Varnum School, 103 Sixth Street

1857; 1886; 1897

National Register of Historic Places (1/24/1995)

The Varnum School was the first school building constructed in the Centralville neighborhood after its 1851 annexation to Lowell from Dracut.  Originally built in 1857, its Greek Revival form is similar to other Lowell public buildings from that era.  A two story addition was built in 1886 and in 1897, a large Classical Revival building was added.  The school was named for Major General Joseph Varnum of Dracut who fought in the American Revolution and later served in the Massachusetts Legislature and the U.S. Congress where he served as Speaker of the House.