After a hiatus brought about by COVID concerns, Lowell Cemetery Trustee Dick Howe, Jr. led two tours of the monuments and markers that make the Lowell Cemetery (LC) distinctive. On October 15 and 16, Dick walked groups of people amid the fall foliage to learn about the history of Lowell through stories about people buried here. From mill girls and women sculptors to generals and inventors, attendees learned about individuals who shaped Lowell and, in some cases, the country.

Happily, photographer Kevin Harkins joined one of the tours and we benefit from his dazzling fall views in this issue of Epitaph. You can also see his LC photos on our social media posts. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for regular commentary on the history, art, architecture and nature of the magnificent LC.

Founded in 1841, the LC was part of a change in the way Americans mourned the dead by offering a peaceful space for contemplation. This progressive spirit was a perfect match for the social reform mission of the Universalist Church in its earliest days in Lowell. In this issue of Epitaph, editor Kim Zunino explores the relationship between LC and Universalism.

The primary mission of LC is to provide a place to mourn those we love. The LC staff is available to help you make important decisions, whether the need is immediate or in the future. Click here for additional information: lowellcemetery.com/services 

When Lowell Cemetery opened in 1841, it provided an opportunity for churches in the city to acquire a burial place for their parishioners. The dense urban landscape of Lowell resulted in the lack of space adjacent to the church for burials. The Universalist Churches acquired space in Lowell Cemetery after its opening by purchasing a 3,000 sq. ft. lot on Washington Ave. The first burial was in December of 1841.

Universalism was introduced to Lowell in 1826, and within the year the First Universalist Society was formed. The Universalists pushed for social reform and were heavily focused on the anti-slavery movement. Later in the 19th century, Universalism shifted its focus to the economic well-being of the freed slaves and the industrial workers of the growing mill towns and cities. The first church was on Chapel Hill before moving to Central Street. A large brick church building was built on Hurd Street in 1875 and remained there until the 1940s.

The Second Universalist Society was organized on September 4, 1836, and Rev. Zenas Thompson, a well-known abolitionist and prohibitionist, was its first pastor. By November of 1838, a church was erected on Shattuck Street, at the corner of Market Street.

Rev. Abel C. Thomas came to Lowell from Philadelphia in 1839 to be the first pastor of the newly built Second Universalist Church. It was Rev. Thomas who, along with female factory workers, founded the literary magazine The Lowell Offering (1840-1845). The periodical was a product of Improvement Circles the Universalist leaders created for female factory workers to publish their fiction, poetry, and essays.

In 1888, the Second Universalist Society officially changed its name to the Shattuck Street Universalist Church. By 1893, the Shattuck Street Universalist Church bought land on Princeton Boulevard at the corner of South Canton Street. In April of 1895, the new church society was renamed Grace Universalist Church. The new church was designed by architect William Chester Chase, and the centerpiece was a large, tiled dome by the Guastavino Fireproof company. An historic George Stevens organ (c.1838) was brought to the church from the Shattuck Street church and is still there today.

By 1961, Unitarian and Universalist churches were uniting nationwide, and the church was then known as the Grace Unitarian Universalist Church. The church itself was sold to the St. George Hellenic Orthodox Church in 1973, and the Grace parish moved to Florence Street.

The last recorded burial in this lot was in 1994. To date, this lot is the final resting place for 31 members of the church.