The old Boston and Maine Railroad Depot aka Rialto Theatre on Central Street, Lowell, MA

Boston and Maine Railroad Depot

240 Central Street

Lowell, MA

This beautiful 1876 building had many lives after it was used as the train depot. Many older residents remember when the old Rialto Theater showed movies in the building until 1960. I remember the bowling alley that followed, and that is where I learned to bowl. For many years, the building was closed, but several years ago a complete renovation was done and it is now the Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center. It is used mainly by the Middlesex Community College students.

As with several other major developments in Lowell, I took photos showing before, during, and after photos. (See those at the end of this post.) On May 11, 2019, I saw the insides during the annual Doors Open Lowell event.

The 190 seat auditorium was a perfect place to watch a short video of the history and an introduction by then-President James C. Mabry. The blue lights overhead is very beautiful.

I wish the lights were off, but then you wouldn't be able to see your way around.

  

Across the street view.

Husband Bill reading something.

A dance room and another auditorium.

Four photos from the windows.

(Looking down Middlesex St., at the very end is the large seven-story Justice Center that now houses five courts and 17 courtrooms.)

Back view and parking lot (before and after).

 

NOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION

June 5, 2015

Shortly after the above photos were taken (through the front windows), a barrier was placed around the old depot.

Article about the renovation that appeared in the Lowell Sun newspaper.

http://www.lowellsun.com/br

eakingnews/ci_30116652/lowells-rialto-renovation-high-gear

Open Doors Lowell, My Favorite Time to Visit the City

For 17 years in May, Lowell, Massachusetts has had a weekend called, Open Doors Lowell. This takes place on Friday evening and then during two time frames on Saturday. This year there were over 30 sites for the public to see, free of charge. These places are not normally open to the public during the year. In May, I saw seven new to me things, and several were offered for the first time. Even though I've gone the past four years, I still haven't seen everything.

My post has photos recently taken, and a few to show what certain things used to look like.

I saw the following:

The 1876  Frederick Ayer Mansion, aka, the Franco American School / orphanage, original building, newly renovated.

The Lowell National Historical Park Trolley Barn, in No. 6 Mill (1871) of the Boott Cotton Mills.

Hamilton Wastewater Gatehouse.

The 1892 Fairburn Building, to see a private collection of Lowell patent medicine memorabilia.

1848 Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse.

1859 Lowell Gas Light Company Building.

Swamp Locks Gatehouse, over the Pawtucket Canal.

The 1876  Frederick Ayer Mansion, aka, the Franco American School / orphanage, original building, newly renovated for offices. For more photos, see my post of July 30, 2018.

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

The Lowell National Historical Park Trolley Barn, in No. 6 Mill (1871) of the Boott Cotton Mills

View of Arthur's Paradise Diner on Bridge Street.

The 1892 Fairburn Building at 10 Kearney Square (corner of Bridge and Merrimack Sts.) We saw a resident's private collection of Lowell patent medicine memorabilia.

1848 Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse. "It regulated the flow of water through the underground Moody Street Feeder connecting the Western Canal to the Merrimack Canal." (Per information flyer for Doors-Open-Lowell.)

Unfortunately, the inside lighting was poor, and there were too many people. 

1859 Lowell Gas Light Company Building

at 22 Shattuck Street

We saw the hallway and a few rooms.

The Hamilton Wastewater Gatehouse, door opened to show the inside, but unfortunately, it hasn't been repaired yet.

All the mills on Jackson St. have been renovated, as shown above, except the gatehouse. Photos from 2014 show how the area looked.

Swamp Locks Gatehouse, over the Pawtucket Canal

Both these pictures were taken from the gatehouse.

We walked through the entire length of the Gatehouse.

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