The Lowell Historical Society forwarded an email that was addressed to me from some folks who have made a great video from a Civil War era photo album depicting many Lowell residents. The pictures are amazing and, as a bonus, we learn something about the Battle of Galveston which I…
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Dave McKean, keeper of the Lowell Irish blog and a graduate of St Patrick’s School in Lowell, recently paid a visit and learned that besides all the other things needed by this inner-city school that does great work, the facility is in need of a new roof. The sisters who…
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Patrick J. Mogan (Photo (c) by James Higgins) We learned earlier today about the passing of Dr. Patrick J. Mogan—teacher, planner, dreamer, and tireless enthusiast for Lowell. I had the privilege of working for him and with him. He was a mentor and guide to me. His purposeful and joyful commitment…
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Seeing Tony’s stunning sunset image posted yesterday reminded me of this poem, which I wrote in the 1980s. I’ve always been fascinated by the sundown skies over the river channel looking west from Pawtucketville, particularly the vantage point from the O’Donnell Bridge that connects Mammoth Rd and School St. There’s…
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Two years ago I wrote a post about a deadly fire at Providence College back in 1977. The post has now acquired 22 comments, two just today. I’ve reposted my story and the comments here in memory of the ten students who perished 34 years ago tonight. Early in the…
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Cross-post from the Lowell Historical Society blog site: Posted on December 11, 2012 by Marie After years of wrangling among the town fathers, the Historic Commission and the former owner, the remains of the famous Ames Castle atop a hill in Tewksbury – known now as Catamount Road – are…
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Following is one writer’s highlights in cultural experiences in Lowell and the Merrimack Valley this past year. These are events I attended, so this list is not an attempt to rate the best in the arts and culture for 2012. That’s for another post. Send in your favorite and unforgettable moments,…
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In the same year that UMass Lowell and the National Park Service celebrated Charles Dickens’s famous visit to Lowell in 1842, the University hosted the author who is arguably the Dickens of our time when it comes to readership and popular interest—that would be Stephen King, the guy who grew…
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Today is Pear Harbor Remembrance Day. At 11 am, the Greater Lowell Veterans Council will hold its annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Everyone is invited to attend and participate. In recognition of Pearl Harbor Day, Tom O’Brien shared the following information about his late uncle,…
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Last night the Pollard Memorial Library Board of Trustees and the PML Foundation hosted a reception to celebrate the official unveiling of a number of restored works of art long owned by the library. Perhaps the centerpiece of the restoration effort was the painting “Venezia” by Lowell-native David Neal (1838-1915)…
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