Jonathan Bowers House

The Jonathan Bowers House is a circular granite building featuring Second Empire architecture with a mansard roof covered in fish-scale slate shingles. Its design includes a central cupola, a viewing platform, and pedimented gable dormers that exemplify 1870s style.

The house was built in 1872 by local industrialist Jonathan Bowers, who sourced granite and other materials from his own quarry and sawmill for construction. This use of his personal resources reflected his prominence in the region's industrial development.

The house served as home to Club Lafayette, a French-American social organization that gathered here from 1919 to 1924, before it returned to residential use. This changing purpose shows how the building played different roles in the community over time.

The house sits on the east side of Wannalancit Street in an elevated position near the Pawtucket Canal. Its location west of downtown Lowell makes it relatively easy to reach from the main commercial area.

The building is notable for its uncommon circular floor plan, a rare shape in 19th-century residential architecture. This geometric feature gives the house a striking silhouette that sets it apart from typical rectangular mansions of its era.

Location: Massachusetts

GPS coordinates: 42.64611,-71.32833

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21