The House on Meadow Street
Synopsis:
The House on Meadow Street tells the story of a Portuguese-German-Austrian family living in a three-decker house in Fall River, Massachusetts, from the early 1950s to the early 2000s.
The narrator, the eldest daughter of nine children, captures the essence of a neighborhood dominated by the textile industry, the construction of the Braga Bridge, and the arrival of the USS Massachusetts.
At the heart of the story are her parents: a German Austrian father, Alfred whose ancestors escaped Hitler’s Europe and a devoted mother, Lydia whose parents emigrated from the Portuguese Azores.
The narrative explores themes of sacrifice, multi-generational living, and the enduring power of family traditions, from hand-kneaded malasadas to a father's life-saving heroism during a tragic renovation.
Beneath the shadow of the Braga Bridge and the gray hull of the Big Mamie, a Fall River triple-decker held the world of the Matti family.
For Theresa, the eldest daughter of nine children, life was a vertical journey through the layers of her heritage: from her Vavo’s second-floor sanctuary of lace and sweet bread to the bustling first-floor heart of the home.
At the center of this storm stood Theresa’s mother, Lydia - the tireless architect of a household of eleven.
While Theresa’s father, a man of restless Austrian grit, worked to anchor the family’s future, it was her mother’s hands that held the present together.
From stretching a dollar to clothe an army of six sisters to managing the quiet grief of a family tragedy, Lydia was the steady pulse that kept the light lit through fifty years of sacrifice.
But on Meadow Street, a single, harrowing afternoon in 1971 tested the family's foundations. In a story of mid-air heroism, hidden pasts, and a miraculous homecoming, The House on Meadow Street is a poignant tribute to a daughter’s resilience and a mother’s enduring strength - a reminder that the true jewels of a life are found in the love that survives the fall.
The House on Meadow Street - Reviews
Cynthia A.
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Berkley, MA
Great family read. Couldn't put it down!
Sharon64
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Fall River, MA
The house on meadow street is a book close to home. The author my sister Terrie describes her life as a simple life back in the day when we entertained ourselves and lived a simple life. I’m sure many people who read this book will find themselves reminiscing the days growing up! Excellent read.
Danielle M.
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Fall River, MA
My sister in law Theresa Matti is a very talented author! I have heard all those stories a thousand times but never the way she described them.
Judy L.
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Swansea, MA
Enjoyed every story, a true life experience!
I can picture almost everything you talked about, so glad to have met you and all your family, I couldn't have asked for better neighbors!
Tom A.
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Westborough, MA
A Real Meadow Street Time Capsule...
I enjoyed this book very much. It is a nostalgic and accurate depiction of what it was like to grow up during a time long gone, in a neighborhood that is part of the persona of anyone who grew up there. I remember you and your family and even have some vague early recollection of your Vavo and Vavu on the 2nd floor. You did a really good job of capturing the feeling of that time in Fall River and of the old neighborhood. Your description of the old, crumbling Turner Park pavilion and field house, and how we perceived it as young kids, was 'perfect'. Wishing you the best for your writing career and best regards, Tom A.
G. Pray
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Jacksonville, Florida
GREAT BOOK!
I really enjoyed this book. It is a great insight into family life from years ago. The book is well written and gives an insight of life in a community. I recommend this book for a fun nostalgic trip into the past of a loving family
Joyce K.
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Manchester, NH
I loved this book!
I truly loved it. I was born in 1954 in Fall River, the 3rd daughter in a family of 7 children. My father was Irish but my mother was half German and half Portuguese. We also lived in a tenement off Bay Street. As I read the book, I couldn't help but see the similarities and the differences. The food section was great. We were raised Catholic and attended St Patrick's Church. I too was baptized in the 3rd Baptist Church in FR. It was nice to look back on all the good stuff.
LeeAnna
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Castle Rock, Colorado
Amazing memories come to life!
It was such a wonderful experience to read stories about my family that I’ve heard about all my life with much more detail! Such a beautiful book about life on Meadow St and all the changes in Fall River over the years.
MBSilva
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Bradenton, Florida
True to the existence of everything that happened!
The house on Meadow Street was so true and such a heart warming story about this family that lived in this house reading it made me happy and some sad parts about how they went through life in the 50s and 60s and 70s you can only live through in this book. It was very interesting and I hope a lot of other people read it so they see what a family of 11 lived in an apartment through life and had to give up. I give an A+ to the author, a must read book.
David1957
☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
Bradenton, Florida
The House on Meadow Street
This is a very touching story about a family of 11 in Fall River, Mass. Good times, tragedies, and NEAR tragedies. Lydia, the family Matriarch, guided the family through it all with love and patience. The book tells their story. Beautifully written by Terrie, the eldest of six daughters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of true life.
