Dan Murphy: Teddy Does Lowell

Ted has always been a history buff, so yesterday morning, knowing that exactly 495 years ago (September 20, 1519) Ferdinand Magellan embarked upon his quest to circumnavigate the globe, Ted was moved by the spirit of adventure to circumnavigate the city of Lowell. Considering that Ted is a dog, both journeys are probably of relatively equal complication. It required a hearty meal to break the night's fast, so Ted decided on waffles and coffee and the first stop was Vic's Waffle House.

Elvis Waffle - bacon, bananas, peanut butter, and honey

Leaving Vic's Waffle House Ted's belly was dragging on the ground. Fortunately, the first stop was just outside the door.

Located on 38 as you exit Tewksbury is the Wamesit Indian Statue. As you enter Lowell on 38 from the southeast the statue faces you and Ted wasn't sure if it's intended as a welcoming or a warning.

Wamesit Statue and Vic's Waffle House

Ted drives a BMW

Ted felt moved to pay respects to the gallant sons of the Acre. The next stop was the Doughboy Statue located at the intersection of Fletcher and Willie, adjacent to the Firefighters club. This statue is a memorial to the boys of the Acre neighborhood who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I (1917-1919).

Ted takes a rest

After a lay in the grass at the Firefighters club, Ted headed downtown.

The first downtown stop was the Market Mills Park to view the Homage to Women sculpture, a tribute to Lowell's 19th century mill girls.

Ted continued his stroll down Market st. and had a cigarette while inspecting the cobblestones.

Crossing Shattuck st. Ted arrived at the The Worker statue, which commemorates the workers who dredged canals in the early 19th century.

Near City Hall Ted found many sights to take in. The first was the Victory statue celebrating American Independence.

Behind Lowell's statue of liberty is a memorial to Charles Taylor, supposedly the first soldier killed in the Civil War.

City Hall Plaza had several memorials that stirred Ted's emotions. First he stopped by a statue in memory of the Armenian genocide. Unlike Obama, Ted is willing to acknowledge the genocide of the Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Ted stands with the Armenians.

Knot by knot, the Armenian People everywhere
weave their hopes and dreams, as they bloom and prosper.

Ted held a moment of silent reflection at the memorial for police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. Ted respects the rule of law, but he also knows that justice is complex and not always easily achieved, so he will occasionally break laws he finds unjust, or inconvenient.