Chapter 1: The house where Jack Kerouac was born, 9 Lupine Road, Lowell, Massachusetts

(duration: 11 min. 57 sec.)



In this first chapter, Mr. Brunelle introduces us to the house where the man who would later become an icon of American literature was born. He begins his talk by telling when and how the Kirouac family settled in Lowell. He then continues with the story of Jack's birth by quoting the author himself in his book Doctor Sax. Finally, Mr. Brunelle tells us about one of his fellow Franco-Americans, the doctor who gave birth to Jack Kerouac.

Chapter 2: Place of death of Jack Kerouac's older brother, Gérard Kerouac, 34 Beaulieu Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 8 min. 36 sec.)



This second chapter is devoted to the circumstances surrounding the death of the man who greatly marked Jack's life, his older brother Gérard. This great misfortune for Jack and his family occurred on June 2, 1926 at this address on rue Beaulieu in Lowell. Mr. Brunelle takes advantage of this break to read and comment on a passage from Visions of Gerard in which Jack tells the story of a cat and a mouse.

Chapter 3: École Saint-Louis-de-France where Jack Kerouac studied at Lowell, 77 Boisvert Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 10 min. 6 sec.)

Here, Mr. Brunelle introduces us to the Catholic school Saint-Louis-de-France where the author Jack Kerouac did his primary studies. By his words, it is also the life of all the schoolchildren of the Franco-American community of the 1930s and 1940s that Mr. Brunelle leads us to perceive.

Chapter 4: 16 Phebe Avenue and 35 Sarah Avenue, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 7 min. 30 sec.)



This visit shows us the house located at 16 Phebe Avenue where Jack's family moved in 1932. However, it is at number 35 Sarah Avenue, just next door, where the family moved the following year. , that Monsieur Brunelle tells us about the descriptions made by Jack in Doctor Sax. When writing these descriptions, when he was in Mexico, Jack saw himself as a child residing at this address.

Chapter 5: Lowell High School Clock Site, Kirk Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 3 min. 4 sec.)

This time, Mr. Brunelle takes us to the site of the Lowell High School clock where Jack Kerouac studied between 1937 and 1939. This place, always popular with young people from Lowell served, and still serves, as a meeting place for students. Jack talks about it in his book Maggie Cassidy. Here, Mr. Brunelle tells an anecdote that his uncle, a contemporary of Jack, told him about something that happened under this clock.

Chapter 6: Pollard Memorial Library, 401 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 5 min. 22 sec.)

In this sixth chapter, Mr. Brunelle takes us to the municipal library of Lowell where Jack went very regularly. He shows us the place where he became familiar with American and French literature and where he spent almost more time than at school.

Chapter 7: Hobby Club, 371 Moody Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 8 min. 13 sec.)

At the Club Passe-temps, frequented by Jack Kerouac, Mr. Brunelle tells us about the role of these social clubs during the 20th century and emphasizes their importance for the survival of French in the industrial towns of New England. Moreover, in his words we perceive the whole drama of Franco-Americanism in the 20th century. He ends by emphasizing Jack's need to frequent these social clubs to hear the sound of French.

Chapter 8: Stations of the Cross and grotto, corner of Pawtucket and School streets, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 5 min. 27 sec.)

Lowell's grotto is a reproduction of Massabielle's grotto in Lourdes; this grotto and its way of the cross are very frequented by the citizens of the city. Jack described it in his book Doctor Sax and Mr. Brunelle reads this passage to us.

Chapter 9: Archambault Funeral Home, 311 Pawtucket Street and Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, 741 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 2 min. 29 sec.)

In this ninth chapter, Mr. Brunelle tells us how the choice of the funeral home and the church where Jack's funeral took place in 1969 was made.

Chapter 10: St. John the Baptist Church, 741 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 6 min. 23 sec.)

In front of this church, now unoccupied, where Jack Kerouac's funeral was celebrated in October 1969, Mr. Brunelle tells us about the generosity of Franco-Americans towards the Catholic Church. Secondly, he tells us about the learning conditions of students in Catholic schools during the first half of the 20th century, when Jack Kerouac went to school.

Chapter 11: Burial of Jack Kerouac, Edson Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 3 min. 38 sec.)

This visit to the places marked by Jack Kerouac could not be complete without passing by the place of his burial, at the Edson cemetery in Lowell. During our visit, Mr. Brunelle read a special poem found on Jack's grave. Visitors then talk about a childhood friend of Jack who died in the war and who also wanted to become a writer like his friend Jack.

Chapter 12: Jack Kerouac Memorial Park, Lowell, Massachusetts,

(duration: 13 min. 8 sec.)

After the death of the writer, the City of Lowell wanted to pay him a special tribute and a park was erected in his memory. In this video clip, Mr. Brunelle describes this park and tells a few facts about its design. He goes on to tell us about Jack's language and what he wanted to do with it. Finally, he speaks of the greatness of the writer.