Jean-Simon Rhéaume – Contributor 

With Halloween just passed, the spirit of the holiday was unmistakable on Lennoxville’s iconic Reed Street. The beloved annual Reed Street Halloween party brings together costumed students, neighbours and curious spectators from all over town. Every year, pumpkins appear on balconies, colourful lights stretch from house to house and the street becomes the setting for one of the most anticipated fall celebrations in Sherbrooke’s student community. For people who think Lennoxville is a quiet borough of the city, Reed Street shows that sometimes even a small street can become the center of the action.

Photo courtesy of Jean-Simon Rheaume

Today, Reed Street is mostly inhabited by students, many of whom are studying at Bishop’s University or Bishop’s College School nearby. The houses are often shared by groups of friends, and the neighbourhood has a lively reputation. Throughout the school year, Reed Street hosts different events that shape local student culture: Homecoming in the early autumn, St. Patrick’s Day festivities when winter refuses to let Spring happen and of course, Halloween, where the street becomes almost like a movie set of spooky excitement. This cycle of celebrations gives Reed Street an identity full of energy and youthful spirit.

But before Reed Street became a gathering place of future graduates and late-night music, its beginnings were much more rural and modest. The name of the street remembers the story of two dairy producers: Edward Reed (1863–1915) and Robert Walter Reid (1877–1943). Their farm once covered the land where the street would later open. It is interesting to note, especially for history lovers, that from 1921 to 1945, the official spelling of the street’s name was “Reid Street,” before being changed to the current “Reed Street.” 

Even with its student atmosphere today, Reed Street keeps traces of its origins. The houses are still simple and practical, some with touches of old Eastern Townships charm. During certain moments of the year, like a quiet Sunday morning in the snow, you can still imagine cows grazing where now students park their cars between classes.

Reed Street has always been tied closely to the institutions that shaped Lennoxville. In the 19th century, the first location of the Lennoxville Classical School (the ancestor of Bishop’s College School) stood just nearby. Students and teachers walked this road long before it became known for parties and purple Gaiters jerseys. Education created the neighbourhood, and it remains the heart of its life.

Of course, with a lively population come changes and sometimes challenges. Noise complaints appear from time to time, especially after a big victory game. The city must balance student life with the comfort of permanent residents. But despite those growing pains, most people agree that Reed Street gives Lennoxville its charm. It is a street where young adults discover independence, where friendships and traditions begin and where the community, francophone and anglophone alike, celebrate the joy of living.

As Halloween approaches again, Reed Street prepares to glow with decorations and laughter. From dairy farmers to university students, from a dirt path through a farm to a famous street on social media during Homecoming weekends, Reed Street has lived many lives. And year after year, it continues to write a story that is far bigger than its short length on a map.