Maya Angelou at Smith Baker; Joe Donahue at Whistler (1989)
With increasing discussion about renovating the Smith Baker Center near Lowell City Hall, I went to the vault to get this essay written in the moment in 1989. Let’s hope we can revive the Smith Baker Center and offer the public inspiring events like Maya Angelou’s appearance there.—PM . A Day That…
Read More »Lowell City Council Meeting: May 26, 2015
Tax Increment Financing Agreement (TIF) with the Markley Group is approved. This company will located a major computer server facility in the former Prince Spaghetti mill in South Lowell. The property is currently assessed for $5.9 million in its unoccupied state. This TIF sets that value as the amount for…
Read More »Jesuits – those “devil” priests – banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony ~ May 26, 1647
With the nearly iconic role of priests of the Society of Jesus in the Catholic Church – world-wide and here in Massachusetts and long before the election of Pope Francis, would it be a surprise that the Jesuits were banned from the Massachusetts Bay colony? Here’s the story from our…
Read More »“Reflections on the British Election” by John Wooding
John Wooding, a professor of political science at UMass Lowell, shares some thoughts on the May 7, 2015 British election: Britain went to the polls on May 7 to elect a new government. Despite the opinion polls predicting another very tight race, with a possible “hung” parliament, the Conservatives won…
Read More »Lowell Sun story on Cemetery Tours
Thanks to the Lowell Sun for a nice story today about the Lowell Cemetery tours. Reporter Brendan Lewis and photographer Caley McGuane joined the tour this past Saturday and did a good job of capturing what the tour is all about – interesting stories about American history, always with a…
Read More »Old Glory
“Lowell’s not-so-famous bell” by Jim Peters
Jim Peters shares another story about the history of Lowell. Paul Revere served primarily as a Silversmith. He made beautiful silver dinnerware for the wealthy of Boston and its environs. What people do not know is that he also had a foundry and in this manufacturing plant, he made, among…
Read More »Lowell Real Estate: Week of May 18, 2015
The following real estate sales took place in Lowell last week: May 18, 2015 – Monday 43 Brunswick St for $280,000. Prior sale in 2012 for $195,000 29 Hastings St for $198,400. Prior sale in 2009 for $85,000 May 19, 2015 – Tuesday 669 Lawrence St for $450,000. Prior sale…
Read More »“The Winner’s Curse” by John Edward
John Edward, who teaches economics at Bentley and UMass Lowell, frequently contributes columns on economic issues. Here are his views on the possibility of the Olympics coming to Boston. Coincidentally, today’s Globe has an editorial urging Olympic organizers to include Gateway Cities like Lowell in the Olympic planning process: The…
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