Amy Glowacki, NPS
Moody Street Gatehouse actually faces Merrimack Street and the Merrimack Canal.
Moody Street Feeder (on Merrimack St.), Lower Locks, Swamp Locks, Francis Gate, and the Pawtucket Gatehouses (pictured below) are available for volunteer adoption. These gatehouses reside along the canals and rivers in unique and often spectacular settings. All of the gatehouses are historic structures that include rare features often not seen in America, such as 19th century canal locks, spillways, canal gates, and other important features associated with the development of water power.
Lowell National Historical Park strives to encourage the preservation and the interpretation of the gatehouses, locks and dams.
You can assist the park with the preservation of these buildings and the beautification of the grounds:
- Volunteers can pledge to visit these structures on a regular basis, reporting any safety issues, damage, and vandalism to the park.
- Volunteers will perform light upkeep chores inside these buildings on a monthly basis, such as sweeping, window cleaning, and dusting.
- Volunteers will also pick up litter and help with plantings to spruce up the grounds for visitors.
You can also assist visitors by:
- Showing them the interiors of these buildings.
- Telling visitors about the history of these structures and the early importance of canals and water power to Lowell.
- Providing a basic orientation to visitors helping them find places to see and things to do in Lowell.
Training will be provided for any of the above tasks. Consider gaining experience first at the Moody Street Feeder Gatehouse on Merrimack St. with volunteers Barb and Bill Rawnsley, who need help keeping this gatehouse open to the public during the summer. Park rangers will also work with you to get you off to a great start.
If you are interested, give the Volunteer Office a call at 978-275-1740. You can also send us an e-mail or an application.
