French Canadians left an indelible mark on the business district around Lafayette Square
Mike Richard
Special for The Gardner News
While the businesses in the cluster at 110-134 Parker St. were never part of a named block, there were many stores and shops that flourished in the area over the years.
The structure at 110-118 Parker St. was built in 1900 and located just to the right of Robillard’s Pharmacy approaching Lafayette Square.
This section of Gardner, near Nichols and Parker streets, was once dubbed Canuck Corner because of the large French-Canadian population that settled there. In time, the French Church (Holy Rosary) was built a short distance away, while the Acadien Social Club was also in the neighborhood.