Over on the Lowell SUN Forum there has been a thread running since June 9th entitled “Do you Remember?” To date there have been 1099 comments – nostalgic memories of places, businesses, some people and aahh those youthful experiences. Granted some are off-the-wall, nutty and even weird. But it did get me thinking about how much people like to reminisce even when their recall might be somewhat imperfect. So I decided to use a “reliable source” – the Lowell Sunday SUN of October 1, 1972 – to remember “what was what” 36 years ago. Why 1972? Well, it was a hot political year at the national and local level – a time of turmoil, an unpopular war, calls for change, stock market unrest, unemployment woes, a presidential election and yet somethings were “business as usual.” Sound familiar?

  • The SUN editorial “Why McGovern trails…” listed many reasons all laid to George McGovern’s “continual nonsense statements.” Statements on bugging, bombing, barbarism aimed at President Nixon and accusations that the Senate “chamber reeks of blood” or any “young person or worker that votes for Nixon is too confused to know which end is up” are some examples.

  • The Congress was discussing reducing the SS retirement age to 60; welfare reform; guaranteeing a minimum annual income for a poor family.

  • Lowell City Manager Jim Sullivan and the City Council differed strongly on longevity pay for police and firefighters.

  • SUN schools reporter Carolyn Miegel reported her personal experience eating the cold but nutritionally acceptable lunch at AVCO – bologna & cheese sandwich with butter, a fresh peach, orange juice and milk. Lowell High School freshmen were housed at AVCO under the watchful administrative eye of Jimmy Finn. By the way most students were bussed there for free.

  • School Superintendent Hugh McDougall convened a meeting to explain the mandated bi-lingual programs.

  • Dr. Everett Olsen became the President of Lowell Tech (LTI).

  • The Lowell Central Labor Council met to endorse John Kerry for Congress in the 5th District while Roger Durkin supporters placed a nearly full page ad touting him as the Lowell candidate for the 5th Congressional District. George Jessel was booked for a Durkin fundraiser at the Speare House.

  • The SUNday Magazine’s feature story was “Recycling Lowell incinerator trash can produce valuable material.”

  • Human Services Corporation (HSC) arranged a Lowell-canals boat trip led by planner Gordon Marker that included a Congressional aide and Lowell SUN reporter Toni Parsons. “Can you envision the frame of the mills used for apartments, can you visualize boutiques, condominiums overlooking the canals and the Merrimack? Can you? Can you? Can you, Lowellian?” Marker barked during the tour.

  • A Belvidere Open House at a Trull Lane West home advertised a three-bedroom ranch at $36,900.

  • The Patriots versus the Redskins was a sell-out game at Foxboro.

  • Jobs were listed in the classified ads at Symphonics, Mammoth Mart, Sanders Associates, the Banqueteer and Lawrence Manufacturing.

  • There were ads throughout the paper for JM Fields, Grants, Bigelow Home Furnishings, Bon Marche, Cherry & Webb, Sears, Purity Supreme, Capital Warehouse, Larkin’s Dinette, Giant Bargain Outlet, Jim Pierce Ford, Lallas Buick, Hallissy Chevolet, The Haven and the Princeton Lounge.

  • Woulk’s Winds of War was on the best seller list.

  • Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were celebrating their 25th Anniversary.

  • Fall foliage was near peak.

  • The Lowell high School Class of 1947 gathered for their 25th Reunion.

     

What do you remember? I remember a bruising Democratic Primary in the 5th District. I remember trouble in Northern Ireland… voting for George McGovern… that Independent voters were important in the 5th District election… that even in 1972 women who were mentioned in SUN stories - especially in the Lifestyle section - were usually identified by their husbands names… that Frank Phillips wrote for the SUN… that Paul Cronin was the Republican in the 5th district race… Hale Howard… the Middlesex Training School issue… and so much more.