The Lowell Area Historical Museum is offering a weekly feature to explore local history. This week, museum staff is telling us about the 1906 celebration of Old Home Week. To learn more about Lowell history, visit the museum website to explore its collection of local artifacts and records.
In 1906, long before the famous and huge Centennial celebration, Lowell’s Board of Trade (similar to today’s Chamber of Commerce) was called upon to institute “Old Home Week.” This would be a home coming time, for nostalgia, for renewing friendships, and for remembering. The event was started in New England. The Grand Rapids Herald challenged local cities to begin homecoming celebrations too by explaining that, “Michigan is not among the old states, but she is old enough to have sent many brave men and good women to the world’s broader fields of usefulness, and it would be good to have them come back each year to renew their memories of other days.” Periodic homecoming celebrations began in Lowell in 1907.
Old Home Week was usually held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Invitations stated, “we urge you to lay aside your usual vocations, to join with us in renewing old time friendships, to live again with those who know you best.”
For many weeks before the home coming, The Lowell Ledger, ran not just advertisements, but pleas for folks to come ‘home’.
“Greetings to you who at one time made Lowell your home –
No matter where you wander; no matter where you roam.”
“Surely there is someone or something about the old home town
that awakens within your heart a desire to return.
Some hallowed spot in your memory lingers – maybe of gladness, maybe of sadness.”
“Would you not like to go back to Home, Sweet Home
Where the world and your friends are true
And down the lane to stroll again
Where someone waits for you.
When you are tired of the game of gold and gain
And your thoughts back to childhood roam
And tears come we know ant the heart aches to go
Down the trail to Home, Sweet, Home.”
The 1907 Home Coming featured an address by the Lieutenant Governor Patrick Kelley along with receptions, picnics and sports. The poem “Fair Lowell On The Grand” was written and read by Attorney Myron H. Walker ~
“Fair village on the river Grand, with hills around, and fertile land,
With loyal hearts and open hand, we greet you as a happy band,
Fair Lowell on the Grand.
We learned to love thee years ago; thou was’t our friend in joy and woe;
And as we watch they beauty grow, with happiness our hearts o’erflow
Fair Lowell on the Grand.
Thy pleasant homes and improved street, thy mills and stores and shops that greet,
The friend and stranger as they meet, to share with thee they village sweet,
Fair Lowell on the Grand.
By fire and flood and foul disease thy patience, skill and quiet ease
Were tested to the last degrees; and still thine efforts are to please,
Fair Lowell on the Grand.
And now thou art of fair renown, well watered, grand and growing town;
Misfortune shall not pull thee down but upward, onward to the crown,
Fair Lowell on the Grand.
God bless thee, speed thee ever well, make thee greater than tongue can tell,
Guard thee, keep thee from every spell of evil, harm and sin.
Farewell!
Fair Lowell on the Grand.”
The 1908 Home Coming, in addition to picnics, bands and ball games, had extra special attendees. John S. Hooker invited native Odawa people to return and renew friendships. Some who came had lived here as children, others were the children of those early Lowell residents. They camped on area islands and participated in events.
The 1913 Home Coming featured horse races, vaudeville performances, and even a balloon ascension with a successful parachute drop. Wednesday’s activities were advertised as: “Preparations are in the making for a unique elaborate street illumination tonight. Turn out. It may be the time of your life!”
These early Home Comings, celebrating old home week, were but a small preview of the ultimate Home Coming celebration to come in 1931. The Lowell Centennial Celebration saw over 60,000 people come to Lowell to celebrate Lowell’s One Hundredth Birthday (1831-1931)!
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