Neighborhood Spotlight: Lowell - A Glimpse of Everett's Past

Visiting the Lowell neighborhood of Everett is like, well, leaving Everett. And for good reason — Lowell was annexed by the city in 1962, and the feeling of independence from Everett remains.

I’ve always loved visiting Lowell because it is so different from Everett. The neighborhood feels slower and more in-tune to an Everett of yesteryear than the part of Everett I call home.

According to my fellow Live in Everett writer (and something of an Everett historian himself) Richard Porter, the construction of Interstate 5, which was opposed by the residents of Lowell, hemmed in the neighborhood, contributing to its secluded feel.

We all know Everett used to be a mill town and that, as the city grew, the mills dried up; but the spirit of the forest industry thrives in Lowell. The Acrowood Corporation is housed in the old Sumner Ironworks plant, which was at one time one of the the biggest businesses in the Everett area.

Acrowood manufactures heavy machinery for logging.

The plant has seen its fair share of years and the patina of the buildings harken back to a more industrious age.

The Acrowood Corporation from the 41st Street Overcrossing. // Henry J.

Lowell Park is another calm spot to spend your time. With an open field, basketball courts and a jungle gym, Lowell Park is a perfect place to bring the family or relax alone with a good book under a tree or watch the freight trains lumber slowly out of the Everett yards.

Lowell Park is the perfect place to chill. // Henry J.

Downtown Lowell isn’t really a downtown anymore. The historic buildings that still stand have the look of a post office or a town hall, but are filled with small manufacturing businesses. The local corner store, the Riverview Market, not only sells beer, wine and soft drinks, but also lunch and dinner and offer a “Riverview Eggroll.”

The Riverview Market and Cafe. // Henry J.

The Lowell Riverfront Trail is the centerpiece of the neighborhood. Located just out of downtown, the trail winds its way along the Snohomish River.

The view of the Snohomish River from the Lowell Riverfront Trail. // Henry J.

If you follow it north, you’ll eventually end up in the new Riverfront development slowly being erected along the riverbank. The Riverfront Trail offers stunning views of the river and, in the fall, incredible views of fall foliage. Even in early autumn, the leaves were starting to turn.

The entrance to the new Riverfront development. // Henry J.

The crown jewel of Lowell, for me, is Lowell Larimer road. Taking the road south, if for only a minute, completely takes you out of the city of Everett entirely, even if you are within its limits. The quaint homes of the Lowell neighborhood dissipate quickly into farmland and barns. It’s a sight to behold and one of Everett’s true hidden gems.

The view along Lowell Larimer Road. Are we still in Everett? // Henry J.

From the industry to the freight trains, the historic buildings and homes and the views of farmland and the river, the Lowell neighborhood offers a glimpse into what Everett was like when the city was just getting its legs.

However, that timeless feeling may be disturbed as the new Riverfront development is being erected on the bank of the Snohomish River, just in sight of Acrowood Corporation.

The Riverfront development looming toward the Lowell rail yard. // Henry J.

The melding of the weathered old manufacturing plants and pristine housing developments leaves Lowell in sort of the same place it was in back in the 60’s — bordered by a shiny, new future.

But something tells me Lowell will always hold on to its old charm.