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Museum exhibit captures history of suit maker
LAWRENCE — Photographs of people sketching, cutting material and stitching hang on the walls. A sewing machine with grey thread is at one corner not far from an ironing board and a pressing machine.
The scene is a reproduction of the sewing floor at Grieco Bros./Southwick, a nationally known, high-end clothing manufacturer, located in Lawrence for 80 years. The company moved to Haverhill in April.
Now, Lawrence History Center is honoring Grieco Brothers' legacy through the exhibit, "Made in America, People, Places and Products."
Opening reception is tomorrow night, from 5 to 7, at Lawrence Heritage State Park, 1 Jackson St.
The title was chosen for two reasons, said Barbara Brown, executive director of the History Center, who is hosting the exhibit.
"The clothing is still made in America," Brown said. "We're celebrating the fact that it's still being made in America when a lot of manufacturing companies are going overseas."
Brown said the exhibit also highlights the story of immigrants who came to America to pursue their dreams.
Just like Nicholas and Vito Grieco came from Italy and started the manufacturing company, brothers Juan and Luis Yepez are making a name for themselves through their company, Mainstream Global and preserving historical buildings.
They have purchased the 85,000-square-foot commercial space and plan to develop it into a proposed 125-unit housing, commercial and retail project.
When Southwick moved out of Lawrence, it donated photographs and artifacts to the History Center.
"The employees were so pleased that we were honoring their work," Brown said.
The exhibit will feature color and black and white photographs along with a size 52 male mannequin, a bundling bin full of scrap material, a wool dyer journal from 1898, containing recipes for putting dyes together, quality control tags, and swatch. The items are juxtaposed with photos of the new project which will be housed in the former Grieco Brothers factory, now called Union Crossing.
Brown said Grieco Bros. was one of the first companies to establish a day care center and English as a second language classes.
Brown said their goal was to show the transformation of the site and creating a community.
"Instead of an empty building, they did not need to tear it down. The new project shows how Lawrence is constantly transforming itself," she said.
Leah Russell, 23, and her sister, Claire, 21, are curators.
"It's been a wonderful experience for us to work so closely with such an interesting group of people."
They began doing research by looking at newspaper articles, photographs and touring the building.
"This gives people hope and vision that they can make it in Lawrence," Brown said. "This is a celebration of the city and its people."
If you go
What: "Made in America ~ Story of Southwick / Union Crossing ~ People, Place and Product"
When: June 25 through end of August, Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Lawrence Heritage State Park, 1 Jackson St.
- Merrimack Valley
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