How you know Lowell's Rialto Building is largely determined by when you grew up. To the oldest among us, the Victorian-era building that has dominated Towers Corner for 140 years is the Rialto Theatre - famous for first trips to the movies, to movies that have long since become classics.
Massachusetts
Merrimack Valley Magazine Feature! A Peek into Lowell’s Past
An article by Lowell Historical Society Curator Ryan W. Owen appears in the May/June 2016 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine, which hits Greater Lowell newsstands soon. Lowell has lots to see, and do! Some of Lowell's best history-related points of attraction are featured in the article, A Peek into Lowell's Past. The list includes the downtown…Read more Merrimack Valley Magazine Feature! A Peek into Lowell’s Past
Hiking with a Dose of History: Chelmsford’s Thanksgiving Forest
With spring finally here, if you are looking for family-friendly (and dog-friendly) hiking trails in the Merrimack Valley, don't overlook Chelmsford's Thanksgiving Forest, sometimes also known as the Thanksgiving Ground Forest.
The Early History of Lowell’s Hi Hat Rollaway
In our last post, we revealed how we learned that the Hi Hat figurine within our collection was carved in the likeness of former Hi Hat owner, Mo Rochette, who was also famous as the 'old guy' behind the snack bar at the Hi Hat during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But to get there,…Read more The Early History of Lowell’s Hi Hat Rollaway
Among the Artifacts: Remembering Lowell’s Hi Hat Rollaway
We call him Hi Hat Guy, at the Lowell Historical Society, after the name of roller skating rink that is lettered across his red tie. To the modern eye, Hi Hat Guy looks a little like Phil Dunphy, at least at first glance. He's the father figure played by Ty Burrell on ABC's Modern Family. Hi…Read more Among the Artifacts: Remembering Lowell’s Hi Hat Rollaway
Among the Artifacts: The Licensed Newsboy Badge
My fingers first brushed across the small metallic oval a few weeks ago. It was right next to Officer Lee's Lowell PD badge. This very different badge was light, too old to be plastic. I figured it was probably aluminum. As I slid out the drawer at the Lowell Historical Society's archive, the flourescent…Read more Among the Artifacts: The Licensed Newsboy Badge
From the Curator’s Desk: Odd Old Things – The Box of Cinders
At the Lowell Historical Society, we sometimes get the question: "Hey, what's the strangest thing you have in your collection?" That's a tough question to answer. The Lowell Historical Society has been around for a long time. I'm reminded of this each time I visit our archive. Just this morning, I found a book, one…Read more From the Curator’s Desk: Odd Old Things – The Box of Cinders
