I remember going to eat at Fieldstones in the mid sixties as a teen with my parents. The ambiance and character are what I remember the most. We lived two houses down from Ed Romeo on Howell Drive and was friendly with his daughter Margaret. When we did go you could see Mr. Romeo as the greeter and organizer, always moving around and making sure you had everything you needed, very professional. We moved to Florida in 67 so I was not around when the buildings were razed. What a shame that we have to say goodbye to such properties with so much history
Hi Marilyn, great story! My brothers and I used to deliver the Lawrence Eagle Tribune to the Elks Club. We lived on Alderbrook Road. I only knew it as the Elks Club, not Fieldstones. We also used to get our Christmas trees from there.
Hi Marilyn, I had to smile when I read through this story. I did eat there a few times before it closed. My Uncle David Batchelder was an Office of the Elks Lodge and was there several times when I was there when it was their lodge. They sold Christmas trees so most of my parent's trees came from their lot. We had my Dad's retirement party there too. About 200 family and friends gather for that in November 1978. I think that was the last time I was there until I had to photograph the house and barns before it was sold and razed. In the Fieldstone's story newspaper article it mentioned Flora Raidy and her sister as waitresses. Flora Raidy married Ronald Valentine, who was born at 53 Red Spring Rd. (our former house). They built a house on Reservation Rd which my Dad helped get their roof on before winter weather came. Flora also gave me her yearbook from Punchard when I was having them scanned onto Micofilm. She then donated it to the History Center. How is that for full circle? I'm sure the photos and negatives are at ACHC too.
I joined the ELKS in 1969 when we first moved to South Main Street. It was the perfect facility for us and it attracted over 100 new members. Although I never became a Lodge Officer I did serve in several capacities- mostly legal. Sadly time took its toll on the membership and we failed to attract a sufficient number of new members and it became clear that we could no longer stay on South Main Street. We sold a small parcel for a private home which helped financially but the handwriting was on the wall. We first offered the property to the Town because it adjoined a large tract of Town land which was virtually landlocked. We figured that our 9 acres would be an ideal location for a school or a fire station and our asking price was not only reasonable but negotiable. Unfortunately one of Selectmen for some reason strongly opposed the purchase by the Town of the site and he managed to kill the deal. So we sold it to a developer who transferred it to the current Montessori school. I represented the Lodge at the sale and it almost felt as though I was selling a friend of the family. It was a fine restaurant and it served our ELKS Lodge admirably and it is a shame the Town could not have acquired it.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Fieldstones. When we first moved to Andover, we lived directly opposite the Elks Lodge. The Elks Lodge barn was leaning a bit to the side but otherwise all was well. At Christmastime it was very convenient to just walk across the street to buy our tree and carry it home. I also remember a man who on occasional evenings would play his bagpipes in the parking lot. It was rather ethereal and pleasant.
My husband and I used to go to Fieldstones when we were first married and had moved to Andover. We loved the restaurant especially on snowy evenings on the weekends. We loved the ambiance and used to sit upstairs looking out a window. And later when the restaurant had closed. I used to go there for Wgt. Watchers meetings when the Elks owned it.
Hi Sandy, Thank you for posting. I agree. I never ate at Fieldstones, We moved to Andover in the early 1980s and lived across the street from the Elks Lodge. I was sad to see the old buildings be sold.
Hi Marilyn,
I remember going to eat at Fieldstones in the mid sixties as a teen with my parents. The ambiance and character are what I remember the most. We lived two houses down from Ed Romeo on Howell Drive and was friendly with his daughter Margaret. When we did go you could see Mr. Romeo as the greeter and organizer, always moving around and making sure you had everything you needed, very professional. We moved to Florida in 67 so I was not around when the buildings were razed. What a shame that we have to say goodbye to such properties with so much history
Dave Abbott - Louisburg, NC
Hi Marilyn, great story! My brothers and I used to deliver the Lawrence Eagle Tribune to the Elks Club. We lived on Alderbrook Road. I only knew it as the Elks Club, not Fieldstones. We also used to get our Christmas trees from there.
Hi Marilyn, I had to smile when I read through this story. I did eat there a few times before it closed. My Uncle David Batchelder was an Office of the Elks Lodge and was there several times when I was there when it was their lodge. They sold Christmas trees so most of my parent's trees came from their lot. We had my Dad's retirement party there too. About 200 family and friends gather for that in November 1978. I think that was the last time I was there until I had to photograph the house and barns before it was sold and razed. In the Fieldstone's story newspaper article it mentioned Flora Raidy and her sister as waitresses. Flora Raidy married Ronald Valentine, who was born at 53 Red Spring Rd. (our former house). They built a house on Reservation Rd which my Dad helped get their roof on before winter weather came. Flora also gave me her yearbook from Punchard when I was having them scanned onto Micofilm. She then donated it to the History Center. How is that for full circle? I'm sure the photos and negatives are at ACHC too.
Hi Jim, Glad that the story brought back good memories. Somehow I knew you would have a connection to share! Thanks.
I joined the ELKS in 1969 when we first moved to South Main Street. It was the perfect facility for us and it attracted over 100 new members. Although I never became a Lodge Officer I did serve in several capacities- mostly legal. Sadly time took its toll on the membership and we failed to attract a sufficient number of new members and it became clear that we could no longer stay on South Main Street. We sold a small parcel for a private home which helped financially but the handwriting was on the wall. We first offered the property to the Town because it adjoined a large tract of Town land which was virtually landlocked. We figured that our 9 acres would be an ideal location for a school or a fire station and our asking price was not only reasonable but negotiable. Unfortunately one of Selectmen for some reason strongly opposed the purchase by the Town of the site and he managed to kill the deal. So we sold it to a developer who transferred it to the current Montessori school. I represented the Lodge at the sale and it almost felt as though I was selling a friend of the family. It was a fine restaurant and it served our ELKS Lodge admirably and it is a shame the Town could not have acquired it.
Hi John, it is so good to hear from you.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Fieldstones. When we first moved to Andover, we lived directly opposite the Elks Lodge. The Elks Lodge barn was leaning a bit to the side but otherwise all was well. At Christmastime it was very convenient to just walk across the street to buy our tree and carry it home. I also remember a man who on occasional evenings would play his bagpipes in the parking lot. It was rather ethereal and pleasant.
My husband and I used to go to Fieldstones when we were first married and had moved to Andover. We loved the restaurant especially on snowy evenings on the weekends. We loved the ambiance and used to sit upstairs looking out a window. And later when the restaurant had closed. I used to go there for Wgt. Watchers meetings when the Elks owned it.
Sure miss the restaurant! It was a gem!
Sandy Bertetti
Hi Sandy, Thank you for posting. I agree. I never ate at Fieldstones, We moved to Andover in the early 1980s and lived across the street from the Elks Lodge. I was sad to see the old buildings be sold.