LEWISTON — The Great Falls Forum lecture series this week is titled “The Story of a Mill City’s Revitalization: Lowell, Mass.”

The program takes place at noon Thursday, March 17, in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

Presenters are George Eliades, former chairman of the Lowell Historic Board, and Peter Aucella, assistant superintendent of Lowell National Historical Park.

Lowell suffered from the same decline and decay as Lewiston and many other New England mill towns during the late 1900s. However, they were able to reinvent themselves as a historic center through a unique partnership between government, the business community and regular citizens.

Eliades and Aucella were two key principals involved in the transformation of Lowell’s downtown and mill district. They will tell the story of the creation of the Lowell National Historical Park through an innovative collaborative effort led by the late Mass. Sen. Paul Tsongas. One of the organizations created by Tsongas, the Lowell Plan, has become a worldwide model for joint business and government efforts to bring about municipal revitalization. 

Eliades, a Lowell attorney, has served in many public service capacities. In addition to chairing the Lowell Historic Board, he served on the city’s Charter Commission, Development Authority and Housing Authority.

Aucella has served as the executive director of the Lowell Historic Preservation Commission and as the manager of Tsongas’ Massachusetts office. In his current position as assistant superintendent for development at the Lowell National Historical Park, he works with the city of Lowell and private developers on the rehabilitation and reuse of historic mill and commercial buildings.

Admission is free to all Forum events, and no reservations are required. The presentation will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the library, 200 Lisbon St.

Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the Forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made gourmet sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344. The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Bottled water will be available on site at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is jointly co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal.

More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.