Here’s the video of my March 27, 2011 talk on “Lowell in the Civil War” that was sponsored by the Lowell Historical Society. I discuss how men from Lowell played a critical part in the opening month of the American Civil War. Thanks to the Lowell National Park’s Phil Lupsiewicz for recording and posting this video on this YouTube Channel. Be advised that the video is 55 minutes long.
April 1st, 2011
Lowell featured in North Shore Magazine
The April/May edition of North Shore Magazine has a nice profile of Lowell with frequent quotes from our blog co-author Paul Marion. Check out the story HERE.
April 1st, 2011
Book drop-off on Saturday
The Friends of Pollard Memorial Library will hold it’s annual book sale on Saturday, May 21, 2011 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Lowell Senior Center, 276 Broadway, Lowell. The Friends are accepting donations of books for the sale on Saturday April 2 (tomorrow) and on Saturday May 7 from 9 am to noon on both days.
April 1st, 2011
‘Sudden Shower at Ohashi Bridge’ by Ando Hiroshige (1857)
Look at this color wood block print image from a Japanese artist in 1857, and then look below at Tony Sampas’s photograph of Lowell City Hall in snow.
April 1st, 2011
Gmail Motion
This stuff is amazing…I’ll let the video speak for itself
This is truly remarkable…Give it a try. Click the Box Below, then the Same Box on the Next Page
April 1st, 2011
Pilgrim-Wampanoag Peace Treaty – April 1, 1621
Colonist visiting with Chief Massasoit in 1621
On April 1, 1621 – from This Day in History at History.com:
At the Plymouth settlement in present-day Massachusetts, the leaders of the Plymouth colonists, acting on behalf of King James I, make a defensive alliance with Massasoit, chief of the Wampanoags. The agreement, in which both parties promised to not “doe hurt” to one another, was the first treaty between a Native American tribe and a group of American colonists. According to the treaty, if a Wampanoag broke the peace, he would be sent to Plymouth for punishment; if a colonist broke the law, he would likewise be sent to the Wampanoags.
In November 1620, the Mayflower arrived in the New World, carrying 101 English settlers, commonly known as the pilgrims. The majority of the pilgrims were Puritan Separatists, who traveled to America to escape the jurisdiction of the Church of England, which they believed violated the biblical precepts of true Christians. After coming to anchor in what is today Provincetown harbor in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts, a party of armed men under the command of Captain Myles Standish was sent to explore the immediate area and find a location suitable for settlement. In December, the explorers went ashore in Plymouth, where they found cleared fields and plentiful running water; a few days later the Mayflower came to anchor in Plymouth harbor, and settlement began.
The first direct contact with a Native American was made in March 1621, and soon after, Chief Massasoit paid a visit to the settlement. After an exchange of greetings and gifts, the two peoples signed a peace treaty that lasted for more than 50 years.
April 1st, 2011
Kenngott on French-Canadians, c.1912
Another excerpt from “The Record of a City: A Social Survey of Lowell Massachusetts”, written by George F. Kenngott in 1912 (p.29).
Shortly after the close of the Civil War, the French-Canadians came in ever increasing numbers, induced by the demand for labor which the growth of manufactures created, and by the relatively high wages which could be obtained by comparatively unskilled workmen. While at first it seemed that the French-Canadians were a shifting population, a great many of them have become permanent residents, voters and owners of real estate. Like the Irish who came before them, they have erected great churches and established parochial schools. They have intermarried with Irish and American, and have become important factors of the city life. At first they were gregarious, living in “Little Canada” in the heart of the city. Since the introduction of the electric car system, many of them have established their homes in other sections of the city. At first they were essentially aliens and foreigners, they came for their own profit and pleasure, and preserved their isolation; now they have generally adopted the language and customs of the United States, and few return permanently to their former homes.
April 1st, 2011
BeatleJuice Dance Party at LMA Last Night
The folks at Middlesex Community College threw a party for more than 500 people at Lowell Memorial Auditorium last night with the best music that could be ordered up, All-Beatles-All-the-Time. On stage was the top Beatles tribute band in this part of the country, Beatlejuice, whose players served up note-perfect versions of songs that are the classical music of the past 50 years. The LMA was set up like a music club with a large dance area in front of the stage, round tables on the floor, and additional seating in the mezz level. The audience ranged from kids and lots of college students to a large contingent from the Veterans of Band Battles of the ’60s. If Sgt. Pepper is the Guy Lombardo of the Baby Boomers, we’ll take him. Roll up for the Mystery Tour, and bring on Billy Shears. What creative leaps from “Love Me Do” to “I Am the Walrus” to “Paperback Writer.” Kudos to LMA and MCC for giving us three hours of fun and music, and nothing but fun and music (with a nod to Max Yasgur).
Recent Comments