Also included is a copy of a Visitors’ Register (43×28 cm.).  It is laminated and describes the use of the Masonic temple as a billet for the officers of the 51^st Field Artillery Brigade and the officers and men of the Headquarters Battery, 51^st Field Artillery Brigade for eleven days during the March 1936 Merrimack River flood.  This item is stored in drawer in the map cases in the stacks. 

Grecian Lodge, of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons was chartered December 14, 1825 in the town ofMethuen.  It met in the Literary Hall located to the East of Broadway nearPark Street. The charter was surrendered to the grand lodge in 1838 due to the anti-Masonic fervor of the time.  Several of the old members petitioned the grand lodge for restoration of their charter.  This was granted, December 27, 1847.  The first meeting was held at a building at the corner of Essex and Amesbury streets (Merchants’ Row).  In the early years St. Matthews Lodge had jurisdiction overSouth Lawrence.  In 1855 Grand Lodge gave Grecian was given exclusive jurisdiction over the entire city.   As the lodge grew, it moved to283 Essex Street in 1852 and in 1864 to Tuscan Hall (Tuscan Lodge just recently formed).   In 1870 Phoenician Lodge, a chapter, a council, and a Commandery of Knights Templar were organized.  In 1872 Grecian and all other Masonic bodies moved to the Saunders Block.  The presentMasonicTemple was built in 1923.  The architect was Bro. George Adams, well known inLawrence. 

 Phoenician and Tuscan Lodge merge May 1, 1980; Grecian and Tuscan-Phoenician merge May 6, 1987.  They become Lawrence United and join High Twelve*.  

 St. Matthews Lodge met in South Lawrence at the Parker Tavern (corner ofAndoverand Parker Streets) January 25, 1823.

 *High Twelve is an organization of Master Masons who support Masonic causes with special emphasis on youth support and patriotic events. There are approximately 9,000 members in over 250 clubs nationwide and in foreign countries.

Teddy Roosevelt at South Lawrence Train Station

These negatives were donated the Special Collections of the Lawrence Public Library July 5, 2011 by the grandson (Glen) of Gilbert Aspeslagh.  Family legend declares that this collection was payment for a bar tab to the brother of Gilbert’s mother. 

This collection of negatives came with some remnants of the sleeves that originally held the negatives.  There is no sign of the name of the photographer.  Two sleeves had dates (1907 and 1909).  All the negatives are glass with the exception of number 31 which was possibly cellulose acetate.  Number 31 shows an image of Theodore Roosevelt standing at the back of a railroad car stationed in the South Lawrence Train Station.  There is a large crowd and the spires of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church are in the background. TR stopped in Lawrencetwice: 1902 and 1912.  I believe this image is from 1902.  The glass plate negatives are 5 x 7 inches; the single cellulose negative is 2 x 3 inches.  The rest of the images are landscape views of buildings and other local sights.  Besides the City ofLawrencethere are images from Andover, Methuen, and Windham, NH.

1.            Soldiers’ Monument Lawrence Common

2.            Great Stone Dam

3.            Reservoir and water tower

4.            Memorial  Arch West  Andover

5.           Hood School

6.            Reservoir and water tower

7.            Searles estate Windham, NH

8.            LGH in the snow

9.            Morrison Rd. Windham, NH

10.        Arlington Mill

11.          Great Stone Dam

12.         Andover mills

13.          Armory

14.          Franklin House

15.          Ayer Mill

16.         Tarbox School

17.        Lawrence Public Library

18.         Bruce School

19.         Union Street Bridge

20.        Lawrence General Hospital

21.         Lawrence General Hospital

22.         Nevins Home for the Aged, Methuen

23.        Bay State Building

24.        Rollins School

25.        Lawrence High School

26.         East Street, Methuen

27.         Nevins Home for the Aged

28.         Lawrence General Hospital grounds in the snow

29.         Den Rock

30.        Union Street Bridge

31.          Teddy Roosevelt at South Lawrence Train Station

The entire collection was digitally scanned and edited and is now available in tifs and jpgs.  View entire collection.

 There are also 35 black and white slides most likely used in her classes.  The images on the slides are of working children (many Lewis Hine images).  A disk is included with the slides that holds jpgs of the slides.  One other item is a poster that is undated without any attribution except for the quotation.  The poster has a red fist in the universal sign for “woman”.  The quote is from Mother Jones: “No mater what your fight, don’t be ladylike”.  The poster has been framed and is on display in the Local History Room.

Please let us know if you have any information regarding this photograh, the production, and the people in it.

This calendar is dedicated to the Lawrence men and women who changed the course of their history and the history of labor in the United States and commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the Bread and Roses Strike (Lawrence Textile Workers’ Strike) of 1912.

After Labor Day the calendars will be available at both branches of the Lawrence Public Library (51 Lawrence St. and 135 Parker St.) and the Lawrence Heritage State Park.  Besides wonderful images, captions, and quotations the calendar notes major events that will be occuring during the centennial year.  Don’t miss this collector’s editon of the Friends of the Library’s annual calendar!  You can contact Louise Sandberg at 978-620-3606 or lsandberg@cityoflawrence.com to reserve your copy.

There is a choice of two dates, a Monday (6:00 PM) and a Thursday (3:00 PM), for discussion.  These groups will meet on the 3^rd floor of the Lawrence Public Library at 51 Lawrence Street.  Please contact Louise Sandberg at 978-620-3606 and lsandberg@cityoflawrence.com.

I will be including a list of other material to read or watch over the next few months.  I am expecting Bruce Watson, the author of the first book, at our first meeting, September 26th.

The Postmaster general of the United States, Fred Shuppe, sent out a notice August 30, 1943, to postmasters throughout the country.  The notice mentioned that the country needed to raise $15 billion to aid the war effort and that $5 billion of that would need to come from individuals.  To this effort every man, woman, and child would need to buy an extra bond in September.  This was followed by other letters particularly addressing the local postmaster to urge his employees to enroll 100%.  The first meeting of a committee formed to implement the drive was September 17, 1943.   Postal workers had already started to canvas their routes to sell war bonds and stamps.  By September 16 postmen had raised $8700.  September 18 the Spiggot Falls Hayshakers (musical group) played at a rally on the steps of the Lawrence Post Office while the postal workers worked the crowd selling bonds.  Appearances were made at the Breen School and the Polish National Church.  Bedsides the Postal Workers, the Ayer Mill, Cardillo chapter Italian-American World War Vets of the US, the YMHA, St. Francis Church, and the Polish-American unit helped raise money.   At the Block Party and Bond Drive September 21 Victor Mature, on leave from the Coast Guard appeared.  Admission was 25c in an area on Common Street west of Broadway.  Music was provided by Roland Russell’s Ramblers.  The Mistress of Ceremonies was Miss Rita Conroy.  Nine vaudeville acts were offered by two local nightclubs.  A group of French soldiers also entertained the crowd.