Sky Bar

Sky Bar by Paul Marion The barbershop on upper Merrimack Street had a candy vending machine against the long side wall where customers waited in padded steel chairs. When I had a dime, I’d slot the coin and pull the handle for a Sky Bar in a yellow wrapper with…

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Writers’ Block

Writers’ Block  by Leo Racicot For nine years, I was lucky to live on what’s known as The Writers’ Block; two streets, Francis Avenue and Irving, a stone’s throw away from Harvard College, Cambridge. In exchange for my room, I worked for two former members of The Roosevelt Era, caring…

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‘Tis of Thee

‘Tis of Thee By Jessica Wilson (Re-posted from Jessica Wilson’s own blog, A Year of Firsts.) There was a very specific moment in my life when I formed my idea of what America means – what she is. I was a junior in college, and because I was almost done…

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Go Jump in the . . . Seine! 2.0

Go jump in the …Seine! 2.0 By Louise Peloquin      During the summer of 2024, seven blog pieces covered the Paris Olympic Games with three on swimming in the Seine. (1) A year later, Paris mayor Annie Hidalgo and her team want to keep Parisian dog day blues at bay with a…

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Lowell Politics: July 6, 2025

The Lowell City Council had a special meeting this past Monday night to complete the agenda for last Tuesday’s meeting. Usually, unfinished business would have been kicked over to the next regularly scheduled meeting, but on Tuesday when the clock slid past 10 pm, Mayor Dan Rourke asked his colleagues…

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In the Minors

IN THE MINORS Terry Downes The old coach squinted towards the mound To watch the youngster there To see if he might have the stuff Or just be ordinaire. It was a dusty afternoon And hot in late July A blazing sun above the field Turned green turf tough and…

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The Holidays in 1960s Lowell 

The Holidays in 1960s Lowell By Leo Racicot Every year, as Valentine’s Day approached, our teachers would get us excited with mention of a possible party (if we were good) and we set about with our parents buying Valentine cards to handout to our classmates on the day itself. The nuns…

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“Lowell has responded splendidly”

“Lowell has responded splendidly” – (PIP #75) By Louise Peloquin       The National Defense Day program was one of the items on the September 3rd 1924 Lowell City Council meeting agenda. (1)  Posting it seems appropriate on the eve of America’s 250th birthday. L’Étoile – Front page, September 12, 1924 A PARADE OF 7000…

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