Archive for March 30th, 2012

March 30th, 2012

Dickens and Massachusetts exhibit officially opens

by DickH

UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan

More than 100 people gathered at the Tsongas Industrial History Center at the Boott Cotton Mills Museum earlier this evening for the opening reception for “Dickens and Massachusetts” which commemorates his 1842 visit to Massachusetts which included a day in Lowell which made a deep impression on the famous English writer. The exhibit, which is set up in the first floor exhibit space of the Boott Museum, will be open from 10 am until 4 pm, seven days per week through October. Be sure to visit it – often. Tonight’s festivities also kick-off seven months of lectures, demonstrations, walking tours and all manner of activities – 75 in all – that will take place around Lowell between now and October.

Tonight’s program opened with UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan (shown above) thanking the various institutions that partnered with UML to make this exhibit a reality including the Lowell National Historical Park, the Tsongas Industrial History Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI has a world-class collection of Dickensian artifacts – who knew?) and the Charles Dickens Museum of London. The National Park’s David Blackburn, who co-curated the exhibit and served as master of ceremonies tonight, next introduced his co-curator, UMass Lowell professor Dianna Archibald who thanked all who were involved in the creation of the exhibit. She said that the final days of actually setting up the exhibit made it feel like Dickens had returned to Lowell and that for a scholar who had devoted so much time to studying Dickens, being around so many artifacts from his life was a very special experience. She said the best place in the world to do an exhibit was at the Lowell National Historical Park.

Next to speak was Dr. Florian Schweizer, the executive director of the Charles Dickens Museum of London (shown below). Dr. Schweizer said that this exhibit shows how Dickens influenced America and America him. Schweizer acknowledged that much of the attention on Dickens writings about America were on some of the negativity expressed by the writer but that the time has come for us to re-evaluate the relationship between Dickens and Massachusetts and that this exhibit and all of its ancillary programming will hopefully be the start of such a re-examination.

Dr Florian Schweizer, Exec Director of Charles Dickens Museum of London

CategoryCulture, History, Lowell | CommentNo Comments »

March 30th, 2012

National Trolley Museum, 25 Shattuck Street

by DickH

“National Trolley Museum, 25 Shattuck Street” by Tony Sampas

CategoryLowell | CommentNo Comments »

March 30th, 2012

In the Merrimack Valley: Merrimack College Dorm in Our North Tewkbury/West Andover Neighborhood?

by Marie

Our North Tewkbury neighborhood is abuzz yet again with talk of  happenings along the River Road Tewksbury/Andover corridor. The road itself is in the final stages of reconstruction and reconfiguration – just awaiting some utility pole removal. The enormous Avalon project on the former site of the Poor Clares Monastery is accepting applications for residency. The nuns you might remember moved across the way into a newer, smaller complex. A few years ago the former Christian Formation Center was bought and renovated to house the Melmark School – a resident and day school for autistic children. Now there is talk of creating satellite housing for Merrimack College students next door at the former seminary.

Some history… Many years ago there was discussion about acquiring the Franciscan Seminary property on River Road for a move and expansion of the Lawrence-located Central Catholic High School – then a school just for boys. In fact, a purchase and sales agreement may have been signed for the 100 plus acre property before a hue and cry arose among some alums to keep the school in the city. Some will remember the seminary as a place resplendant with beautiful lights during the Christmas season – back when the school was in the business of training young men considering the priesthood. The school opened in the early 1930s and closed in the late-70s later evolving into what is now known as  the Franciscan Retreat and Conference Center. The Christian Formation Center - built on adjacent property - served as a busy faith and community activity center – hosting youth retreats,  parish shows, wedding receptions and even political events such as one where Rose Kennedy spoke in 1970 urging support of her son Senator Ted Kennedy! The Poor Clare nuns were moved from their Westford Street location in Lowell by Cardinal Cushing to a very large cloister across from the Sem and the Center – it proved too large, too costly - too much to maintain.

In today’s Eagle-Tribune Jonathan Phelps writes that according to Jeff Doggett, the chief of staff to Merrimack College President Christopher Hopey:

Merrimack College is working on a deal to rent the St. Francis Retreat Center on River Road to temporarily house a growing population of students.

The 2,000-student independent Catholic college is forecasting the need for additional student housing starting this fall… the college plans to only lease the facility for the next academic year. A final agreement still has to be signed…”

The center has the capacity of about 150 students and will be occupied by upperclassman, he said.

While it does seem to be a temporary measure, the impact of traffic is certainly a concern for the area. It does raise the question of what longterm use will be finally found for the large seminary property. The mix of single family residential and leased apartment housing, residential and day students,  cloister, horses, water treatment plant, golf course, cemetery and bird sanctuary appear simpatico for now on this very busy stretch of road high above the Merrimack River through Tewksbury and Andover.

Stay tuned for further developments.

Read the full article here at eagletribune.com.

 

Mrs. Rose Kennedy is applauded by her granddaughter Kathleen Kennedy (R),  daughter of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy as the mother of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy  spoke at the Christian Formation Center on October 4, 1970 in Andover, MA

Read more: http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/Archives/1970/1647/5/#ixzz1qb1iG6tG

CategoryGreater Lowell, History | Comment1 Comment »

March 30th, 2012

File Under: All Sea Roads Lead to Lowell (The Titanic)

by PaulM

Our frequent contributor author Steve O’Connor sent along a bulletin of interest regarding Lowell and The Titanic, that doomed ocean liner much in the news with the centennial of the sinking due next month. Here’s the message received by Steve via a friend who grew up in Lowell and has lived in Virginia for 30 years, and who got the word from his own friend in Manchester, England:

Hi… I thought you may be interested to hear your hometown has been mentioned in our local newspaper—–The Manchester Evening News, in relation to a survivor of the Titanic.  There is a lot of press and television coverage at  the moment with regard to the sinking of the Titanic and the 100 year anniversary on April 15th.  It seems a Manchester born teenager Thomas Whiteley who survived, went on to give ‘value for money’ reviews, dramatic accounts of his experience to theatre goers at the Merrimack Theatre in your hometown of Lowell!!! Hope all goes well.—Mary

CategoryHistory, Lowell | CommentNo Comments »

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March 30th, 2012

Tour of Lowell City Hall Part 2

by Tony

Below is Part 2 of a video tour of Lowell City Hall given by City Councilor Rita Mercier along with Erica Alarise (host). The show is produced and edited by Crystal Johnson and posted by heels2479.

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