Courier TheNational Park Service Newsletter Washington, D.C. July 1982 Lowell National Historical Park Ranger Karen Michaud talks to a group of visitors outside the new visitor center in the renovated Market Mills. Photos bv Kevin Harkens. fell victim to arson and vandalism and was slated for demolition until the Lowell NHP Department of the Interior stepped in. It's restoration symbolizes the city's renaissance in recent years and opens new exemplifies the close cooperation between private enterprise and local, State, and Federal governments that visitor center together made the $12 million project possible. By Maude Salinger Colorful two-story banners stream in Interpretive Specialist the wind outside the building, Lowell National Historical Park signifying to the casual observer that Part of the renovated Market Mills complex, which houses the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center, elderly apartments, "The this is no ordinarv mill Besides the KAeltinq Pat. " w^ " 4 D— cu v»*h H>eiory«" What are visitors to Lowell National visitor center, the five-story, Historical Park in Lowell, Mass., 270,000-square-foot complex houses museum shop within the visitor gala opening reception on May 28, employed: "I never would have finding of so much interest in the old over 300 residents in its two buildings. center, offering for sale posters, including the Mayor of Lowell, believed that this was possible. To see Bigelow Carpet Company Mill 80 years Market Mills also features "The sketches, and books on Lowell's Brendan Fleming; retired this place—it used to be full of after its first pile rug was woven off a Melting Pot"—a potpourri of American historic heritage. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick machines—now a visitor center. It's Brussels loom? The building, located ethnic food booths—and "A Brush The interior space of the visitor Mogan, known as "the father of the terrific!" on the site of one of Lowell's 10 With History"—a working artists' center, with its original brick walls and park;" and North Atlantic Regional original mills, is now a completely cooperative of studios and galleries wooden ceilings, offers an Director Herbert Cables. The once Lowel potters renovated and restored complex where park visitors can view art in the architecturally dramatic example of a humming mill was alive that evening known as Market Mills—buildings making. "The Melting Pot" and "A textile mill that is being used with the sound of Swing Band music A new, attractive, four-part poster which include retail space, restaurants, Brush with History" are both adaptively. The facility is designed for and the hubbub of generations of series documenting various aspects of apartments, an artists' cooperative, development projects of the Lowell an average stay of 30 to 45 minutes. Lowell residents and former mill the city of Lowell, Mass., is now on and a brand new visitor center. The Historic Preservation Commission, a After being oriented to Lowell and its workers saluting the rebirth of Lowell. sale through the Lowell Museum, a project is the first large-scale sister agency of Lowell National history, visitors are encouraged to At evening ceremonies, cooperating association of Lowell renovation of a mill for mixed uses in Historical Park. participate in park tours and programs Superintendent John Burchill National Historical Park. the city and it exemplifies the adaptive commented: "We look at this complex The four-part set sells for $25 and The visitor center itself represents throughout the city. Five exhibits, re-use concept: old industrial buildings produced by Design and Production of as a skillful adaptation of an old mill individually they sell for $7.50. The used for new purposes without the cooperative spirit that is four posters, entitled: "The Houses," responsible for Lowell's revitalization. Alexandria, Va., introduce the park's which benefits the community and destroying the structure's historic primary themes: labor, capital, power, park visitors. Lowell is an example of "Historic Park Tours," "Mill integrity. It is fitting that the National National Park Service and Lowell machines, and the industrial city. A a national park area in which private Architecture" and "The People," are a Park Service commemorate the Heritage (State) park rangers stand side spectacular 18-projector slide and public sector cooperation has met pictorial representation of Lowell's development of an industrial society in by side at the information desk; and diversity in each subject area. the Chamber of Commerce' tourism extravaganza, "Lowell: The Industrial with great success." an historic mill building, in this city To purchase one or all in this unique personnel staffs a unique courtesy Revolution," was designed by Larson How do Lowell residents view this where the industrial revolution had poster series, write to the following booth, where visitors to the park can and Rosen Meeting Producers of transformation of a working textile mill such significant roots. address: Lowell Museum, % Lowell obtain information on area attractions Boston, and it brings alive the history that now commemorates work? National Historical Park, 171 Market Mills is in the heart of or make hotel/motel and restaurant of the spindle city—once the greatest Perhaps the attitude can best be Merrimack St., P.O. Box 1098, Lowell, downtown Lowell and is strategically reservations. The Lowell Museum, textile manufacturing center in the summed up by John Buckley, a former MA 01853. located at the entrance to the park. Lowell National Historical Park's world. mill worker who lives in the renovated Vacant for several years, the building cooperating association, operates a Over 1,000 invited guests attended a building in which he was once 'Image of the Year' award NPS uniform program By Anita Kiser merchandise in both the Class A and The National Park Service recently Public Affairs Office, WASO Class B uniforms, order turn-around received the 1982 "Image of the Year" time, highly competitive pricing, and award from the Career Apparel It has been over a year since the the capability to accumulate Institute, Division of the National National Park Service initiated a new information on inventory usage by Association of Uniform Manufacturers Uniform Program and entered into a size. There have been delays in the and Distributors. contract with R&R Uniforms, Inc., of past, but we are now processing In the service category, the National Nashville, Tenn. With any new orders and shipping uniforms within Park Service received this National program, there is always an interest in 10 days. Award for the diversity and quality of progress and current status. We asked its uniform program; with over 12,000 COURIER: For the program to be Bob Gates, President of R&R men and women in 50 States and successful, what do you view as the Uniforms, to give us his perspective territories in both dress and work most important aspect? on the new system. uniforms, all coordinated around the GATES: Communications. The regions same color scheme. The National Park COURIER: What is the current status and parks must ensure that Service uniform consists of of the NPS Uniform Program? information, procedures and approximately 70 different items and GATES: The NPS has a complex instructions reach employees as accessories manufactured by over 25 quickly as possible. Many orders have American manufacturers, all (From left} Ky Rassmusen, Vice President, Horace Small Mfg., Co., a major supplier of R&R uniform program, involving over 12,000 individual employee accounts. been delayed over the past several distributed by R&R Uniforms. To meet Uniforms; Bob Gates, President, R&R Uniforms; Director Dickenson; Julie Shorter, Park Tech. Fords months, because in some instances, the various climatic conditions, over 12 Theatre; Linda Balatti, Servicewide Uniform Coordinator, and Rich Rambur, Park Ranger, WASO To date, we have processed over 14,000 orders. I think the magnitude of procedures have not been followed. different fabrics are used. The style Ranger Activities Division. We continue to receive incorrect and appearance of the National Park this program is greater than everyone for the Armed Services, which has the involved realized, and it has taken allowance authorizations, orders filled Service uniform projects the same Bob Gates, President of R&R out on old forms and orders sent in diversity and meets as many time to meet the demands. We feel professional image to the visitor Uniforms, said, "This program is without proper size information. entering any national park in this unique to the industry. There is individual employee needs as this that great progress has been made in country. probably no other organization, except one." all areas, including the quality of (Continued on page 2.) Uniforms (Continued from page 1.) regional coordinators have been most with the sizing charts in the catalog. COURIER: How important is each COURIER: Have you had to make any GATES: Under the terms and helpful in the success of the program. changes in your operation to respond conditions of the contract between the park's role in the new system? # Since R&R hems all trousers to to the seasonal demands of the NPS and R&R Uniforms, the COURIER: The Washington Office is exact inseam or outseam GATES: It is critical. This is the National Park Service? contractor is not permitted to make responsible for implementing and communication link we discussed in measurements, employees must be anv changes in uniform items. monitoring the Uniform Program. the previous question. The parks can GATES: Yes. We have increased staff, sure to include this information with Employees who have suggestions or help to improve service, by making How do you see this working? realigned the shipping process to each order. (The short, regular and comments should forward them to the minimize errors, and increased overall long sizes indicated in the catalog, sure the allowance authorizations are GATES: We have had total regional uniform coordinator.