History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

homej received an enthusiastic reception in Hunt-
ington Hall, and made a speech in explanation of
the causes of the disaster at Fort Fisher.
April 21, the Lowell Exchange was organized,
but failed for want of business.
June 17, the steamboat Traveller made a trip
from Lawrence to Lowell, and landed her twenty
passengers within ten minutes' walk of the horse-
car track. The engine had two-horse power ; the
boiler occupied the centre of the boat.
July 1, tiie census showed that Lowell had
30,757 inhabitants, a loss of 6,076 since the former
census.
Lowell's war record is thus stated : —
Tliree months' men 227
Nine ' " .... 575
One hundred days' raeu .... 252
Twelve months' men . . . . 210
Two years' men 9
Three years' men 3124
Substitutes for three years' men . . 47
Re-enlisted for three years . . . 367
Navy recruits ...... 455
Total 5266
Paid bounties, less amount refunded by state $235,010. y2
" for relief of families
" interest on money for state aid .
Private subscriptions .... .
8,445.55
14,671.25
40,997.86
Otlier items swelled the grand total to . $323,942.11
October 23, 1866, Dr. J. C. Ayer gave the city
a bronze statue of victory. It was placed in Monument
Square, and July 4, 1867, was unveiled in
the presence of a multitude of peojjle.
July 10, 1867, the building purchased and ap-
propriated for the Old Ladies' Home was dedicated.
It is situated at the corner of iloody and Tilden
streets.
March 29, 1867, St. John's Hospital was in-
corporated. Early in the fall of 1866 the Sisters
of Ciiarity purchased the " old yellow house," built
viduals are suddenly stricken down or injured by
accidents in tlic mills, or on the railroads, or bv
otiier means."
December 4, 1868, General U. S. Grant visited
Lowell. A committee went to Boston the evening
ofthe.'kl, to meet him and arrange for the visit.
Geucrnl Grant was engaged until miiliiiifhl, iind
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
the committee postponed their visit until the next
morning. When the general was informed of their
mission, he said, " I will put on my coat and start
now."
As early as September 4-, 1868, Z. E. Stone, the
editor of the Vo.v Fopidi, called the attention of
the old residents of Lowell to the necessity of form-
ing an association for the purpose of collecting and
preserving its history. The first meeting was held
at the bookstore of Joshua Merrill on Merrimack
Street, November 21. E. B. Patch called the meet-
ing to order; George Brownell was chosen chairman,
and Z. B. Stone secretary. Fifty-four persons were
present, and a committee of eleven, consisting of
John 0. Green, J. G. Peabody, Charles Morrill,
George Brownell, E. B. Patch, E. M. Bead, Samuel
Fay, Artemas L. Brooks, Charles Hovey,
Z. E. Stone, and E. B. Howe, was chosen to report
a permanent organization. Another meeting was
held December 19, but the room was too small for
the numbers present, and it was adjourned to meet
in Jackson Hall December 21. At this meeting
the report of the committee on permanent organ-
ization was accepted, a constitution adopted, and
the following officers were chosen : President, John
0. Green, 1868-1879; vice-president, A. L.
Brooks, 1868, Jefferson Bancroft, 1879; secretary
and treasurer, Z. E. Stone, 1868, Alfred Gilman,
1871-1879. Executive committee: Ward One,
J. B. Francis, 1868, Edward Tufts, 1868, J. W.
Smitli, 1879, Charles Hovey, 1879 ; Ward Two,
Joshua Merrill, 1868-1879, J. P. Jewett, 1868,
A. B. French, 1879 ; Ward Three, Hapgood
Wriglit, 1868-1879, E. B. Patch, 1868, Alfred
Gilman, 1879; Ward Four, E. F. AVatson, 1868-
1879, Benjamin Walker, 1868-1879; Ward Five,
J. G. Peabody, 1868-1879, Charles Morrill,
1868-1879 ; Ward Six, J. K. Chase, 1868, William
Kittredge, 1879, E. B. Howe, 1868-1879.
The name adopted was The Old Kesidents'
by Timothy Brown in 1770, with adjoining land
suitable for the erection of a hospital. Two years Historical Association of Lowell, and the purpose,
afterwards (in 1868) the building was completed " to collect, arrange, preserve, and, perhaps, from
and opened.
time to time, publish any facts relating to tlie his-
The report for 1879 says of St. John's Hospital: tory of the city of Lowell ; as also to gather and
" Its doors are always open to cases where indi- keep all printed or written documents, as well as
traditional evidence of every descrijition, relating
to the city."
At the flr.t aniiu:d meeting, Miiy 3, 1 Sl!9, Presi-
dent Green delivered an address. This plan liiis
been preserved and continued very mnrli to the
satisfaction of the members, and to the material
interests of the Association. Tiie Association at that