In today’s Sun we learned of the passing of Sally Birke – who along with her husband Nathan – owned Birke’s clothing store in downtown Lowell. As noted in obituary ~

“Her awareness of her customers’ likes and dislikes and her sense of style and taste combined with her friendliness and small food treats, won her the affection of a wide variety of people. Often two or three generations from the same family would speak of her with special fondness.”

The Lowell Historical Society would like to offer her fans and customers the opportunity to share a story or fond remembrance of Sally Birke here on the blog in the comment section.

Read the full obituary here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/lowellsun/obituary.aspx?n=sally-birke&pid=162090720&fhid=8743#fbLoggedOut

Lowell Historical Society board member and Assistant Administrator Kim Zunino of the Lowell Historic Board gives us more information about the history and fate of the Ames Castle – once located on Prospect Hill in North Tewksbury – in the latest edition of the Lowell Historic Board’s Winter 2013 Newsletter:

Adelbert Ames and His Castle

By Kim Zunino

 

 On Monday in Tewksbury the General Adelbert Ames home, better known as the Ames Castle, was demolished to make way for new development. Looking at the rubble of the home of America’s longest-living Union Civil War general and son-in-law of our own General Benjamin Butler, one can’t help but mourn the loss of yet another historic structure to “progress.”  While the loss of the building can and should be felt in Tewksbury, we here in Lowell should also mourn its passing.

 

Adelbert Ames

Adelbert Ames was not born in Lowell, but his marriage to Blanche Butler in 1870 gave him family ties to the area. His six children were born in Lowell and were active in Lowell’s community. In 1906 he built his 17-room home on Prospect Hill, not far from the Lowell line, with a commanding view of the rural countryside. The castle was built of fieldstone walls and concrete reinforced floors. He spent summers in Tewksbury and winters at Ormand Beach, Florida, where he spent days golfing with his good friend John D. Rockefeller. Ames passed away in 1933 at the age of 91, the last surviving General of the Civil War. He is buried in the private section of the Hildreth Cemetery with his wife and her family.
  While the loss of such a historic structure is a tragedy, one can learn from the experience. Lowell lost many historic structures to the wrecking ball before it embraced its history and began preserving pieces of its heritage. The Lowell National Historical Park was created and review districts were established to halt the loss of historic fabric and help plan how the city would develop in the future.
Since history doesn’t stop at municipal boundaries, the loss will echo here and elsewhere. With the loss of shared history, we are like a tree without roots. Shared history is what keeps a community together and working toward a common good. With the loss of such a valuable structure

we can only hope that the leaders and residents of Tewksbury can heed the lesson learned and work toward saving their historic fabric before it is lost.

Read the entire Newsletter here: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=jcl44pbab&v=001iv6lNzjdvpMBGF_FhZdwxdcgHDrtne3mDan_OHqNHnLRX0zITiy4VPiB0HMU5IOfGL6DGLN2A_rRh-d0t9bNjL_LbJpTemKa2ZqFBdNhK-g%3D

After years of wrangling among the town fathers, the Historic Commission and the former owner, the remains of the famous Ames Castle atop a hill in Tewksbury – known now as Catamount Road – are strewn about, as crews tear down the historic estate to make way for 3 new homes. Once the home of Adelbert Ames  – an American sailor, soldier, and politician – who served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War – being deemed historically significant  wasn’t enough to save the Castle given it’s recent condition.

Learn more about Adelbert Ames here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelbert_Ames

Photo by Katie Lannan of the Lowell Sun:

Our friend and Lowell Historical Society colleague Ryan Owen over at “Forgotten New England” offers us an interesting glimpse in to a forgotten but important occupation in Lowell and elsewhere from back in the Victorian era.

Lamplighters turned night into day.  A staple of the urban Victorian streetscape, the nostalgic image persists of a lone man, walking a darkening city street as dusk descended behind him, extending his staff to ignite each dark, cold lamp stem to life with a small flame.  He would light the way along the lonely city lanes, so that those who were out after dark would not lose their way…

Read the full account here: http://forgottennewengland.com/2012/11/22/past-occupations-lamplighters-in-lowell-massachusetts/

Our friends at St. Patrick’s, historian Dave McKeon and the Ancient Order of  Hibernians have just announced their Fall tour of St. Patrick’s Cemetery:

 circa 1920

Join us for our

Annual Historical Walking Tour of St.. Patrick Cemetery

Saturday, October 6th at
St. Patrick Cemetery
1251 Gorham Street, Lowell, MA.
Find out how the first generation of Irish pioneers
lived and died. The tour is free of charge.

Coffee and refreshments will be provided at 9:30 AM
next to the office area at the main gate entrance.

10:00 A.M. Hibernian Dedication Ceremony
10:30 A.M. Historical Walking Tour

Tour goes on rain or shine.
Wear comfortable walking shoes.