If New England were a country, would mill towns like Lowell exist?
What would New England be without its mill towns? In what universe would mill towns like Lowell never have developed here?
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When Did Shakey’s Open in Nashua?
Everyone loved Shakey’s. The iconic pizza restaurant kept us going to Nashua’s DW Highway long before the Pheasant Lane Mall rose up in the field behind it.
Read MoreThe Great Boston Molasses Flood, Prohibition and Anarchists
On the day that Boston’s Great Molasses Flood came in 1919, over 2 million gallons of the thick sugary syrup burst out of its storage tank and coursed through the streets in the city’s North End. The wave of molasses reached at least 15 feet high at one point and raced towards its victims at 35 mph.
Read MoreBlack Friday’s Unlikely History
What is the history behind Black Friday? How long has it existed? Where did it come from?
Read MoreTrolley Parks: The Merrimack Valley’s First Amusement Parks
Trolley car companies boosted weekend ridership on their trolley cars with trolley parks. Trolley parks gave people a place to picnic or walk around in nature, away from cities.
Read MoreBenson’s Wild Animal Farm – The Strangest Farm on Earth
Benson’s Wild Animal Farm closed in 1987, but you can still dwell among the ghosts of past childhoods on the property’s four miles of walking trails.
Read MoreThen and Now: Merrimack Mills’ New Block and LHS
Lowell’s New Block boardinghouse stood on Dutton Street for over 120 years before it fell to mid-century ‘progress’ in 1966.
Read MoreThe Prince Grotto and Its Place in Lowell Restaurant History
When it opened just before Memorial Day in 1959, Lowell’s Prince Grotto Restaurant promised big things. “New England’s finest Italian restaurant,” they said, catered to “those who know and appreciate fine foods elegantly served.” And for nearly thirty years, the Prince Grotto served fine Italian, American, and French cuisine from its well-hidden alcove down Carter […]
Read MoreLowell in the Civil War: Gorham Street’s Camp Chase
Nearly 160 years ago, Civil War General Benjamin Butler built Camp Chase on the site of the Lowell middle school that now bears his name.
Read MoreLaunching Today: FNE’s Guide to Lowell’s Neighborhoods
Today, we’re publishing our new guide to the history of Lowell’s neighborhoods! Get the link here.
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Forgotten New England 