Lowell enthusiastically welcomes 1925 – (PIP #52)

By Louise Peloquin

Lowell celebrated 1925. May 2025 celebrate Lowell!

L’Etoile – January 3, 1925

     Lowell welcomed in the New Year more enthusiastically than in recent years – Halls, theatres, clubs and restaurants swarmed – Beautiful religious celebrations in all our churches yesterday.

But in short, the day was especially a family affair.

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THROUGHOUT THE CITY

     1925 began with calm and tranquility in the city yesterday. Five or six temples in Lowell held vigils while elsewhere, hundreds of people dined sumptuously in halls, restaurants and theaters as they ended one year and began and a new one.

     The city’s social organizations had prepared grand programs until midnight followed by Happy New Year salutations. In most halls, dancing until the wee hours of the morning was the main attraction. Theaters featured midnight shows and crowds filled venues everywhere. Restaurants also hosted happy crowds. Streets were just as thronged at midnight as they are at noon on an ordinary day. In general, our city’s New Year’s celebration was one of the most animated in years. 

     Theatres with midnight shows were: the Opera House, Keith’s, the Merrimack Square, the Strand, the Rialto and the Royal.

     The restaurant Marie held the customary New Year’s Eve banquet for 250 patrons. Revels commenced at 9 and ended in early morning. Master of Ceremonies William Gauthier presented an orchestra performance.

     The Vesper Country Club held a dance in the Colonial Room under the direction of Avah H. Weaver. The room was beautifully decorated for the circumstance. The orchestra was hidden behind several palm trees. A supper was served at midnight.

     The Lowell Elks on Warren Street also provided festivities including a program of music and dance and souvenirs distributed to all.

     On New Year’s morning, Catholic Churches were filled with faithful attending the Mass of the Feast of the Child Jesus’s Circumcision. 

     During the afternoon several boxing matches took place and many skating rinks opened on rivers and ponds.

     Lowell’s Franco-Americans celebrated the holiday with good old customs in families and clubs.

     In a word, the New Year was celebrated properly without negative incidents to ruin the joy. Many people rejoiced at home with family.

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OUR ORGANIZATIONS

CELEBRATE THE COMING

OF THE NEW YEAR

Superb celebrations took place at Club Citoyens, C.M.A.C., Club Lafayette and Cercle Paroissial.

     Splendid celebrations took place on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve. All Franco-American organizations reported a flood of members and friends at their parties. Club des Citoyens Américains (American Citizens’ Club), Association Catholique, Club Lafayette and Cercle Paroissiale Notre-Dame de Lourdes (Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish Circle) attracted the largest crowds.

Club des Citoyens Américains

     Club des Citoyens Américains hosted a New Year’s Eve party which will make history. More than 300 members and friends attended the evening’s concert and dance. The room had been artistically decorated for the occasion and participants carried flags of different colors affording a magnificent sight.

     At about 10:30, a succulent meal composed the most delicious dishes was served by the caterers Thomas Rochette and Son.

     Also on the program, a boxing exhibition by Clancy brothers John and James, aged 5 and 6, with brother Thomas Clancy, 8, referee. 

     At midnight Mr. Charise F. Mosher and Mrs. Raoul Dionne, the Club Citoyen president’s wife, lead a grand march. Other attractions included a dance exhibition by Mr. Albert René; a selection of songs by Mr. Georges Pelletier; piano pieces by Miss Anita Robillard and a monologue by Mr. Arthur Gremnier. Mr. Arthur Jacob was in charge of the program.

     In a word, the fête was a great success and the social committee deserved congratulations.

     Committee members were: Mr. Fernando Lagassé, president; Mr. Conrad Gauthier, secretary-treasurer; Mr. Harvey Gaudette, Mr. Armand Jacob; Mr. Léon Champagne; Mr. Joseph Dubuque and Mr. Raoul Dionne ex-officio.

  Association Catholique

     The Association Catholique New Year’s celebration attracted about 400 members and friends. The annual Ladies’ Evening took place and was a great success.

     The organizing committee’s efforts to coordinate a delightful party were well-rewarded.

     During the course of the evening, president Zénon Chouinard addressed the public with wishes for a “Bonne et Heureuse Année.” Activities included a musical and vocal program as well as refreshments. The celebration ended late and everyone sincerely congratulated the committee members for their accomplishments.

     The organization committee was: Mr. Eugène Belle, president; Mr. Raoul Landry, secretary; Mr. Alfred Bérubé, Mr. Léon Lamoureux; Mr. A. Simard; Mr. L. Desruisseaux; Mr. L. Caron; Mr. Joseph Chrétien; Mr. Joseph Doucette; Mr. Henri Lamoureux; Mr. Georges Morin; Mr. Joseph Breton; Mr. Hector St-Jean; Mr. Amédée St-Jean; Mr. Léon Baron and Mr. Zénon Chouinard, ex-officio.

Cercle Pariossial

     About 100 members of Cercle Paroissiale Notre-Dame de Lourdes attended a party in the East Pine Street parish hall. A delicious meal was served and pipes and tobacco were distributed to participants.

     The highlight of the evening was a much-appreciated concert with vocals, instruments and French Canadian songs performed by all present. Reverend Father Joseph Denis, O.M.I.; Reverend Father Lucien Brassard, O.M.I.; Cercle Paroissiale president Mr. Oliva Bergeron and many others made interesting remarks on the festivities.

     The organizing committee was: Mr. John B. Savard, president; Mr. Wilfred Fortier; Mr. Ernest Lambert; Mr. William Dunn; Mr. Alfred Labonne and Mr. Oliva Bergeron, ex-officio.

Club Lafayette

     Club Lafayette members and guests spent a pleasant evening Wednesday in their new rooms on Merrimack Street. Thanks to the Club directors, under Mr. Arthur Lambert’s presidency, a most agreeable celebration welcomed in the New Year.

     At about midnight a delectable supper, carefully prepared by chef Archambault, was served. A musical and vocal program followed and the members left in the early morning hours. (1) 

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1) Translation by Louise Peloquin.