like a church. The steeple was never added, but the church was built in all its glory. John Edward Aldred (1864-1945), son of one of the early founders, offered to donate a whole new church to be known as the John Aldred Memorial - the handsome stone edifice that has been the pride of parishioners during the second half of the church's history. In regard to photos two through four: on October 12, 1933 thirty thousand individuals marched in a parade in support of President Franklin Roosevelt's National Recovery Act. The Lawrence Recovery Board's purpose was to demonstrate that Lawrence was cooperating fully in the NRA plan. The estimate of spectators at the event was 100,000. Churches, civic groups, veterans' organizations, and local businesses and industries provided floats, bands, and drum and bugle corps starting in the Arlington district at ten o'clock in the morning. Five hours later the final entry passed through the intersection of Haverhill and Lawrence Streets. The parade was also called the Blue Eagle Pageant.

Collection open for research

2018555266

Finding aid in the repository.

7 items.

(OCoLC)1055767718