Cappy's Copper Kettle

The dim, somber lighting of the bar almost too perfectly reflected the character and persona of a man that was being celebrated by some twenty-five people. Mystery, history, sadness, and friendship were all melted together in Cappy’s Copper Kettle. At one point the great Jack Kerouac called on this bar to provide him a proper setting to find peace of mind, and now it was being used to celebrate his unmatchable talent as a writer. People of all ages gathered for this celebration. Two UMASS Lowell students began the night by playing a few songs on the small stage, while their friends and supporters played pool and drank beer the at near by tables. Jack Kerouac would have appreciated what was happening within the walls of Cappy’s. The pool playing, laughing, and beer drinking would have suited him well, while the college girls would have kept his mind busy.

It was evident that the people that gathered at Cappy’s Copper Kettle were not only there to celebrate a famous writer, but to celebrate a figure who had left a significant impact on their lives. Kerouac’s writings had filled the daily motions of Lowell with color and spirit. The writer, a native of Lowell and a lover of his hometown, had gained a great deal of fame and popularity during the revolutionary Beat Generation of literature. Those who lived in Lowell during possibly its toughest of times found escape and security in Jack Kerouac’s novels and imaginative stories. The passion wrapped in his words and the descriptive admiration of the city fill many of his stories, such as On the Road and Doctor Sax. Such passion and admiration for a city that at one point was detested by many provided pride and inspiration to its residents. Some of these same residents would later form the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac group, the same group that had met at Cappy’s Copper Kettle. His words had touched them at one point in time, and they gathered to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate their elegance. 

The people that gathered at Cappy’s to celebrate Kerouac during the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival were mostly elderly, and had been a part of the group for a long time. The room was decorated with the in-season Halloween decorations, along with posters and pictures of Kerouac. T-shirts with various designs that celebrated Kerouac in one way or another were being sold at a table tucked away in the corner of the bar. Kerouac’s books, both read and re-read, were found sitting on top of the majority of Cappy’s wooden tables. They were brought by those who had volunteered to read passages from Kerouac’s stories through out the night. This night, meant to kick-off the celebratory weekend of Jack Kerouac, held much meaning to those of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac group. It began a weekend that would celebrate the 50th anniversary of Visions of Gerard and the 25th anniversary of the Kerouac Commemorative park in downtown Lowell. The night at the bar also celebrated the retirement of a long time member and friend of the group. A man who had made it all possible to celebrate such an important figure over the years.

The Kerouac walking tour mirrored the focus of the kick-off event at Cappy’s Copper Kettle. The importance and impact that one writer had on every aspect of his birthplace was emphasized both at the bar and on the tour. Visiting the school of childhood, the funeral home in which he was kept after his death, and the houses that he called home showed that Jack Kerouac is still very much a part of the daily lives of people living in Lowell today. Many of his stories included pieces of Lowell, such as the altar, the bridge, and the river, and his recognition of and love for these common sights have turned them into significant landmarks of the city. Jack Kerouac’s words transformed the city of Lowell into a proud place, one that appreciates the little pieces that can be found no where else. Kerouac loved his hometown, and has left a significant impact on the residents of the city for many years to come.