History

Monuments on the LMA Grounds

Here is a description of each of the monuments located on the grounds of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium: Bradford “Brad” Morse Memorial Walkway (cement walkway from East Merrimack Street at Concord River to the front steps of Memorial Auditorium). F. Bradford Morse (1921-1994), a veteran of World War II and…

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Flags in LMA Hall of Flags

One of the distinctive features of the vestibule of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium is the many flags displayed high above the floor. Originally called Trophy Hall, the distinctive display of flags prompted the room’s name to be changed to the Hall of Flags. Here are the flags currently on display…

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Artifacts in LMA Hall of Flags

This is a description of the plaques, tablets and artifacts on display in the Hall of Flags of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium: On November 30, 1924, shortly after the Lowell Memorial Auditorium opened, the city of Lowell, the various veterans groups in the city, and the Auditorium trustees, held a…

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The Medina Sidonia Complex

This essay was originally read on the Sunrise radio program. The Medina Sidonia Complex By Steve O’Connor I’ve been perusing a book that I read many years ago. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written historical narrative. It’s called The Armada, by Garrett Mattingly. The author…

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The Mills Weren’t Made of Marble

As is our Labor Day tradition, we’re reposting the lead editorial from the September 7, 1992 edition of The New York Times – A Labor Day piece about the then-recently opened Boott Cotton Mills Museum which is thirty years old this year. The Boott Cotton Mills Museum is open daily…

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Top Secret/SCI

History has always been my favorite subject. At a young age, I was especially interested in the history of World War II. Perhaps it was because in the early 1960s, so many of those around me had served in the military – someone who was 20 years old when Pearl…

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Back to School

With Lowell Public School teachers returning to work tomorrow and the students joining them on Wednesday, the rhythm of the city will change this week when we’re once again reminded how much the life of our community is centered on schools and education. With that in mind, here are the…

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Founding of Lowell Walk, part I

Yesterday morning I led a Lowell Walk from the National Park Visitor Center. The topic was The Founding of Lowell. We talked about what was here before Lowell received its town charter in 1826 and how that charter came about. I’ve typed my notes into a “script” and will share…

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