On His Birthday, I remember John F. Kennedy

Earlier this month, I read that the memorial statue of John F. Kennedy would once again be open to the public. Apparently, it was off limits right after 9/11/01, but now it may be seen by all. Since I wasn't aware of the statue in the first place, I made it a priority to see  it quickly...before the tourists hit town. I was rather lucky, even though there were several school groups, I remained patient and they soon moved on.

I have since learned that the public will be able to view the statue of the former U.S. president seasonally, from April to October, starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m., from Monday through Friday.

If you face the State House, the statue is to your left.

In the below photo, I was behind the statue facing the Boston Common.

The view of the Shaw Memorial and the Boston Common as I stood by the memorial.

My post, "The Patriot and the Sculpturer, Both are Well-known. One Didn't Come Back" is about the Shaw Memorial. Yesterday was the anniversary for Robert Gould Shaw and his troop. The memorial scene depicts the 54th Regiment marching down Beacon Street on May 28, 1863 as they left Boston to head south.

Senator from Massachusetts 1953 - 1960 (I'll go back for that photo.)

For more information about President Kennedy, please see HERE.

Lowell Remembers Memorial Day

IN MEMORY

OF ALL

BRAVE MEN

AND WOMEN

FROM LOWELL

WHO SERVED

AND ALL THOSE

WHO GAVE

THEIR LIVES

IN VIETNAM

ARMY

DONALD L. ARCAND

WILLIAM T. CALLERY

JOHN J. CARAVILLE

PETER TSIROVASILES

PAUL L. STEWART

BRUCE R. BAXTER

ROBERT L. HARRISON

RONALD E. FORGET

RICHARD C. ST. ARMAND

WALTER J. LEMIEUX

PETER J. BOUCHARD

WILLIAM J. HODGE

JOHN SCOTT KEENAN

ROBERT J. LAFLAMME

MARINES

RUDOLPH H. LEFEBVRE

JOSEPH L. VALLEE

PETER N. SAMARAS

ROBERT F. BIGELOW

RICHARD J. KELLEY

RONALD A. SKELTON

ROBERT W. McCLUSKEY

HENRY M. SARMENTO

Artifacts in LMA Hall of Flags is a detailed blog by Lowell historian, Dick Howe that he posted on September 25, 2022.

All memorials are in front of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Trees obstruct full view of the building, so I'll take another photo in late fall. Below are some of the events to be held, including William Shatner on June 11th.

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- Franco American School

"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.)

FRANCO AMERICAN SCHOOL

Lowell had their annual Open Doors Lowell this past weekend. Approximately 33 various old and new buildings were open to the public, and the Franco American School was on the top of my list of those to see. The above house was built in 1876 as a residence, and in 1908 it was sold to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to be used as an orphanage for children of Franco-American heritage. In 1963 it became a school for boarding and day students, and in 1978 it became a school for day students only. The house is less than 4 miles from where I live, and this was the first time I had ever gone inside. There were quite a few visitors with us, and I'm sure everybody was glad to finally see the inside of this beautiful house.

Front door above, and one of the two panels of stained glass shown below.

Frederick Fanning Ayer House

"Frederick Ayer joined his brother, the patent medicine manufacturer J. C. Ayer, in Lowell. In time he managed to gain control of several companies and in the 1870s built this magnificent Second Empire style house to reflect his new position and wealth. Beatrice Ayer, the wife of General Patton, was born here."

From Wikipedia, "During a family summer trip to Catalina Island in 1902, Patton met Beatrice Banning Ayer, the daughter of Boston industrialist Frederick Ayer. The two wed on May 26, 1910 in Beverly Farms, Massachusetts." Beatrice was born in Lowell, as shown on the Lowell birth register, although other sources say Haverhill and Boston. Her death information on FindAGrave.com may be seen HERE.

 These two fall photos were taken in November 2016.

CENTER FOR LOWELL HISTORY – UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL LIBRARIES has a  link to their to the below information. Please see their link at: http://library.uml.edu/clh/Exhibit/Orph01.htm

"In 2006, the University of Massachusetts of Lowell, Center for Lowell History in partnership with the Lowell National Historical Park and the Franco American School developed the Franco American Orphanage Project. The goal of this project was to preserve and make available to the public Franco American Orphanage and School Records from 1908-1972."

During my research about the house and occupants, I discovered from Wikipedia, there is another Ayer house, this one is in Boston. "His home in Lowell is now the Franco American School, a Catholic school, and the Frederick Ayer Mansion on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts is a National Historic Landmark." NOTE: I just discovered that public tours are given inside the Mansion, and I'm booking one in June. See their link HERE. FOLLOW-UP: I visited the Ayer Mansion, and wrote a blog post consisting mostly of photos. Please see HERE.

April 2018 New Update...see at the end.

UPDATE: April 27, 2016: From the Lowell Sun newspaper

Over a century old, future of old Ayer mansion is uncertain in Lowell as school set to close
Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_29819359/over-century-old-future-old-ayer-mansion-is#ixzz474ZtfarV

UPDATE: August 10, 2016  From The Sun Newspaper

"Sale of historic Lowell property to hinge on preservation"

http://blogs.lowellsun.com/thecolumn/2016/08/10/sale-of-historic-lowell-property-to-hinge-on-preservation/

"Franco American School to be sold to local development team"

http://blogs.lowellsun.com/thecolumn/2016/12/16/franco-american-school-to-be-sold-to-local-development-team/

Franco American School: Some history by Richard Howe

http://www.richardhowe.com/2016/12/19/franco-american-school-history/

"Take A Tour of the Franco American School rehab"  (120 photos)

The Lowell Sun, April 13, 2018

http://photos.lowellsun.com/2018/04/13/take-a-tour-of-the-franco-american-school-rehab/#2

"Franco American School to become homes, offices -- with history intact"

By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com

UPDATED:   04/15/2018 09:07:27 AM EDT

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_31806797/new-life-sight-an-old-lowell-gem#ixzz5CkZuMYWs

Hamilton Cemetery and Manasseh Cutler, the most accomplished of all my ancestors

Above stone is for my ancestor, Manasseh Cutler

Born:  May 13, 1742, Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut

Died:  July 28, 1823, Hamilton, Essex Co., MA

I wrote about him in January 2010, my post was titled, "Manasseh Cutler is probably the most accomplished of all my ancestors." My last paragraph stated, "He died in his eight-second year having been a botanist, lawyer, parson, doctor, school teacher, merchant, chaplain in the Army and a legislator!"

Hamilton Cemetery iis n Hamilton, Massachusetts

Database to search for names is maintained by the town.

Additional photos from previous blog post.

FindAGrave site is also available.

There are two crosses of war veterans. Another one is opposite the above one, across the road. I requested the names of the soldiers, and if I get them, I will post here.

Rev. Cutler was the pastor of Hamilton Congregational Church for 52 years.

The beautiful yellow house is next to the church and is where he lived.

(No relationship to me.)
OLIVER WHIPPLE

Aug. 19, 1824   ---   Nov. 8, 1875

His Wife

HANNAH M. WHIPPLE

Apr. 9, 1829   ---   Oct. 28, 1913

The Dudley Garden Memorial at Harvard College, Massachusetts

If I had stumbled upon a charming garden, located within the walls of Harvard College, I would have been thrilled. But because the garden memorial is named in honor of my 9th great-grandfather, Thomas Dudley, it is extra special. He is one of the few ancestors of mine who has a garden or park named after him. I found out about the garden last fall, and have patiently waited for a Boston area spring, so I could visit. The trip had to be before the ivy and shrubs took over the area, as it was, I couldn't read part of the inscription because of the ivy, but fortunately, I found an older readable photo online.

This garden is hidden, and the student who helped me locate it had no idea it was within the walls, right next to the well-visited Lamont Library. I found a long path through a woodsy area, a large open area for sitting on two huge circular cement benches, a sundial, flowers, and a grassy area. (Photos below.) I hope some of the Thomas Dudley descendants (quite a few of whom I know) will enjoy this piece. What an honor to have Thomas Dudley as an ancestor!

The inscription is below.

Thomas Dudley Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay

Baptized October 12 1576 at Yardley Hastings England Married at Hardingstone England Dorothy Yorke Apr 25 1603 and at Roxbury Massachusetts Catherine Hagburne Widow April 14 1644 – Died at Roxbury July 31, 1653 In 1597 He received a Captain's Commission from Queen Elizabeth and was at the Siege of Amiens under Henry IV of France One of the Twelve signers of the Cambridge Agreement Aug 26 1629 Sailed from Southampton England in the Arbella March 22 1630 Chosen Deputy Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay at a Court of Assistants on Board the “Arbella” March 23 1630 Arrived at Salem Massachusetts June 12 1630 A Founder and the First Householder of Cambridge 1631

Deputy Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay 1630-34  1637-40   1646-50   1651-53 Governor of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay 1634-35   1645-46   1650-51 Assistant of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay Chosen one of the Standing Counsell for the Tearme of his Life May 25 1636 Appointed in 1637 by the General Court Held at Newtown One of twelve men to take order for a College at “Newetowne” Commissioner of the United Colonies 1647-48   1649-50 Appointed Sergeant Major General  The Military Forces of the Colony May 29 1644 Signed the Charter May 31 1650 of Harvard College Buried in the Old Cemetery at the corner of Eustuis and Washington Streets.