Lowell Museum
Encyclopedia
The "Lowell Museum", located in Lowell, Massachusetts
, was founded by Moses Kimball
in 1840, as an art exhibit hall and entertainment venue.
, Fisher Ames Hildreth, and the theatre venue of the museum was managed by N. F. Gates.
On the evening of May 26, 1853, during one of the performances, an actor named Wheeler, was accidentally stabbed with a bayonet over the eye, entering his brain, and killing him instantly, in front of a full house.
In the mid 1850s, local artist Alfred Ordway
was commissioned to paint portraits of all the presidents to adorn the museum. He finished in late 1855, only to lose them all in the fire.
According the January 31, 1856 New York Times article, The Lowell Museum was destroyed by fire, at a loss of $15,000, which was partially insured. The fire destroyed the museum, several of the stores beneath it, including; C.W. Pratt dry goods, the Abel Whitney bookstore, R.B. Randall & Co. clothing store, and the Law Library of Benjamin Butler
next door. The "Boston Nationals" who were performing in the museum's theatre managed by N.F. Gates, lost all of their costumes and belongings.
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, was founded by Moses Kimball
Moses Kimball
Moses Kimball was a U.S. politician and showman. Kimball was a close associate of P. T. Barnum, and public-spirited citizen of Boston, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
in 1840, as an art exhibit hall and entertainment venue.
History
The Lowell Museum was housed on the upper floors of a building owned by Lowell's U.S. PostmasterPostmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
, Fisher Ames Hildreth, and the theatre venue of the museum was managed by N. F. Gates.
On the evening of May 26, 1853, during one of the performances, an actor named Wheeler, was accidentally stabbed with a bayonet over the eye, entering his brain, and killing him instantly, in front of a full house.
In the mid 1850s, local artist Alfred Ordway
Alfred Ordway
thumb|right|Alfred T.Ordway as President of the Boston Art ClubAlfred T. Ordway was an American landscape and portrait painter, and one of the founding fathers of the Boston Art Club.-Early years:...
was commissioned to paint portraits of all the presidents to adorn the museum. He finished in late 1855, only to lose them all in the fire.
According the January 31, 1856 New York Times article, The Lowell Museum was destroyed by fire, at a loss of $15,000, which was partially insured. The fire destroyed the museum, several of the stores beneath it, including; C.W. Pratt dry goods, the Abel Whitney bookstore, R.B. Randall & Co. clothing store, and the Law Library of Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
next door. The "Boston Nationals" who were performing in the museum's theatre managed by N.F. Gates, lost all of their costumes and belongings.
Notable Exhibits
- April 1843; featured: Mr. Harrington of BostonJonathan Harrington (ventriloquist)Jonathan Harrington was a ventriloquist and illusionist in 19th century United States. He performed in Boston, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.- Biography :...
"The original, well-known, and justly celebrated Ventriloquist, and Professor of Ledgerdemain". The advertisement in the Lowell Courier promised: "Laughable, Comical, Quisical, Mysterious, Magical, Wonderful, Astonishing Experiments of Ventriloquism, Imitations, etc, etc, etc." Tickets admitting two persons were 25 cents and the performance began at 8 PM.
- May 1843; "The Conflagration of Moscow" was staged at the Lowell Museum as a sound and light show depicting with cannon fire and military music the burning of the city by Napoleon in 1812.
- July 1843; Kip Darling performed at the Lowell Museum
- December 1848, Miss Eliza Eberle, Dancer, first performance at Lowell Museum
- From 1850-51, Mr. John Howe frequently played at the Lowell Museum.