Mahlon Webb Dennett - 26th Yankee Division Battery F

Lowell Textile Institute had 23 students sign up for the 26th Yankee Division Battery F Field Artillery unit.  They all served together and due to their superior mathmatics they were a great asset at firing the guns.  They were the most accurate of the division's artillery units.

The 23 men were:  Pvt. Eugene R. Ackley, '19; Lieut. Wilbur F. Berry, '17; Lieut. Russell L. Brown '19; Corp. Mahlon W. Dennett, '18; Bugler Walter S. Douglas, '19; Corp. Richard F. Hadley, '19; Lieut. John S. Holden, '19; Sergt. Carleton R. Hosley, '19; Corp. George H. Johnson, '18; Pvt. John F. Larratt, '19; Sergt. Bryan Leonard, '19; Corp. Eric T.L. Laurin, '18; Sergt. Carl E. Matthews, '17; Pvt. Dan W. Moorhouse, '19; Pvt. Brackett Parsons, '19; Pvt. Walter W. Powers, '17; Sergt. Lester E. Parker, '20; Pvt. Herbert C. Roberts, '20; Pvt. Carl G.V. Sjostrom, Jr., '19; Corp. Frank L. Thayer, '19; Sergt. Joseph A. Webster, '20; Corp. Philip J. White, '19.

The following is from a speech by Lieut. Russell L. Brown given at the dedication of the Mahlon Webb Dennett Gate on Saturday, May 18th, 1929. 

"Mindful of the loss of a comrade-in-arms, these men have arranged to erect a gate at the northwest corner of the school campus, as a memorial to Mahlon Webb Dennett, who died in France.
Corporal Mahlon W. Dennett, son of Dr. D.C. Dennett of Winchester, Mass., was born June 10, 1884.  In 1917 while in his third year as a student chemist, class of 1918, at Lowell Textile Institute, he enlisted in Battery B, 2nd Mass. regiment, which later became Battery F, 102nd field artillery, 26th division, AEF.
As the battery progressed from the training period to actual combat at the front, Corp. Dennett, by virtue of his knowledge of chemistry, was made gas corporal, and after a short schooling in gas technique was made responsible for the safety of the personnel during gas attacks.
It was Corp. Dennett's duty to see that all gas masks were in good condition, that all dugout were properly blanketed, that the men were acquainted with effects and antidotes for various kinds of gas poisoning.  In event of gas attacks he was to sound the alarm and see that all precautions were taken to avoid casualties.  In addition to this Corp. Dennett assisted in helping maintain liason with telephone and rocket posts.
The success of his efforts and faithfulness to duty is shown by the fact that in spite of many vicious gas attacks there was not one death from gas poisoning in the battery.
At the second battle of the Marne after firing steadily for days, the battery moved forward successively until it located on July 24 in an old German gun position on the edges of the woods.  The place was near the front lines and the infantry, advancing to the attack, was breaking from column to skirmish lines of squads directly in front of the battery.  The location was known exactly by the enemy, and soon a terrific barrage was falling on the guns.
During this intensive fire a German 77 m.m. long fuse shell landed at Corp. Dennett's feet as he lay in a shallow funk hole near the guns.  Receiving the full effects of the lateral spray Dennett was mortally wounded.   His torso terribly mutilated, arms and legs broken, the fingers of his left hand cut off, his cry for help was answered by comrades scarcely 50 feet away.  Capt. Lee H. Cover, Capt. Theo R. Johnson and Sergt. R.L. Brown were by his side at once together with Private Burke of the medical squad, who gave first aid and carried Corp. Dennett to the rear under shell fire.  An ambulance carried the wounded man to Mobile hospital No. 2 and later to Evacuation hospital No. 7.
Courage and fortitude alone kept him alive over two weeks.  On the third day he dictated a letter to his father in which he said, "I am out of luck.  I have been wounded, but expect to come out O.K."
The odds against him were too great, however, and on August 10, 1918, he died of sepsis, and was buried at Belleau Woods in France."

So, now back to present day, the gate is long gone.  In 1955, the area in front of Cumnock Hall was renamed as Dennett Mall.  I need to walk the area to see if there are any memorial plaques in his honor anywhere on North Campus.

World War 1 Draft Registration Cards

In May 18, 1917 the Selective Service Act was passed which authorized the President, Woodrow Wilson, to increase temporarily the military establishment of the United States.  This is called "the draft", conscription or compulsory military service.

The World War 1 Draft Cards are available for researchers via ancestry.com.  As Veteran's Day approaches I wanted to share a sample draft card with you.

Charles H. Slowey 

Draft Card

The reason I picked this card is that Charles H. Slowey was a State Representative at the time and he was drafted and served overseas.  He didn't get any favoritism because of his status, although he did list his occupation as a grounds for exemption.  He is also related to my husband's family.

Charles H. Slowey was born October 27, 1886, in Lowell the son of Charles H and Elizabeth (Bohannon) Slowey.  He served five terms in the state legislature as a member of the House of Representatives.  He was elected Mayor of the City of Lowell for the 1932-33 term.  He also owned the C.H. Slowey Insurance Company.  He was appointed postmaster of Lowell by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on September 15, 1935 and served for 21 years until his retirement on September 31, 1956.

He was married to Mary C. (Nelson) Slowey.  He died on January 10, 1964 in Lowell and is buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery.  

You can get free access to ancestry at most local libraries.  I have found both my grandfather's registration cards and it's really cool to see your grandfather's signature.  Especially when I never got to meet one of them.

Page 1
1.  Name in Full:  Charles H. Slowey  Age: 30
2.  Home Address: 10 Webster Ave Lowell, MA
3.  Date of birth:  October 27, 1886
4. Citizenship: Naturalized Citizen
5.  Where were you born?  Lowell, MA  U.S.
6.  If not a citizen, of what nation are you a citizen of subject:
7.  What is your present trace, occupation, or office:  State Representative
8.  By whom and where employed?  Mass  State House Boston
9.  Have you a father, mother, wife, child under 12, or a sister of brother under 12, solely dependent on you for support (specify which)?  No
10.  Married or single?    Single               Race?  Caucas
11.  What military service have you had?  Rank  none 
12.  Do you claim exemption from draft (specify grounds)?  my occupation
Page 2 - Registrar's Report
1.   Tall, medium or short?   med         Slender, medium, or stout (which)?  med
2.  Color of eyes     gray     Color of hair       lt brown               Bald    no
3.  Has person lost arm, leg, hand, foot, eye, or both eyes or is he otherwise disabled (specify)?  no

Lowell Newburyport Connection

 A while back I posted on Company M which was comprised of many Lowell men of the famous Yankee Division.  Dick Howe sent me this link from the Newburyport Daily News:

http://www.newburyportnews.com/opinion/x1770584307/They-came-from-Lowell-to-protect-our-bridge

Thanks Dick for the link.

Does anyone have any relatives who served in Company M?  Here's the link to my older blog post listing the names.  My husband's grandfather, Irving Loucraft served in Company M.  No one knows of any Newburyport connection but maybe you have one. 

http://loucraft.blogspot.com/2011/01/lowells-own-company-m-july-1918.html

Alberton W. Vinal - North Chelmsford

Wagonner Alberton W. Vinal was the first to die from Chelmsford in World War 1.  He was a member of the famed 101st 26th Yankee Division.  He was killed by a Geman shell in Bouco, France June 19, 1918.

Vinal Square in North Chelmsford is named after him. Along with the American Legion Post A.W. Vinal Post 313.

He is buried nearby in Riverside Cemetery.  You can see the Merrimack River in the background.

How many times have you driven through Vinal Square?  Next time, remember Bert Vinal, who was a young vibrant member of the community.

If you want more information on the life of Albert Vinal check out the Chelmsford Historical Commission's website http://www.chelmsfordgov.com/CHCwebsite/HTML/VinalWW1Monument/Image00.htm

Crotty Circle Forgotten

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I've been working on remembering the veterans of the Civil War.  It amazes me that so many of our veterans have been forgotten.  We can not forget! 

Speaking of forgotten.......

In Lowell there used to be a rotary named Crotty Circle that was named after George E. Crotty, a war veteran of the Great War.  He was a disabled veteran who was the former welfare superintendent.  An impressive ceremony was conducted on Memorial Day 1940.  There was a granite monument in the middle of the circle. 

The location of Crotty Circle was on Thorndike Street near the intersection of Chelmsford Street.  This traffic circle was very dangerous and congested.  In 1960, the state legislature passed a bill to name the new elevated circle "The Lord Overpass".  It is named for Louis J. Lord, a former city councilor and father of the mayor at the time.

Why do we honor people with squares, monuments and the like?  Because we want and need to remember them.  Where is George Crotty's granite marker?  Did it get moved to a location nearby?  Is George Crotty remembered?  He should be.

George S. Patton during the Great War

George Smith Patton, Jr was the in Great War and led the US Tank Corps.  He won the world's first tank battle in 1917 in Cambrai, France.  He started as a Captain but was promoted to Colonel during the war.  After the war he went back to Captain.

Why is this in the Lowell Doughboys blog?  George S Patton, Jr married Beatrice Ayer, the daughter of Frederick Ayer on May 26, 1910.   Her birthplace is now the Franco American School at the corner of School and Pawtucket streets.

Lowell City Hall was almost renamed for General Patton after his death following WWII.  When Beatrice learned it was not unanimous she asked them to not do it.  Beatrice died after being thrown from her horse at the Myopia Hunting Club in Hamilton, MA on September 30, 1953.

The Patton Memorial Society was formed in 1971.  Two plaques and a portrait of Patton were dedicated in the Memorial Auditorium.  Thousands of veterans marched in a grand parade.

During the Great War Colonel Patton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal and the Purple Heart for a leg wound.  The war was officially declared over on his 33rd birthday.

McOsker Circle

Arthur R. McOsker Oval is located in the Highlands at Circle D Street and Harris Avenue near St. Margaret's Church.

Private Arthur McOsker was a member of the 101st Regiment Company M.  He was twenty years old and died in France.  He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. George McOsker of 17 Liberty Street.  He had been employed by various Billerica car shops.  He is buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery.

Private Arthur R. McOsker

Killed in Action July 16, 1918

Influenza in 1918

Being a soldier in 1918 and fighting the war in France was scary.  However, it was just as scary to be home.

The Spanish Flu hit Lowell hard.  It mostly hit young healthy people.  It is estimated that one third of the US population had the flu from this epidemic.  Even Woodrow Wilson came down with it.   Somewhere between 50 and 100 million people died worldwide.

Here is the story of Bruno Silk from the Lowell Sun, September 23, 1918

Private Bruno Silk, a member of the 73d Machine Gun company at Camp Devens, is one of the soldiers whoso death is attributed to Spanish Influenza.  Private Silk was 29 years of age. He was inducted into military service July 24. A week ago Saturday he received a pass and came home with his bride of three months, formerly Miss Florence B. Harmon. He was in good health when he reached his home, 24 Hildreth street. The next day, however, he was seized with a high fever and the family physician adjudged the case influenza. Wednesday afternoon symptoms of pneumonia set in and from then on his condition gradually declined until the end came last Saturday afternoon. 

Private Silk is survived by his wife, Mrs. Florence B. Silk, nee Harmon, his parents,  Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Silk of 67 Nineteenth street: four sisters, Clarice Silk of New Bedford; Mrs. Frank G. Moore of Marlboro; Mrs. Hosmer Sweetser and Mrs. Ada Barker, both of this city; five brothers, Lincoln, Jack, Percy, Miles and Fred.

A brother, Sergt. Gerald T. Silk of Battery F was killed in action only last July and this, fatality came only six days before Private Bruno Silk went to Camp Devens. The death of the two brothers within such a short space of one another, particularly as both were in the national service, makes the case of the most pathetic that has been brought to the public attention for some time.

Private Silk's funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon and will be of a military nature. His former company will attend in a body.

St. Patrick's Day 1918 - Corp. Alfred J. Renaud Dies in France

"Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Corp. Alfred J. Renaud, hero squadron, died of pneumonia March 17."
Signed McCain, the Adjt. General.

Corporal Renaud was 26 years old and had graduated from St. Joseph's College.  After several jobs he ended up in the automobile business.  Because of his knowledge of gasoline engines, he was very anxious to join the aviation corps.  He applied  twice and was rejected because of his health.  On his third try he was accepted.  He died shortly after arriving in France.

"Surviving him are his bereaved parents, four brothers, Corporal Louis Renaud of Company G, 104th Infantry "somewhere" in France; Joseph, Lionel and Emilien, and four sisters, Marie, Delvina, Delia and Oive Renauld, all of this city."

Saint Patrick's celebrations were subdued in 1918 during the war effort.

RIP Frank Buckles

The last surviving WW1 veteran, Frank Buckles passed away this weekend at age 110. Thank you for your service sir!

Michael P. Fenton also known as Sergt Dan A. Sullivan

This article is from the June 26, 1918 Lowell Sun:

"Sergt. Dan Sullivan of the 82d Company of Marines was Killed in Action
The first Lowell man in the United States Marine service to  give up his life in the present war is Sergt. Dan A. Sullivan of the 82d Company of Marines. He formerly lived at 230 Fayette street, this city.
His sister, Mrs. John P. Killeen of the same address, received word of her brother's death in a telegram from the war department last evening.  The report was verified in today's official casualty list.
Sergt. Sullivan was killed in action, according to the official notification received.here. It is probable that he took part in the recent big offensive of the marines and was one of those who went over the top for the last time. Mrs. Killeen received a letter from him on April 26. Although it vas very brief, he said that he was in good health.
Sergt. Sullivan was 36 years old. He had served one enlistment of four years in the marine service before the war and later worked in the U. S. Cartridge Co. plant, of this city. About a year ago he re-enlisted in the marines and went overseas last October.
Besides his sister he leaves a. brother William, of New York.
Sergt. Sullivan's real name is Michael P. Fenton, although he has been known as Sullivan."

The ironic thing is that he was known in the service as Sullivan but the square in Lowell named in his honor is the Michael P. Fenton square.  The square is at the intersection of East Merrimack and High streets.  He is buried in France as Daniel Sullivan.

The real meaning of Cupples Square

With Cupples Square featured in the movie "The Fighter" I wanted to give the background on Cupples Square.

Lieut. Lorne L. Cupples of Grove Street, was the superintendent of the Whitall Manufacturing Company on Rock Street in Lowell, MA.  He received his commission of Captain at the Plattsburg Officer's Training School.  He sacrificed his rank of Captain and took the rank of  Second Lieutenant so that he could see immediate action.

"The sad news of his passing was received today by Albert L. Paul, manager of the Whitall Mfg. Co. by letter from a former curate of the Grace church, this city. The letter was  as follows:

Nov. 2, 1918

My Dear Mr. Paul:
Passing through 15 evacuation hospital, I met your friend, Lorne Cupples.  He is dying of severe wounds in the stomach. I had a short prayer with him and he asked me to write to you. He said he had been thinking of you and hoping that he would soon be back with you. That was the only time he really wanted.  He has suffered a lot of pain with great patience.  I expect he will die the death of a soldier, like a soldier and that is the greatest thing to do.
Yours very truly ,
M.L. Peabody

Chaplain 102s Field Artillery
Former Curate Grace church.  Lowell, Mass.

To this letter was attached the following:
I went to see another patient,  this  afternoon and found that your friend had died.  I was glad to have had a chance, to have a prayer with him.
Upon receipt of the news of his death it became the sad duty of Mr.  Paul to acquaint Lieut. Cupples' wife with the facts and the information came as a terrible shock, to her. It was also stated today that the Whitall Mfg. Co.is in mourning. Ho was a great favorite,  there with superiors and operatives alike, and Mr. Paul says he feels his loss as keenly as though he were his own brother.
Deceased entered the second officers', training camp at Plattsburg Aug. 27, 1917.He  was Commissioned captain Nov. 24, 1917, just one year ago the day before, yesterday. Later he, voluntarily  accepted a commission as second lieutenant  so that he might go overseas at the earliest possible moment.  He was assigned to the ordance department for duty."

Lowell's Own - Company M - July 1918

Company M was comprised of Lowell boys who were part of the old 9th of Massachusetts who were  sent down to deal with the Mexican trouble at the border in 1916.   When they returned to Framingham they became part of the famous Yankee Division 101st infantry.  After guarding bridges in Lowell and Newburyport they sailed to France on September 6th, 1917.

 In July of 1918 they were assigned to Hill 204 near Chateau-Thierry and the Somme River in Vaux, France.  They were lead by Liet William F. Fitzgerald as their commanding officer.  It was the last major offensive by the German army.  The Lowell boys won.  They were outnumbered but held their own.  Here is an account of the battle:

"Vaux was a peaceful appearing little village near the Somme river and through which ran the road to Paris. The platoons of Company M were scattered about the town—you don't keep close formation in warfare—when the German attack which ultimately ended in an American counter-attack started.  When the attack began, the doughboys signaled the artillery frantically for a barrage.  The barrage came, but behind the Americans, and in their midst.  The range was off and could not be corrected by telegraph—that having gone out of commission —until a runner got word to the C.O. of the battery. Then the German ranks were torn apart."

Killed in action were their commander Liet. William F. Fitzgerald, Corp. Joseph Worthy, Frank McOsker, Philip Chalifoux, and Frank Lyons.  Captured by the Germans were Corp. James McCluskey and Fred Argaves.


Those In the Lines at Vaux
1st Lieut. William F. Fitzgerald (killed) commanding officer.
1st Lieut. Charles Smith, second in command.
2nd Lieut. Roger Bennett
2nd Lieut. Roland Dodge, D. S. 0. (killed In Argonne).
2nd Lieut. Frank Bolan.,
2nd Lieut. James P. Rose
2nd Lieut. Valentine C. Jacob (later captain of company).

Non-commissioned officers, Sergeants: Act. 1st Sergt. John M. Hurley, Leo F. Fox, Charles McDermott, Irving J. Loucraft, Russell B. Smith, Adolphis Desroslers, Robert A. Ginlvan, Warren Rogers, Daniel P. Brennan and John T. McDermott.
Corporals, John F. . Scully, Joseph A, Gregolre, Dewey B, Chagnon, John F. Kerins, Joseph A. Rheault, William Graham, Gilbert  Gendron, George Lowe, James McCluskey , Edward Lemke, Daniel F. Coakley, Edward Flannagan, Edward F. Barton, John F. Kenney, Charles O'Loughlin, Patrick Quinn, John Rogers, Edward F. .Hayes and Joseph Worthy.
Privates: Mechanic James C. O'Loughlin, Cooks George Hanley and Wilmer Craig, .Mechanic Sidney Craig, Andrew F. Finnegan, Walter Small, Martin F. Ready, Daniel T. Powers, George C. Wlllette, Michael J. McDermott, Joseph A. Dalgle, Thomas Cox, William E. Brown, Michael F. Mitchell, Ira E. Osgood, Harold Fulton, Joseph O'Brien, George Kelley, Fred Trudeau, Luther Hilton, Ernest Paquln, Robert Myron, Ralph Whitford, Emil Morel, Joseph McShane, William C. Kirk, John J. Slattery, Gedeon Beland, Edward T. McAleer, Frank Murphy, Evangelos Trascopoulos; Oscar Plaute, William Mulholland, William Savage, William H. Quinn, Patrick Shea, Arthur Monty, Edward Coughlin, Leo Carpenter, Alphonse Lessard, William Callahan, Rosarto L. Bleu, Joseph Lemay, Henry Underwood, George Underwood, George L. Marshall, John Suprey, James Burns, George L. Wayne and Edward McIntyre.

Lowell Memorial Auditorium

One of the great treasures of Lowell is the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.  It is a beautiful building and a great venue for the arts in Lowell.

They have a new website and they have included a history section written by Ed Harley of the Belvidere Neighborhood Association.  (note that the World War II at the end of the second paragraph should be World War I.)

"Shortly after the end of World War I, the Lowell Board of Trade proposed plans for the creation of a new monument that would honor local Veterans of all wars. A Memorial Auditorium was decided on as an appropriate structure. A commission was formed under Mayor Perry D. Thompson, to decide on both the site and the architecture of this memorial. The Commission named John J. Harrington as Chairman. Governor Calvin Coolidge signed the legislative act necessary for the implementation.

The corner stone was laid September 25, 1920. The cost was approximately $1,000,000. The building contained a seating capacity in the main auditorium for 4,000 with and additional 675 seats in the Liberty Hall Theater. Special attention was paid to the acoustic properties and the ventilating system. There were quarters provided for the Great American War, Spanish War, The American Legion, The American Red Cross and, the veterans of World War II.

Work proceeded without major problems and finally, the building was ready for the dedication. The ceremony took place on September 21, 1922. The former Governor of Massachusetts, now the Vice-President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, made the formal dedication. In addition to the Vice-President, other dignitaries present at the dedication included the Mayors of several Massachusetts cities and towns, Judges Qua, Leggat, Enright, Pickman, and Fisher. Also, the Reverend Appleton Grannis of St. Anne’s, and the Reverend Daniel J. Kelleher of St. Peter’s, who gave the invocations. State Representatives Charles Slowey, Victor Jewett, Henry Achin, Jr., Thomas Corbett, and Owen Brennan, along with members of the city government as well as Mayor George H. Brown, former Mayor Perry D. Thompson, the Building Commissioners, Chairman Harrington, Sec. Arthur L. Eno and Commissioners Walter Parker and Clarence H. Nelson. Governor Channing H. Cox, and former Private in the Army, Congressman John Jacob Rogers and Mrs. Rogers.

After its dedication in 1922, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium hosted a variety of conventions, civic and religious affairs, and programs of purely recreational or educational values. Liberty Hall became the home of the popular Parker Lecture Series.

One of the most unusual uses of the building was a weekly Bingo game, which was held on every Thursday evening for several years. Lowell’s East End Club sponsored these games, with the proceeds going to charity. John Carney, a Lowell carnival man, ran the weekly event, which often sold out the more than 3,000 seats available to the public. Life magazine featured the event in a pictorial spread in their January 15, 1940 issue. The article was titled, “Life Goes To A Bingo Game; In Lowell 3,000 fans play weekly.” Life called Lowell “A natural Bingopolis,” explaining that the games were held, “not in a club, church or cinema, but in the million-dollar Corinthian-column Lowell Memorial Auditorium.”

The coming of World War II offered new opportunities for the auditorium stages. Enlistment and War Bond drives sponsored appearances by decorated heroes and famous stars of the entertainment world such as Dorothy Lamour and Betty Davis. Big bands of the era, such as Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, appeared here for the listening and dancing pleasure of the public, and the hopes that the patriotic atmosphere of the events would increase the sale of War Bonds or aid military enlistment.

With the end of World War II, the Golden Gloves were brought to Lowell, and have become the most popular series in the hall’s history. Here, Rocky Marciano began a career that would terminate in his retirement as the only undefeated Heavyweight World Champion in history. Many other fighters brought recognition to the Lowell Gloves, including Marvin Hagler.

In 1979, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium was over 50 years old. The building’s original beauty and grace remained, but in a somewhat tarnished and shop-worn way. Floods and hurricanes, as well as the Great Depression and World War II, had left their marks. Lowell’s legislative contingent, State Senator Phil Shea along with State Reps Ed LeLacheur and Timmy Rourke, aggressively and successfully, made a bid to participate in the grant to revitalize the building, ultimately obtaining about $4 million for the project. The City had to raise $2.5 million to complete the project.

The plans called for the creation of a new heating plant, the installation of a much needed air conditioning system, the replacement of all wiring and plumbing, as well as new windows. The acoustics were to be improved and the building was to be insulated. In addition, all the permanent seats were to be removed and sent out for refinishing and upholstering. The balcony behind the stage would be completely removed to make additional space available for dressing rooms and stage props so that larger attractions such as Broadway shows and other attractions could be presented. To accomplish this it would be necessary to reduce the seating capacity from 4,000 to 3,000 seats.

In 1995 management of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium was assumed by Mill City Management, which is owned and operated by Tom McKay, Terry McCarthy and Leo Creegan. Under MCM’s leadership, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium continues to flourish as a destination for attractions of all types and today is busier than ever. In recent years, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium has had events nearly 250 days out of the year.

To walk around the building is to relive the Military History of Lowell and the United States. The names of all well-known battle sites from the American Revolution, through Bunker Hill and Trenton, Gettysburg and Appomattox, San Juan Hill, Bellows Wood and Chateau-Thiery are well remembered. But many fought, bled and died in lesser-known battles and these are also recalled in the inscripted entablature. Fair Oaks, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Chapultec, Soissons and others. All battles are of equal importance to those that fought or died there.

Today, the Auditorium stands at the entrance to Historical Downtown Lowell, a beautiful and fitting monument to greet those visitors entering the city, and perhaps, Belvidere’s proudest building."

http://www.lowellauditorium.com/historyofthelma.html