It’s always happening in 1924/25 Lowell – (PIP #62)

By Louise Peloquin

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     PIP #61 (1) presented exhibits and new construction in Lowell a century ago. Here are more indications of the city’s vitality.

L’Etoile – February 14, 1925

RADIO EXHIBIT OPENING

Liberty Hall will hold Lowell’s first radio exhibit to begin this afternoon and continue until Wednesday. It will be open to the public for five days from 2 to midnight. The program includes a wide selection of radios on display and all kinds of entertainment. The exhibit features a number of old devices as well as radios built by amateurs. The hall is beautifully decorated for the circumstance. Radio enthusiasts will undoubtedly be interested in attending the demonstrations on how to build a radio and on how to connect the electric wiring. 

     An orchestra will perform a concert every evening from 8 to 10 and then play music for dancing until midnight. All of the local retailers and many Boston wholesalers offered their support to exhibit director J. Dempsey. 

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L’Etoile – October 29, 1924

A NEW GREEK CHURCH IN THIS CITY

     At a recent meeting, the city’s Greek Orthodox Church members decided to launch the preparations to build a new church at the cost of approximately $75,000. Apparently, 600 faithful are entirely separated from the independent Orthodox Church.

  Last week, the construction committee acquired 10,000 feet of land on Common Street on the corner of Common Avenue. According to Emmanuel D. Kaknes, president of the construction committee, an architect is preparing an estimate and construction plans. The work will soon begin.

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L’Etoile – October 22, 1924

Formal Opening of Fidler’s New B.L.O. Store 

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Run by Charles S. Fidler and Son, this store is increasing its business tremendously. – A good name for the new building would be “The Beautiful Store.”

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          Fidler’s Boston Ladies Outfitters, directed by Charles S. Fidler and his son, made a long-cherished dream come true with the formal opening of its new department store at 92-100 Merrimack Street. The expertise of the most senior company managers triggered rising sales. Mr. Fidler’s experience in manufacturing greatly helped him expand his business. The extensive purchasing and sales knowledge of the proprietor’s son, now general manager, has recently lead to a very quick upswing in business. 

     “The Beautiful Store” is certainly an appropriate name for this building which sells quality merchandise at reasonable prices on four floors. The copper façade announces the lovely interior with its well-lit hallways and advantageously-displayed goods offered at the lowest prices.

     The store opened by Fidler Senior ten years ago was insignificant compared to today’s.

     With only three salespeople working in the coat, suit, dress and hat departments, Charles S. Fidler opened Boston Ladies’ Outfitters. Great business success encouraged him to expand. Three years later, a ready-to-wear department opened on the ground floor on Middle Street. A children’s clothes section opened next, followed by a bargain basement with attractive prices for thrifty housekeepers. Last year, successful merchandising allowed the purchase of the Cook-Taylor building and renovations. Today, the store is one of the most beautiful and best-known, not only in Lowell but also in the State, outside of Boston. Quality, service, courtesy and the possibility to return goods if dissatisfied, made the store what it is today.

     The beautiful window displays are among the main attractions. The Merrimack Street façade windows put fancy coats, dresses, hats, lingerie and other new items on view. Internationally-known Paul Blumberg, Fidler’s window decorator, has won many coveted awards for his work.

     For the store opening, a special window included evening gowns, stoles and all sorts of novelty articles. Magnificent Spanish shawls, very much in style at the moment, are also included. The star of the displays is the central window decorated with silk, costume jewelry and, as centerpiece, a model of an English frigate recalling the days when silk and lace made up most of a woman’s trousseau.

     The Middle Street section, formerly for ready-to-wear items, carries silk, velvet, wool and cotton fabric sold by the yard and draperies.

     The ready-to-wear department, with coats, suits, dresses and an extraordinary selection of hats, was moved to the second floor. Fidler’s carries all of the popular hat colors and the latest models for all occasions.

     The gift and toy department, with new games and toys, is on the fourth floor. There are also column lamps, table lamps and other lighting equipment.

     The children’s department on the third floor carries all kinds of novelty items, everything imaginable for babies, for 4 to 16-year-old girls and even for 2 to 16-year-old boys.

     Undeniably, one can find what one needs at Fidler’s – new velvet tunics with fur trim, silks, embroideries, duvetyn and charmeuse dresses, velvet coats, imitation suede and other fabrics.

     Administration offices and the window decorator’s studio are easily accessible and located on the fourth floor.

     Based on the policy of offering quality merchandise at reasonable prices, Boston Ladies’ Outfitters holds a prominent place among top-notch department stores. (2)

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1. PIP #61 link here:   https://richardhowe.com/2025/03/11/its-happening-in-1924-lowell
2. Translations by Louise Peloquin.