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Kerouac’s Characters: Robert “Pete” Houde By Kurt Phaneuf  Though Robert Olivier “Pete” Houde’s life began quite modestly, by the time of his death in 1993 he had become a figure of some importance in Lowell history.  His American literature footprint is also significant; in addition to appearing in seven of…

The following post first appeared on this site on October 5, 2023. It is being republished today in honor of the upcoming Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival which will take place from October 9-13, 2025.  Leo with Louis at L’Etoile By Louise Peloquin October always conjures up visions of Jack Kerouac.…

With the city election just a month away, today I’ll share some thoughts about voter turnout in Lowell, or more accurately, the lack of it. In the last city election in November 2023, only 7,516 people voted. That’s 7,516 of the 75,516 registered to vote, which is fewer than 10…

Kerouac’s Characters: L. V. Rochette By Kurt Phaneuf  According to his granddaughter Lucille (Parthenais) Sullivan, Dr. Louis Vitalien “Victor” Rochette (1862-1930) delivered an estimated 10,000 babies for Lowell’s Franco-American mothers during his four-decade career.  Arguably his most famous delivery was Jack Kerouac, whose birth Rochette oversaw at Leo and Gabrielle’s…

PENNANT FEVER By Terry Downes Could this finally be the year Home fans will have much to cheer The boys bring home as souvenir The pennant soaring high? The wins they just keep piling up The foe limps home like beaten pup Joy flows out of coach’s cup The team…

Remembering Lowell from Afar By Despo Baltoumas Although I live far away my mind goes back to a familiar corner in Lowell. Two floors above the tailor shop, I looked out the window to Suffolk and Broadway.  Below me all kinds of people were walking by.  At a young age…

37th annual Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival: October 9–13, 2025 Poetry and musical performances, tours, and more planned to commemorate life and legacy of Jack Kerouac Lowell, MA — Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell and became a writer here. Each October, the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival (LCK!) illuminates his local influences…

Lowell People – (PIP #82) By Louise Peloquin In the pre-LinkedIn era, the local daily newspaper allowed readers to learn about Lowell people. Here are 4 peeks into the past. L’Étoile – January 6, 1925 HE SPENDS 28 YEARS AT LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY ——- Agent Charles F. Richardson has seen…

Kerouac’s Characters: E. Gaston Campbell By Kurt Phaneuf Edward Gaston Campbell (1891-1952) was already a citizen of note by the time he began appearing in the hometown novels of Lowell native Jack Kerouac.  Born in Montreal, QC, Gaston arrived in America in 1893 and became a U.S. citizen in 1919. …

The Lowell City Council met last Tuesday night. In this newsletter, I’ll discuss several issues that arose at that meeting. **** The Markley Group LLC, represented by former Mayor Bill Martin (who is the last attorney to have served on the Lowell City Council), came before the council with a…