RichardHowe.com – Voices from Lowell & Beyond

L’Etoile – A Star on Prince Street, Chapter 9

Two years ago, Louise Peloquin began sharing excerpts from L’Etoile, a French-language newspaper published in Lowell from 1886 to 1957. At my urging, she has agreed to compile some of her previous posts with added contextual information into a book manuscript to be called, L’Etoile: A Star on Prince Street. Starting this week, Louise will present draft chapters from the book in serial form here on the blog. Today, we have another installment.

****

L’Etoile – A Star on Prince Street

Chapter 9 – The Star Highlights Locals

By Louise Peloquin

As Poet Muriel Rukeyser (1913-1980) observed: “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”

L’Etoile never hesitated to feature stories about residents, and everyone had star status as these five examples demonstrate.

L’Etoile November 1, 1917

Nouvelles de France

Mme. Veuve Favreau, de la Lakeview avenue, reçoit un câblogramme de son fils Urgèle qui vient d’arriver en Europe. Son frère Pierre est aussi dans l’armée.

D’après un télégramme reçu hier par Mme. Elodie Favreau, 989 avenue Lakeview, son fils Pierre doit avoir été l’un des premiers soldats américains à entrer dans les tranchées en France la semaine dernière. La dépêche en question a été envoyée par son fils, le soldat Urgèle Favreau, et elle est datée du 29 octobre ‘quelque part’ en France. Ce dernier dit avoir fait une heureuse traversée mais qu’il n’a pu rencontrer son frère Pierre car celui-ci était parti la semaine précédente avec son régiment.

Mme. Veuve Favreau a cinq fils: Euclide, qui s’occupe de réparages d’automobiles à son propre compte; Urgèle, Albéric, Pierre et Venance, électriciens associés sous le nom de ‘Favreau Frères.’

Le 12 juin dernier, Urgèle, âgé de 25 ans, et Pierre, âgé de 19 ans, se sont enrôlés volontairement dans la Compagnie C du 6ème régiment d’infanterie du Massachusetts. Ils firent leur apprentissage, dans l’armée au camp de Framingham, puis au camp d’Ayer. Au mois d’août, le 6ème régiment fut envoyé au camp Bartlett de Westfield, où il fut démembré en grande partie afin de remplir les cadres des régiments qui étaient prêts à partir pour la France. C’est alors que les deux frères Favreau furent séparés. Urgèle fut nommé dans la police montée du 103ème régiment et Pierre fut classé dans la Cie C de la 101ème d’infanterie. Il fut envoyé dans le New Jersey et, vers la fin de septembre, il s’embarqua pour la France. Il y a une quinzaine de jours, sa mère recevait de lui une lettre disant qu’il avait fait une bonne traversée et qu’il continuait son entraînement militaire en France. Il envoya aussi de ses nouvelles la semaine dernière, disant qu’il était bien portant.

Mme. Favreau reçut la semaine dernière une carte postale de son autre fils Urgèle, laquelle était écrite sur le bâtiment qui devait le transporter en France. La carte a passé par le bureau de poste de Washington. Le soldat Urgèle Favreau disait qu’il était malade, mais qu’il prenait du mieux. Dans la dépêche qu’il vient d’envoyer, il dit qu’il est maintenant bien portant.

Il avait espéré rencontrer en France son frère Pierre qu’il n’a pas revu depuis le mois d’août, mais il a été désappointé car son frère était déjà parti pour le front probablement, quoiqu’il ne le sache pas exactement.

Leur frère Euclide, réparateur d’autos, aimerait aussi servir son pays mais sa mère trouve qu’elle a déjà fait un assez grand sacrifice en laissant partir deux de ses fils pour la guerre et elle a fait faire des démarches pour faire exempter son fils Euclide du service militaire vu que son nom est sur la liste des conscriptionnaires.”

________

News from France

Mrs. widow Elodie Favreau, of Lakeview avenue, receives a cablegram from her son Urgèle who has just arrived in Europe. His brother Pierre is also in the army.

     According to a telegram received yesterday by Mrs. Elodie Favreau, 989 Lakeview avenue, her son Pierre must have been one of the first American soldiers to enter into the trenches in France last week. The dispatch in question was sent by her son, soldier Urgèle Favreau, and is dated October 29 ‘somewhere’ in France. The latter says that he had a good boat journey but that he had not been able to meet his brother Pierre who had left with his regiment the week before.

     Mrs. widow Favreau has five sons: Euclide who is an independent automobile repairman; Urgèle, Albéric, Pierre and Venance, electricians associated under the name ‘Favreau Brothers.’

     Last June 12, Urgèle, 26, and Pierre, 19, voluntarily enrolled in Company C of the Massachusetts infantry regiment. They completed their apprenticeship at the Framingham army camp, then at the Ayer camp. During the month of August, this regiment was sent to camp Bartlett of Westfield where it was largely dismantled in order to fill the regimental cadres ready to leave for France. The two brothers were separated at this time. Urgèle was named in the 103rd mounted police regiment and Pierre was classified in Company C of the 101st infantry. He was sent to New Jersey at the end of September and he embarked for France. Approximately fifteen days ago, his mother received a letter saying that he had had a good journey and that he was continuing his military training in France. He had also sent news last week saying that he was in good form.

     Mrs. Favreau received a postcard last week from her other son Urgèle who wrote about the ship which would be transporting him to France. The card passed through the Washington post office. Soldier Urgèle Favreau said that he was ill but improving. In the dispatch just sent, he says that he is now in good form.

     In France he had hoped to meet his brother Pierre whom he had not seen since August. However, he was disappointed because his brother had probably already left for the front.  He did not exactly know.

     Their brother Euclide, automobile repairman, would also like to serve his country but his mother thinks that she has already made a big enough sacrifice in allowing two of her sons to leave for the war. She has taken the steps to have her son Euclide exempt from military service given that his name is on the list of conscripts.

****

L’Etoile celebrated Jack’s Kerouac’s future friend Fr. Armand Morrissette, O.M.I. (1910-1991) who recognized in adolescent Jack a talent which would become no less than stellar. “Father Spike” championed Jack even into eternity when, on October 24, 1969, he officiated his friend’s funeral at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church. Until his own dying day, Armand Morrissette never ceased to advocate for his fellow Franco-American who so phenomenally contributed to putting Lowell on the world map.

In 1924, no one knew where destiny would lead Armand Morrissette. However, the following article demonstrates that a great many Lowellians saw in him the trappings of a remarkable individual. Young Armand brought all kinds of people together to celebrate in Lowell. Had he been in attendance, even at the age of two,“Ti-Jean,” later known as Jack, would surely have enjoyed the following party:

L’Etoile, September 5, 1924

Jolie Réception en l’Honneur d’Armand Morrissette

On le fête, à l’occasion de son départ prochain pour le juniorat des Pères Oblats à Colebrook, N.H. Adresse, cadeau, chant, rafraîchissements. Le Rév. Père Emile Bolduc, O.M.I., assiste à la fête.

Mercredi soir, les nombreux parents et amis de M. Armand Morrissette se réunirent à la demeure de ses grands-parents, M. et Mme. Louis-Joseph Cornellier, 44 rue Race, pour lui faire une agréable surprise à l’occasion de son départ pour le juniorat des Pères Oblats à Colebrook, N.H. mardi prochain, le 9 septembre.

Peu après les 8 heures, tous étaient rendus pour le rendez-vous et, à l’arrivée du jeune homme de Fall River où il avait passé ses vacances, qu’elle ne fut pas sa surprise de se voir entouré de tant de personnes, parents, amis, confrères de classes et connaissances! Déjà la soirée était en branle. Aussitôt, M. Stanislas Paquin se mit à lire au héros de la fête, M. Armand Morrissette, une jolie adresse composée pour la circonstance par M. l’avocat Arthur Eno. Puis, M. Ernest Eno présenta au jeune confrère une bourse bien garnie, don des convives de la fête. Ensuite M. Armand Morrissette reçut des mains de son frère Joseph Morrissette une belle sacoche de voyage, un autre cadeau de ses amis. Pour comble de surprise, Mlle. Yvonne Comtois présenta au héros de la soirée un magnifique bouquet de fleurs que lui avait envoyé sa tante Mme. Alphonse Paquette de Pelham, N.H.

Au point de vue du programme musical et artistique de la veillée, il est peut-être inutile de mentionner qu’on remplaça la musique par le chant, comme le deuil existe encore dans la famille. Mais il ne va pas  sans dire qu’on s’amusa gaiement tout de même. M. Stanislas Paquin intéressa les gens de la fête par ses deux chansons comiques. A la fin de la veillée, Mme. Alexandre Morin exécuta plusieurs sélections de chant à la grande satisfaction de personnes présentes. Mais à vrai dire, c’est Mlle. Corinne Héroux qui tint l’intérêt de l’auditoire en suspens par ses chansons comiques, ses déclamations de farces et autres plaisanteries du genre.

Au cours de la soirée, on passa des rafraîchissements, bonbons, fruits et un goûter fut servi.

Le Rév. Père Emile Bolduc, O.M.I., de la paroisse Saint-Jean-Baptiste, était le principal hôte à la fête. De l’étranger on remarquait Mlle. Délia Métivier de Fall River, Mass.

Au nombre des invités qu’on remarquait à la réception, il y avait: M. et Mme. Amédée Archambault, M. et Mme. Joseph Theriault, M. et Mme. Joseph Paquette, M. et Mme. Alexandre Morin, M. et Mme. Wilfrid Sawyer, M. et Mme. Edouard Légère, M. et Mme. Charles Sawyer, M. et Mme. Pierre Eno, M. et Mme. Wilfred Eno, M. et Mme. Joseph Comtois, et M. et Mme. Cyprien Morrissette; Mme. Herménégilde Tanguay Beausoleil, Hormidas Comtois, Thomas Côté, Pierre Leblanc et Henri St. Cyr, Mesdemoiselles Corinne Héroux, Marie Héroux, Amanda Bergeron, Diana Eno, Demerise Richard, Anna Dumais, Blanche Caron, Exilda Généreux, Marie-Louise Comtois, Marie Patenaude, M. Lord, Marie Laplante, Diana Côté, Bertha Carpentier, Julia Côté, Marie-Louise Morrissette, Clarice Dureault, Diana Boisvert, Alice Boisvert, Marie Ouelette, Marie Bourgeault, Irène April, Jeannette April, Marie Morrissette, l’avocat Albert Blazon, le bijoutier Willis Peltier, le Dr. Hervé Rochette, Messieurs Albert Desruisseaux, George Beaudoin, Albert St.-Laurent, Henri Poirier, Jean Bouthillette, G. Pelletier, M. Lavigne, M. Morin, Alcide Bourgeault, Maurice Doyle, Gédéon Boisvert et Jean-Baptiste Morrissette.

Assistaient en plus à la fête un bon nombre des confrères de classe et des amis du jeune Morrissette dont les noms suivants: Stanislas Paquin, Ernest, Léandre, Arthur, Gérard, Roland et Nestor Eno, Roland et Albert Bergeron, Georges St-Jean, Hervé et Réal Perreault, Henri Ducharme, Joseph Frenette, Hildège Bourgeault, Joseph Légère, Louis Desruisseaux, Joseph Morrissette, Arthur Laurin, Roméo Poirier, Léon Fournier et Henri Bolduc.

Mme. Joseph Comtois a organisé la fête aidée des Messieurs Stanislas Paquin et Ernest Eno.

A une heure avancée, les convives se sont retirés enchantés de leur soirée et souhaitant bonne chance à M. Armand Morrissette dans sa carrière future.”

________

Beautiful reception in honor of Armand Morrissette

     Celebrating Armand Morrissette on the occasion of his upcoming departure for the Colebrook, N.H. Oblate Fathers’ juniorate. Address, gifts, singing, refreshments.

     Reverend Father Émile Bolduc, O.M.I., attends the celebration.

     Wednesday evening, Armand Morrissette’s numerous family members and friends got together at the request of his grand-parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Cormellier of 44 Race Street, in order to give him a pleasant surprise before his departure next Tuesday September 9th for the Colebrook, N.H. Oblate Fathers’ juniorate.

     A little after 8 o’clock, everyone gathered for the young man’s arrival from Fall River where he had vacationed. How surprised he was to see all of the family members, friends, classmates and acquaintances! Right away, Mr. Stanislas Paquin began to read to Mr. Armand Morrissette, the hero of the celebration, a beautiful address composed for the circumstance by Attorney Arthur Eno. Then, Attorney Eno presented the guest of honor with a well-filled purse offered by the reception participants. Then, Joseph Morrissette gave his brother Armand a travel satchel, another gift from his friends. To cap it all, Miss Yvonne Comeau presented the evening’s hero with a magnificent bouquet of flowers sent by his aunt, Mrs. Alphonse Paquette of Pelham, N.H.

     As far as the evening’s musical and artistic program is concerned, it is perhaps useless to say that the music was replaced by singing as some of the family was still in mourning. But it is not needless to say that everyone enjoyed themselves. Mr. Stanislas Paquin amused the partygoers with his comical songs. At the end of the evening, Mrs. Alexander Morin performed a wide selection of songs to the attendees’ great satisfaction. Miss Corinne Héroux also captivated the audience with comical songs, joke-telling and other pleasantries.

     Refreshments, sweets and fruit were passed around during the evening. An evening snack was then served.

     Reverend Father Émile Bolduc, O.M.I., of Saint-Jean-Baptiste parish, was the principal guest of the celebration. From out-of-town we noticed Miss Doria Vétivier of Fall River, Mass.

     Among the guests at the reception were Mr. and Mrs. Amédée Archambault, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Thériault, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paquette, Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Sawyer, Mr. and Mrs. Édouard Légère, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sawyer, Mr. and Mrs. Pierre Eno, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Comtois, Mr. and Mrs. Cyprien Morrissette, Mrs. Herménégilde Tanguay Beausoleil, Hormidas Comtois, Thomas Côté, Pierre Leblanc and Henri St. Cyr, Misses Corinne Héroux, Marie Héroux, Amanda Bergeron, Diane Eno, Démerise Richard, Anna Dumais, Blanche Caron, Exilda Généreux, Marie-Louise Comtois, Marie Patenaude, M. Lord, Marie Laplante, Diana Côté, Marie-Louise Morrissette, Clarice Dureault, Diana Boisvert, Alice Boisvert, Marie Ouellette, Marie Bourgeault, Irène April, Jeannette April, Marie Morrissette, Attorney Arthur Blazon, jeweller Willis Peltier, Dr. Hervé Rochette, Mr. George Beaudoin, Mr. Albert St-Laurent, Mr. Henri Poirier, Mr. Jean Bouthillette, Mr. G. Pelletier, Mr. M. Lavigne, Mr. M. Morin, Mr. Alcide Bourgeault, Mr. Maurice Doyle, Mr. Gédéon Boisvert and Jean-Baptiste Morrissette.

     Also in attendance, a number of young Morrissette’s classmates and friends whose names are as follows; Stanislas Paquin, Ernest, Léandre, Arthur, Gérard, Roland, and Nestor Eno, Roland and Albert Bergeron, Georges St-Jean, Hervé and Réal Perreault, Henri Ducharme, Joseph Frechette, Hildège Bourgeault, Joseph Légère, Louis Desruisseaux, Joseph Morrissette, Arthur Laurin, Roméo Poirier, Léon Fournier and Henri Bolduc.

     Mrs. Joseph Comtois organized this celebration assisted by Mr. Stanislas Paquin and Mr. Ernest Eno.

     At a late hour, the guests left delighted with their evening and wished Mr. Armand Morrissette good luck in his future career.

__________

L’Etoile, January 6, 1925

Il passe 28 ans dans la Lowell Humane Society

L’agent Charles F. Richardson a vu l’organisation se développer et s’étendre.

Au mois de mars prochain, l’agent Charles F. Richardson aura passé 28 ans au service de la Lowell Humane Society; et au cours de ce lapse de temps, l’organisation a éprouvé un développement au point de vue de l’hygiène. L’organisation existe depuis plus de 50 ans et a fait beaucoup pour l’humanité dans ce district. Le 51ème rapport annuel, qui vient d’être complété, contient des faits remarquables. Au cours de l’année, l’organisation prit soin de 355 enfants, soit 61 de plus que l’année précédente. Le nombre total des animaux que les membres ont eu à visiter était de 12,359, soit plus que l’année précédente.

La Humane Society fut organisée en mai 1873. Il est intéressant de remarquer que Son Excellence William B. Washburn qui était gouverneur du Massachusetts, était présent à la première assemblée de la société, et à cette occasion, il parla en termes bien éloquents de la signification de l’organisation et du but pour lequel on la fondait.

Actuellement, William E. Potter est président. Au nombre des anciens présidents sont: H. Coburn, Frederick P. Marble, le juge Frederick A. Fisher et Robert F. Marden.”

________

He Spends 28 Years at Lowell Humane Society

Agent Charles F. Richardson has seen the organization develop and expand.

     Next March, agent Charles F. Richardson will have spent 28 years serving the Lowell Humane Society. During his tenure, it has improved with respect to hygiene. The organization has existed for 51 years and has accomplished a great deal for humanity in this district. The 51st annual report presents remarkable facts. Over the course of the year, the organization has taken care of 355 children, 61 more than during the preceding year. Members visited a total of 12,359 animals, more than they had the year before.

      The Lowell Humane Society was founded in May 1873. It is interesting to note that His Excellence William B. Washburn, governor of Massachusetts, was present at the first assembly of the society and spoke very eloquently about its mission and its objectives.

     Currently, William F. Potter is president. Among the former presidents are: George Stephens, Charles H. Coburn, Frederick P. Marble, Judge Frederick A. Fisher and Robert F. Marden.

****

Lowellian Paul Blanchette served in as a Seaman First Class in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked as civil agent for the Lowell postal services, was named Franco-American of the year by the Franco-American Day Committee in 1977 and became president of the FADC in 1982. Paul Blanchette tirelessly promoted Franco-American history, culture and identity all over New England and abroad. Here is his 1944 story in the Pacific.

L’Etoile, March 10, 1944

Impressions du marin Blanchette

de service dans la zone du Pacifique

Quand on est stationné dans une île lointaine du Pacifique, comme l’est le marin de première classe Paul Blanchette, on voit des choses phénoménales et variées. Ce jeune marin qui quitta les Etats-Unis en août dernier comme membre du corps des métiers maritimes (Seabees) raconte des incidents très intéressants dans les nombreuses lettres adressées à ses parents et amis de la ville. Il dit avoir vu un volcan sur le point de faire éruption et d’avoir ressenti le contrecoup de huit tremblements de terre en la seule journée du 24 décembre dernier. Il fut aussi témoin de la visite de l’acteur Randolph Scott.

Le marin Blanchette se dit en parfaite santé malgré la besogne quotidienne ardue de son unité.

‘Là-bas, on se lève à 4h45 du matin et l’on se hâte de faire tout le travail possible avant que le soleil devienne insupportable. La plupart du temps, la messe se dit l’après-midi et les soldats catholiques, en grand nombre, font l’impossible pour y assister. Les récréations comprennent des vues animées, des programmes de radio, mais c’est avant tout le travail qui sert à chasser la nostalgie. Chaque militaire reçoit tous les jours, une tablette d’atabine comme préventif de malaria, deux pilules de vitamines concentrées et est bien pourvu de cigarettes et de nourriture.’

‘Malgré la chaleur torride, s’élevant à une moyenne de 130 degrés centigrade,’ le marin Blanchette ajoute, ‘les pluies soudaines mais non fréquentes sont très froides et malsaines. La végétation de cette jungle tranquille est de toute beauté mais les loisirs pour la contempler sont plutôt rares.’

Le marin Blanchette, dont les lettres sont saturées du sain optimisme d’un jeune homme courageux de 21 ans, est le fils aîné de M. et Mme. Tancrède Blanchette, rue Mount Washington. Gradué du Collège St.-Joseph et du high school municipal, il s’enrôla le 26 janvier 1943, après avoir travaillé quelque temps à la défense. Son jeune frère Raymond entrait aussi dans la Marine au début de la semaine.”

________

Impressions of seaman Blanchette

serving in the Pacific Zone

When one is stationed on a faraway island in the Pacific, as is the case for seaman first class Paul Blanchette, one sees phenomenal and diverse spectacles. This young seaman, who left the United States last August as member of the United States Marine Corps (Seabees), relates very interesting incidents in numerous letters addressed to his parents and friends in the city. He tells them about having seen a volcano on the verge of erupting and having felt the aftershocks of eight earthquakes in a single day, last December 24th. He also witnessed the visit of actor Randolph Scott.

    Seaman Blanchette says he is in perfect health despite the arduous work of his unit.

     ‘Over there in the Pacific, one must get up at 4:45 in the morning and rush to do as much work as possible before the sun becomes unbearable. Most of the time, Mass is said in the afternoon and the numerous Catholic soldiers make every effort to attend. Recreations include movies and radio programs. However, above all, work serves to chase homesickness away. Every day, every military member receives a tablet of atabrine to prevent malaria, two concentrated vitamin pills and a good supply of cigarettes and food.’

     ‘Despite the torrid heat, rising to an average of 130 degrees,’ seaman Blanchette adds, ‘the sudden but infrequent rains are very cold and unhealthy. The vegetation of this tranquil jungle is absolutely beautiful but the leisure to contemplate it is rather rare.’

     Seaman Blanchette, whose letters are saturated with the sound optimism of a courageous 21-year-old, is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Tancrède Blanchette of Mount Washington Street. Graduate of Saint Joseph College and of Lowell High School, he enrolled on January 26, 1943 after having worked for a time in the defence industry. Recently, his young brother Raymond also joined the Navy.

****

Women were always an integral part of L’Etoile, Yvonne Lemaître and Marthe Biron Peloquin presented in chapter 6, for example. Local women’s stories regularly appeared in the paper’s columns.

L’Etoile, June 30, 1944

Mlle. Lachance devient WAVE

Mlle. Rollande M. Lachance, fille de M. et Mme. Gédéon J. Lachance, 990 rue Middlesex, a été assermentée dans les WAVES mardi et se rapportera au Collège Hunter à New York dans la dernière semaine de juillet pour y commencer son entraînement préliminaire.

Mlle. Lachance, membre d’une famille franco-américaine en vue de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Lourdes, fit son cours aux écoles paroissiales élémentaires et secondaires locales. Elle est diplômée aussi de la Wilfred Academy de Boston et fait partie du personnel du salon de beauté du magasin Pollards.

A l’occasion de son départ, ses compagnes de travail de Pollards lui ont fait fête hier soir en la salle de banquet Page. Il y eut dîner en son honneur et présentation à la nouvelle WAVE d’un nécessaire de couture, de chaussures et de cosmétiques en de riches étuis de cuir. Cette fête avait pour organisatrice, Mme. Leonard Hunt.”

________

Miss Lachance becomes a WAVE

      Miss Rollande Lachance, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gédéon J. Lachance, 990 Middlesex Street, was sworn into the WAVES Tuesday and will report to Hunter College in New York during the last week of July to begin her preliminary training.

     Miss Lachance, member of a prominent Franco-American family from Notre-Dame de Lourdes parish, attended local primary and secondary parochial schools. She also graduated from the Wilfred Academy of Boston and is a member of the Pollards department store beauty salon staff.

     On the occasion of her departure, her Pollards workmates organized a party at Page banquet hall. A dinner was held in her honor and the new WAVE was presented with a sewing kit, shoes and cosmetics in rich leather cases. Mrs. Leonard Hunt organized this party.

Anna Rosenberg: giving credit where credit is overdue by Marjorie Arons-Barron

The entry below is being cross posted from Marjorie Arons-Barron’s own blog.

The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America by Christopher C. Gorham is extraordinary not because of the clarity of his writing or the obviously deep and meticulously footnoted research but simply because of the significance and impact of a woman unfairly forgotten today. Anna Rosenberg was a Hungarian immigrant whose parents brought her to America in 1912. She became involved in the women’s suffrage movement as a student and active in city politics, under the tutelage of Tammany Hall boss Jim Hagan.  As a young woman with a talent for communications and mediation, she became skilled at problem solving and had a gift for earning the trust of labor unions as well as corporate executives. Her personal style and organizational skills eventually led to high-powered executive positions under four Presidents.

As she made her way up the ranks of the public relations business in New York, she became involved in the gubernatorial campaign of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, starting a friendship with him that would last until his death. FDR already had Frances Perkins as a labor adviser, but the reserved and stodgy Perkins, blessed with an excess of rectitude and an upper-class attitude, did not connect with regular workers the way Rosenberg did. Nor, apparently, did Perkins enjoy the close personal relationship that Rosenberg developed with FDR. Gorham notes that Perkins, in her memoir of Roosevelt, doesn’t even mention Anna Rosenberg.

Rosenberg, who also had a close working relationship with NYC Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was stylish and warm, could swear like a Marine, and was hired to develop labor and employment programs for city and state. During the Depression, FDR tapped her to run the regional office of the National Recovery Administration. When the U.S. Supreme Court struck that down, she became regional director of the Social Security Administration. She worked with La Guardia and civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph to develop the Fair Employment Practices Commission. As a woman, a Jew, a civil rights advocate and a liberal, she became a favorite target of right-wing Senator Joseph McCarthy, who pursued her as “a Communist,” a witch hunt that continued under the newly formed House Unamerican Activities Committee. She did not bow down.

During WWII, she was a key person in the effort to build the nation’s industrial strength by facilitating the hiring of Negroes in factories like U. S. Steel. She was also involved in laying the groundwork for the integration of our armed forces. So, too, was she instrumental in moving workers on the top-secret Manhattan Project from eastern cities to Tennessee and Washington State to help with the development of the atomic bomb. Her work on the War Labor Board (organized to mediate wartime labor disputes) led to her involvement with the War Manpower Commission (tasked with balanced labor needs across industrial, agricultural and military sectors).  When FDR wanted to know the impact of war on the nation’s fighting men and women, he sent Rosenberg into the war zones to talk to soldiers, just as she had talked directly with laborers during union disputes.  This laid the groundwork for her work on numerous post-war demobilization programs, including the G.I. Bill.

The respect the generals had for her eventually led to her becoming General George Marshall’s Assistant Secretary of Defense, in charge of procurement, utilization and other military personnel policies.  Again, the red baiters had a field day. For her part, she played a key role in the rebuilding of the depleted postwar armed forces, essential to the nation’s role in the Korean “police action.” She became the first recipient of Truman’s Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor for civilian service.

Presidents Truman and Eisenhower both had engaged her in important roles. Under JFK, who had no women in his cabinet and few female top executives, Rosenberg – now living back in New York – was viewed just as a donor. As a powerful fundraiser, she organized the (in)famous Marilyn Monroe birthday party for Kennedy at Madison Square Garden. Rosenberg had supported LBJ when he was a rising young congressman from Texas, so, after the Kennedy assassination, Johnson tapped her to help drum up support for the Civil Rights Bill of 1964.

A reader today could be forgiven for a measure of ignorance about this extraordinary woman, who rose from modest beginnings to become one of the nation’s most powerful and admired women (after only Eleanor Roosevelt). She wrote no books. She worked her art of persuasion in person or on the telephone and left behind no diaries or journals.  Except for an occasional magazine profile, she preferred to stay in the background, giving credit for accomplishments to others.

Many contemporaneous accounts refer to her small stature, her chic style, including bangle bracelets and a huge assortment of “perky” hats. Author Gorham defaults to that in rounding out her persona. But I’m grateful to him for this 2023 revelatory account, which fills an embarrassing gap in my knowledge and leaves me pondering who else history is overlooking as we try to understand our nation and the people who shaped who we are today.

Lowell Politics: October 11, 2026

The Lowell City Council met this past Tuesday, however, I’ll put off discussing most of that meeting until next Sunday so I can review the ballot for next month’s state election. But first, I will discuss the council’s decision to hold the special election to fill the vacant District 1 council seat on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.

The city’s director of elections, Will Rosenberry, presented councilors with a proposed schedule that was more aggressive than that ultimately adopted by councilors. Rosenberry proposed that the election be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, but that was rejected by councilors.

Before getting into the respective rationales for both dates, here’s what the law requires: The special election must be held not less than 64 days nor more than 120 days after the date on which the special election is called. “Calling” the election takes place when a majority of councilors sign a warrant setting the date. Assuming the warrant would be signed at the October 6, 2026, council meeting, 64 days after that would be Wednesday, December 9, 2026, – so the election would have to be after that – and 120 days after would be Wednesday, February 3, 2027 – so the election would have to be before that.

Rosenberry suggested the more aggressive schedule for at least two reasons. First, it would minimize the time during which District 1 would not be represented by its own district councilor; and second, it would facilitate voters requesting mail-in ballots in time for the election. Rosenberry explained that most who vote by mail submit a blanket ballot request that covers all elections held during that calendar year, so if the special election was held in December, most voters who already requested mail in ballots for the state election in November, would automatically get mail in ballots for the District 1 race. He chose the 15th of December because it was within the statutory date range and because the two following Tuesdays in December, the 22nd and the 29th, were too close to Christmas to realistically serve as election days.

Rosenberry went on to explain that if the election was to be held in 2027, voters desiring to cast their ballot by mail would have to submit a new ballot request for 2027, but that could not be done until January 1, 2027. If the special election were to be held in the first three weeks in January, there would not be enough time for voters to request a mail-in ballot, receive the ballot, and return the ballot.

Councilors pushed back against the early date. Their priority was to give potential candidates for the office more time to decide to run and launch their campaigns. They argued that a fast start of the election process would unfairly benefit experienced candidates who were already familiar with the system and would penalize those running for the first time who would have to figure things out as they went along. These councilors wanted the latest possible date, hence the February 2, 2027, election day.

Two more points about the special election. In last week’s newsletter, I speculated about the need for a special primary if there were more than two candidates for the office. I have since learned that since the special election statute is silent as to the number of candidates, all would run together in a single election with the top vote-getter being elected to fill the seat.

Last week I also reported that Ray Boutin and Rodney Elliott had announced their intentions to run. However, on Thursday, 8, 2026, the Lowell Sun reported that Rodney Elliott had decided not to run, then Inside Lowell reported that Zuhair Syed, a graduate of Lowell High and UMass Amherst who works as a community organizer working at the Merrimack Valley Project, has announced his intention to run for the seat.

****

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, I’ve voted by mail in every election. My ballot for this fall’s State Election arrived on Monday, so today I’ll review the candidates and questions that appear on it.

The ballot consists of four sheets of paper, each printed on both sides, so that’s eight pages of votes to cast. Here they are in the order they appear:

Senator in Congress

• Edward J. Markey of Malden – Democratic
• John Deaton of Bolton – Republican
• Shiva Ayyadurai of Belmont – Independent
• Joe Tache of Boston – Socialism and Liberation

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

• Healey and Driscoll – Democratic
• Minogue and Oliver – Republican
• James and Kittredge – Independent

Attorney General

• Andrea Joy Campbell of Dartmouth – Democratic
• Michael C. Walsh of Lynnfield – Republican

Secretary of State

• William Francis Galvin of Boston – Democratic
• Anne R. Brensley of Wayland – Republican

Treasurer

• Deborah B. Goldberg of Brookline – Democratic
• Elizabeth Dionne of Belmont – Republican

Auditor

• Diana DiZoglio of Methuen – Democratic
• Al Ozonoff of Medford – Republican

Representative in Congress

• Lori Loureiro Trahan of Westford – Democratic
• Gary J. Grossi of Acton – Republican
• Dennis R. Conlon of Hudson – Unenrolled

Councillor – Fifth District

• Eunice Delice Zeigler of Methuen – Democratic
• William Falcetano of Gloucester – Republican

Senator in General Court – First Middlesex District

• Vanna Howard of Lowell – Democratic
• Sam Meas of Lowell – Republican
• Joe Espinola of Dracut – Independent

Lowell is part of three separate state representative districts so your ballot will contain just one of the following three, depending on where you live.

Representative in General Court – Sixteenth Middlesex

• Lorena G. Betts of Chelmsford – Democratic
• Karla J. Miller of Lowell – Republican

Representative in General Court – Seventeenth Middlesex

• John Drinkwater of Lowell – Democratic

Representative in General Court – Eighteenth Middlesex

• Tara Hong of Lowell – Democratic

District Attorney – Northern District

• Marian T. Ryan of Belmont – Democratic

Register of Probate – Middlesex County

• Tara DeCristofaro of Medford – Democratic
• Tara Martorella of Everett – Republican

Next comes the office of Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee. That district consists of Lowell (4 members); Dracut (2 members); Tyngsborough (1 member); and Dunstable (1 member). Previously, each community voted for its own representatives, usually during the city or town election. However, because of the disparity of population and the principle of one person/one vote, that changed several years ago. Now, everyone in the district votes for every candidate, although candidates are grouped by their respective communities. This ensures that a resident of each community will be elected to the board, although that person would receive votes from everyone in the district. With that in mind, here’s how all Lowell ballots appear. Remember, even though you might live in Lowell, you may vote for candidates for the Dracut, Dunstable and Tyngsborough seats:

Regional School Committee – Dracut – vote for one

• Matthew J. Sheehan

Regional School Committee – Dunstable – vote for one

• No candidate

Regional School Committee – Lowell – vote for two

• Ralph Richard Hogan
• Brady Owen McCarron
• Anthony Robert Milisci

Regional School Committee – Tyngsborough – vote for one

• Carol Chisolm

BALLOT QUESTIONS – There are eight referendum questions on the ballot. Each may be answered Yes or No. One the ballot, none of the questions have a simple title that tells you in a short-hand way, what the question is about. Instead, there is a brief statement of what the question proposes to do followed by the consequences of a Yes vote or a No vote. Rather than repeat all of that, I’ll provide my one brief title with a short explanation or commentary if needed.

Question 1 – Public Records – A YES vote would apply the Public Records Law to the governor and legislature which under the current law are exempt. A NO vote would keep the system as is.

Question 2 – Public Defenders Unionization – YES would permit employees of the Committee for Public Council Services, the entity that represents indigent defendants in criminal proceedings, to form a union and collectively bargain, something current law prohibits. A NO vote would keep the system as is.

Question 3 – Combined Primary Elections – YES would eliminate separate party primaries and would have all candidates run together regardless of party in the primary election with the top two finishers advancing to the general election. A NO vote would keep the system as is.

Question 4 – Election Day Voter Registration – YES would allow a person to register to vote at the polling place on election day provided they present identification (including address) and sign a statement under oath that the information provided is accurate (with criminal penalties for false statements). A NO vote would keep the system as is, where registration must be done prior to the election. A NO vote would keep the current system.

Question 5 – Cap on State Revenue – YES would limit state revenue to the amount raised the prior year increased by the percentage wages increased in the prior three years with any excess being returned to taxpayers. NO would keep the current system.

Question 6 – Establish and Finance a “Nature for All Fund” – YES would divert 50% of existing sales and use taxes on sporting goods, RVs, and golf courses to a Nature for All Fund that would be used for natural conservation. NO would not create this fund.

Question 7 – Single family home minimum lot size – YES would allow a single-family home to be constructed on a lot at least 5,000 square feet in size that has 50 feet of road frontage and access to public sewer and water services. No would make no change to existing law.

Question 8 – Repeal legalization of marijuana – YES would repeal the law that made it legal to sell recreation marijuana. NO would leave that law intact.

****

Thanks to everyone who attended last weekend’s Lowell Cemetery tours. Saturday’s tour drew 180 people and Sunday’s drew 120.

I’ll lead another Lowell Cemetery tour on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. as part of the Poe in Lowell Festival. The tour is free and begins inside the Knapp Avenue entrance to the cemetery (77 Knapp Ave).

Once More to the Mountain

Once More to the Mountain

By Jim Provencher

Now it’s all mixed up.
I don’t know what’s true,
history or memory
or both, but then
it seemed clear.

It was as I recall
or imagine—
what now is the difference
and who but few care
that I walked that day from my car
with scant provisions
to the faint footpath trailhead
and soon traversed snowmelt-swollen creeks
and watercourses flowing over my boot tops.

My backward glance
took in a past
so befuddled and constrained
as to make me wonder what I was up to
and thought of turning back.

New sweat oozes and trickles
with the work of walking
for no gain but elevation.
On the peaks a few
individuals remain.
I sensed a long winter
of valley darkness passing.

A grown man seeking still
something beyond my ken,
something that wanted looseness
and extrication, rumours
of wild rumination
unreeling like spring ferns
in a pixilated film.

Shouldering a fresh task,
I kept on steadily slowing down,
peaking-out only after the usual
serial mirage of false summits.
It was alpen-glow twilit time
dimming into dusk when I made it.

A few silhouetted peaks,
darkly etched, sharply limned
when reluctantly I abandoned
my summit perch and descended
into nightfall, tracing
a milky moonlit snowpath,
following its cold fluorescence
into a well of steep darkness.

Halfway at treeline
I knew the derelict cabin
where I could stay the night,
kindle a cookfire, read by candlelight,
and pass a peaceful evening.

It didn’t work out quite that way.
An abrupt knock on my cabin door
and a man with a dog, asking
Mind if we join you?

Mind you it was already dark,
and I’d made the cabin mine,
domesticated it with the scatter of my things.
Yet since he was a fellow,
much like myself, on a mission to open up
the season of mountain wandering,
I let him in.

Solitude was a place
I’d aimed for so I did mind at first,
but he was quiet and good company,
a local who’d lost a finger to the mill,
a wood-cutter whose wife kept sheep,
one who travelled light and left no mark.

In my usual way
I doppelgangered him
into the part of me
that stayed
no matter what or where I roamed
in restless urge
and marvelled at how casually
he could name the nameless
five branches of water
tumbling off the mountain
and how he had remained
rooted and married and childrened
in the Sandy River valley.

Sleeping later in the loft,
I woke with a start
and found my eyes
clocked open, locked
into his electric stare.
Caught in the current’s grip,
we held our wordless gaze
in timeless trance, then rolled away,
burrowing back into sleep.

Waking to the sound of falling water,
for it was spring and all
the snowmelt hurrying down
in one gush.  No one there
but myself and yesterday’s muddy
pawprint greeting of my double’s dog
flowering like a bloom in snow
on my white T-shirted chest.