Party & Pay – (PIP #104)

By Louise Peloquin

From January 20 to March 3, seven peeks into the past presented L’Etoile’s coverage of Lowell’s centennial celebrations. See the links below. (1)

Here is a financial follow-up.

L’Etoile – April 3, 1926

CENTENNIAL BILLS SUSPENDED

__________

The mayor provisionally suspends payment of the nine centennial bills he finds excessive.

__________

NO COMMENT

__________

     Among a batch of centennial celebration invoices presented to him yesterday at City Hall, mayor John J. Donovan suspended payment of nine for a total of approximately $2,500.

     His Honor sent a letter to the Budget Commission to explain that he had retained these invoices for further examination.

     Here is the complete list of unapproved invoices:

• Whitehead-Hoag Co. of Newark, N.J., badges and buttons: $742.81
• William Trottier, professional services: $562.50
• B. Thomas, centennial cake: $32.50
• Sullivan Brothers Printers: $405.25
• Page Catering Co., banquet for guests: $174
• Samuel G. Lyness, centennial punch: $187.50
• Ladydon Catering Co., orchestra: $37.50
• Lillian Abbott, professional services: $154.45
• Kershaw Music Store, professional music: $136.45

     Last Wednesday, centennial invoices totalling $7,700 were presented to the Budget Commission which examined and validated them before sending to mayor Donovan for approval. The mayor questioned nine. When asked about it yesterday, he did not comment but simply said that he wished to study them further before issuing the payment order. These bills will probably not be paid before the beginning of next week. (2)

1) PIP #93 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/01/20/it-was-a-very-good-year/

PIP #94 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/01/27/planning-lowells-centennial/

PIP #95 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/02/03/centennial-spending-objections/

 PIP #96 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/02/10/having-a-ball/

PIP #97 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/02/17/that-is-what-matters-most/

PIP #98 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/02/24/happy-100th-to-the-town-become-a-city/

PIP #99 – https://richardhowe.com/2026/03/03/speeches-songs-poems-prayers-and-much-more/

2) Translation by Louise Peloquin.