Part 2...Life In Lowell
In 1854, Robert purchased 80 acres of land located four miles south of Lowell for a farm off of today’s Segwun Avenue, south of Cascade Road. In 1862 he bought an adjoining 80 acres to the north, at 12706 Cascade Road from his stepfather William, who owned the adjoining farm at 12434 Cascade Road. This land was heavily wooded. Robert worked clearing his now 160-acre farm in the winters and in the summers, he worked in construction in Grand Rapids. He was described as having “much more than ordinary proficiency at building.” This was not surprising as his stepfather William Proctor saw to it that he had been apprenticed to learn the building and masonry trades.
In May of 1854, Cathrine Proctor’s brother, William Kidd Graham and his wife Margaret and children were able to leave England and set sail for Canada. After living and working in Canada for a few years, they joined the William and Cathrine Proctor family in January of 1859. They lived with the Proctors for only three and a half weeks while William bought 80 acres of land and built a log house. On February 2, 1859, the William Kidd Graham family moved into their log home at 12287 Cascade Road. The 1860 census shows the family as William, his wife Margaret and 5 children. This farm still belongs to the Graham family.
On October 6, 1863, Robert married Emma Elizabeth Post. Emma was born in Westbrook Connecticut to Joseph and Julia Post. The family had moved to Lowell, and their farm was also south of Lowell, near Segwun Avenue and 36th Street.
From 1863 to 1865, during the Civil War, Robert served as Deputy Postmaster under Postmaster Isaac White. The two also worked had a partnership in operating the White and Graham Boot and Shoe business. They made and repaired shoes. A large black shoe was used as an advertisement. This shoe was later displayed at Hill’s Shoe Store and represents the history of shoe stores in Lowell. The shoe is preserved and on display at the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
Robert and Emma began their married life living on the farm on Cascade Road in a log cabin. In 1865 the family moved to Peck’s Hill, on James Street, in Lowell. Three children were born to them here; Herbert in 1865, Ernest in 1868, and Myrtice in 1870. Robert sold the farm at 12706 Cascade Road to his twin brother Joseph and his wife Frances. Soon after, Joseph sold the farm to Isaac White and Joseph joined his brother Robert in the shoe business now appropriately named Graham & Graham. Two years later, at the end of the war, Joseph bought the farm back from Isaac White and farmed for the rest of his life. He built a frame house in 1882 that is still standing today. Today this farm is owned by Blue Sky Farms, owned by the Blough family.
In 1869 Robert used his masonry skills to build the brick block with two storefronts at 219 & 229 E. Main Street in Lowell. At this time Lowell only had a few brick buildings. When built, this block was three stories tall. He remained the landlord, renting all three floors of the buildings. The first occupant at 219 E. Main was the Clark family who owned Lowell Woolen Mills. It is thought that this was the retail store where their woolen cloth and yarn was sold. In 1871 the stores advertising in the Graham block were; Rees Bros. Tailor Shop, C.G. Stone Dry Goods and Groceries, upstairs were the Lowell Weekly Journal and T. J. Slayton, Attorney with farm and village properties for sale. Today the building has been reduced to two floors and is owned by Mark Batchelor of Architectural Building Restoration who purchased it in 1997, and the east side is home to the North Country Trail Association’s National Headquarters.
In 1871 Robert did the striking brick work for the house of his mother and stepfather at 12434 Cascade Road. This impressive home is currently owned by the VanderZiel family.
In April of 1872 Robert began the foundation for his new brick residence on the corner of Main and Hudson Streets. This serene residential neighborhood at the outskirts of town would be the setting for the family’s new home designed and built by Robert. The very large home would house both Robert’s own family and his wife’s parents. This was almost unheard of at the time, as it wasn’t until 1922 that the word duplex, meaning a single building divided into two separate dwelling places, was officially part of the dictionary.
The future looked exciting and bright for the Graham family, but tragedy was right around the corner.
Images:
The Graham block, 219 and 229 E. Main Street in brown in the front right, showing all three stories.
Joseph Graham's frame house at 12706 Cascade Road.
12706 Cascade Road Deed Robert W. Graham sold to brother Joseph.
Large Shoe used to advertise Shoe business.
Early street view of Graham block.
Serene neighborhood of Graham house. When this house was built it was on the outskirts of town.
In May of 1854, Cathrine Proctor’s brother, William Kidd Graham and his wife Margaret and children were able to leave England and set sail for Canada. After living and working in Canada for a few years, they joined the William and Cathrine Proctor family in January of 1859. They lived with the Proctors for only three and a half weeks while William bought 80 acres of land and built a log house. On February 2, 1859, the William Kidd Graham family moved into their log home at 12287 Cascade Road. The 1860 census shows the family as William, his wife Margaret and 5 children. This farm still belongs to the Graham family.
On October 6, 1863, Robert married Emma Elizabeth Post. Emma was born in Westbrook Connecticut to Joseph and Julia Post. The family had moved to Lowell, and their farm was also south of Lowell, near Segwun Avenue and 36th Street.
From 1863 to 1865, during the Civil War, Robert served as Deputy Postmaster under Postmaster Isaac White. The two also worked had a partnership in operating the White and Graham Boot and Shoe business. They made and repaired shoes. A large black shoe was used as an advertisement. This shoe was later displayed at Hill’s Shoe Store and represents the history of shoe stores in Lowell. The shoe is preserved and on display at the Lowell Area Historical Museum.
Robert and Emma began their married life living on the farm on Cascade Road in a log cabin. In 1865 the family moved to Peck’s Hill, on James Street, in Lowell. Three children were born to them here; Herbert in 1865, Ernest in 1868, and Myrtice in 1870. Robert sold the farm at 12706 Cascade Road to his twin brother Joseph and his wife Frances. Soon after, Joseph sold the farm to Isaac White and Joseph joined his brother Robert in the shoe business now appropriately named Graham & Graham. Two years later, at the end of the war, Joseph bought the farm back from Isaac White and farmed for the rest of his life. He built a frame house in 1882 that is still standing today. Today this farm is owned by Blue Sky Farms, owned by the Blough family.
In 1869 Robert used his masonry skills to build the brick block with two storefronts at 219 & 229 E. Main Street in Lowell. At this time Lowell only had a few brick buildings. When built, this block was three stories tall. He remained the landlord, renting all three floors of the buildings. The first occupant at 219 E. Main was the Clark family who owned Lowell Woolen Mills. It is thought that this was the retail store where their woolen cloth and yarn was sold. In 1871 the stores advertising in the Graham block were; Rees Bros. Tailor Shop, C.G. Stone Dry Goods and Groceries, upstairs were the Lowell Weekly Journal and T. J. Slayton, Attorney with farm and village properties for sale. Today the building has been reduced to two floors and is owned by Mark Batchelor of Architectural Building Restoration who purchased it in 1997, and the east side is home to the North Country Trail Association’s National Headquarters.
In 1871 Robert did the striking brick work for the house of his mother and stepfather at 12434 Cascade Road. This impressive home is currently owned by the VanderZiel family.
In April of 1872 Robert began the foundation for his new brick residence on the corner of Main and Hudson Streets. This serene residential neighborhood at the outskirts of town would be the setting for the family’s new home designed and built by Robert. The very large home would house both Robert’s own family and his wife’s parents. This was almost unheard of at the time, as it wasn’t until 1922 that the word duplex, meaning a single building divided into two separate dwelling places, was officially part of the dictionary.
The future looked exciting and bright for the Graham family, but tragedy was right around the corner.
Images:
The Graham block, 219 and 229 E. Main Street in brown in the front right, showing all three stories.
Joseph Graham's frame house at 12706 Cascade Road.
12706 Cascade Road Deed Robert W. Graham sold to brother Joseph.
Large Shoe used to advertise Shoe business.
Early street view of Graham block.
Serene neighborhood of Graham house. When this house was built it was on the outskirts of town.
