Rogers Pool Patio & Toy Co. Inc.
150 Middle Street
Lowell, Massachusetts 01852
Four days ago (November 2014), I decided to go into Rogers Toys on Middle Street, Lowell, MA because several members of a Facebook group I'm in (about Lowell) and I often mentioned this store and wondered if it was still in business. I went to the store and told the owner, Gary Rogers, who I was and asked if I could take photos for my blog. Without hesitation, he said, "yes." When I got home, I posted them, with a short paragraph describing how neat the store was, all the merchandise...but it was missing shoppers. A little update, I called and spoke with Gary today (December 2, 2012), and he assured me that this family business of 76 years is still operating. He remembered the blog and said he still has plenty of toys for all. I plan on stopping in very soon and possibly taking more photos.
Within hours, many in the Facebook group responded with 108 wonderful comments, 367 Likes and 107 shared it, which meant more people saw it. To me, this was a viral post going around the United States. Everybody was interested in the store, and they all want to keep it in business, more years than the current 70 years. Almost all the stores from the late 60s, when I first lived here, have either closed or have gone out of business.
Gary Rogers, holding the 13-page printout of comments, I printed it out and brought it to him about a week later for this photo. He told me had a shopper come in and mention my Facebook page, so he assumed it was due to my posting with the photos to the Lowell group. I want to thank all of you who shared and commented. This is about remembering something old in Lowell that we and maybe our parents still remember.
Above photo was taken on my first visit. When I asked Roger if he had any old photos of the store, he pulled out a binder with quite a few. I chose two of his to take pictures of to share with you. One thing about former Lowell residents, they love to see the old. All the buildings in downtown Lowell are pretty much the same as in 1909. I have no idea how old this building is, but it is listed in the 1918 Lowell City Directory, that I happen to have. (My genealogy friends will love hearing that.) Their phone number was simply 4000.
J. B. Cover and Company, Flour and Grain
Permission to post given by Gary Rogers.
Store photos taken today, November 10, 2014.
