Since 1992, the Lawrence History Center has invested over a million dollars into the historic preservation, stabilization, and accessibility of our home in the former Essex Company Offices and Yard at 6 Essex Street in Lawrence – a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places built in 1882-3 that includes a main office building, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, stable, and warehouse.
The historic preservation and accessibility of our home is an investment in one of Lawrence's strongest cultural and historic institutions in the downtown corridor. The care and upkeep of our facilities contributes strongly to the impression given to people both inside and outside the city, as well as to the cultural economy throughout the city.
Since 2020 alone, we have invested $665,000 to strengthen our facilities through the following critical upgrades:
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[09-2024 - Current] Insulation, brick repointing, roof and gutter repairs, lighting upgrades, and the installation of solar panels
Lawrence History Center is thrilled and deeply grateful to be 1 of the 74 recipients of grants through the Mass Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund and MassDevelopment!! The $92,000 capital grant has been matched by funding from the Stevens Foundation, the Margaret Collins Charitable Trust, The White Fund, the Moose Moss DAF, and the Elizabeth M. McAuliffe Revocable Trust. Additional dollars from the Methuen Festival of Trees Historic Preservation Grant Program makes this a $200,000+/- project to support improvements to our home at 6 Essex Street in the former Essex Company Offices & Yard, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Specifically, the funds will be used for insulation, brick repointing, roof and gutter repairs, lighting upgrades, and the installation of rooftop solar panels.
Photos coming soon!
- [2024]
- [2022] Bathroom Renovation Project: When ADA Compliance and Historic Preservation Meet!
- [2022] Essex Company Warehouse Bulkhead
- [2020-2021] Elevator Replacement and Related Upgrades in Main Building
This undated photo features a nice view of the Essex Company Complex -- now home to Lawrence History Center -- at 6 Essex Street, Lawrence. It was taken by Richard Graber (November 25, 1934 - January 29, 2007) of Andover.
This video from October 1992 captures LHC founder Eartha Dengler (1922-2014) and then president Pamela Yameen cutting the ribbon on the Essex Company Offices & Yard. Chet Sidell, Board Member Emeritus (1941-2018), also shares some remarks:
