Kirk Street Agents House

The Kirk Street Agents' House in Lowell, MA

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

67 Kirk St. Lowell, MA

Significance:

Lowell National Historical Park Headquarters

Although this building mirrors the brick of the mills and boarding houses, the architectural style represents the importance and status of the individuals who lived in it. The construction process shows the duality of the relationship between workers and their superiors; though they worked in the same city, their living conditions were vastly different. All building materials came from Boston and other local suppliers, same as the mills in Lowell, and the laborers building it also worked on the Boott and Massachusetts mills. However, the brownstone trim and dressed granite are major examples of the fancier construction utilized only for the mill agents’ living quarters. In addition, the newest invention of indoor running water and showers were implemented in this structure, but never in any of the boarding houses. It was occupied continuously from 1847 to 1920 by executives of the factories, but the city of Lowell claimed it in 1931 to use it as an additional building to the high school. Between 1931 and 1979, it had dynamic roles of a health clinic, YWCA meeting rooms, and a drug rehabilitation center, until it was sold to the federal government. Since 1979 it has served as the headquarters for Lowell National Historical Park.