George Washington Dixon (1801? – March 2, 1861) was an American singer, stage actor, and newspaper editor . He rose to prominence as a blackface performer (possibly the first American to do so) after performing " Coal Black Rose ", " Zip Coon ", and similar songs. He later turned to a career in journalism, during which he earned the enmity of members of the upper class for his frequent allegations against them.
117-519: George Dixon may refer to: Arts and entertainment [ edit ] George Washington Dixon (1801?–1861), American singer and newspaper editor George Dixon (organ designer) (1870–1950), British organ designer George Dixon (trumpeter) (1909–1994), American trumpeter George Dixon (The Spinners) ( fl. 1960s ), member of The Spinners (American group) George Dixon (television character) ( fl. 1950s–1970s ), titular character of
234-668: A mill town , Lowell was named after Francis Cabot Lowell , a local figure in the Industrial Revolution . The city became known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution because of its textile mills and factories. Many of Lowell's historic manufacturing sites were later preserved by the National Park Service to create Lowell National Historical Park . During the Cambodian genocide (1975–1979),
351-532: A 15-foot-long (five-meter) platform. Meanwhile, he did not give up his singing career. In early 1843, Dixon (now called "Pedestrian and Melodist") appeared at least once more at the Bowery Theatre, and he played on bills with Richard Pelham and Billy Whitlock . On January 29, he performed at a benefit for Dan Emmett . These concerts would be his last. Despite these excursions into athletics and entertainment, Dixon still considered himself an editor. He started
468-452: A crusade against a New York abortionist known as Madame Restell . He vowed to reprint an anti-Restell editorial every week until the authorities took notice or Restell stopped running newspaper ads for her abortion services. As for abortion itself, Dixon claimed that it subverted marriage by inhibiting procreation and encouraged female infidelity. Dixon kept his word, illustrating the editorial in later runs with woodcuts of Restell carrying
585-525: A greedy, sordid, unscrupulous knave, of old; ... We are aware that men are judged by the company they keep and that we shall be blamed for having had anything to do with Dixon. Be it so.—We deserve rebuke, we have suffered for our folly and, if that is not enough, we are content to sit down in sackcloth and ashes; the meet attire of fools who trust to a person so vile that the English language cannot express his unmitigated baseness. In keeping with sexual morality at
702-525: A household in the city was $ 51,714, according to the American Community Survey 5-year estimate ending in 2012. The median income for a family was $ 55,852. Males had a median income of $ 44,739 versus $ 35,472 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,730. About 15.2% of families and 17.5% of individuals were below the poverty line , including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. Racial Makeup: In 2010,
819-491: A letter to the New York Tribune and New York Herald alleging that Dixon was simply trying to extort money from her in return for an end to his agitation: Again and again have I been applied to by his emissaries for money, and as often have they been refused; and, as a consequence, I have been vilified and abused without stint or measure, which, of course, I expected, and, of the two, would prefer to his praise. During
936-593: A new paper called Dixon's Regulator by March, and he renewed his public crusade in New York. On February 22, 1846, he posted handbills around the city publicizing a meeting to protest further activities by Madame Restell. At the rally the next day, several hundred people listened to Dixon speak against the abortionist, calling for her neighbors to demand her eviction or else to take matters into their own hands. The crowd then walked to her residence three blocks away to shout threats but eventually dispersed. Restell responded with
1053-590: A new paper, the Bostonian; or, Dixon's Saturday Night Express . The paper focused on working-class issues, religious values, and opposition to abortion . It followed the lead of the Daily Review in exposing allegedly immoral affairs of well known Bostonians. One story told of two personalities eloping. Other Boston papers called the story false, and the Boston Herald labeled Dixon a "knave". Dixon fired back, depicting
1170-519: A northeasterly turn there before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport, Massachusetts , approximately 40 miles (64 km) downriver from Lowell. It is believed that in prior ages, the Merrimack continued south from Lowell to empty into the ocean somewhere near Boston . The glacial deposits that redirected the flow of the river left the drumlins that dot the city, most notably, Fort Hill in
1287-617: A part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, established in 1971 to assure the safekeeping, preservation, and availability for study and research of materials in unique subject areas, particularly those related to the Greater Lowell Area and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Located downtown in the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center at 40 French Street, the center is committed to
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#17328445807851404-572: A pistol. Undaunted, Dixon continued his attacks on Hamblin and others in the Polyanthos . He exposed another alleged affair, this between a merchant named Rowland R. Minturn and the wife of a shipmaker named James H. Roome. Twelve days after the publication, Roome killed himself. Another article alleged that Francis L. Hawks , an Episcopalian rector and reverend at the St. Thomas Church of New York, had been engaging in illicit sexual behavior. On December 31, Dixon
1521-585: A reemergence of their use. Downtown Lowell includes the UMass Lowell East Campus which consists of university housing, recreation facilities, research and the university's sports arena , as well as the Middlesex Community College . Pawtucketville , the University of Massachusetts Lowell , North Campus; and the Acre make up the 01854 ZIP Code. The northwestern portion of the city includes
1638-488: A riot against her and then published the inciting speech in the Polyanthos . He then targeted men who seduced young, working-class women, boarders who cheated their landlords, dysfunctional banks, and so-called British agents who were supposedly stirring up anti-American sentiment among American Indians and black slaves. Dixon claimed to be "a battering-ram against vice and folly in every shape", writing: The Polyanthos cannot die. The protecting Providence that watches over
1755-544: A significant increase in the number of residents between the ages of 50-69 while the percentages of residents under the age of 15 and over the age of 70 decreased. In 2010 the city's population had a median age of 32.6. The age distribution was 23.7% of the population under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males; while for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males. Median Income: for
1872-456: A skull-and-crossbones emblem. When the March 17 New York Courier quoted the New York grand jury as saying "We earnestly pray that if there is no law that will reach this [Madame Restell], which we present as a public nuisance , the court will take measures for procuring the passage of such a law", Dixon responded with the March 20 headline "Restell caught at last!" On March 22, Ann Lohman, part of
1989-535: A small town growing out of the Industrial Revolution. By April, he had taken the epithet "The National Melodist" and was editing Dixon's Daily Review . The paper took as motto "Knowledge—Liberty—Utility—Representation—Responsibility" and championed the Whig Party , Radical Republicanism , and the working class. Dixon's Daily Review also explored morality and women's place in the rapidly changing society of
2106-507: A stage show on February 4. Not ten days after the end of the Harrington case, Dixon was charged with forging a signature on a bail bond pertaining to his previous debt from July 1835. He was sent to Lowell and jailed. The press responded with its usual glee: "George has been a great eulogist, the defender of the Constitution! But he cannot defend himself." At his hearing on February 15, bail
2223-585: A time, and he appears as a singer and reciter of poems on bills dated from as early as February 1824. By early 1829, he had taken on the epithet "The American Buffo Singer". Over three days in late July 1829, Dixon performed " Coal Black Rose " in blackface at the Bowery , Chatham Garden , and Park theatres in New York City. The Flash characterized his audience as "crowded galleries and scantily filled boxes"; that is, mostly working-class. On September 24 at
2340-558: A tour with James Salisbury , a black musician and dancer well known in lower-class districts of Boston such as Ann Street . Instead, he appeared on December 6 at the upper-class Opera Saloon , singing selections from popular operas. His fame (or notoriety) served to get him listed as a candidate for the Boston mayoral race in December. Dixon won nine votes, despite his polite refusal to serve should he be elected. Dixon performed in Boston through
2457-408: A vocalist that ever bored the public ear." At the trial, held in mid-June, character witnesses testified that Dixon was "a harmless, inoffensive man, but destitute of business capacity" and "in reply to the question whether Dixon was non compos mentis , I consider him as being on the frontier line—sometimes on one side, and sometimes on the other, just as the breeze of fortune happens to blow." In
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#17328445807852574-720: A working-class audience, including in his repertoire such songs as "The New York Fireman", which compared firefighters to the American Founding Fathers. Oratory made up another facet of his act; on December 4, 1832, the Baltimore Patriot reported that Dixon would read an address from the President at the Front Street Theatre . In 1833, he started a small newspaper called the Stonington Cannon . However,
2691-671: Is a city in Massachusetts , United States. Alongside Cambridge , it is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County . With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020 , it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of the last census, and the third most populous in the Boston metropolitan statistical area . The city is also part of a smaller Massachusetts statistical area , called Greater Lowell , and of New England 's Merrimack Valley region. Incorporated in 1826 to serve as
2808-409: Is a mulatto, and was, not many years ago, employed in this city, in an oyster house to open oysters and empty the shells into the carts before they were carried away. He is an impudent scoundrel, aspires to every thing, and was fit to be any body's fool. Somebody used his name (such as he called himself, for negroes have, by right, no surnames) as the publisher of a newspaper, in which every body, almost,
2925-780: Is a part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium . Currently, circulation of materials averages around 250,000 annually, with approximately one-third deriving from the children's collection. In fiscal year 2009, Lowell spent 0.35% ($ 885,377) of its budget on the library—approximately $ 8 per person, per year ($ 9.83 adjusted for inflation in 2021). As of 2012, the Pollard Library purchases access for its patrons to databases owned by: EBSCO Industries ; Gale , of Cengage Learning ; Heritage Archives, Inc. ; New England Historic Genealogical Society ; OverDrive, Inc. ; ProQuest ; and World Trade Press. The Lydon Library
3042-455: Is a part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, and is located on the North Campus. The building is named in honor of President Martin J. Lydon, whose vision expanded and renamed the college during his tenure in the 1950s and 1960s. Its current collection concentrates on the sciences, engineering, business management, social sciences, humanities, and health. The O'Leary Library
3159-503: Is a part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, and is located on the South Campus. The building is named in honor of former History Professor and then President O'Leary, whose vision helped merge the Lowell colleges during his tenure in the 1970s and 1980s. Its current collection concentrates on music and art. The Center for Lowell History [special collections and archives] is
3276-538: Is a point in the middle of the Concord River where Lowell and Billerica meet Tewksbury and Chelmsford. The ten communities designated part of the Lowell Metropolitan area by the 2000 US Census are Billerica , Chelmsford , Dracut , Dunstable , Groton , Lowell, Pepperell , Tewksbury , Tyngsborough , and Westford , and Pelham, New Hampshire . See Greater Lowell . Lowell has eight distinct neighborhoods:
3393-484: Is an urban area south of downtown, toward the mouth of River Meadow Brook. South Lowell is the area south of the railroad and east of the Concord River. Other minor neighborhoods within this ZIP Code are Ayers City, Bleachery, Chapel Hill, the Grove, Oaklands, Riverside Park, Swede Village, and Wigginville. Although the use of the names of these smaller neighborhoods has been in decline in the past decades, there has been recently
3510-511: Is at his old tricks again. So far from possessing the ability to write a letter Miss Nancy-Coal-Black-Rose Dixon cannot begin to write ten consecutive words of the English language, and he must have encountered "the Schoolmaster abroad" in the Athenian city that teaches "penmanship in six lessons," and that lately too if he can sign his name. By the end of 1836, Dixon had moved to Boston and started
3627-484: Is at present the star. His third night is announced! Will some of the enlightened citizens of the emporium favor us with their opinion of his performance? Is his Zip Coon as thrilling as Mr Wood's "Still so gently o'er me stealing?" On 16 and April 30, Dixon played the Masonic Temple in Boston. There he included material to appeal to his lower-class audience, such as a popular tune that he had adapted with lyrics about
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3744-487: Is elected every two years and is composed of eight district seats and three at-large seats. The School Committee is elected for two-year terms and is composed of four district seats, two at-large seats, and the mayor. City Council and School Committee elections are non-partisan. In 1957, Lowell voters repealed a single-transferable-vote system, which had been in place since 1943. The City Council chooses one of its members as mayor , and another as vice-mayor. The role of
3861-611: Is located at 42°38′22″N 71°18′53″W / 42.63944°N 71.31472°W / 42.63944; -71.31472 (42.639444, −71.314722). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (38 km ) of which 13.8 square miles (36 km ) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km ) (5.23%) is water. Lowell features a four-season Humid continental climate , with long and very cold winters, which typically experience an average 56 in (1,400 mm) of snowfall, with
3978-576: Is morally guilty of no less than three murders, and I hope the court will not diminish the amount of bail one iota!" It did not. Nevertheless, a notorious New York madam named Adeline Miller paid it, and Dixon walked free. Only a month later, though, she had sent Dixon back to jail for unknown reasons. Facing seven counts (four from Hawks and three from the Minturns), the singer and editor remained incarcerated for two months while he awaited trial. The Minturn case came first, on April 15, 1839. After three days,
4095-494: Is not capable of any sentiment requiring the appreciation of real or fancied injury. If he were kicked down stairs, he could not decide, until told by some one else, whether the kick was the result of accident or design, and if design, whether it was intended as a compliment or an insult. Dixon fought back in the Polyanthos by defending himself and his motives, and to some degree, he seems to have succeeded. The Herald for one admitted that his trial had exposed an unsavory facet of
4212-412: Is pursued, appears truly ridiculous. That he is disgusting, a nuisance, and a bore, we know—and so is a spider. Nobody would dream, however, of extinguishing the latter insect with a park of artillery; though all the city seem to have fancied that George Washington Dixon could be conquered with no less. The truth of him is, that he is a most unmitigated fool; and as to his pursuing any person with malice, he
4329-691: Is the official entrance to the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest , the site of an historic Native American tribe, and in the age of the Industrial Revolution was a prominent source of granite used in canals and factory foundations. Population Density: According to the 2010 Census , there were 106,519 people living in the city. The population density was 7,842.1 inhabitants per square mile (3,027.9/km ). There were 41,431 housing units at an average density of 2,865.5/sq mi (1,106.4/km ). Household Size : 2010, there were 38,470 households, and 23,707 families living in Lowell;
4446-643: Is the section of Centralville east of Bridge Street. The Highlands , ZIP Code 01851, is the most populated neighborhood, with almost a quarter of the city residing here. It is located in the southwestern section of the city, bordered to the east by the Lowell Connector and to the north by the railroad. Lowellians further distinguish the sections of the Highlands as the Upper Highlands and the Lower Highlands,
4563-513: The Boston Fire Department . Nevertheless, he also reached out to a richer, middle-class patronage. For example, he played alongside a classically trained pianist, and he billed the performance as a "concert", a word typically reserved for high-class, non-blackface entertainment. Dixon earned a third of the gross from this engagement: $ 23.50. He still owed money to the printer of Dixon's Daily Review , so these earnings were put in trust for
4680-486: The Boston Manufacturing Company , named the new mill town after their visionary leader, Francis Cabot Lowell , who had died five years before its 1823 incorporation. As Lowell's population grew, it acquired land from neighboring towns, and diversified into a full-fledged urban center. Many of the men who composed the labor force for constructing the canals and factories had immigrated from Ireland , escaping
4797-534: The Catholic Germans , followed by a large influx of French Canadians during the 1870s and 1880s. Later waves of immigrants came to work in Lowell and settled in ethnic neighborhoods, with the city's population reaching almost 50% foreign-born by 1900. By the time World War I broke out in Europe, the city had reached its economic peak. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down
George Dixon - Misplaced Pages Continue
4914-523: The Confederate States of America . Many of the coarse cottons produced in Lowell eventually returned to the South to clothe enslaved people, and, according to historian Sven Beckert, "'Lowell' became the generic term slaves used to describe coarse cottons." The city continued to thrive as a major industrial center during the 19th century, attracting more migrant workers and immigrants to its mills. Next were
5031-562: The Farren Riots erupted. Young men in New York City targeted the homes, businesses, churches, and institutions of black New Yorkers and abolitionists . On the night of July 9, the mob stormed the Bowery Theatre. Manager Thomas S. Hamblin failed to quell them, and actor Edwin Forrest did not meet their expectations when they ordered him to perform. According to the New York Sun : Mr. Dixon,
5148-601: The Mexican–American War , Dixon added some timely political references to "Zip Coon" and briefly returned to the public eye. Another crusade seems to have drawn Dixon away from New York in 1847. He was probably one of the first Radical Republicans to entrench himself as a filibuster in the Yucatán in a bid to annex more territory for the United States. Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell ( / ˈ l oʊ ə l / )
5265-642: The National Register of Historic Places including many buildings and structures as part of the Lowell National Historical Park . In the early years of the 1840s when the population quickly exceeded 20,000, Lowell became very active as a cultural center, with the construction of the Lowell Museum , the Mechanics Hall , as well as the new City Hall used for art exhibits, lectures , and for
5382-660: The News Letter and was selling it in Lowell and Boston . If he did, no copies are known to have survived. By February 1836, Dixon was touring again. He played many well-attended shows in Boston that month and did a play at the Tremont Theatre . His recent forays into publishing had soured his image in the popular press, however, and The New York Times satirized his lower-class audience: Tremont Teatre. At this classical establishment, Mr Dixon, "the American Buffo singer,"
5499-494: The circus , where he quickly established himself as a singer. In 1829, he began performing "Coal Black Rose" in blackface; this and similar songs would propel him to stardom. In contrast to his contemporary Thomas D. Rice , Dixon was primarily a singer rather than a dancer. He was by all accounts a gifted vocalist, and much of his material was quite challenging. "Zip Coon" became his trademark song. By 1835, Dixon considered journalism to be his primary vocation. His first major paper
5616-646: The genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge . The city continued to rebound, but this time, focusing more on culture. The former mill district along the river was partially restored and became part of the Lowell National Historical Park , founded in the late 1970s. Although Wang went bankrupt in 1992, the city continued its cultural focus by hosting the nation's largest free folk festival, the Lowell Folk Festival , as well as many other cultural events. This effort began to attract other companies and families back to
5733-440: The performing arts . The Lowell Museum was lost in a devastating fire in the early morning of January 31, 1856, but was quickly rehoused in a new location. The Lowell Art Association was founded in 1876, and the new Opera House was built in 1889. Continuing to inspire and entertain, Lowell currently has a plethora of artistic exhibitions and performances throughout a wide range of venues in the city: The first Lowell public library
5850-460: The 139th most dangerous city of over 75,000 residents in the United States, out of 393 communities. Out of Massachusetts cities, nine are larger than 75,000 residents, and Lowell was fifth. For comparison Lowell was still rated safer than Boston (104 of 393), Providence, RI (123), Springfield (51), Lynn (120), Fall River (103), and New Bedford (85), but rated more dangerous than Cambridge (303), Newton (388), Quincy (312), and Worcester (175). Lowell
5967-449: The 1990s, Lowell had been locally notorious for being a place of high drug trafficking and gang activity, and was the setting for a real life documentary, High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell . In the years from 1994 to 1999, crime dropped 50 percent, the highest rate of decrease for any city in America with over 100,000 residents. Within one generation, by 2009, Lowell was ranked as
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#17328445807856084-413: The 1990s, and while the likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime in Massachusetts are 1 in 265, the odds in Lowell are 1 in 289, making Lowell (approximately) 10% safer than the rest of the state, on average. Lowell's violent crime rate is comparable to Honolulu, HI and is less than one-quarter that of Washington, D.C. Among the many tourist attractions, Lowell also currently has 39 places on
6201-461: The Acre, Back Central, Belvidere, Centralville, Downtown, Highlands, Pawtucketville, and South Lowell. The city also has five ZIP codes : four are geographically distinct general ZIP codes, and one (01853) is for post-office boxes only. The Centralville neighborhood, ZIP Code 01850, is the northeastern section of the city, north of the Merrimack River and east of Beaver Brook . Christian Hill
6318-740: The American Civil War. In 1981, the library was renamed the Pollard Memorial Library in memory of the late Mayor Samuel S. Pollard. And, in the mid-2000s the century-old National Historic building underwent a major $ 8.5m renovation. The city also expanded the library system to include the Senior Center Branch, located in the City of Lowell Senior Center. In fiscal year 2008, the city of Lowell spent 0.36% ($ 975,845) of its budget on its public libraries, which houses 236,000 volumes, and
6435-552: The Belvidere neighborhood. Other large hills in Lowell include Lynde Hill, also in Belvidere, and Christian Hill, in the easternmost part of Centralville at the Dracut town line. The Concord, or Musketaquid (its original name), forms from the confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury rivers at Concord, Massachusetts . This river flows north into the city, and the area around the confluence with
6552-743: The Bowery, Dixon performed Love in a Cloud , a dramatic interpretation of the events described in "Coal Black Rose" and possibly the first blackface farce . These performances proved a hit, and Dixon rose to celebrity, perhaps before any other American blackface performer had done so. On December 14, Dixon's benefit at the Albany Theatre grossed $ 155.87, the largest take there since the opening night earlier that year. Dixon performed through 1834, most frequently at New York's three major theatres. In addition to blackface song-and-dance numbers, he did whiteface songs and scenes from popular plays; much of his material
6669-493: The Comprehensive Master Plan, more broad changes were recommended so that the land use and development would be consistent with the current master plan. The most significant revision to the 1966 zoning code is the adoption of an inclusion of a transect-based zoning code and some aspects of a form-based code style of zoning that emphasizes urban design elements as a means to ensure that infill development will respect
6786-496: The Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley George Hall Dixon (1920–2013), American banker See also [ edit ] George Dickson , American gridiron football player and coach Alexander George Dickson (1834–1889), Conservative MP [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
6903-602: The HCD Master Plan. The HCD is a major redevelopment project that comprises 13 acres of vacant, underutilized land in downtown Lowell abutting former industrial mills. Trinity Financial was elected as the Master Developer to recreate this district with a vision of making a mixed-use neighborhood. Development plans included establishing the HCD as a gateway to downtown Lowell and enhanced connectivity to Gallagher Terminal . In
7020-608: The Lowell High School Red Raiders, also played host to the Boston Patriots during their first season. The Pawtucket Falls , which provided the hydropower for Lowell's industry in the 1800s, also served as an important seasonal fishing site for native people at the time of European colonization in the 1600s. The Pawtucket people are named for this location, literally meaning "at the falls" in Massachusett . In
7137-608: The Melodist bears a charmed life—and as was often said to be done in olden time, has made a bargain with the Being of Darkness for a certain term of years, during which he may defy the majesty of the law, and the wrath of his enemies." Another stage tour followed, with concerts in Lowell, New England, and Maine. This was an apparent success, with one reviewer saying that Dixon had "a voice which all unite in pronouncing to be of remarkable richness and compass." That Fall, he may have contemplated
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#17328445807857254-401: The Merrimack was known as Wamesit. Like the Merrimack, the Concord, although a much smaller river, has many waterfalls and rapids that served as power sources for early industrial purposes, some well before the founding of Lowell. Immediately after the Concord joins the Merrimack, the Merrimack descends another ten feet in Hunt's Falls. There is a ninety-degree bend in the Merrimack partway down
7371-593: The Pawtucket Falls. At this point, the river briefly widens and shallows. Here, Beaver Brook enters from the north, separating the city's two northern neighborhoods, Pawtucketville and Centralville. Entering the Concord River from the southwest is River Meadow, or Hale's Brook. This brook flows largely in a man-made channel, as the Lowell Connector was built along it. Both of these minor streams have limited industrial histories as well. The bordering towns (clockwise from north) are Dracut , Tewksbury , Billerica , Chelmsford , and Tyngsborough . The border with Billerica
7488-505: The abandonment of many praying towns. By the 1800s, the area that would become Lowell was part of the farming community of East Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Founded in the 1820s as a planned manufacturing center for textiles , Lowell is located along the rapids of the Merrimack River , 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Boston in what was once the farming community of East Chelmsford, Massachusetts . The so-called Boston Associates , including Nathan Appleton and Patrick Tracy Jackson of
7605-514: The annual New England Golden Gloves tournament, which featured fighters such as Rocky Marciano , Sugar Ray Leonard , and Marvin Hagler . Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund both began their careers in Lowell, the subject of the 2010 film The Fighter . Arthur Ramalho's West End Gym is where many of the city's boxers train. * =current mayor **=former mayor Lowell has a Plan-E council-manager government . There are eleven city councilors and seven school committee members. The City Council
7722-451: The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.31. Of those households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Age Distributions: Lowell has also experienced
7839-484: The character of the neighborhood or district in question. By 2004, the recommended zoning changes were unanimously adopted by the City Council and despite numerous changes to the 2004 Zoning Code, it remains the basic framework for resolving zoning issues in Lowell to this day. The Hamilton Canal District (HCD) is the first district in Lowell in which regulation and development is defined by Form-Based Code (HCD-FBC) and legislated by its own guiding framework consistent to
7956-459: The city (south of the Merrimack River and southeast of the Lowell Connector). Belvidere is the mostly residential area south of the Merrimack River, east of the Concord River, and north of the Lowell and Lawrence railroad. Belvidere Hill Historic District runs along Fairmount Street. Lower Belvidere is the section west of Nesmith Street. Rogers Fort Hill Park Historic District , Lowell Cemetery , and Shedd Park are this side of town. Back Central
8073-492: The city include the Whistler House Museum of Art , the Merrimack Repertory Theatre , the Lowell Memorial Auditorium , and Sampas Pavilion . In sports, the city has a long tradition of boxing, hosting the annual New England Golden Gloves boxing tournament. The city has a baseball stadium, Edward A. LeLacheur Park , and a multipurpose indoor sports arena, the Tsongas Center , both of which have hosted collegiate and minor-league professional sports teams. Cawley Stadium, home of
8190-413: The city took in an influx of refugees, leading to a Cambodia Town and America's second-largest Cambodian-American population. Lowell is home to two institutions of higher education . UMass Lowell , part of the University of Massachusetts system, has three campuses in the city. Middlesex Community College 's two campuses are in Lowell and in the town of Bedford, Massachusetts . Arts facilities in
8307-487: The conductor of the orchestra to pick up at a later date. Dixon and the printer grew impatient and presented a forged note to the trustee to collect early. Within a few days, Dixon was arrested and jailed in Boston. The press took the opportunity to castigate him again: " George Washington Dixon , now cormorant of Boston jail , and ex-publisher, ex-editor, ex-broker, ex-melodist, &c., is quite out of tune." The Boston Courier called Dixon "the most miserable apology for
8424-413: The courts were not over. Around September 16, he allegedly assaulted Peter D. Formal, who was taking down bills that Dixon had posted. Dixon failed to appear for his October court date, and he skipped later dates on 1 and November 11. On November 19, he again was placed under arrest for obscenity as part of a citywide campaign by the district attorney to fight yellow journalism . On January 13, 1842, Dixon
8541-542: The design and implementation of historical, educational, and cultural programs that link the university and the community in developing an economically strong and multi-culturally rich region. Its current collections and archives focus on historic and contemporary issues of Lowell (including: industrialization, textile technology, immigration, social history, regional history, labor history, women's history, and environmental history). Boxing has formed an important part of Lowell's working-class culture. The city's auditorium hosts
8658-405: The end of February 1838. That spring, he moved to New York City, where he re-entered the publishing business with a newspaper called the Polyanthos and Fire Department Album . Dixon again championed the lower class and aimed to expose the sordid affairs of the rich, especially those who preyed upon lower-class women. An early Polyanthos alleged that Thomas Hamblin, manager of the Bowery Theatre,
8775-399: The end, he was found not guilty when the prosecution failed to satisfy that he had known the document to be a forgery. Dixon took the opportunity to give a speech to the public outside. He then returned to the stage, earning a considerable $ 527.50 in late July. Dixon was still guilty in the eyes of the press, however, and his letters to clear his name only made things worse: Mister Zip Coon
8892-420: The ethnic diversity of the city was 60.3% White (49.3% Non-Hispanic White ), 20.2% Asian American (12.5% Cambodian, 2.0% Indian, 1.7% Vietnamese, 1.4% Laotian), 6.8% African American , 0.3% Native American , 8.8% from other races , 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.3% of the population. The largest Hispanic group was those of Puerto Rican ancestry, constituting 11.3% of
9009-464: The first Cambodian-American mayor in the United States, Sokhary Chau . According to current FBI Crime Data Analysis, Lowell is the 46th most dangerous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for all sizes. In 2018, the violent crime rate for Lowell was less than half of the violent crime rate in Boston, with no murders compared to 49 in Boston. Lowell's crime rate has dropped tremendously since
9126-429: The first time. Although Dixon had previously sung " Long Tail Blue ", another racist tale about a black " dandy " trying to fit into Northern white society, "Zip Coon" garnered acclaim and quickly became an audience favorite and Dixon's trademark tune. He later claimed to have written the song, although others performed it before him, so this seems unlikely. Dixon accompanied his singing with an earthy jig . On July 7,
9243-405: The highest ever recorded seasonal snowfall being 120 in (3,000 mm) in the winter of 2014–2015. Summers are hot and humid, and of average length, while autumn and spring are brief transition periods between the two. On average, temperature in Lowell ranges from 64 to 84 °F (18 to 29 °C) in the summer months, and between 2 and 33 °F (−17 and 1 °C) in the winter months, with
9360-472: The husband-and-wife team behind the Restell name, was arrested. Dixon claimed vindication and covered the trial over several issues of the Polyanthos . After her conviction on July 20, he wrote, "the monster in human shape ... has ... been convicted of one of the most hellish acts ever perpetrated in a Christian land!" On September 12, a man in the street struck Dixon in the head with an ax, which prompted some of
9477-472: The jury came back unable to reach a verdict, and the Minturn brothers dropped the charges. Dixon returned to jail, but Hawks dropped his charges from four to three. The judge lowered bail to $ 900 on April 20, and Dixon walked free. The press renewed their attacks on him: To those who know the true character, and something of the personal history of this imbecile vagrant, the exuberance of indignation with which he
9594-403: The latter being the area closer to downtown. Middlesex Village, Tyler Park, and Drum Hill are in this ZIP Code. The Upper Highlands also includes the University of Massachusetts Lowell, South Campus (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Health Sciences & Education). Downtown , Belvidere , Back Central , and South Lowell make up the 01852 ZIP Code, and are the southeastern sections of
9711-412: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Dixon&oldid=1187288316 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages George Washington Dixon At age 15, Dixon joined
9828-624: The mayor is primarily ceremonial. The mayor runs the weekly meetings under the guidance of the City Clerk. In addition, the mayor serves as the Chairperson of the School Committee. The administrative head of the city government is the City Manager , who is responsible for all day-to-day operations, functioning within the guidelines of City Council policy, and is hired by and serves indefinitely at
9945-530: The mid-1600s, English efforts to convert native people to Christianity led to the founding of the " praying town " of Wamesit at the confluence of the Concord and Merrimack Rivers in what is today Lowell, however the population of Wamesit was reckoned at only 75 people just prior to King Phillip's War , which significantly altered relations between English colonists and indigenous groups in New England, and led to
10062-554: The mills in the city over an attempted wage cut. The Mill Cities' manufacturing base declined as companies began to relocate to the South in the 1920s. The city fell into hard times, and was even referred to as a "depressed industrial desert" by Harper's Magazine in 1931, as the Great Depression worsened. At this time, more than one third of its population was "on relief" (government assistance), as only three of its major textile corporations remained active. Several years later,
10179-480: The mills were reactivated, making parachutes and other military necessities for World War II . However, this economic boost was short-lived and the post-war years saw the last textile plants close. In the 1970s, Lowell became part of the Massachusetts Miracle , being the headquarters of Wang Laboratories . At the same time, Lowell became home to thousands of new immigrants, many from Cambodia , following
10296-414: The name of the black character in one of his songs. However, the weight of evidence suggests that if Dixon did have black ancestry, it was fairly remote. A newspaper story from 1841 claims that at age 15, Dixon's singing caught the attention of a circus proprietor named West. The man convinced Dixon to join his traveling circus as a stablehand and errand boy. Dixon traveled with this and other circuses for
10413-530: The neighborhood where Jack Kerouac resided around the area of University Avenue (previously known as Moody Street). The North Campus of UMass Lowell (Colleges of Engineering, Sciences and Business) is in Pawtucketville near the Lowell General Hospital. The older parts of the neighborhood are around University Avenue and Mammoth Road , whereas the newer parts are around Varnum Avenue. Pawtucketville
10530-430: The only positive press Dixon ever enjoyed that was not related to his singing. The Uncle Sam praised his editing and writing: "Go on martyr of virtue, go on and prosper! Go on getting out extras, and defending the sacredness of the marriage institution. Go on through malice, opposition, fiery trials, persecutions and assassinations—posterity will do thee justice ... !" Even with positive press, Dixon's troubles with
10647-499: The paper's editor, Henry F. Harrington , as a monkey. In early 1837, Dixon was again in legal trouble. Harrington accused Dixon of stealing half a ream of paper from the Morning Post , the principal competition to Harrington's Herald . The judge eventually dismissed the case, agreeing that the paper had been taken, but ruling that no proof pointed to Dixon as the one who had taken it. Dixon gave another post-trial speech, followed by
10764-429: The pen of this gentleman independent of his vocal powers, is sufficient proof of his being a man of considerable talent and originality—you should hear him sing his national air "on a wing that beamed in glory" [and it would be] unnecessary for us to enlarge on his merits as a vocalist—for his Melodies display a feeling of Patriotism which attracts the attention of every beholder. In March, Dixon performed " Zip Coon " for
10881-554: The period of time when Lowell was part of the Massachusetts Miracle, the Lowell City Development Authority created a Comprehensive Master Plan which included recommendations for zoning adaptations within the city. The city's original zoning code was adopted in 1926 and was significantly revised in 1966 and 2004, with changes included to respond to concerns about overdevelopment. In 2002, in lieu of updating
10998-626: The population. Cambodian-American Population: In 2010, Lowell had the highest proportion of residents of Cambodian origin of any place in the United States at 12.5% of the population. The Government of Cambodia opened up its third U.S. Consular Office in Lowell, on April 27, 2009, with Sovann Ou as current advisor to the Cambodian Embassy . The other consular offices are in Long Beach, California , and Seattle , Washington , which also have large Cambodian communities. In 2022, Lowell elected
11115-487: The poverty and Great Famine of the 1830s and 1840s. The mill workers, young single women called Mill Girls , generally came from the farm families of New England. By the 1850s, Lowell had the largest industrial complex in the United States. The textile industry wove cotton produced in the Southern United States . In 1860, there were more cotton spindles in Lowell than in all eleven states combined that would form
11232-586: The public eye; he became a "pedestrian", a long-distance sport walker . The participation of Dixon, a blackface singer and dancer, in these contests presaged the challenge dances of performers such as Master Juba and John Diamond in the next few years. In February, he competed to win $ 4,000 by walking 48 hours without stopping. When the prize failed to materialize, Dixon charged admission to watch him. Later that month, Dixon tried to break this record by walking 50 hours. His publicity was, as usual, bad. Brother Jonathan gave this advice: "walk in one direction all
11349-400: The publication saw little success, and by January 1834, he was performing again, now with new talents, such as ventriloquism . Dixon seemed untarnished by his yearlong hiatus. Reviews said that "his voice seems formed of the music itself— 'it thrills , it animates' ..." The Telegraph wrote, Few Melodists have gained more celebrity or been so universally admired, ... The many effusions from
11466-419: The safety of the just, and defeats the machinations of the wicked, will make it bloom ... We prophesy that the latest descendant of the youngest newsboy will animate his hearers with the desire to emulate the enviable fame of DIXON! Our name will be handed down to the end of time as one of the most independent men of the nineteenth century! Our very hat will become a relic. On February 16, 1841, Dixon turned to
11583-573: The singer (an American,) now made his appearance. "Let us have Zip Coon," exclaimed a thousand voices. The singer gave them their favorite song, amidst peals of laughter,—and his Honor the Mayor, who as the old woman said of her husband, is a "good-natured, easy fellow," made his appearance, delivered a short speech, made a low bow, and went out. Dixon, who had produced such amazing good nature with "Zip Coon," next addressed them—and they soon quietly dispersed. In early 1835, Dixon moved to Lowell, Massachusetts ,
11700-794: The television series Dixon of Dock Green Sports [ edit ] George Dixon (boxer) (1870–1908), Canadian boxer George Dixon (baseball) (1896–1940), American Negro leagues catcher George Dixon (rugby union) (1901–1991), American rugby player George Dixon (Canadian football) (1933–1990), Canadian Football League (CFL) Hall of Fame player George Dixon (rugby league) ( fl. 1920s–1930s ), English rugby league footballer Others [ edit ] George Dixon (Cockfield Canal) (1731–1785), English engineer George Dixon (Royal Navy officer) (1748–1795), English sea captain and explorer George Dixon (MP) (1820–1898), MP for Birmingham 1867–1876 and Edgbaston 1885–1898 George E. Dixon (1837–1864), American commander of
11817-482: The time, Dixon and his colleagues sometimes checked bordellos for cleanliness, friendliness, and other factors. Snelling drew from this, linking Dixon to organized prostitution and alleging that he had connections to a madam named Julia Brown . Eventually, another editor named George B. Wooldridge joined with Dixon for a few issues of the True Flash , but they did not sell well. Rumors circulated at this time that Dixon
11934-512: The time, from this part of the compass, till ocean fetches him up, and then see how far he can swim." He walked for 60 hours that summer in Richmond, then did 30 miles (48 km) in five hours and 35 minutes in Washington, D.C. Dixon tried many other feats of endurance. For example, in late August, he stood on a plank for three days and two nights with no sleep. In September, he paced for 76 hours on
12051-516: The upper class. Nevertheless, on May 10, Dixon changed his plea to guilty regarding one count, and the next day did the same for the other two. He was sentenced to six months of hard labor at the New York State Penitentiary at Blackwell's Island . Dixon reportedly responded, "This is a pretty situation for an editor." He would later claim that Hawks had paid him $ 1000 to change his plea. The press reacted with its usual fervor: Dixon
12168-623: The urban North. Dixon's criticism of his colleagues did not win him any friends, and in June, the Boston Post reported that he had "flogged one of the editors of the Lowell Castigator , and was hunting after the other." By the next month, Dixon had sold his paper, and the new publishers were eager to point out that Dixon no longer had anything to do with its production. By August, rumors were circulating that Dixon had started up another paper called
12285-516: The urban center. Additional historic manufacturing and commercial buildings were adapted as residential units and office space. By the 1990s, Lowell had built a new ballpark and arena, which became home to two minor league sports teams, the Lowell Devils and Lowell Spinners . The city also began to have a larger student population. The University of Massachusetts Lowell and Middlesex Community College expanded their programs and enrollment. During
12402-599: The yearly average being 49 °F (9 °C). Lowell is located at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord rivers. The Pawtucket Falls , a mile-long set of rapids with a total drop in elevation of 32 feet, ends where the two rivers meet. At the top of the falls is the Pawtucket Dam, designed to turn the upper Merrimack into a millpond , diverted through Lowell's extensive canal system. The Merrimack, which flows southerly from Franklin, New Hampshire to Lowell, makes
12519-399: Was Dixon's Daily Review , which he published from Lowell, Massachusetts , in 1835. He followed this in 1836 with Dixon's Saturday Night Express , published in Boston . By this point, he had taken to using his paper to expose what he considered the misdeeds of the upper classes. These stories earned him many enemies, and Dixon was taken to court on several occasions. His most successful paper
12636-468: Was born in Richmond, Virginia , probably in 1801, to a working-class family. He may have been educated at a charity school . Fairly detailed descriptions and portraits of Dixon survive; he had a swarthy complexion and a "splendid head of hair". However, the question of whether he was white or black is an open one. His enemies sometimes called him a " mulatto ", a " Negro ", or referred to him as "Zip Coon",
12753-508: Was engaging in an affair with Miss Missouri, a teen-aged performer there. Within ten days of publication, Miss Missouri turned up dead, reportedly killed by "inflammation of the brain caused by the violent misconduct of Miss Missouri's mother and the publication of an abusive article in The Polyanthos ." On July 28, Hamblin accosted Dixon. Another assault in August prompted Dixon to start carrying
12870-525: Was established in 1844 with 3,500 volumes, and was set up in the first floor of the Old City Hall, 226 Merrimack St. In 1872, the expanding collection was relocated down the street to the Hosford Building at 134 Merrimack St. In 1890–1891, the City of Lowell hired local Architect Frederick W. Stickney to design the new Lowell City Library, known as "Memorial Hall, in honor of the city's men who died in
12987-442: Was in court, charged with libel . Dixon spent a week in jail, then paid the $ 2000 bail. However, before he could even leave the jailhouse, he was arrested for a charge leveled by Rowland Minturn's brothers that Dixon's article had resulted in the man's death. Bail was raised to $ 9000, an enormous amount, which Dixon protested. The prosecution argued that "The accused is a criminal of the blackest dye , and by his infamous publication
13104-452: Was indicted for the charges in absentia . A warrant was issued for his arrest on April 13. By this time, he had handed the Polyanthos to Louse Leah , and the charges were eventually dropped. In late 1841, Dixon had gotten into another row with a colleague. William Joseph Snelling obtained a warrant against him, and Dixon countersued. Snelling wrote anonymously in the Flash : We know him for
13221-500: Was libelled. He is now caged, and, we may hope, will, when he comes out of prison, go to opening oysters, or some other employment appropriate to his habits and color. Dixon served out his sentence then returned to New York. He resumed the Polyanthos , emerging as the leader of a cadre of like-minded editors interested in exposing immorality. Dixon now focused his efforts on Austrian dancer Fanny Elssler , whom he accused of sexual misconduct. On August 21, 1840, he went so far as to rally
13338-505: Was quite challenging. Dixon's fame allowed him to pepper his material with satire and political commentary. On November 25, 1830, he sang before a crowd of 120,000 in Washington, D.C., in support of the July Revolution in France. He began selling a collection of songs and skits he had popularized called Dixon's Oddities in 1830; the book remained in print long after. Dixon mostly played to
13455-507: Was set at $ 1000, an unheard of amount for the time. Unable to pay, he was transferred to a jail in Concord, Massachusetts . Dixon's March 16 trial ended in conviction. His appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on April 17 resulted in a hung jury, and his prosecutors dropped the charges against him. He gave another of his by now trademark post-trial addresses. The Boston Post wrote: "I begin to think that
13572-438: Was the Polyanthos , which he began publishing in 1838 from New York City. Under its masthead, he challenged some of his greatest adversaries, including Thomas S. Hamblin , Reverend Francis L. Hawks , and Madame Restell . After a brief foray into hypnotism, "pedestrianism" (long-distance walking), and other pursuits, he retired to New Orleans , Louisiana . Details about Dixon's childhood are scarce. The record suggests that he
13689-565: Was to be married, but sources disagreed over the identity of the fiancée; one said she was a Congressman's daughter, another that she was a madam. The Flash published a story that Brown and a prostitute named Phoebe Doty had been seen fighting over the Melodist. If Dixon did marry, no record survives of it. Beginning in 1842, Dixon took on a number of new occupations, including animal magnetist and spiritualist specializing in clairvoyance . A fad for public competitions and feats of endurance served as another vehicle for him to keep his name in
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