Happy 100th to the town become a city!  – (PIP #98)

By Louise Peloquin

 L’Etoile – March 1, 1926 front page

 LOWELL IS JUBILANT

     It is estimated that one fourth of the population is participating today, one way or another, in the three different events to celebrate Lowell’s 100th anniversary – Grandiose ceremony at the Auditorium this afternoon broadcast by WEEI.

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BALL AT THE MAGNIFICENTLY DECORATED AUDITORIUM THIS EVENING

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     We count a total of approximately 30,000 people expected to participate today in the various centennial events to celebrate Lowell’s incorporation as a“town.”

     This morning at 9:30, thousands of children attended the commemorative ceremonies at the High School Cyrus W. Irish Memorial Auditorium and in different rooms and classes of the other city schools.

     This afternoon, as we go to press at 2, a compact audience is gathered at Memorial Auditorium for the most grandiose choral, musical and speech program Lowell has ever had. The program is broadcast by Boston radio WEEI to an innumerable audience up and down the East coast. It is the first time a Memorial Auditorium event is transmitted by a major station.

     This evening, at 8:15, a grand ball will be held at Memorial Auditorium. One of the evening’s most unusual decorations will be an enormous birthday cake, lit by 100 candles and displayed on stage. It is so big that a man can hide behind it without being seen. This cake is relatively inexpensive considering its size and its decoration made of real cream. An expert pastry chef worked on it all day yesterday.

    The directors ask the public to take special note of the fact that this is the first time Lowell is honored in its own auditorium by a radio station as reputable as WEEI. To properly fulfil its task, WEEI had to bring $2,000 worth of equipment to Lowell and install it in one of the apartments off of the balcony. From this location, newscaster A.F. Edes will transmit the program to Worcester where it will be relayed to the central station in Boston.

     Mr. Edes, seated in the rear, will have a headset, a microphone and, with one press of a button, will broadcast the entire program to a vast audience. 

     At the ball tonight, ticket holders will be admitted at the East Merrimack street entrance from 8:15 to 8:45. Afterwards, the main doors will open to those without tickets. The public will be admitted until Fire Chief Saunders informs the police that the room is filled to capacity.

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THE CENTENNIAL BALL

     From 8:15 to 8:45 this evening, Centennial Ball ticket holders will be admitted at the East Merrimack Street Auditorium entrance. At 8:45, the main doors will be opened to those who do not have tickets. Doors will close when the hall is full, on the decision of Fire Chief Edward F. Saunders. The Grand Centennial Orchestra will give a one-hour concert, to be followed by traditional dance demonstrations and then the ball will be in full swing. At midnight, all of the lights will be dimmed. Confetti and streamers will rain down upon the dancers and attendees and everyone will sing the Star Spangled Banner.

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     SPECIAL MENU AT MARIE’S RESTAURANT

MARIE’S restaurant on Central Street, famous for the quality of its dishes and for its warm atmosphere, is offering a special centennial celebration menu. Before the theater, the Auditorium ball or late in the evening, perfect, first-rate service will be offered to all. (1)

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1) Translations by Louise Peloquin.