Irish Labor - Lowell MA - Massachusetts Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

TEXT on Historical Marker

Irish Labor- Irish laborers were vital in digging and maintaining the canals. The mills required a smooth and even flow of water to ensure efficiency and profit.

Before 1850, Yankee mill managers considered Irishmen fit to dig canals and construct mills, but were less likely to hire them for mill work. Textile labor was largely restricted to the native-born.

Every Saturday night the canals were drained. Sunday morning while others were at church, workers repaired canal walls and removed debris.

(Inscription under the photograph in the lower left side of the marker)
Lowell Canal System, 1848. When finished in 1848, Lowell’s power canal system was the largest in the world.

(Inscription in the upper left side of the photograph of the workers)
Men at work outside the Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse, 1897. Lowell National Historical Park.

Agency Responsible for Placement: National Park Service County: Middlesex City/Town Name: Lowell Relevant Web Site: [Web Link] Agency Responsible for Placement (if not in list above): Not listed Year Placed: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/24/2022 Don.Morfe visited it