By 1930 Alphonse and Eleanor Steckevicz with their family of 3 boys (Edwin, Alfred, and Chester) and 1 girl (Emma) had moved into their house on Riverside Avenue in Hudson.  Alphonse established the Clover Farms Store, a neighborhood grocery, attached to the family home and facing Lowell Road.  This C 1935 photo shows the Clover Farm Store and the Shell gasoline pumps taken from  Lowell Road. Members of the Steckevicz family who were working at the store are in front.  The 1935 Pontiac sedan on the left most likely belongs to one of the customers; if it belonged to the family it would not be parked so as to block customer access to the gas pump!

Alphonse owned and operated this store for about 25 years at which time  ho sold  to his son, Edwin.  Edwin was a 1935 graduate of Nashua High School, a WWII veteran serving in the Army Air Corps.  The Clover Farm Store remained under his management until he sold to Ray Lefebvre about 1961.  Edwin also served his town as selectman for many years.  His store on Lowell Road became a community gathering place.  He knew his customers by name.  Edwin was often known to open his store at all hours to help a customer in need.  Edwin married Josephine Wolen with whom he had 60 plus years of marriage before passing in 2007.

This store continued under the ownership of Ray Lefebvre for many years.  This building at the corner of Lowell and Riverside remains to this day; it is currently not used.  Most recently it was Cheemas Supermarket. Photo from the Hudson Historical Society collection.

This week’s memories extend to the George Steele farm at Stewerts Corner; the intersection of Lowell, Dracut, and River Roads.  In the early 1900’s Hudson was serviced by three trolley routes.  One of these routes went from the Taylor Falls Bridge, down Central Street, then down Lowell Road to Stewerts Corner.  The fare from Taylor Falls Bridge to Stewerts Corner was five cents!!  Thus, Stewerts Corner was also called ‘the five cent limit’ or ‘the limit’.  During warm months open-bench trolley cars were used.  Many children and adults would pack a picnic lunch and ride the trolley to the ‘limit’.  Once there they could buy ice cream and soda at George Steele’s farm store. The first photo shows his store C1899 with two ladies and children waiting outside; perhaps for the trolley.   If the season  was right they could also pick strawberries for Mr. Steele for two cents a box!  For additional fare, families could extend their trip down River Road to Lakeview Park, an entertainment area just over the state line, or go all the way to Lowell and spend time shopping.

George and his brother Fred were native to Hudson; growing up and working with their father, Silas, on the family farm on what is now the Steele Road.  As a young man of 24, George purchased his own acreage from William Chase in 1887.  By 1893 he  married Edith Colburn and built their home on River Road.  For most of their adult lives, George and Fred continued to operate large vegetable/market gardens near Stewerts Corner.  The George Steele farm remained in his family until surviving son, Ralph, sold the property to the Friel family in 1977.  The land and buildings are now a part of Green Meadows Country Club.

The second photo is an aerial view of the George Steele Farm C1942.  We see  gardens along both sides of River Road.  Photos courtesy of the Steele Family and now a part of the Historical Society Collection.

Edmond L. Jette and Rose M. Boissoneault  married in August of 1933 and lived on the Litchfield Road in Hudson.  By 1944 their family had grown to include five children and they needed more space.  They then purchased a farm house as well as 30+ acres of farmland.  Edmond was a machinist as well as a great father and farmer.  Rose took great pride in her family and was always pleasant and friendly to everyone she met.

In 1944, the farm at what is now 117 Lowell Road was owned by the Pelletier family.  It would soon be known to all as The Jette’s  Garden  Farm.  Fresh vegetables were harvested and sold daily by a large and loving family.  Edmond, Rose, and ultimately, all ten children worked hard together.  Cows were milked for cream, milk, and butter.  These items for the family were also swapped for chickens and eggs from their neighbors, the Maynard family.

In 1971, 59 year old Edmond passed away.  Rose was left to care for her family and continue the farm stand as well as operating her weekend garage sale.  Rose, in memory of her husband and the children in memory of their father, donated some of the farmland off County Road to The Town of Hudson.  Today, close to a fenced in baseball diamond, there is a granite memorial identifying Jette Field; a great gesture and memory for all to enjoy.  The plow on the marker symbolizes Edmond’s love of the land.   In the spring of 2013, 102 year old Fernand, brother of Edmond, threw out the first pitch to begin the baseball season.

Over the years family members tapped from the trees seen in front of the house.  Sap was boiled down maple syrup was made by and for family members.

You can still drive by 117 Lowell Road and look upon the old homestead as it stands today.  The farmland was sold when Rose downsized.  Rose passed away in 1996.  Although you are driving by the old farm land for memories, much of it has evolved into Fox Hollow as well as Teledyne, the memories are never to be forgotten.  Thanks to Angela Rose (Jette) Dickman, grandaughter of Rose and Edmond, for the memories and photo of 117 Lowell Road.

As early as 1956  boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 14 were bused, transported by car, or walked to Camp Cayuga on the Lowell Road in Hudson.  Camp Cayuga, a summer day camp, was operated by John S. Groves on his family’s 265 acre farm.  The camp activities started at 9 am and ended at 4 pm.  Each camper brought their own lunch except on Thursdays when there was a noonday cookout. The camping season was 8 weeks, during the months of July and August.  As many as 125 plus children came from towns like Milford, Amherst, Merrimack. Lowell, Chelmsford, Nashua and Hudson.  Camp facilities included a large barn for a place of assembly, a swimming pond on the property which was recently dug by a bulldozer along a brook which ran thru the property, bath houses, Indian camps where campers divided into tribes, playing fields, horseback riding rinks, and woods for nature study.  Horse back riding was one of the more popular events.  special events,such as horse shows, carnivals, and fishing derbys,  were often held.

The Groves farm was located on the western  side of Lowell Road and extended to the Merrimack River. Until 1955 Mr. Groves had farmed the land and operated an automobile sales agency on the premises.  He then turned from auto sales to teaching school.  The idea of using the farm as a summer camp was suggested to him by a friend a few years earlier.  The possibilities for expansion were considered as tremendous as within a 15 mile area there were 200,000 people and only 2 other day camps in the area.

Within a few years growth came to Lowell Road and with it an increase in property values.  The State of New Hampshire had plans for a Circumferential Highway.   By the early 1970’s the northern portion of this farm was used for the access road to the Sagamore Bridge.  Of the remaining acres, the part abutting Lowell Road is the location of Sam’s Club; the back portion toward the river is part of The Green Meadows Golf Course,  Photo courtesy of Leo Demers and now a part of the Historical Society Collection. (Published HLN June 26, 2015)

The Oblates  purchased the Wilson Farm on the Lowell Road in 1922 and established a novitiate for young men entering the priest hood.  The initial wooden building burned in 1935 and was replaced by this brick building in 1936.  The novitiate closed and the building was used as a retreat house beginning about 1941.  Many religious based retreats were held here for religious leaders, lay persons, teens, and individuals with special needs.  A large lecture hall and chapel were added later.  In the first  photo we see the Oblate Retreat House as it appeared in 1976.

Some of our readers may recall attending a weekly or weekend retreat at the OMI (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) Retreat House; many more will remember the magnificent display of Christmas lights as early as 1952.  In 1960 as many as 300,000 lights were used in the special display which caused a glow in the sky for many to see!  Travelers were lined up and down Lowell Road to catch a look at the display which was visible from the road. The second photo shows one of these exhibits.  These exhibits left fond memories with many residents; the magnificent displays on the building and grounds and the enchanted village inside.  All open to the public.

Local residents remember, and miss, the friendly, welcoming atmosphere extended by the brothers of OMI to the kids and families living in the area.  Hudson resident Leo Demers and his childhood friend Fran would spend summer/winter days helping the resident brothers and priests with chores such as weeding, raking and general clean-up, decorating for Christmas.  For this they were paid a dish of ice-cream!!

After the retreat house closed the property was placed in a holding company and purchased by Etchstone Properties in 2005.  This building and the acres around it are now the location of Mission Pointe, residences for age 60+, at 200 Lowell Road.

The Oblate of Mary Immaculate  were one of 3 religious organizations who purchased large pieces of farmland along Lowell Road; using the property in their own mission, keeping fields/forests maintained and unused for commercial purposes.  Photo from the collection of the Hudson Historical Society.  Published HLN June 12, 2015.

 This home was located on Lowell Road, just north of the intersection with Pelham Road and alongside Blodgett Cemetery. From 1895 until about 1912 it was the home of Jennie May (Ellis) and Eugene Barker and their family.  Raised on a farm, Eugene moved to Nashua about 1891, most likely for employment.  He and Jennie were married in Nashua and lived  there until after the birth of their second child.  Because of the availability of  the electric trolley to/from Nashua and down Lowell Road, he was able to move his family to the country and commute to work on public transportation!  Their third child was born in Hudson.

In this photo the careful observer can see the tracks for the electric trolley in front of their house; and, the wall and tombstones of the adjacent Blodgett Cemetery.

By 1912 the property was sold to Harry J. Connell, Hudson’s first permanent  police officer. Connell resided here, selling to William O’Neal in 1920.  This house remained a residence for various families until 1983 when Countryside Realty was established.  For several years it remained as a real estate office.  A few years ago, about 2004, the building was razed and the area reconfigured into an industrial building with several units.  It is currently owned by Hudson Plaza, LLC.  Photo donated to the Historical Society by the Nashua Historical Society and now a part of our collection.