Elderly Lawrencians nostalgically recall the bustle and commercial activity along Essex Street, our main thoroughfare. They remembered crowded stores, merchants displaying their best merchandise in their windows and above all, plenty of customers ready to buy. Those were different times. It was a time when there were plenty of factories that provided employment to thousands of people who met their needs only walking a few steps to downtown. There was no other place to shop.
Today, factories are silent, their buildings are mostly converted into offices and apartments and at a short drive, malls providing everything imaginable and more, and not always at the best prices.
This not only happens in Lawrence, it’s happening across the country. Even big cities are victims of progress. The difference is that in Lawrence, a group of people said, “We can change this!” And set out to create the first celebration of our downtown. They joined forces with city authorities, the business owners along Essex Street responded, they closed the street to traffic and from morning till evening pedestrians seized the street.
It is true that the attendance was not as big as desired. Among them we heard comments that maybe, if we advertise it with more time, we will have better success.
That’s what we wanted to hear; we’re talking about next time and that’s what matters.
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