Author Archive

“More Pride Please!” – (PIP # 74) By Louise Peloquin  L’Etoile regularly published pieces on Franco-American identity – being American of French-Canadian descent. On this June 24th, when French-Canadians north and south of the border celebrate Saint Jean-Baptiste’s feast day, here’s a throwback with an editorial excerpt. L’Etoile – April 4,…

There was no Lowell City Council meeting this week due to the summer schedule so today’s newsletter will dip into Lowell history. Two weeks ago, I wrote about the history of Clemente Park, the three-acre parcel on Middlesex Street that has become a center of social, cultural and recreational activity…

Popular Eateries, Lowell, 1960s By Leo Racicot Once our circle of friends got our driver’s licenses, it enabled us to socialize beyond the confines of school. A frequent gathering place was Skip’s Restaurant, out on Chelmsford Street. It was also a magnet for families wanting good, plain, American fare, or…

After the Rallies By Rev. Steve Edington Said Joe what they could never kill went on to organize.                                           “Ballad of Joe Hill” by Alfred Hayes As I went home from the two No Kings rallies I attended last Saturday (6.14)—one at Kerouac Park in Lowell and one in my…

Drowning Out the End of Democracy By Bill O’Connell I’d rather trim my grass and sit when I want to than tackle the world gone rogue — Trump’s hawking crypto and missiles in the Middle East, abetting genocide. I’d rather clip a rosebush, plant more peas — I’d rather keep…

Living Madly: New Tricks By Emilie-Noelle Provost Learning a new skill can be difficult, especially if you’re an adult. This is true even for people who are enthusiastic about learning something new. One of the reasons for this, I think, is that by the time most of us are adults,…

Take Me to Church: An Inside Look at the Smith Baker Center By Cameron DaCosta All photographs herein were taken by and provided courtesy of the author. “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” -Mark Twain It has been one of the Mill City’s greatest points of contention for…

Street Wide – (PIP # 73) By Louise Peloquin After the piece on the Bridge Street Bridge in 1924 (1),  here’s another “peek” into Lowell’s infrastructure development. L’ÉTOILE – September 2, 1924 Legal Objections to Widening Aiken Street      The city of Lowell will not be able to continue working on the Anna…

The Lowell City Council met on Tuesday night. What seemed like an innocuous item on the agenda, a vote to accept the draft 2024-2028 Lowell Housing and Housing Production Plan, generated considerable discussion. In his transmission letter to the council, City Manager Tom Golden explained the purpose of the plan:…

Next Tuesday, June 17, 2025, is the semisesquecentennial of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the decisive Revolutionary War fight that took place 30 miles south of here. In honor of this 250th anniversary, I am reposting a story I’ve published several times, followed by another past blog post about those…