“It was a very good year” – (PIP #93)

By Louise Peloquin

     The beginning of a new year always brings forecasts, predictions and plans. L’Etoile tried to cover them diligently, but always with a special local focus. 1926, Lowell’s centennial, was expected to be a very good year.

L’Etoile – January 5, 1926

Prospects for progress in 1926

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The happy predictions for 1926 were abundantly accomplished. – A continuation of this progress is expected.

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     New York, 5. – Following one of the most prosperous years in our history, the new year arrives with indications of continuing prosperity, at least during its first half. Finance and industry leaders were almost unanimous in their business forecasts for this period but many were cautiously restrained as to predictions for the entire year.

     Rarely were positive forecasts more largely materialized than in 1925. Throughout the entire year, tangible proof of improvement was visible in commerce and industry, as demonstrated by the record number of railway shipments, unprecedented business during the holidays and substantial profits in railway and industrial corporate income, transmitted to shareholders in the form of higher dividends. This progress not only contributed to restoring European political and economic stability but also indicated that the present Congressional session would pass very few restrictive laws affecting financial enterprises or railways.

     As a business barometer, the Stockmarket functioned with unquestionable precision. 1925 business prosperity was predicted in the Fall of 1924 and the continuing strength of stock and bond transactions indicated  that the time had not yet come to expect a reversal in the trend. At the foundation of business, the easy flow of money stimulated the Stockmarket during most of 1925. 1926 begins with even more solid conditions.

     The traditional reduction of business activities during the holidays did not highlight anything interesting last week. It was generally admitted, however, that the lull in production and distribution would be short-lived, allowing many manufacturing enterprises to complete their inventories and replace machines while waiting for a rebound in larger scale operations.

     With operations at almost full capacity in numerous sectors, many industries closed the most extraordinary year in their history, according to Dun’s Trade Review.

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     This is the first article of L’Etoile’s extensive Lowell centennial coverage.  During the next few weeks, our “Peeks Into the Past” will take us through the celebration preparation process, from setting a budget to organizing a parade.

L’Etoile – January 4, 1926

THE CENTENNIAL OF THIS CITY

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Lowell will celebrate in March and in June the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the municipality of Lowell. – The committee is working on the preparations.

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     The New Year will bring Lowellians the 100th anniversary of the municipality of Lowell. The exact date of the legislative act incorporating Lowell as a town, separate from Chelmsford, was March 1, 1826. Without delay, the citizens of what was formerly called East Chelmsford were informed of Justice Joseph Looke’s March 2, 1826 mandate requesting that Kirk Booth summon an assembly of voters to proceed to establishing a municipal government. The assembly took place in the old stone house on Pawtucket Street, now known as the Ayer Home for Children.

     Samuel Adams Coburn, first muncipal clerk, owned the tavern which had gained a grand reputation everywhere in the East. The first “selectmen” chosen according to the incorporation act were Nathaniel Wright, Samuel Batchelder and Oliver M. Whipple.

    The town continued to exist for 10 years and, in 1836, it became a city. Approximately three thousand people lived in the different parts of the municipality at the time of its incorporation and some agglomerations were concentrated around Pawtucket Falls, Merrimack Manufacturing Company, Saint Anne’s Church and lower Belvedere.

     The town counted almost 18,000 inhabitants when it became a city in 1836, indicating its remarkable development in this decade – the quintupling of its original population.

     Consequently, on March 1, the people of Lowell will commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the town with a grand formal program at Memorial Auditorium. Later, probably at the end of June, a week of festivities will include a large civic parade, musical programs and seven days known as “Old Home Week.”

     Lowell, as we well know, owes its name to Francis Cabot Lowell who was, according to general opinion, the author of cotton manufacturing in America because he invented and financed a practically-powered loom for Americans. He was also interested in the social and business aspects of textile mill management.

     Many people were saddened to see that “Wamesit”, the original indigenous name of the agglomeration at Pawtucket Falls, was not chosen. However, from a historical perspective, “Lowell” seems to be appropriate for a large manufacturing city.

     According to present plans, the centennial celebration will be the grandest fête Lowell has ever witnessed. A large executive committee, composed of more than 40 citizens, oversees the different departments and will be assisted by a group of 100 or more. At the beginning of last Fall, the first planning phase was entrusted to a bureau of seven executive committee directors presided by Frank K. Stearns.

     This committee has held weekly assemblies for some time and, thanks to its work, in a few days, a general assembly of the entire executive committee will address all of the questions be studied and discussed. Up until now, we know that the large public commemorative exercises of March 1 will include speeches by national, State, and city civil servants, along with a musical program. Later, when the warmer temperatures make events more attractive, a week of celebrations will take place with festivities including balls, parades, concerts, etc.

     The committee of directors does not yet know whether to opt for organizing a large public parade of historic dimensions or an industrial exhibition. This question will be included in a report for the next assembly. The bureau has always had a great many ideas and plans on which the executive committee will be invited to take action as soon as possible. It now seems that, from now to the celebration, the Lowellians preparing the event will be very busy. (1)

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1) Translations by Louise Peloquin.