Lowell in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Bon Marche Building

1874 - 1927

— Downtown Lowell Historic District —

Bon Marche Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 17, 2018

1. Bon Marche Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Before suburban shopping malls began springing up in the mid-20th century, downtown anchor department stores like the Bon Marche sold almost every product a family needed. This store consisted of four interconnected buildings built in various Victorian styles fronting on Merrimack and Kirk streets. In 1950, Jack Kerouac held a book signing here launching his first novel, The Town and the City. A Jordan Marsh department store operated here until 1991 and the complex was rehabilitated in 1995.

Erected 2016 by City of Lowell and Lowell Historic Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 42° 38.751′ N, 71° 18.635′ W. Marker is in Lowell, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. Marker is at the intersection of Merrimack Street and Palmer Street, on the left when traveling west on Merrimack Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 143-155 Merrimack Street, Lowell MA 01852, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Middlesex Safe Deposit and Trust Company Building (within shouting distance of this

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marker); Wetherbee, Kelly, Rose, Maynard, and Ward Houses (within shouting distance of this marker); Davis Block (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Institute Building (about 300 feet away); McCarthy Building (about 300 feet away); Raymond A. Sullivan (about 300 feet away); Cherry and Webb Building (about 300 feet away); Lowell High School Clock Restoration (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lowell.

Also see . . .
1. Downtown Lowell Historic District. (Submitted on May 28, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Lowell measures buildings in 'stories' (Lowell Sun, 2016). (Submitted on May 28, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Bon Marche Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 17, 2018

2. Bon Marche Building and Marker

Bon Marche Building Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 17, 2018

3. Bon Marche Building Detail

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 28, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.