Veils of Color for Lowell, the Venice of America

When I first read that Barbara Poole was going to create the "Veils of Color for Lowell, the Venice of America" in the Lowell Sun, I did a double take on the name, as I knew I didn't do this. She was going to hand-paint 35 18-foot by 5-foot veils (fabric) and hang them in old window frames of an old dye house. From the Lowell Historic Board's comment to Barbara's video (since removed) was, "these 35-colorful fabric panels have been hung within the wall remnant window openings of the formerly two-story Appleton Manufacturing Company Dye House, built between 1909-1916." I went within a few days of their hanging to take my first photos. The reference to Venice of America pertains to the over five miles of canals in Lowell. Note: See bottom for information about "The Venice of America."

The fabric panels are along the Pawtucket Canal, a perfect site, because the canal tours given the Lowell National Historical Park are gift for the visitors, as they get a bird's eye view.

How may times did I go, well perhaps 10 times on different hours and days. Below are some pictures showing what the windows look like without the colorful panels and then with them. They were removed around the first of October, due to the upcoming winter, and will be installed next year when the boat rides begin.

Photo taken October 2011.

These two pictures were taken when I was on a boat in the canal.

The Pawtucket Canal water comes from the Merrimack River and flows towards the Concord River, then back to the Merrimack River. In this photo, you can see former factories on both sided, Merrimack Community College, Central Street, part of Lower Locks and the Lowell Auditorium.

I soon learned not go early in the morning when the sun was in full force, as I couldn't see anything with all the glare. Hint for those going to see these next year, think about the sun. I also learned that the sun doesn't shine directly on these in the evening, so I deleted all those photos.

Late afternoon, unfortunately, the sun doesn't shine through them.

Samples of dye powder are shown in a display cabinet at the former American Textile History Museum.

They make a difference. Above in full color, and below they were removed. My photo was taken October 3, 2016. The huge field will disappear as construction is planned for that site.

I met Barbara Poole, the creator of the veils of color, in Lowell, MA in September 2017.

For more information:

http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_30148142/lowell-artist-beautify-canals-veils-color

http://www.lowellsun.com/whatdouwannado/ci_30201471

Is This About Six Deaths of the Children, My New Relatives OR Research Problems -- Tombstone Tuesday

In the ideal world of tombstone hunting in an old cemetery, I should do a thorough research a head of time on who I was looking for and have an idea who else is buried there as well. However, in this case, I came across the cemetery stone by accident and didn't know the 6 Childs children were related to me. All 6 died within weeks of each other, so I wanted to post the tombstone because it's an interesting stone and sad because of all the deaths. Their stone photos were taken in two different years, in three visits. (Photos below with transcription.)

When I began this post last year, I thought some of the photos of other grave stones could be related to the children and later discovered two to be their parents. It seemed that each subsequent trip provided another family member to them and to me.

Without a doubt, I've lost a lot of time making these trips, when two visits should have been enough. Even if I didn't know who they were, the above Childs and Cutlers were buried in the same area, and that was a clue. I now need to return for a fourth trip because I see that the children's great-grandmother, Abigail Dewey Cutler is also buried there.  Much time could have been saved, if I had used FindAGrave for the Childs children first and looked at all the family members. (On the link above, you'll see that at one time, the long tombstone was almost flat on the ground.)

The six children of Abijah Childs and Sarah Cutler were buried in this plot located in Y^e Old Burying Ground in Lexington, Massachusetts. They died within a three week period between August 19 and September 6, 1778. The parents were buried behind them under the two tall cemetery markers, seen in above photo and below), photos taken Oct. 17, 2015. (Photo too dark, so I returned last week for a better picture. Summer photo too light.)

Abijah Childs and Sarah Cutler above and below.

They are my 2nd cousins, 7 times removed. Photos taken Aug. 22, 2015.

In memory of
Mr. Abijah Childs
who died
Aug. 30
1808
Age 70

His wife is below.

SACRED 
to the memory
of
MRS. SARAH CHILDS
wife of
Mr. Abijah Childs,
who died
March 3, 1812
Age 78.

A return trip to the cemetery on October 9, 2016 was necessary because I used FindAGrave again and discovered the children's grandparents were two stones from them. (Photo above and below.)

Benjamin Cutler and his wife Mary Hartwell are  the grandparents to the Childs children, and My 1 cousin 8 times removed.

Memento mori

Here lies the
Body of Mr.
Benjamin Cutler
who departed this
Life Novr. 3d. 1776.
Aged 79 years
3 months and
29 days

Here lies the
Body of Mrs. Mary
Cutler, wife of Mr.
Benjamin Cutler
she departed this
Life Novr. 6th

Aged 75 years 9 
months and 21 days

For more information about this cemetery, please see my post HERE called,  How to Find a Tombstone in the Old Cemetery in Lexington, MA

Children listed on the above stone.

My third cousins 6 times removed.

Sarah Childs

Died

August 28^th

1778

Aged 13 Years

^{8 months}

^{and 11 days.}

^--- 

^{Eunice Childs}

Died

August 23^rd

1778 

Aged 12 years

3 months

and 8 Days

---

Abijah Childs

Died

Sep^t 6^th

1778

Aged 11 years

And 37

Days.

---

Abigail Childs

Died

August 29^th

1778

Aged 7 years

7 months

and 11 Days.

--- 

Benj^m Childs

Died

August 24^th

1778

Aged 4 years

9 months and

8 Days.

--- 

Moses Childs

Died

August 19^th

1778

Aged 3 years

Wanting

8 Days.

This Monument is Erected to the Memory of 6 Children

of M^r Abijah Childs and M^rs Sarah his wife.


Foot stone listing the six Childs children.

Where Was The Lincoln Memorial Made?

Photo by B. Poole taken at Chesterwood,
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Several years ago, I wrote a few posts about Daniel Chester French, a Concord, Massachusetts sculptor 

who was commissioned in 1873 by the town to make the bronze Minuteman statue which is displayed near the Old North Bridge. That fact is something I've known for many years, but when the Concord Museum had an exhibit of his works, I became more aware of his work pertaining to the Lincoln Memorial.

I then discovered he summered for 30 years in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at his estate and studio, called Chesterwood, with 120 acres. The good news is, these buildings are open to the public for the price of admission.

The pictures below are of the main house, only a few rooms were shown, the studio, and the few gardens showed evidence of fall because almost all the flowers had gone by. If you have ever seen the Lincoln Memorial, I believe this post might interest you or your children.

Although the entire Lincoln Memorial wasn't made here, the preliminary design work was. That fact, was enough to impress me.

The above is the main entrance to the house, and below is what you see on the opposite side, the fields and Taconic Mountains, shown below.

From the edge of the woods, another view of the house.

Main hallway. I believe we saw three rooms: the dining room, sitting room and private office with Mr. French's original typewriter (all shown below).

Study with Daniel's typewriter shown on the right.

Part of the 2nd floor hallway above, and three bedrooms below.

There were several gardens to enjoy as well as trails in the woods to explore.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a front picture of the studio, probably because I was so taken with the bench by the open door. The picture below is the side entrance with the huge door and the back porch overlooking the property.

The porch with bench was to the left of the entrance door. You are allowed to sit on it and view the meadow and mountain in front (see my 2nd picture).

When you first enter the studio, this is what you see! Notice the huge door as well?

General Charles Devens is on the horse. The statue may look small, but it was quite life-size.

I'm glad the chair is there, it's a good way to get an idea of the size of things.

You are looking at an open drawer with Mr. French's utensils. The window above the table provided an interesting reflection.

Looking toward the house, from the woods.

Daniel Chester French Led Me on a Trail (My post with quite a few of pictures)