French Hill
French Hill, surmounted by the dark spire of Bayfriar’s Church, includes some of New Jerusalem’s oldest homes. Still populated predominantly by Irish, brick row houses, gambrel roofs, and occasional decayed Georgian houses of impressive proportions line the hill. Some houses perch here precariously, tilting crazily over the narrow streets. Many of the lanes and alleys are no more than flights of stairs that twist upward to end at dark doorways.
The more prosperous Irish live on the east side of the hill and down across East Street in newer, more expensive homes with small front and back yards. The north slope of the hill is populated by the poorest Irish, a few Poles, and many of New Jerusalem’s French-Canadians. The western slope is mostly poor Irish and a few Poles.
The Polish district, an area of clustered gambrel and gable-roofed houses, is roughly the six blocks within College, Peabody, High, and Garrison, on the southwest foot of the hill.
Notable Locations
- Almen's Flowers - 295 S Garrison St
- Bayfriar's Church - 540 E Church St
- Blakeman House - 103 E Pitman St
- Campus Bicycle Shop - 146 W Church St
- Eben S. Draper Public School - 373 S Peabody Ave
- First Baptist Church of New Jerusalem - 214 Lich St
- French Hill Transformer Station - 471 S French Hill St
- Griffen Matthews Photographer - 297 E College St
- Imperial Theater - 348 French Hill Street
- Keenan's Laundry - 152 E College St
- Lewiston House - 161 E College St
- Mehler's Funeral Parlor - 171 Lich St
- Missituk University Garage - 334 S Parsonage St
- Old Jerusalem Graveyard - 250 E Church St
- Orne's Gangway - Next to 780 S French Hill St
- Parish St. Michael's Community Center - 209 S Peabody Ave
- The Parisian - 485 Powder Mill St
- Paul’s Steak House - 140 E College Street
- Smith's Boarding House - 288 Lich St
- Southside Gym - 348 S Sentinel St
- St. Lucy’s School for the Blind -351 Powder Mill St
- St. Michael's Catholic Church - 432 Lich St
- University Spa - 311 S Garrison Street
- Varsity Barber - 259 1/2 S Garrison St
- Walgreen's Drugs - SE Corner of Garrison and Church
- Witch House Empty Lot - 197 E Pitman St
- Y.M.C.A - 477 Powder Mill St
Maps
-
French Hill Color
Type
Neighbourhood
Included Locations
- Almen's Flowers - 295 S Garrison St
- Bayfriar's Church - 540 E Church St
- Blakeman House - 103 E Pitman St
- Campus Bicycle Shop - 146 W Church St
- Eben S. Draper Public School - 373 S Peabody Ave
- First Baptist Church of New Jerusalem - 214 Lich St
- French Hill Transformer Station - 471 S French Hill St
- Griffen Matthews Photographer - 297 E College St
- Imperial Theater - 348 French Hill Street
- Keenan's Laundry - 152 E College St
- Lewiston House - 161 E College St
- Mehler's Funeral Parlor - 171 Lich St
- Missituk University Garage - 334 S Parsonage St
- Old Jerusalem Graveyard - 250 E Church St
- Orne's Gangway - Next to 780 S French Hill St
- Parish St. Michael's Community Center - 209 S Peabody Ave
- Paul’s Steak House - 140 E College Street
- Smith's Boarding House - 288 Lich St
- Southside Gym - 348 S Sentinel St
- St. Lucy’s School for the Blind -351 Powder Mill St
- St. Michael's Catholic Church - 432 Lich St
- The Parisian - 485 Powder Mill St
- University Spa - 311 S Garrison Street
- Varsity Barber - 259 1/2 S Garrison St
- Walgreen's Drugs - SE Corner of Garrison and Church
- Witch House Empty Lot - 197 E Pitman St
- Y.M.C.A - 477 Powder Mill St
Comments