P.O. Box 1826, Lowell, MA 01853
(978) 319-4631
LOWELL HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
FALL 2023, Volume 56, Number 4

The mission of the Lowell Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and publish materials related to Lowell and to encourage and promote the study of the city’s history.

√: Warren G. Harding and the Lowell Coal Crisis
√ Where is this "Ghost Sign"?
√ In the mail - James B. Francis documents from 1875
√ Where was . . . Maiden Lane?
√ Lowell history at auction
√ From the bookshelf - A Boston Harbor Islands Adventure
√ Photos from the 9/24 Author Talk by Stephanie Schorow at Talbot Chapel
√ The Lowell Cemetery Veterans Tour online or on-site
√ James B. Francis's gravestone and monument in the Lowell Cemetery
√ Great photos of Lowell - Where was this saw mill?
√ LHS Blogs
√ Past newsletters,
√ Membership
√ Corporate Sponsors
Detail from photo - "Lowell boys try to keep warm at 5:30 am while waiting for coal on Feb. 24, 1923."

In February 1923, temperatures in Lowell, were in the double digits below zero . . . and there was a coal shortage due to earlier strikes.

Read about the efforts of Lowell citizens to inform President Harding of the seriousness of the situation and advocate for help.
Thanks to the Ohio History Connection for the blog and the photos of 1923 Lowell
While the revered “Ghost Signs” of Lowell are fading, most are in full view.

Here is a Ghost Sign that is both spectral and mostly hidden.
Where is this "Ghost Sign"?

What was it advertising?

Why is it mostly hidden from public view?
In the mail . . .
We all love to get surprises in the mail, right?

Well, the Society got one recently from Don Shanks of Tryon, North Carolina. Born in Lowell, Don sent us a collection of original documents left to him by his late uncle, Clarence Hildreth (also of Lowell).

The material, dated 1875, includes plans and correspondence related to the Dam on the Merrimack River.

Of great interest are the letters and notes signed by Locks and Canals Chief Engineer, James B. Francis (1815 - 1892).

These are great additions to our collection. Thank you Don, for preserving these wonderful pieces of Lowell history!
Lowell City Engineers Collection [UML]
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Where was . . . Maiden Lane?
What is there today?
Lowell history at auction

Items from Lowell's history were on the auction block in New York City in September

FROM THE BOOKSHELF
 
By Pauline M. Golec

From the moment I saw the elegant cover picturing a woman facing an island in Boston
Harbor, I was hooked. A BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS ADVENTURE - THE GREAT BREWSTER JOURNAL OF 1891 does not disappoint. This book written by Stephanie Schorow and the Friends of Boston Harbor Islands (including Martha Mayo, Lowell historian) is rich and comprehensive.

At its core, it features a journal hand written (also conveniently transcribed) by 4 Lowell
women who spent 17 days on Great Brewster Island in the summer of 1891. They called themselves "The Merrie Trippers," and their journal names were "Ye Autocrat", "Ye Aristocrat", "Ye Acrobat", and "Ye Scribe". The journal does not mention their families or current events; it lists their meals and details of their daily chores and activities. I was delighted to see references to their nightly reading. They included literary quotes and lines of poetry in their journal as well as their own lovely water colors and relevant photos.

But there's more than the journal in this book. An introductory section identifies these Lowell women. Of particular interest is "Ye Scribe," Helen Augusta Whittier (among her many accomplishments was running a Lowell mill).

And there's even more. This book includes a brief history of Great Brewster Island
and a solid listing of reference sources.

Copies of this book are available at lala books in downtown Lowell.
Photo credit: Kevin Harkin
Author Stephanie Schorow recently spoke about her book at an event sponsored by the Lowell Historical Society, the Pollard Memorial Library, and the Lowell Cemetery. The event was held in the Talbot Chapel at the Lowell Cemetery on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Attendees were treated to an engaging discussion that shed light on the inspiration behind the book and the fascinating historical context it presents. For more photos of the event, visit Kevin Harkin's website.
Photo credits: Kevin Harkin
Take the Lowell Cemetery Veterans Tour online or on-site with the Google Map created by Richard Howe. Click here for more information and links to the maps.
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James B. Francis lived in Lowell with his wife Sarah and his six children on Worthen Street. The house was previously the home of George Washington Whistler and was the birthplace of James McNeil Whistler. Today it is the Whistler House Museum.

Francis is buried in the Lowell Cemetery. His gravestone is built out of granite like the canals, and the stones are laid similarly to the canal granite.

The plot is in on Oberlin Ave, Lot 1392
The image above is a detail of a photograph of the Brooks Saw Mill from the private collection of Artemas L. Brooks's great great granddaughter Kathryn "Kate" Knudsen.

Kate grew up in Brockton and lives in Mechanicsburg, PA. More photos from her collection will appear in future newsletters. Thanks Kate!

A. L. Brooks (1803 - 1878) was a businessman, inventor, and abolitionist. This saw mill was just one of his many investments in Lowell.

Read the past newsletters -
The 2005 - 2023 newsletters of the Lowell Historical Society are available online!

Thank you to our Corporate Donors who help to guarantee that Lowell’s history, stories, and artifacts are maintained for future generations.