History

Food Conservation in Lowell: 1917

Food Conservation in Lowell (PIP #13) By Louise Peloquin As we gobble the holiday goodies filling our refrigerators, cupboards, cookie platters and candy dishes, let’s peek at a throwback on food management during World War I. The recommendations below, published without commentary, made L’Etoile’s front page on November 14, 1917.…

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Battle of Quebec: December 31, 1775

This was originally posted on this site on December 31, 2010. Plaque erected in Quebec City marking the spot of American General Richard Montgomery’s death. “Here stood the Undaunted Fifty safeguarding Canada, defeating Montgomery at the Pres de Ville Barricade on the last day of 1775, Guy Carleton commanding at…

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Pearl Harbor: Dec 7, 1941

A version of this post appeared here on Pearl Harbor Day 2017.  On Sunday, December 7, 1941, several thousand people attended that day’s Moses Greeley Parker lecture at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Admission was free, the doors opened at 2:15 pm, and the event began at 3 pm. The performers…

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Franco Patriotism

Franco Patriotism (PIP #10) By Louise Peloquin “The Patriotism of the Franco-Americans” (1)      Miss Yvonne Lemaître, distinguished woman of letters, published a very interesting piece in Boston’s “Transcript” the other day. “Why François fails to fight” is an analysis, or rather a review, of the recent events, in Canada…

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Happy Birthday Ben Butler!

Ben Butler was born in Deerfield, New Hampshire on November 5, 1818, but his widowed mother brought her children to Lowell when Ben was just ten years old.  He graduated from Lowell High and began studying for the ministry at his mother’s urging but he returned to Lowell and began…

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“We acknowledge your valued order.”

“We acknowledge your valued order” (PIP #6)  By Louise Peloquin Our second peek into the past, “Judging us by our work,” posted on October 3rd, quoted Louis-A. Biron’s youngest child Marthe speaking about her father’s journalistic “independence of thought.” It was protected by revenue acquired from printing services. Popping up here…

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Every day a star is born

Every day a star is born (PIP #5) By Louise Peloquin “A little star dust caught”, posted on October 17th, conjures up Louis Biron’s routine. He continues… **** Lives are full of repetitive acts. The most simple, like hugging a grandchild, reading a favorite author or having breakfast, give us…

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Judging Us By Our Work

PIP # 2 – “Judging us by our work”  By Louise Peloquin The first Etoile peek into the past, posted on September 8th, jumped right into business nitty-gritty such as offering services, obtaining orders and paying bills. The New England Investment Company acquired L’Etoile in 1909 and went bankrupt after…

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PIP #1 – Banks & Bills

PIP #1 – “Banks & bills” By Louise Peloquin For months, the media has been covering news about inflation, utility costs, tax hikes, bank failures and credit ratings. Here is a “peek into the past” (PIP) at bygone bills and banks. ********* On August 22nd, “A Star on Prince Street”…

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