The inspiration for this episode was from researching my husband’s relatives from Massachusetts (especially his distant cousin – Annie Thurston) which then leads to many interesting historical connections in the mid-19th century. Early in this episode to illustrate some of this history – we’ll have an interview with Dr. Robert Forrant from the University of Massachusetts, with his extensive background on the Abolitionist Movement in Lowell (the 20 years prior to the Civil War). Other historical events related to Lowell will include: The 1842 visit of Charles Dickens and later some early Civil War connections. And for those who enjoy genealogical research, I’ll detail, towards the end – my quest to solve some long-held family mysteries.
