03/10/2026
Henry Hale Harris II was born in Lowell, MA, on this day in 1868. He was a Lowell High School graduate and went on to complete his BA at University in three years. He returned to Lowell High as an instructor in the English, French, and Math departments. Henry retired as headmaster of Lowell High in 1938, completing 55 years of service in the school system. On his retirement, the Sherburne Club (a male-only Lowell teachers’ organization) presented a portrait of Henry to be installed at Lowell High. Henry served on a number of state teachers associations and as a Trustee for the Lowell Public Library and as a Board member of the Lowell Historical Society.
Henry made six trips to Europe and once had an audience with King George of ! He died on March 28, 1949, and is buried on Wilder Ave. with his wife Edith.
This is the epitaph on their headstone:
Warm summer sun shine kindly here.
Warm Southern wind blow softly here
Green sod above lie light, lie light;
Good night, dear heart, good night, good night.
Sources: “The Lowell Sun,” March 29, 1949; “History of Lowell and Its People,” Coburn, Frederick W., Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York City, NY, 1920, pp. 217–218.