The PAL building was called St. Cecelia's Hall (in French Salle de St. Cecile). It was the parish gathering place for events such as dances. My parents had their reception for their wedding held in August 1941 in the hall.
My son wrestles at MPAL. If you go inside the building all the old windows and doors are still there. They're preserved under the siding, it wasn't removed. I know it's not as lovely as it was, but at least it's still there to potentially be restored in future if the money is there. It's also a really nice facility for kids to go to and be able to be involved in wholesome things instead of just wandering the streets unless they have money for private stuff.
8:36 There used to be a rail line that ran through this area... Next the Breakfast Club there used to be a platform for passenger rail (Circa 1980's) but when the rail line was discontinued the platform structure was removed. The concrete platform is still visible today (2023) if you know where to look. The rail line used to run along where the Elliot Hospital Parking Garage is now and continued passed Rite Aid and onward behind Hannafords on Hanover St.
5:15 This store on the left used to be called "Pigeon Market" and was there for years. Just across the street to where the condos are. That used to have a 3 story building with a store front facing the street. I can't remember the year that it happened but a person was BBQ on their porch and it caught on fire. The building was to badly damaged so it was torn down and the condo's were built in it's place. When I came to Manchester in 1999 I lived at 620 Silver St before moving over to 318 Spruce St. where I lived with my family for 13 years.
14:09 The building on the corner of Wilson/Spruce St used to have apartments upstairs and shops below. One of those shops was a Pawn Shop called Ande's Buy and Sell. I still have a business card from that place. Sadly years ago while living on Spruce St. Ande's had a fire in the store room (rear of the building) and the owner decided to not do any work on the structure to bring it back up to code. It sat for many many years then another person bought the building, Did some renovations but then walked away from it. Now it sits as you see it. Completely unfinished and left to rot.
10:04 This home was owned by a nice lady and her son. For the 13 years I lived on Spruce Street I would often see them sitting on the porch. They were such nice people. After I moved from Spruce St. to the West Side of Manchester (2012) I learned the mother had passed away. Her son now in his 50's simply moved away and left the building to as we see it today in 2023. :( IF you were ever able to see the inside it had the original old wood trim and hardwood floors.
7:48 I still have photos of the old plaza here which had a NH DHHS office, Family Dollar, Bambo Garden and a Liquor Store and where I started working Vista Foods which was located where the gas station used to be in that corner of the lot.. I have photos showing how they tore down the old buildings and build new ones. Happy to share these photos with you anytime. IF you go into pizza shop there you will find a collage my wife and I did for the owners of the pizza shop. It is located in the hallway that connects the bar to the restaurant.
16:09 Some original wood work is still available on the second floor where there was a balcony... But when you walk into the MPAL you can't see such a balcony because it is hidden above the suspended ceiling there. Shame that it's not as it used to look like.
5:34 This new building in the video where all the construction is... That used to be a three story apartment building. Sadly I lost my friend, her boyfriend and her two children in that fire. From the security camera across the street it recorded smoke coming out of vinyl siding in the back where porches were enclosed on the second floor. In the video footage you can then see on the third floor flames starting to make it way from the crawl space in the roof to the outside. :( That was a sad day for me.
O at 3:30 the green bldg is or was used for storage for a lanlord in the area and that white bldg down the road was a coinshop. 5:30 thts actualley an appliance and gas fitter shop but for some reason they sell yardsale items always have for some strange reason. By the way your in my back yard im shocked as hell you have done my childhood mountian bike paths now you are in my present nieghborhood 😅
source: i worked at papa johns on elm st and south willow for many years starting in the early 2000's and i never heard anyone pronounce it any other way. That includes every old timer who ordered pizza back when you had to call it in and could pay with a check.
Thank you for showing some of the beautiful buildings which once were part of Manchester. As you say, they will never build like that again.
The PAL building was called St. Cecelia's Hall (in French Salle de St. Cecile). It was the parish gathering place for events such as dances. My parents had their reception for their wedding held in August 1941 in the hall.
My son wrestles at MPAL. If you go inside the building all the old windows and doors are still there. They're preserved under the siding, it wasn't removed. I know it's not as lovely as it was, but at least it's still there to potentially be restored in future if the money is there. It's also a really nice facility for kids to go to and be able to be involved in wholesome things instead of just wandering the streets unless they have money for private stuff.
8:36 There used to be a rail line that ran through this area... Next the Breakfast Club there used to be a platform for passenger rail (Circa 1980's) but when the rail line was discontinued the platform structure was removed. The concrete platform is still visible today (2023) if you know where to look. The rail line used to run along where the Elliot Hospital Parking Garage is now and continued passed Rite Aid and onward behind Hannafords on Hanover St.
Restaurants were sometimes referred to as spas. Merrimack Spa was another one. I remember when you could smell bread cooking at Genest's
Thank you for taking us down memory lane love your videos ant wait to see the gopro videos 😃❤️
5:15 This store on the left used to be called "Pigeon Market" and was there for years. Just across the street to where the condos are. That used to have a 3 story building with a store front facing the street. I can't remember the year that it happened but a person was BBQ on their porch and it caught on fire. The building was to badly damaged so it was torn down and the condo's were built in it's place. When I came to Manchester in 1999 I lived at 620 Silver St before moving over to 318 Spruce St. where I lived with my family for 13 years.
I now recall Pigeons , thanks for reminding me
14:09 The building on the corner of Wilson/Spruce St used to have apartments upstairs and shops below. One of those shops was a Pawn Shop called Ande's Buy and Sell. I still have a business card from that place. Sadly years ago while living on Spruce St. Ande's had a fire in the store room (rear of the building) and the owner decided to not do any work on the structure to bring it back up to code. It sat for many many years then another person bought the building, Did some renovations but then walked away from it. Now it sits as you see it. Completely unfinished and left to rot.
lol
10:04 This home was owned by a nice lady and her son. For the 13 years I lived on Spruce Street I would often see them sitting on the porch. They were such nice people. After I moved from Spruce St. to the West Side of Manchester (2012) I learned the mother had passed away. Her son now in his 50's simply moved away and left the building to as we see it today in 2023. :( IF you were ever able to see the inside it had the original old wood trim and hardwood floors.
Great video
I watched The Cars play at St Cecilia hall in the 70's
Really? Thats so cool.
7:48 I still have photos of the old plaza here which had a NH DHHS office, Family Dollar, Bambo Garden and a Liquor Store and where I started working Vista Foods which was located where the gas station used to be in that corner of the lot.. I have photos showing how they tore down the old buildings and build new ones. Happy to share these photos with you anytime. IF you go into pizza shop there you will find a collage my wife and I did for the owners of the pizza shop. It is located in the hallway that connects the bar to the restaurant.
I had my Jack and Jill and St Cecilia Hall in 1973
16:09 Some original wood work is still available on the second floor where there was a balcony... But when you walk into the MPAL you can't see such a balcony because it is hidden above the suspended ceiling there. Shame that it's not as it used to look like.
5:34 This new building in the video where all the construction is... That used to be a three story apartment building. Sadly I lost my friend, her boyfriend and her two children in that fire. From the security camera across the street it recorded smoke coming out of vinyl siding in the back where porches were enclosed on the second floor. In the video footage you can then see on the third floor flames starting to make it way from the crawl space in the roof to the outside. :( That was a sad day for me.
O at 3:30 the green bldg is or was used for storage for a lanlord in the area and that white bldg down the road was a coinshop. 5:30 thts actualley an appliance and gas fitter shop but for some reason they sell yardsale items always have for some strange reason. By the way your in my back yard im shocked as hell you have done my childhood mountian bike paths now you are in my present nieghborhood 😅
Hey! Just a quick heads-up, "Cilley Road" is pronounced like "silly." Love your content! Keep exploring
source: i worked at papa johns on elm st and south willow for many years starting in the early 2000's and i never heard anyone pronounce it any other way. That includes every old timer who ordered pizza back when you had to call it in and could pay with a check.
That's what I thought 👍👍
Good information , keep up with the exploring 😮
Re pronunciation: It's Cilley RD, not St. Pronounced. As in "silly." Are you native??