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DOORS OPEN LOWELL 2006
DOORS OPEN LOWELL 2006 SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 4, 2006 (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Friday, May 5 (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)
Doors Unhinged! (6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.)
305 Dutton Street
Built in 1923 by the Saco-Lowell Shops, this reinforced-concrete former industrial building has been rehabilitated into apartments. See how the building’s industrial features including large steel sash windows, concrete, and soaring interior spaces have been used to create unique residences in Lowell.
2. Bennett Building
269 Dutton Street
Discover the Queen Anne style Bennett Building built in 1888 and the residences found in this historic structure
3. Whistler House Museum of Art
243 Worthen Street
Originally built ca. 1825, this wood-frame Federal/Greek Revival building was built as the residence for the Lowell Machine Shop’s agent. Best known as the birthplace of artist James McNeil Whistler, the home was acquired by the Lowell Art Association in 1908.
25 Shattuck Street
Built in 1886, the Queen Anne style Mack Building was originally home to W.A. Mack and Company, a manufacturer and dealer in cast iron stoves, architectural elements, fences, and other metal products. View the National Streetcar Museum’s current exhibits. Doors Open XTRA – take a ride on New Orleans’ “streetcar named Desire.”
5. Revolving Museum
22 Shattuck Street
Built in 1859, the Italianate style Lowell Gas Light Building is home of the Revolving Museum, a contemporary art museum that opened after its move in July 2002 to Lowell from Boston.
6. Moller’s Lofts
This yellow brick and concrete building was built in 1922 to house Moller’s Department Store, a branch of a Boston-based home furnishings store. Discover the building’s rebirth for residential use.
61 Market Street
Explore the C.B. Coburn Building (ca. 1874) and the L.M. Andrews Building (ca. 1878), more commonly known as the former Birke’s Department Store. See how the building has been converted into new commercial and residential use.
The Italianate style J.C. Ayer Company Laboratory (1858) has been converted into residential lofts, gallery, and retail space. See how this former patent medicine company building has been reborn for residential use.
Saturday, May 6 (9:00 a.m. – noon)
Doors Unhinged! (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m./Closing Party and Bid Countdown 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
9. X/O Studio and Studio II *New in 2006*
256 Market Street
Browse these working artist studios and view current exhibits housed in this Italianate style mill building originally built by the Lowell Manufacturing Company in 1882, today the Market Mills Complex.
10. Pollard Memorial Library
See the restored Richardsonian Romanesque Pollard Memorial Library (1893) and discover how this building has been successfully rehabilitated to continue in use as Lowell’s library. Doors Open XTRA – catch one of the “Art in the Library” tours of the building’s varied art collection.
11. Lawrence Mills
12. River Place Towers
1 River Place (off of French Street)
Doors Open XTRA – get a rare “birds eye” view of Lowell from the 21st floor of the tallest building in downtown Lowell between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
13. Boott Cotton Mills – West Mill *New in 2006*
Foot of John Street
The Boott millyard is one of the most historic and architecturally significant millyards in the United States, having been constructed in phases between 1835 and the early 20th century. Discover old spaces transformed into office space and plans for new residential development. Doors Open XTRA – meet architect Henry Moss from 10:00 a.m. to noon and discover the design concepts and process behind the mill’s rehabilitation.
15. Tenth Street School
Built in 1880, this Italianate style primary school was built to relieve overcrowding at the nearby Varnum School. See how the school has been reused and converted into two residential condominiums. Doors Open XTRA – meet architect Jay Mason from 10:00 a.m. to noon and discover the design concepts and process behind the school’s rehabilitation.
16. Merrimack Repertory Theatre
50 East Merrimack Street
Catch a behind the scenes glimpse of Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s facility in Liberty Hall. Highlights include select backstage areas including the MRT’s costume shop.
17. Federal Building
18. Fairburn Building
10 Kearney Square
The Victorian Fairburn Building (ca. 1892) has been converted into residential lofts and new commercial space. Discover the building’s exciting rebirth as one of Lowell’s newest residential addresses including a unit containing one of the foremost private collections of Lowell patent medicine memorabilia.
19. Fiske Building
21. Middlesex County Superior Court
22. Keith Academy Condominiums
201 Thorndike Street
Originally built as the Middlesex County Jail in 1856, this series of Romanesque Revival and Italianate structures is familiar to local residents as the former home of Keith Academy, a private boy’s Catholic school. See how the buildings have been rehabilitated for use as residential condominiums.
Saturday, May 6 (1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
23. Hamilton Manufacturing Co. Dye House *New in 2006*
30 Market Street
The Hamilton Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1825, the second of Lowell’s original ten large textile corporations. Currently in the midst of construction, see how their Italianate style former dye house (1883) is being redeveloped for residential use.
88 Prescott Street
The Old Lowell National Bank building was built ca. 1920 in the Classical Revival style. See how the building is being converted into residential condominiums during this behind the scenes construction viewing. Doors Open XTRA – meet architect Jim Jozokos from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to see how plans for the building will be developed.
58 Prescott Street
The Queen Anne style Claflin Block (ca. 1882), more commonly known as the former location of Lull & Hartford Sporting Goods, has been rehabilitated for residential and retail use. Discover several of the residential units found in the building today.
26. Boott Cotton Mills – East Mill
Foot of John Street
The Boott millyard is one of the most historic and architecturally significant millyards in the United States, having been constructed in phases between 1835 and the early 20th century. See how Winn Development has transformed a portion of the millyard into exciting new residential spaces.
Completed in 1825, this Gothic Revival church dates from Lowell’s earliest period of development and originally provided public worship for the mill girls. Discover the fascinating history of the church and significant interior artifacts including several Tiffany stained glass windows. Doors Open XTRA – meet National Park Service architect Lance Kasparian from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and learn more about the church’s historic stained glass.
28. Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse
Merrimack Street @ Merrimack Canal
See the hydraulic mechanisms of this gatehouse built in 1848 that were used to regulate the flow of water through the underground Moody Street Feeder.
29. Masonic Temple
Built ca. 1928 as Lowell’s Masonic Temple, the building serves the same use today. Learn about the Masons and view several meeting rooms as you tour this Classical Revival structure. Doors Open XTRA - don’t miss the rare public showings of the Masons’ celestial lighting display in Grecian Hall at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
30. St. Joseph’s Convent *New in 2006*
517 Moody Street
Built in 1911, the former St. Joseph’s Convent was constructed in the Colonial Revival style and is a rare surviving structure from Lowell’s Little Canada neighborhood. See how the Coalition for a Better Acre has rehabilitated the building for use as their headquarters.
357 Pawtucket Street
Originally built as a private residence, the former Frederick Ayer mansion built in 1876 is one of the most ornate buildings in Lowell. Tour this Second Empire style masterpiece that has been well preserved through its reuse as the Franco-American School. Doors Open XTRA – Franco American students will be available to provide tours and answer questions about their historic building.
32. Spalding House
383 Pawtucket Street
The Georgian style Spalding House, built in 1761, is the third oldest surviving house in Lowell. Discover the house’s history and ongoing restoration efforts that will preserve the house for future generations.
School Street @ Northern Canal
Built in 1847, this gatehouse is the largest on the Lowell canal system and controlled the flow of water into the Northern Canal. Still in use today, the gatehouse contains much of its original gate raising equipment.
34. Pawtucket Congregational Church
The Romanesque Revival style Pawtucket Congregational Church was built in 1898 and is the home of an 1812 Paul Revere bell. Tour the church and learn more about their ongoing stained glass restoration efforts. Doors Open XTRA – come hear the 1898 church organ being played between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.