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| 36 Kaveney Street | St Joan of Arc School | St Rose de Lima Church |
HOME, SCHOOL, AND CHURCH
Les Fournier grew up at 36 Kaveney Street in the Aldenville neighborhood of Chicopee. About 700 feet from their home stands Ste Rose de Lima Church and St Joan of Arc School. These three places played a major role in Les Fournier's daily life. The unity and connection between home, church, and school created a large and lively parish family which Les grew up in.
The Fourniers, like many families in the Aldenville neighborhood were of French Canadian ancestry. Their Quebec heritage was preserved through the frequent use of the French language in the home, at church, and in school. Although Les was an only child, he was not alone. The house at Kaveney Street was also home to Les's grandparents, and aunt and uncle who lived upstairs. In addition, Les's many other aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors would visit frequently keeping the house alive and busy.
Les was a student and graduate of St Joan of Arc, the parish school. His mother Lillian was also an alumni of the school as were several aunts and uncles. Les speaks fondly of his years at the school and felt it gave him a quality elementary education. At the time the school was staffed by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary who lived in a convent across the street from the school. He remembers each morning a large orderly procession of nuns crossing Grattan Street from the convent to the school. Les agrees that the nuns were strict but felt it kept the focus on learning and self control. He also emphasizes the sisters dedication.
As an example of the nuns authority, Les tells a story of a large teenage basketball player who one day disobeyed the teacher. He was told to report to the principal's office but decided to challenge this request. The teacher responded with vigor, pulled out the clappers and stood up from her desk. The nun was a small short woman, and the large student towered over her. Despite this the boy became frightened, jumped over a desk and ran out of the class compiling with the request to report to the principal.
Les's closest group of childhood friends included Earl Roberts, Bob Harvey, Jerry Fournier, and Dick Fulton.
Throughout his school years Les was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout with Troop 138. He was very active in scouting and achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Through his participation in the various Boy Scout activities Les became very involved with the neighborhood and parish.
During the summers he would attend the boy scout camp Woronoak in Blandford. Les really enjoyed this camp as it provided a large range of outdoor experiences, competitions, challenges, and learning. Later he would become an assistant scoutmaster at the camp.
After St Joan of Arc Les attended Precious Blood High School in Holyoke for two years, later transferring to Chicopee High School where he graduated.
In 1956 Les would join the Massachusetts National Guard Company C, 104th Infantry Regiment. In 1957 he would receive basic training at Fort Dix, NJ. Later he went to Fort Jackson, SC for additional training.
In the late 1950s Les took an interest in working on cars, modifying them ("souped up") for higher performance. He formed a car club with other car enthusiasts. They were given permission to use a vacant car dealership on Front Street in Chicopee Center for their activities. The club met regularly and put on several events.
At the same time Les became involved with Scuba diving. He enjoyed going diving with friends throughout New England in various lakes, rivers, as well as the ocean. He received diving training from a friend who was an expert diver in the Navy.
One year he and his friend Dick Manning built a house boat and put it on Otis reservoir. That summer Les and a friend spent the summer diving there mapping the entire reservoir underwater.
As the 1950s came to a close Les was turning twenty one years old. The 1960s would bring marriage, a child, and the start of a long career as an master electrician. The years of his youth provided Les with many good memories and a bounty of stories which stirred my interest and wonder.