History

This essay was originally read on the Sunrise radio program. The Medina Sidonia Complex By Steve O’Connor I’ve been perusing a book that I read many years ago. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written historical narrative. It’s called The Armada, by Garrett Mattingly. The author…

As is our Labor Day tradition, we’re reposting the lead editorial from the September 7, 1992 edition of The New York Times – A Labor Day piece about the then-recently opened Boott Cotton Mills Museum which is thirty years old this year. The Boott Cotton Mills Museum is open daily…

History has always been my favorite subject. At a young age, I was especially interested in the history of World War II. Perhaps it was because in the early 1960s, so many of those around me had served in the military – someone who was 20 years old when Pearl…

With Lowell Public School teachers returning to work tomorrow and the students joining them on Wednesday, the rhythm of the city will change this week when we’re once again reminded how much the life of our community is centered on schools and education. With that in mind, here are the…

Yesterday morning I led a Lowell Walk from the National Park Visitor Center. The topic was The Founding of Lowell. We talked about what was here before Lowell received its town charter in 1826 and how that charter came about. I’ve typed my notes into a “script” and will share…

Next Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 10 am from Lowell National Park Visitor Center at 246 Market Street, I’ll lead a Lowell Walk on the founding of Lowell. Here’s a preview: Rivers have always been central to human activity and with the Merrimack and Concord Rivers meeting here, people have…

Here’s a sampling of what the Fourth of July was like in Lowell 100 years ago: Fireworks display by Antonelli Fireworks Co of Rochester NY for $1200. They will also supply “bombs” to be fired from the summit of Fort Hill at sunrise, noon and sunset. Fireworks display begins at 9…

Lowell’s political history begins with the grant of its town charter by the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1826. The charter brought a standard town-type government with selectmen and town meetings. But the city’s explosive growth as a center of textile manufacturing demanded a more activist system of government and so…

As part of yesterday’s Juneteenth Festival, the Lowell National Historical Park hosted a Lowell Walk on Black History in Lowell. It was led by Maritza Grooms and Bob Forrant and was attended by nearly 50 people. Here are some photos and a summary of what was said at each stop:…

Today we observe and celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day which is the official name of the federal holiday that was formally adopted last year. The name Juneteenth is a combination of June and 19th which is the date of the proclamation issued by U.S. Army Major General Gordon Granger upon…