To celebrate Annie’s work in and around Lowell, by Annie Powell has launched the 100 Posters Project. We are currently in the process of distributing 100 posters to local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies that now occupy buildings or have addresses on streets that Annie photographed one-hundred years ago. Our goal is to show how Lowell neighborhoods appeared in Annie’s time in relation to Lowell today.
You can’t buy blades in your bathroom!
555 Central Street, Lowell MA, circa 1914
Why did Annie Powell (1859–1952) take this photo of her niece, Catherine Devno, in 1914?
It might have been because Catherine, 46 at the time, just bought the drug store from Anders Thomasson, a Swedish immigrant who became wealthy manufacturing patent medicine. If you look closely, there is a figure in the doorway. That may be the faint outline of his silhouette on the other side of the door.
He is shown down below pictured with his family on the patio of his home located behind the drug store. Annie Powell photographed many of her Swedish-American neighbors. This image was taken around about 1900.
Today 555 Central Street is the site of Harlen Barbershop. Below Orlando, the shop owner, is pictured with Poster #1! Thank you, Orlando for participating in the 100 Posters Project!
Source: Annie Powell Family Collection / Lowell Historical Society
