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‘Boott Cotton Warehouse, Eastern Canal’
“Venice of the North Series: Boott Cotton Warehouse, Eastern Canal” by Richard Marion (c) 2011 See more artwork at www.richardmarion.net
Read More »History
Lowell’s war on religion, c.1890
Holidays to me are characterized by rituals: Cookouts on the Fourth of July, visiting the cemetery on Memorial Day, enduring the mainstream media’s incessant “War on Christmas” stories every December. Personally, I’m comfortable wishing folks a Merry Christmas, but I also sympathize with those who are hesitant to do so.…
Read More »The Power of Place: Liverpool and McCartney
Paul McCartney on Tuesday returned to his roots in Liverpool for a concert at the Echo Arena on the dockside along the Mersey River. Read one fan’s report on the concert and hometown atmosphere from the a very active website devoted to McCartney, The Beatles, and their friends. For the obsessives among us,…
Read More »Civil War: “Return of the Colors” Celebration
In April, 1861 the troops that had organized in Lowell at the call of President Lincoln, assembled as the Massachusetts Sixth Regiment in front of the State House in Boston. There Governor John Andrew – in a custom followed since revolutionary days – presented them with their regimental colors. As MassMoments reminds…
Read More »“Destiny of the Republic” book review
As you approach the Capitol from the National Mall in Washington, there’s a large statue of General Ulysses S Grant on horseback flanked by dramatic sculptures of two horse artillery sections going into action. But off to the right, at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds, is another large…
Read More »Basketball First Played on This Day
As the delayed season of the National Basketball Association is now underway – MassMoments reminds us that on this day – December 21, 1891 – the game of basketball as designed by James Naismith was first played at what is known today as Springfield College in Massachusetts. As Naismith nailed a peach basket to the lower rail of a balcony in…
Read More »‘Patterns of a Prayer Town’
I wrote the first draft of this poem in 1976, and worked on it on and off for a long time. I had in mind the extensive outdoor lighting displays in Dracut (the town) and Lowell, but, especially as it evolved, the dense array of Christmas decorations in Pawtucketville, between Mammoth Road and…
Read More »‘Government Worked’ in City Health Insurance Matter
For those of us who believe in government as the civilized way to make decisions about matters in life that affect us all, the action at the Lowell City Council this evening is reason for optimism. Our municipal representatives and professional staff in collaboration with the various labor unions in the city found their…
Read More »Christmas Traditions: Candles in the Window and Memories
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is placing candles in the windows of our home. I still use some triple candles used years ago to light-up the Sweeney home on St. James Street. While the white light is my preference, my mother preferred the soft glow of amber in her…
Read More »High Beams
Last night, I went to a Christmas party in the suburbs. The destination was off Route 40, out the Chelmsford-Tyngsborough way, down among the woodsy parcels along Dunstable Road. Now, is it just me or can it be said that every third person drives routinely with his or her headlights set…
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