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Ladd & Whitney Monument Dedication
Thanks to Guy Lefebvre of the Lowell Gallery who sent along this print of the July 8, 1865 Harper’s Weekly which shows a story about the dedication of the Ladd & Whitney Monument in Lowell. Luther Ladd and Addison Whitney were two young mill workers from Lowell who were killed on April 19, 1861 in Baltimore while serving in the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, making them the first to die in battle during that conflict. The monument to their memory, shown in the above print, is located right in front of Lowell City Hall (which was not constructed at the time of the dedication). This year is the 150th anniversary of these events, so check back here frequently for more posts about Lowell in the Civil War and local events to commemorate the city’s role in the conflict.
I am trying to orient myself. Is this picture looking up Merrimack St towards Pawtucket? Or maybe looking out “Arcand Drive” towards Tsongas? Appreciate anyone who can help me out.
The people in Lawrence believe that they had the first soldier killed in teh Civil War or the War Between the States. I think we should invite the mayor of Baltimore for the 150th anniversary . When he comes we should give him an honorary degree from the UMA/Lowell.
Four men died during the Baltimore riots – Luther Ladd and Addison Whitney of Lowell, Charles A. Taylor of Boston but marching with the Lowell men and Sumner Needham of Lawrence. The Col. Edward Jones believed that Charles A. Taylor of Boston was the first killed. There is much that is uncertain.
Paul@01852 .It’s a painting not a photo. It may not be correct.
@Paul, I believe that it is Merrimack St towards Pawtucket. The building across the street on the left where the Hess gas station currently is was called the Merrimac House. If you look at what was written in on the painting to the left it resembles “Merrimac House”. But as Dean said it is a painting.
It was sketched by William H. Hard for Harper’s Weekly and was republished in the Lowell Sun. In the newspaper you can clearly read “Merrimack House”. Monument square used to be called Merrimack square.
Paul@01852, The building on the left is the Merrimack House hotel, one of the better Lowell hotels of the era. The next multi story bldg on the left still stands it’s where George’s textile is located. The steeple at the rear is currently the Smith Baker center, the wooden church burnt in the late 1870s – early 1880s. City Hall would be facing you directly behind the monument.
Thanks all for the assistance. I suspected it was looking up Merrimack St and thought the hotel was maybe the building now housing George’s Textile instead of the building further up. Being a Blowellian with only a 36-year history here I still have lots to learn!
I don’t think anyone will ever know which of the four was actually the first killed. I have read several eyewitness accounts of the riots including Col. Jones report, none of which even tries to pin who was first killed. In Taylor’s case it wasn’t even know that he was a member of the 6th until several days after the riot when his uniform coat was brought to Col. Jones. It was initially assumed that he was a civilian casualty accounting for his original burial in Baltimore.