Lowell Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lowell Commercial Historic District
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Streetside in downtown Lowell, June 2012
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 305-519 Commercial Ave. and 108-110 Clark St., Lowell, Indiana |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Clark, Perry D.; et.al. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000144 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 2003 |
The Lowell Commercial Historic District is a special area in Lowell, Indiana, that has been recognized for its important history. It's like a time capsule showing how the town grew. This district includes 28 old buildings, one historic site, and one historic object. They are all found in the main business part of Lowell.
These buildings were mostly built between 1870 and 1952. They show off different building styles from the past. You can see styles like Italianate, Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, and Art Deco. Some famous buildings here are the Roberts Building, Colfax Lodge, Bacon House, Lowell National Bank, Lowell Town Hall, and Lowell Carnegie Library. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Contents
Exploring Lowell's Historic Buildings
Let's take a closer look at some of the cool and important buildings in the Lowell Commercial Historic District. Each one has a story to tell about Lowell's past.
Roberts Building: A Story of Survival
The Roberts Building at 307 East Commercial Avenue was built in 1948. It was first used for law and insurance offices. In 1976, a big fire at the nearby Opera House damaged this building. It has a brick structure covered with a limestone front. The limestone corners look like special decorative blocks called quoins.
State Bank: Built After a Big Fire
At 313 East Commercial Avenue, the State Bank building was built in 1900. A large fire in 1898 destroyed many buildings in this area. After that fire, the town of Lowell decided that all new buildings had to be made of strong materials like brick or stone. This rule helped make the town safer from fires.
Grant Brothers Department Store: A Busy Place
The buildings at 317-319 East Commercial Avenue were built in 1899. The Grant Brothers Department Store used the building at 317. Over the years, many different businesses have been here. These include telephone companies, a photo studio, a beauty salon, and even doctors' and lawyers' offices. The building still has its original strong iron beam above the storefront.
The building at 319 was once George M. Death's hardware store. It was also rebuilt in 1899 after the 1898 fire. Mr. Death ran his hardware store for 36 years! Later, drug stores were located here. You can still see an old sign from around 1920 on the Clark Street wall. It was painted by Fred Viant and advertised the Rexall Drug Store, which used to be a tenant.
Bacon House: A Doctor's Historic Home
The Bacon House at 427 East Commercial Avenue was built around 1870. It was the home of Dr. E. R. Bacon, a well-known doctor and a veteran of the American Civil War. This house was lucky during the 1898 fire. It was saved because there was a well nearby that helped put out the flames. This two-story house is a great example of the Italianate style. It has a special bay window and a hipped roof with a "widow's walk" on top.
Lowell Town Hall: A Community Hub
The Lowell Town Hall at 428 East Commercial Avenue was built in 1922. The land for the building was given to the town by Jabez Clark. The ground floor used to have offices and the fire department. The upper floor was a big room for public meetings. The building has been updated over time and is now used by the Lowell Police Department and the Lowell Chamber of Commerce.
This two-story brick building mixes the Arts and Crafts and Neo-Classical styles. It has special limestone decorations around the entrances and windows. A plaque in the middle reads "Lowell Town Hall Erected 1922." The roof has large, overhanging eaves supported by Craftsman-style brackets. In 2018, the Lowell Tribune newspaper also moved into the building.
Three Creeks Monument: Honoring Heroes
The Three Creeks Monument is located in the Town Square. Part of the land for the park was donated by Dr. Jabez Clark. The park was a popular spot for fun events like foot races and band concerts. In 1905, the Three Creeks Monument was officially dedicated by Governor Frank Hanley.
This monument is made of strong Barre Granite and stands about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall. It weighs about 45 long tons (45.7 metric tons). The names of 504 soldiers, sailors, and one Navy nurse are carved into its sides. These brave people were veterans of the War of 1812, the American Civil War, the Mexican–American War, and the Spanish–American War. They came from the Eagle Creek, Cedar Creek, and West Creek townships.
