Nashua This 'n That

Life has mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels in and around the city of Nashua, NH, and here's a brief look at some things that have been happening around the city. 

(Spoiler alert: it's a longish post with many lots of photo images.)

July 4 fireworks lit up the skies all around the mill apartment. A light drizzle started right before they went off at 9 pm, but didn't dampen the spirits of residents who gathered riverside to watch the light show even as the rain grew steadier. We heard fireworks until midnight.

La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française

These very colorful blooms, planted by the Nashua Parks & Recreation Dept, are along the Nashua River riverwalk, surrounding La Dame de Notre Renaissance Française. This 6-foot bronze sculpture of an 1870s French-Canadian millworker and her young son sits on a 3-foot base. Created by female sculptor Christopher R. Gowell, it was dedicated in 2001 and is in honor of the women who labored in the Nashua textile mills and the centerpiece in Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Français, a pocket park popularly called the French Park. 

The city's Parks & Recreation Dept is also responsible for the flowers these and other planters in and around the city. All are maintained throughout the season.

Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Française, Nashua, NH

This flower garden is along the riverwalk also in the French Park and is tended by Clocktower Apt residents and our neighbors, Lorraine and Geff. 

Clocktower Apartments formerly Nashua Manufacturing Company

This view shows the bell tower stop the mill apartment building known as Clocktower 1. The Nashua Manufacturing Company Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1987.

1823 incorporation date of Nashua Manufacturing Company is still visible today

The National Register is managed by the National Park Service as the nation’s official list of historic structures. The National Register focuses on buildings over 50 years old. Currently, there's more than 80,000 listings — buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects — at least one listing from nearly every state in the U.S.

Bell formerly housed in Nashua Manufacturing Company bell tower

The white bell tower (cupola with a bell) shown above formerly housed this ↑ bell which would summon mill workers. As noted on the accompanying plaque it was also an unofficial timepiece for Nashua citizens as it was rung hourly. It was removed many years ago due to safety concerns and is placed in a designated area near the Clocktower 1 building. 

Scaffolding in place for bell tower repairs

Needed repairs are being made to the bell tower as its wooded structure had been deteriorating rotting away over the years. Extensive scaffolding now surrounds the bell tower and entryway to our apt building. The scaffolding was put up over a period of 2 weeks. Repairs are expected to take up many more weeks. Then, it's another long process to remove the scaffolding.

Dual clocktowers at Clocktower Apartments, Nashua, NH

The mill apartment building was renamed Clocktower Apartments, because of these ↑ two clocktowers. One is positioned in the middle of the nearly quarter mile building and another at one of the far ends. Both clocks are functional.

Interior view of Clocktower 1 pendulum clock

A couple of years ago, we were fortunate enough to have seen the inside of the tower shown on the right above. The pendulum structure was manually wound by a maintenance employee for many years, but has since been modified to run on electrical power.

There's many large outdoor murals in downtown Nashua. The top one which depicts the Yankee Clipper Diner and is located almost directly across from City Hall on Main Street. it was painted in 1997 by artist and Nashua native James Aponovich whose paintings are included in many collections throughout the country, including the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Art Institute of Chicago and Portland Museum of Art.

This movie mural was painted several years ago on the side of a building that was once one of the city's three movie houses. It depicts scenes from Gone with the Wind, the Blob, and It's a Wonderful Life.

These images of current and former Nashua storefront are painted on a wall on Water St.

These three images show the former Nashua Manufacturing Company, a former hotel and a city street in (many) days gone by. 

These images are the work of street artist Manny Ramirez, artist-in-residence at Positive Street Art, a non-profit urban arts organization in Nashua. The group has created numerous murals in and around the city. Later this summer, we plan to take a walking tour to see and photograph murals and sculptures around the city.

Demolition of Alec's Shoes and proposed Nashua Performing Arts Center

In late spring, Alec's Shoes, a downtown store that was a Main Street landmark was razed to make way for a $25 million performing arts center project with expected completion in 1-1/2 years in the heart of Nashua’s downtown. It's expected to be open during the summer of 2022 and happily is within walking distance of our apt. The shoe store earlier located to a larger, newer facility outside the city's downtown.

Outside our apt entry, Percy Penguin, Ferdinand Frog and Sam Snowman were "hatted out" for the July holiday. The seashells are my seasonal decor.

Many thank to all fellow bloggers who visited the blog sites of fellow bloggers Rita and Mildred to offer support, encouragement and comfort. All were much appreciated by both ladies.