Forgotten Early 1900's Neighborhood Community of Manchester, NH In Neglect.

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:01]Hello everybody and welcome to Manchester Explore.

[00:00:05]I'm back on Douglas Street on the west side of Manchester, New Hampshire.

[00:00:11]I made a few videos about this area a little while ago, but I managed to dig up a few more photos and some more information about it.

[00:00:20]But this area was built up during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

[00:00:26]It used to comprise of European and French Canadian immigrants and there used to be a lot of small community stores in this area that I'm about to show you.

[00:00:39]And in this first photo in this abandoned derelict building on Douglas Street once stood R. Heckers & Co.

[00:00:50]From 1892 to 1951, it operated as a grocery store located in the heart of this historic German West Side community.

[00:01:00]It was named after Reinhard J. Hecker, the store's founder.

[00:01:06]And in this photo, you can also see the Workman's Club that's still in operation today.

[00:01:12]And here's the photo.

[00:01:22]And here's another photo depicting a woman named Leafy Rose King Gold that was likely taken between 1935 and 1940.

[00:01:31]About a decade before the store closed.

[00:01:41]Most of the people watching this video will remember this old store as being a tire warehouse before it was boarded up.

[00:01:52]And also, if you noticed in the photo with the woman depicted in front of the store, there used to be a Moxie hand-painted mural on the side of this building, which may still exist behind this vinyl siding, but I'm not sure.

[00:02:18]Let's get some footage of this boarded-up building.

[00:02:25]Like I was saying just a little while ago, it was a warehouse or a tire warehouse, which is what the company was named.

[00:02:33]But as you can see, the storefront was highly modified over the years as it nothing resembles the original storefront.

[00:02:42]And in that photo, we could also see the Workman's Club, which we're going to get to next.

[00:02:51]Here's an undated photo of the Workman's Social Club, likely taken after its completion in 1883 as it was decorated with bunting draped along its exterior.

[00:03:04]The decorative bunting might have been put in place to celebrate its grand opening, but I'm not certain. And here's the photo.

[00:03:16]Also in the photo, if you notice, the Hecker grocery store that I just showed you wasn't present yet.

[00:03:26]Also, in the right side corner of that photo, you can see a brick building that used to stand where this parking lot now exists.

[00:03:39]And now, let's get some footage of the Workman's Club as it stands today.

[00:03:45]And as you can see, it's just a shadow of its former self as none of the details exist anymore.

[00:03:53]As once again, it's been covered in vinyl siding.

[00:04:12]My next location is on West Street, right around the corner.

[00:04:17]But believe it or not, this yellow apartment building holds a lot of history.

[00:04:23]As you can see above the first floor windows, there's some cedar shakes that are draped along the front of the building.

[00:04:31]But believe it or not, on the first floor of this building, as crazy as it seems, once existed a community store as I dug up a photo dated to 1919.

[00:04:42]The grocery store went by the name Goodrow Brothers.

[00:04:46]I couldn't dig up much information about it, but the building also housed Doongard Brothers Shoe Repair on the right side of the building as well.

[00:04:56]And here's the photo.

[00:05:05]Pretty crazy, isn't it, when you really think about what used to exist in this area and what's become of it?

[00:05:13]But that building directly in front of me on the corner likely held a store as well as you can see that brick on the bottom of it.

[00:05:23]This parking lot that I'm standing in, there was something here as well.

[00:05:28]And this garage likely There was also likely a store here as well at one point in time. Although I'm not 100% certain, but if I were to guess, there was.

[00:05:41]But right now we'll head to one more location, which is directly in front of me.

[00:05:52]This building located on West Street was once known as Rasp's Market, a popular German deli and meat market.

[00:06:01]The market was owned by Max Rasp, a Bavarian immigrant who became a popular local businessman.

[00:06:08]It was highly regarded for its delicious sausages and specialized German meats, which Max processed in his own small factory pictured here.

[00:06:23]The shop was once a staple of this thriving tight-knit West Side community and remained in business until the early '70s.

[00:06:31]And here's a photo depicting the exterior of Rasp's Market.

[00:06:45]And here's one more photo depicting the interior of Rasp's Market.

[00:06:51]And also who I believe are his sons standing next to him.

[00:06:59]And before I conclude this video, let's get a good shot of what remains of Rasp's Market.

[00:07:06]As you can see, the store has been heavily modified, but the top portion is still mostly original.

[00:07:15]And before we conclude this video, once again, please like and subscribe, and thanks for watching.