This “Matthew Brady Studio” portrait was probably made in the spring of 1864, around the time U.S. Grant put General Benjamin F. Butler in command of the Army of the James River. The Sesquicentennial commemoration of the American Civil War began in earnest last month. Locally, the story has been…
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On Thursday Vermont became the first state to enact a single payer healthcare system for its citizens. It’s not exactly surprising that one of the country’s most liberal states has become the first state to legislate a fundamental right to healthcare for all of its citizens. And, should the federal…
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A video slideshow from today’s UMass Lowell graduation at the Tsongas Center. All reports indicate it was a well-run, dignified ceremony. Congratulations to all graduates: [youtube]DCZ9YLAY8Q0[/youtube]
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Horton from Krejci: Goal. (Web photo by Brian Snyder courtesy of Reuters) Boston is back in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1990 for a chance to win it all for the first time since 1972, the Bobby Orr era. I was a senior in high school…
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Today MassMoments reminds us that on May 27, 1863 the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry – gathered on the Boston Common then paraded in review by the State House as they began their way South. This first black regiment from the North had orders to to proceed to Beaufort, South Carolina…
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Many calendars already have a big circle drawn around an important time on the Fall Calendar. This time is set aside for what is well-known as the “Big E” – officially known as the Eastern States Exposition. The Big E is billed far and wide as “New England’s State Fair.”…
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In 1987 four Vietnam Vets concerned with the plight of American Prisoners of War and soldiers Missing in Actions organized a rally of 2500 motorcycles to ride through the streets of Washington DC as a protest. They called it Rolling Thunder. This first event took place on Memorial Day. Once…
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Superstitious Bruins fans were startled to spot the above JC Penney ad on page 11 of today’s Lowell Sun. The ad congratulates the B’s for winning the 2011 Eastern Conference Championship. The problem is that the Bruins haven’t yet won that championship. They could have done so last night, but…
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Early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were both inhospitable and intolerant of those who didn’t share their religious beliefs. These Puritans were particularly hostile to the “devilish” Roman Catholic Frenchmen of Quebec and especially to the Jesuit missionary priests they brought with them. Jesuit conversions of the natives along…
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