Lowell is a “shire” and bridges are “injured”: British Captions are Clues to Powell
Idioms and Spellings from England
“The bridge was not injured” is not something an American would write in a caption. This is a blowup from a 1904 Lowell souvenir book.
Lowell, MA photographers from England
Annie Powell lived in West Yorkshire, England for 31 years before migrating to Lowell, MA. Other British photographers living in Lowell were her husband, John, and John Dempsey.
1904: Lowell is a “shire” town with a bridge “not injured”
The 1904 souvenir book, Views of Lowell and Vicinity, gives no photography credit, but Annie’s signature style and technique can be seen throughout. She likely wrote the captions which abound in British usage:
Of the new court house: Built of a soft white stone brought from the West. Lowell is one of two shire towns in Middlesex County and sessions of several courts are held in this building.
Americans might say Lowell was a “county seat.”
On three occasions, we see the British spelling of “remodelled”.
The American spelling has one “l”.
Of Fort Hill Park: The site of an old Indian fort, presented to the city by the Misses Rogers.
Americans would say, “presented to the city by Miss Rogers.”
Of a bridge: Near this bridge two powder magazines exploded in 1003, wrecking tlie settlement at Riverside Park and causing a heavy loss of life. The bridge was not injured.
Americans reserve “injured” for living things. For a bridge, they would say “not damaged.”
Of Rogers Hall Schoo: It is a ftting school for all the leading women's colleges.
Americans would say, “finishing school.”
1906: “Crack” Relay Team
In 1906, a relay team photo with the Marion Studio logotype showed Annie Powell’s distinctive style. It showed her writing on the back, includiing the Britishism, “crack relay team.” Americans would use verbs like “standout”
c1911: Dangerous Galleries
Courtesy Herbert Dearden Hope Collection, Harvard Art Museums.
In the circa 1910 Lowell photograph above, “dangerous galleries overhanging the canal” is a distintively British use of “galleries.” Americans would say “porches” or “balconies.” This photograph, apparently used as an exhibit circa 1910 at Harvard’s Social Ethics Department, was also used in the 1912 housing criticism by George Kenngott, The Record of a City.
