The Blizzard of 2015

Right now, on January 27, 2015 the storm is still blowing, and I've decided to use this post to share photos, once I am able to get outside to take pictures.

In the meantime, HERE is a link to the Live Storm Cam from the Lowell Sun newspaper located on Dutton Street. As of 9:20, you can't even see across Dutton Street to the parking lot area of the National Park Service. NOTE: The webcam is now turned off. I believe it will be turned on again, for the next major storm, as it was last year.

We have received 33" as of 9:30 pm, and it is still snowing.

These photos were taken January 28th and January 31st. 

Both Central and Merrimack Streets are two-way, and as you can see, there are no cars and no places to park.

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- Lowell National Historical Park

"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.)

LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Visitor Center

On June 5th of this year, the Lowell National Historical Park (LNHP) will be 37 years old. I wasn't living here at the time it was established (having left 4 years earlier, when the unemployment rate was at 12%) and unfortunately didn't get to see the many changes until I returned to the city in 1994. Every day there are still old buildings being renovated and huge plans are in the works for improved changes for the city. The city of Lowell, individuals who bought dilapidated mills and the LNHP are all doing their part to make Lowell a better city for the future.

This Visitors Center isn't something I like, it's something I love. I am there frequently either asking questions, looking at updated programs, or chatting with people I know, who are there as well. This is where you learn about all the places the Park Service maintains, such as the Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit (my post), the canal boat tours and trolley tours, the many miles of walkway along the canals, the Boott Cotton Mills Museum and more.

Map shows our two rivers, the Merrimack and the Concord, and many man-made canals.

Children love this trolley and have their
own area to play and learn.

Theater (above) where you can view a film about the history of Lowell.

"On June 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation dedicating $40 million to the creation of Lowell National Historical Park. It was a move that saved the city’s historic downtown."* Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Representative Paul E. Tsongas are also shown. Paul Tsongas was from Lowell.

Typical of a genealogist, I tried to find more information. One of the more interesting things I found was a daily log of all of President Carter's activities for the above day. When he met for the signing Wednesday morning between 7:55 - 7:59, there was just enough time for a photo and the signing. The actual page may be seen HERE.

*More information about the LNHP may be seen HERE.

Entrance to the LNHP.

Books about Lowell, including the most recent (Oct. 2014) called, Mill Power. I purchased it the day after it's release. My husband read it, and I've looked at the many photos.

There are two entrances. Above is on Market Street and below is on Dutton Street (where you can park, see photo at bottom of parking area).

There Is A Lot to Like About Lowell -- The Cobblestones of Lowell

"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.)

THE COBBLESTONES OF LOWELL

The thing I love the most about cobblestones is how they look in pictures. Intersection of Shattuck and Middle Streets, above.

Intersection of Palmer and Middle Streets.

Center of Lowell, Merrimack Street, Central Street to the left.

Note: Unfortunately, the above stones were removed in November 2017, and the area was paved over. See news article, with photos.

Cobble, cobble toil and trouble: crews remove downtown Lowell cobblestones

Cobblestones on Palmer Street, above were repaired. Streets below need some repair.

Jackson Street at Market Street.

Some cross walks have a nice designs.

Above and below on Davidson Street. Photos taken on January 28, 2022.

Shattuck Street, Middle Street on left. Photo was taken in 2015.

Sept. 26, 1930 photo of Market St. at Dummer St. shows a portion of the street in cobblestones. Used with permission from Jacqueline Maguire Sumner, Feb. 11, 2022.