Life From The Roots: 2026

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.

Monday, March 16, 2026

Lowell, Massachusetts Post # 1

Central St. and Merrimack St. greet you in February 2015 when Lowell, MA had 111" of snow! (No parking was allowed, so I drove around and didn't see any cars.)

Shedd Park and Rogers Fort Hill

These two black and white photos from an unknown source.

Me at the top of Fort Hill in 1969.

The Old Train Station

Current train station in Lowell.

The Franco American Orphanage and School. It is now used for offices and condos. See my link below for a lot of photos I took before it closed.

https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2018/07/one-of-most-recognizable-houses-n.html

City Hall, Library, Police Station, Tsongas Arena and some Mills.

The Pollard Library aka Lowell Library.

https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2012/05/pollard-memorial-library-lowell.html

Rourke Bridge over the Merrimack River.

From Wood Street or Middlesex Street to the Temporary Bridge aka Rourke Bridge. A new bridge is currently being built.

The Lowell Cemetery.

The Lowell Cemetery entrances are on both Lawrence Street and Pratt Street.

This is a photo of my husbands family, workers in Lowell. His mother as a very young girl and his grandmother, Mrs. Murningham are shown.

Mill No. 5 on Jackson Street. (After 10 years, it closed.)

The shows at Mill No. 5 were popular for locals and tourists. After 10 years in business, it recently closed.

Father John's Medicine Co., Inc.

73-93 Market Street

I worked here from 1962-1972

73-93 Market Street. The building is now used for senior living.

This is the back of the building. Those windows allowed us to see the freight trains come and go.

This is the former house of 3 former presidents of the company.

My office was on the first floor and mu very old typerwriter is being shown. I shared the office with two older women. Train tracks were behind the back wall and we could see the train arrived to leave boxes, bottles and ingredients to make Father John's Medicine The company closed in the mid 1970s.

John Street

At the end os the street is the Boott Cotton Mills and Visitor Center.A

YWCA was on John Street.

The YWCA was on John Street. I lived here for six months (in the 60s) before getting an apartment. It was later taken down for the use of a parking space, shown below.

Prince Spaghetti Company

This is another company I worked for. I was here for almost three years before it was sold to the Borden Company and it closed. It was a great place to work and my boss, the plant manager was the best.

For 2 1/2 years I worked for the Plant Manager, Geoffrey Ireland. I loved my job, unfortunately it closed in the hands of the past owners Borden.

The top staff is celebrating something. I am on the right.

These two photos were not taken by me.

Cupples Square

A1 writes: Cupples Square is a historic intersection in the Highlands neighborhood of Lowell, MA, located at the junction of Westford and Osgood Streets. Dedicated in October 1923 to Army Lieutenant Lorne Cupples, it is known for its historic diner, local shops, and neighborhood character.