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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

We Walked to Charlestown, MA in 2018 to tour the USS Constitution

On a beautiful April Saturday in 2018, my husband and I left the TD Bank Garden (old North Garden) in Boston and walked over Rt. 93, and saw the Leonard P. Zakim bridge (above) and continued on to Charleston to tour the USS. Constitution. The last time I was there was over 55 years ago. Since so many tourists follow the free Freedom Trail, I thought I'd post what you will probably see along the way. I highly recommend this experience to visit the Constitution / Old Ironsides. We didn't receive any brochures, so I suggest you check the link just given for more information.

Washington Street Bridge.


There was a visitors center and checkpoint. I barely remember the specifics because there was no wait for us. However, when we left, the line was pretty long to get on the ship.



Tour groups already forming as we left.







Stairs to below deck. I didn't go down, but my husband did.


The two photos below were taken on February 23, 2019, to show the Washington Bridge that we walked along to Charlestown, shown in the distance.
The Bunker Hill monument and the USS. Constitution can be seen below left, and a little snow (below right) left over from a 5" storm a few days before.

Our walk began at North Station (see lower large white building) walked to a major intersection and joined the Freedom Trail at the bridge. Walked on a foot trail took the right (as the trail did) and followed the trail to the USS Constitution and Museum in the Charlestown Navy Yard. It isn't a long walk, and the trail continues to the Bunker Hill Monument, from there we went to the Phipps Cemetery. Fortunately, it was a cool sunny day.
https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/ussconst.htm

I found the below photo online.  The small nearby bridge is what we walked over, following the Freedom Trail footsteps.


Friday, May 10, 2019

Lowell Sights Decked out in Pink

"There is A Lot to Like About Lowell" is the city slogan.
(See tab on right side called "Lowell Series" for many more articles about Lowell.)

Welcome to Lowell, Central Street.

Last fall, I did a series showcasing Lowell with red trees. I felt readers enjoyed seeing the city, especially those who moved away. So, I decided to do a collection of locations with a variety of pink flowered trees. I began taking them in 2013, and all were  taken the 2nd week of May. If anybody knows of Lowell areas with a group of trees near a familiar site, please share with me, I'd like to include it on this page.

Francis Gate Park, Lowell Heritage State Park (Pawtucket Street).





 View of trees and Merrimack River from Pawtucket Street. (Three photos below.)




Merrimack River walking path, corner of VFW Highway and the end of the Bridge St. Bridge / John E. Cox Memorial Bridge.

Merrimack River, near the Concord River.

  Bridge Street Bridge view from the Frank J. Lyon Memorial Park


Kirk Street, Lowell High is on the opposite side.

 Central Street, across from Espresso Pizza...yes it is still there.

Market Street had a small seating area surrounded by trees (above) located next to the garage, near Palmer Street. This was a perfect place to relax in the shade and look at the Lowell Motto "Art is the Handmade of Human Good" marker. This photo was taken a few years ago, however, for some unknown reason, the trees have been cut down. The five photos below are now part of Lowell's history.
 

  


Looking towards Market St., Father John's Medicine Co. building and the parking garage.

UPDATE 5/18/19
I discovered the other day that new young trees have been planted in the area where the older ones were removed due to disease.




  The campus of the Middlesex Community College.

Fletcher Street, building next to the Senior Center.

Eastern Canal. Massachusetts Mills complex is straight ahead.

The Jack Kerouac Park is to the left.

Central Street Plaza.
Trees in front of the First United Baptist Church (1826), the second church to be founded in Lowell.               
Lowell location of the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The building is above, and the view facing Stedman Street is below.

Redbuds. Above is in the Lowell Cemetery, below on upper Merrimack St.

Merrimack Street.


French Street, the High School is on the right.


The old Wang Building now referred to as Cross Point.


The Ayer Lion, Lowell Cemetery.