This post is a bit late!
While in Flagstaff, we were able to visit the Lowell Observatory. It was founded by Percival Lowell, whose passion for astronomy was all-consuming.
Two aspects of the observatory were most amazing to me. First is the fact that it is still a functioning observatory, working on many NASA and other projects.
The other item of interest to me has nothing to do with the science of the observatory. But, with it's founder. I lived the first 22 or so years of my life in Lowell, MA. Apparently, there is much about the local history that I missed along the way!
Percival Lowell was the grandson of Francis Cabot Lowell, who was a member of the Boston Corporation. It was this group, along with Mr. Appleton and others that was responsible for founding the textile mill town that was named Lowell, in honor of Percival's grandfather. I do remember the Cabot Mill and the Appleton Mill complexes and had relatives that worked in both, but not necessarily when they operated as textile mills.
I was aware of the textile mill history of my hometown and the great difficulty that many of the young women overcame as workers in these same mills. I was unaware of Percival and his life, the creation of the Lowell Observatory and the sighting of Pluto, whose symbol of a P and L also represents his initials! There is even a tree named after Percival - the Lowell Ash, which only grows at altitudes between 3200 and 600 fett (approx). Most interesting. I think I will have to do more research!
