USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 49
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 49
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 49
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 49
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant > Part 49
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A man ran round Lynn Common on the evening of June 3, on a wager, in two minutes and three quarters.
On the nights of the 4th and 5th of June there were severe frosts.
Independence was celebrated in Lynn, in a very pleasant
457
ANNALS OF LYNN -1859.
manner. A long procession, consisting of military and fire companies, city officials and other dignitaries, with numerous decorated carriages containing the pupils of the public schools, moved through the principal streets, accompanied by bands of music. A collation was prepared on the Common, and short addresses were made by the Mayor and others. In the evening there was a display of fireworks. The day was also celebrated at Swampscot.
On Tuesday, July 19, Mr. Fenno went out from Swampscot, in a boat, to fish; subsequently the boat was found drifting and Mr. Fenno was missing, though his hat remained in the boat. On the 28th, his body was found floating a short distance from the Ocean House.
A grand regatta took place at Nahant, on the 22d of July. The prize contended for was an elegant silver pitcher.
On Sunday evening, July 31, a fire occurred in Healey's Ar- cade, at the west end of the Common, damaging the same to the amount of some $2.000. The stocks in the stores were likewise considerably damaged.
A horse mackerel was taken off Bass Point, Nahant, on the 3d of August, measuring between nine and ten feet in length and six feet in girth, and weighing six hundred and fourteen pounds.
On the afternoon of August 12, as a train was passing on the Eastern Rail-road, a few rods east of the Swampscot depot, it ran into a herd of cows which were feeding on the track. The engine, tender, and a baggage car were thrown from the track, down an embankment, and several of the cows were killed.
There was a brilliant display of the northern lights, on Sun- day evening, August 28. The whole heavens were overspread.
Charles Frost was run over by a fire engine, in Market street, on the evening of August 31, and instantly killed, one of the wheels passing over his head.
In the early part of September, some twenty spots were observed on the surface of the sun, distributed in clusters.
In September, a lady living in Lynn, feeling a prickling sensa- tion in her heel, examined and found protruding a needle, which from certain circumstances she was convinced was one that she ran into her foot eleven years before. In all that time it had not proved troublesome; and when extracted was as bright as when new.
On the morning of September 2, the heavens were tinged by an aurora of a deep red hue. In the southwest it appeared like the reflection of a conflagration.
The engine house, corner of Ash and Elm streets, was burned, together with nine hundred feet of hose, the hose carriage, and other property, on the night of Sunday, October 2. M2
1
458
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1860.
Two barns on the Hood Farm, Water Hill, were destroyed 1 by fire on the morning of November 10, together with fifty tons of hay, and a large quantity of vegetables. And on the night of the same day, the barn of Daniel Fairchild, on Boston street, was burned, three horses perishing in the flames.
A large barn, belonging to John Mansfield, in the south village of Lynnfield, was burned on the 18th of November. Two yoke of oxen and two horses perished in the fire.
On Sunday evening, November 20, the Union street Metho- dist meeting-house was totally destroyed by fire. A Sunday school concert was being held in the building at the time, and some five hundred persons, a large portion of whom were chil- dren, were in attendance ; but all safely retired. The loss was about $8.000. The bell, organ, clock, and part of the Sunday school library were lost.
The church bells were tolled in Lynn, at sunrise, noon, and sunset, on Friday, December 2, on account of the execution of John Brown, at Charlestown, Va., on the charge of treason, growing out of an armed attempt to free slaves.
So many fires had in recent years occurred in the woods, destroying such quantities of wood which had been prepared for fuel, as well as that standing, that a serious depreciation in the value of wood land seemed likely to ensue. Several large proprietors, awakening to the necessity of some action, made a move for the protection of their interests. Their direct efforts, perhaps, secured no conspicuous result ; but by arousing atten- tion and operating on public sentiment some good was effected. Rewards have been offered by the authorities, from time to time, for the detection of rogues setting such fires. In the spring, when the earth has become dry, and before the new verdure has put forth, the greatest danger exists; and many a boy, by carelessly throwing down a lighted match has been the instrument of great mischief; to say nothing of those who are so abandoned as to wantonly destroy the property of others. The fact that the fires most frequently occur on Sunday is sig- nificant.
1860.
On the afternoon of January 6, three young men walked across the harbor, on the ice, from near the south end of Com- mercial street, to Bass Point, Nahant. No one had before so crossed at a point so far out, for some twenty years.
The brick school house, in Woodend, which was built to supply the place of the wooden structure destroyed by fire, on the 21st of January, 1859, was dedicated on the 8th of February.
The Lynnfield Agricultural Library Association was founded on the 11th of February.
459
ANNALS OF LYNN - 1860.
A great Shoemakers' Strike commenced in Lynn, in February. No occurrence of the kind in this part of the country perhaps ever before created such a sensation. Processions of workmen paraded the streets, day after day, with music and banners. Large delegations of operatives from other places joined. And in several instances - on one occasion during a snow storm - large bodies of females appeared in the ranks ; for the shoebind- ers were also on a strike. On the 16th of March, a really im- posing spectacle was presented. Several military and fire companies belonging to Lynn and other places, numerous de- tachments of strikers from, neighboring towns, and hundreds of women, formed in grand procession with the Lynn strikers and marched through the streets with bands of music, flags, and banners with devices. They moved in as close order as is common with such bodies, and the procession was something more than half a mile in length, and numbered, at different points, from three thousand to five thousand individuals. The day was very pleasant, and the demonstration passed off in an orderly manner. In the early part of the strike there was a good deal of excitement; and the city authorities, not deeming themselves sufficient for the emergency, sent to Boston for a detachment of police officers and took means promptly to secure other support from abroad should necessity require. After continuing about seven weeks, the great ferment quietly sub- sided. There was very little violence - a wonderfully small amount, considering the magnitude of the interests supposed to be at stake, and the energy with which the war of words was kept up. The object of the strikers was the same that is com- mon in all such movements; namely, the obtaining of more adequate remuneration for labor ; for it was alleged that at the current rates very few found it possible to obtain a decent livelihood. On the other hand, the manufacturers maintained that under existing circumstances, it was not in their power to pay higher prices. There was probably a misconception of facts on both sides. The whole trade had, in truth, through the instrumentality of some who had made heedless haste to be rich, and others, who had operated in ways positively dis- honest, been brought into an unhealthy condition, a condition where it was necessary that some remedy should be applied. But whether a resort to such means as a general strike was the most expedient remains problematical. Yet the result did not seem to be mischievous. The energetic discussions that took place opened the way for a better understanding. Many facts were brought to light, useful to employers and employed. The suspension of labor prevented the accumulation of large stocks on the hands of the manufacturers, which stocks, no doubt, would in many cases have been disposed of, on credit, to south-
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1860
ern dealers, who, judging from the experience of some Lynn people, about that time, touching southern integrity, would not have been over-anxious that the spirit of rebellion should be curbed till they had time to discharge their obligations. Though perhaps no definite and conspicuous result of this famous Strike could be shown; yet it is far from certain that it was not bene- ficial. Each party saw more clearly the strength and weakness, the wants and difficulties, of the other, and the friends of justice, on both sides, had the means furnished for a more intelligible view. The whole country seemed to have their eyes momenta- rily turned on Lynn, and through the daily journals and illustra- ted weeklies, her travail was magnified to an extent far beyond what was dreamed of in her own borders.
On Sunday morning, February 19, Dr. Ezekiel P. Eastman died, aged 42. He had practised in Lynn for a number of years, was a skillful physician, and possessed attractive manners.
The Mechanics' Steam Mill, on Broad street, near the foot of Market, was burned on the evening of March 12, together with one or two other frame buildings, occupied for mechanical purposes. Loss, about $8.000.
John Whalley, a partially deaf man, was killed on the rail-road track, near Market street, being struck by a locomotive, on the 23d of March.
The Third Baptist Society in Lynn, was formed this year ; and their meeting-house, near Dye House village, was dedicated on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 16.
There was an uncommon drought during the spring of this year. The first rain for forty-one days fell on the 19th of May. Vegetation, however, did not materially suffer, the dews being heavy and the sun not in its summer position.
The Universalist meeting-house in the centre village of Sau- gus was dedicated on Thursday, the 24th of May. The Univer- salists had succeeded to the first Calvinistic church property, and having disposed of the old meeting-house, which stood in the Square, and which was built in 1738, erected their new edifice. The ancient house was steepleless, and certainly not a very elegant specimen of architecture; but its history is interest- ing. It was there that the celebrated Parson Roby preached, so many years. The spot where it stood was purchased by the town to be retained as a public ground.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Chapel, in the ancient Gothic style, was built this year, on Ontario Court, and first opened for service on Sunday, June 10.
Rev. Sumner Ellis was installed pastor of the First Universal- ist Society, in Lynn, on the afternoon of June 13.
A comet was just visible to the naked eye, in June. Its tail was about four degrees in length, and pointed upward.
461
ANNALS OF LYNN -1860.
On Friday, June 29, a severe thunder storm occurred. It commenced about six o'clock in the afternoon, and continued till nine, with scarcely an intermission. There was some hail ; the wind blew with great fury, and torrents of rain fell. The house of Stephen Lewis, on Fayette street, was struck by the lightning, and slightly damaged. The meeting-house in the south village of Lynnfield was also struck. -
The Methodist meeting-house, in Saugus, east village, was entered on Sunday night, July 8, and robbed of a hundred yards of carpeting. This was the second time that the carpets of this house were stolen.
There was a muster of the fire companies of Essex county, at Lynnfield, on the 18th of July. Many firemen from Lynn at- tended, though the authorities would not suffer the engines to be carried.
An extraordinary meteor appeared in the heavens at about ten o'clock, on the evening of July 20. It moved slowly, in a southeasterly direction, leaving a luminous train which was visible for about a minute. The meteor resembled two bright balls as large as full moons.
A turtle, weighing thirty-five pounds and measuring, on the shell, thirteen by seventeen inches, was taken from Stacey's brook, in Woodend, in July.
The jewelry store of George H. Moore, on Market street, was robbed at noon, August 16, of some twenty watches and other articles, of the value of about $400.
On the afternoon of August 8, the barn of Henry Clay, in Lynnfield, was struck by lightning, set on fire, and entirely consumed, together with a large quantity of hay and other farm property.
John Denier, a tight rope performer, walked upon a single rope a distance of fourteen hundred feet, at Nahant, on the afternoon of August 16. The rope was stretched high above Canoe Beach, in the rear of Nahant House. A very large con- course witnessed the dangerous feat. And on the afternoon of the 27th, he walked up a rope one inch and three quarters in diameter, stretched from the top of a three story building on the southwest side of Exchange street, in Lynn, to a derrick erected near the entrance of Mount Vernon street, and per- formed sundry astonishing feats - among them hanging by one foot, head downward- while on the rope, many feet above the heads of the crowd of spectators.
On the 22d of August a swing-tail shark was captured in a net, by Chandler Lewis, of Swampscot, a short distance from the beach. He measured ten feet in length. This species is very rare on our coast.
The new light house on Minot's Ledge was lighted for the first M2*
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1860.
time on the night of Wednesday, August 22. The light, how. ever, was only shown toward the shore, it being merely an experimental lighting. It began to be regularly lighted on the night of Thursday, November 15.
A sun-fish was caught near Egg Rock, in August, weighing about two hundred and fifty pounds.
A small encampment of the Penobscot tribe of Indians erected their wigwams on Phillips's Point, Swampscot, in the latter part of the summer, and pursued their trade of basket making.
On the night of the 7th of September, a fire occurred on Beach street, at the wood and coal wharf of Breed and Thing. A heap of about three thousand tons of coal took fire and con- tinued to burn two days, notwithstanding the efforts of the fire department to extinguish it, aided by a steam fire engine from Salem. The coal and hay sheds, were destroyed, and a large portion of the coal and wood either burned or thrown overboard. Loss, about $9.000.
Early on Sunday morning, September 16, the baking estab- lishment of Nathaniel Holder, on Pine Hill, was burned. Four valuable horses perished in the flames. Loss, about $4.000.
The carpenter shop of N. P. Boynton, on Broad street, was destroyed by fire, September 30. Loss, about $1.200.
The planet Venus was distinctly visible to the naked eye, at about eleven o'clock on the forenoon of October 11. The sun was shining brightly.
The Lynn post office was broken into on Sunday night, Octo- ber 14, and robbed of a quantity of postage stamps, a small amount of money, and a large number of letters. Many of the letters were afterward found, broken open and rifled, some near the High School house, and some at Oak Island.
A slight shock of an earthquake was felt on the morning of Oct. 17. There was a rumbling sound and the earth trembled.
The Prince of Wales passed through Lynn at about ten o'clock in the forenoon of Saturday, October 20. The special train in which the august youth journeyed, made a slight pause at the Central Station, and he stepped upon the platform of his car, thus vouchsafing to some of the anxious crowd gathered in the Square a glimpse of his royal person. Some preparations had been made to receive him, and divers of the city officials were present, but he did not appear to appreciate the honor.
The Republicans had a grand torch-light procession on the evening of the 30th of October. Music, illuminations, fireworks, and bonfires abounded. Brilliant lights were placed upon the stone posts that surround the Common, making a fine show. The procession numbered from twelve to fifteen hundred. The demonstration was in favor of Mr. Lincoln then a candidate for the presidency. The other parties also had their demonstrations.
463
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1860.
On Saturday night, November 3, the severest storm of the season occurred. There was a strong easterly wind and a high sea. The Gazelle, a small vessel belonging to Gloucester, broke from her moorings at Swampscot and was driven ashore at King's Beach, where she went to pieces.
On the 6th of November, Micajah Burrill of Woodend, aged 96, was at the polls and voted for Mr. Lincoln for president. He voted for Washington at the time of his election.
Captain Ammi Smith, of Lynn, was master of the ship Oliver Putnam, which foundered at sea, this year. After the ship went down the men remained eleven days in an open boat, sub- - subsisting on two biscuits and a pint of water a day. A Dutch bark, bound for Rotterdam, finally picked them up and carried them to St. Helena.
Early on the morning of Saturday, November 24, a severe southeasterly gale set in, which was particularly disastrous to the shipping at Swampscot; more so than any other that had occurred for many years.
In the latter part of November, Zachariah Phillips, of Lynn, during four days' fishing from his dory, in the bay, experienced in a singular manner the vicissitudes of a fisherman's luck. His first day's catch sold for 25 cents. That of one of the other days sold for $21.00. And taking the whole four days together he realized $46.50. The fish sold for three cents a pound, on the beach, and were chiefly cod.
The cars began to run on the horse rail-road, through Lynn, on the 29th of November.
Market street was lighted by gas, for the first time, on Friday evening, December 7.
Cars commenced running over the Cliftondale horse rail-road, from East Saugus to Boston, December 26.
The sessions of the Probate Court in Lynn were discontinued this year.
There was a very large crop of fruit this year; particularly of apples and pears ; and the quality was superior.
The fire department was called out fifty-six times during the year, seventeen of which were from false alarms. The whole loss by fire was about $32.000.
By the census taken this year, Lynn was found to contain 19.087 inhabitants; Lynnfield, .866; Nahant, .380; Saugus, 2.024; Swampscot, 1.530.
The valuation of real estate in Lynn, this year, was $6.291.460; personal, $3.357.605 - total, $9.649.065. The rate of taxation, was $8.80 on $1.000. Number of ratable polls, 3.933. City debt, $107.600. By turning to date 1850, the increase of ten years may be determined. But it should be borne in mind that Nahant and Swampscot were set off during the period.
464
ANNALS OF LYNN- 1861.
1861.
Friday, 4 January, was observed as a national fast, in view of the threatening aspect of public affairs.
An extraordinary change in the weather took place during a few hours preceding sunrise, on Friday, the 8th of February. On Thursday the air was mild, the thermometer standing at forty-"re degrees, at two o'clock in the afternoon. About that time a . lange commenced, the cold increasing rapidly, till Friday morning, when the thermometer stood at twenty-one degrees below zero. Thus, between two o'clock on Thursday afternoon and eight on Friday morning, the thermometer fell sixty-six degrees.
On the night of 18 February, a barn, on Howard street, be- longing to James E. Barry, was burned. Two horses perished in the flames.
A severe storm occurred on Saturday evening, 9 March. 'Con- siderable damage was done to the shipping at Swampscot. And again on the 22d of March there was a heavy blow, and while the sea was running high a vessel was discovered some two miles off the eastern point of Nahant, rolling heavily at anchor, with all her masts gone excepting a portion of the mizzen. She proved to be the bark Nonpareil, Capt. Flynn, from Palermo, for Boston. She was finally taken safely to Boston, by a steam tug. No lives were lost.
A snow storm commenced 1 April, during which eighteen inches of snow fell.
The brick Catholic Church, at the eastern end of South Com- mon street, was built this year. It was the finest and most costly church edifice that had been built in the place.
Fort Sumpter, in the harbor of Charleston, S. C., was attacked by the South Carolina forces on Friday, 12 April. And this was the commencement of the terrible civil war which will forever remain a marked point in American history. Presi- dent Lincoln immediately issued a proclamation calling out a portion of the militia of the several states. Lynn was instantly aroused to a high pitch of patriotic fervor. In five hours after the requisition arrived, two full companies were armed and ready for duty. And in the eleven o'clock train of the next forenoon - Tuesday, 16 April - they departed for the south, amid the cheers and sobs of the immense concourse who had gathered in Central Square. These two companies - the Lynn Light Infantry and Lynn City Guards -formed a part of the Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts troops, which became so celebrated in the early part of the war, for discipline, prompt- ness and heroism. These troops were called for three months' service. And just before their departure it was announced to
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1861.
them that six hundred dollars had been contributed for each of the companies. The names of those who so promptly responded to their country's call, in the day of her peril, are worthy of re- membrance, and are here inserted. Others would have gone had there been time for equipment, as is shown by the terse des- patch sent to head quarters -- " We have more men than guns - what shall we.do ?" The names of such of the regimental officers as belonged to Lynn, are also given.
TIMOTHY MUNROE, Colonel.
EDWARD W. HINKS, Lieutenant Colonel.
EPHRAIM A. INGALLS, Quartermaster.
ROLAND G. USHER, Paymaster. BOWMAN B. BREED, Surgeon.
WARREN TAPLEY, Assistant Surgeon.
HORACE E. MUNROE, Quartermaster Sergeant. COMPANY D .- Lynn Light Infantry.
George T. Newhall, Captain - Thomas H. Berry, First Lieutenant - El- bridge Z. Saunderson, Second Lieutenant - Charles M. Merritt, Fourth Lieu- tenant - William A. Fraser, Henry C. Burrill, William H. Merritt, and George E. Palmer, Sergeants - Daniel Raymond, Henry C. Conner, Henry H. Good- ridge, and Horatio E. Macomber, Corporals - James O. Clarrage, Musician.
PRIVATES.
Alley, James D. Andrews, Oscar D.
Foster, Samuel Foxcroft, George A.
Nichols, John H. Nichols, N. A.
Atkinson, Charles O. Bailey, George W.
Foye, John Fraser, Joshua H.
Noonan, Daniel
Oliver, Harrison
Bartlett, Alonzo W.
Oliver, Stephen A.
Bates, Lewis H. Berry, William H. Besse, Francis E.
Hills, Edwin T. Hixon, E. Oswell Hoyt, Wheelwright Jones, James E. Keene, William H.
Patten, Thomas P.
Pierce, Levi M.
Carpenter, Henry A.
Keith, Friend H.
Remick, Samuel D.
Sanborn, Joseph R.
Clement, Oscar H Coe, John T. Curtis, George
Lambert, Daniel Lock, James Lougee, John E. Martin, John M.
Tarr, John S. Trask, Israel A.
Elder, Josiah L. Emerton, William W.
Fales, Charles
Merrill, Arthur T. Merritt, George G. Mudgett, Isaac N.
Whitney, J. A. P.
Newhall, Henry A.
Williams, J. Henry
COMPANY F - Lynn City Guards.
James Hudson, jr., Captain - Edward A. Chandler, First Lieutenant - Henry Stone, Second Lieutenant - Matthias N. Snow, Third Lieutenant- Hanson H. Pike, George Watts, George E. Stone, and Timothy Newton, Sergeants -James R. Downer, George Harris, Joseph W. Johnson, and Jeremiah Towlin, Corporals - Edward D" Clarrage, Musician.
PRIVATES.
Alley, James E.
Alley, Richard Bailey, William E.
Barker, Patrick W.
Baxter John B.
Black, James O. Boynton, Benjamin F. jr.
Brown, Ezra W. Brown, James W. Brown, William B.
Caldwell, William Campbell, George Chase, Charles H. Chase, John C. Cryon, Thomas
30
Caswell, William
Cilley, John W.
Kelley, James D.
Kimball, Edwin H.
Smith, Frank M. Sweetser, Charles H.
Tuttle, Lyman M. Wentworth, Rufus O
Foss, William H. Foster, George W.
Patten, John B.
Pousland, Thomas J. Reed, Samuel A.
Dudley, Alonzo G.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1861.
Dalton, Frank Davenport, Charles Davis, Henry S. Donelly, James E. Dougherty, James B. Edwards, George Estes, Jacob S. Flanders, Augustus B. Foster, John F.
Laborda, James S. Lake, Charles H. Luscomb, Murray Mahoney, Dennis Martin, Robert P. McDavitt, William S. Mead, Samuel Mellen, Andrew Millar, Andrew W.
Reed, Orson R. Reynolds, Andrew T. Reynolds, John W. Rhodes, Isaac N. Rowe, George W. Rowe, William B. Sargent, Albert Sargent, George W.
Gilbert, John Griffin, William H. Grover, Benjamin P.
Moulton, Edward
Snow, Warren Sparks, Uriel
Moulton, James F.
Swan, George W.
Murray, James W.
Newton, William S.
Orr, Charles Owen, Joseph
Peabody, Benjamin W.
Phillips, Daniel Pike, William J.
Pratt, Daniel W. .
Rand, Benjamin
Wilson, William B. Young, Hugh
And many of the foregoing were soon in higher positions than they at first occupied. But with their departure the zeal of the citizens by no means subsided. Meetings were held, funds were subscribed by individuals and appropriated by the city govern- ment, new companies were raised, and every thing was done that could be expected of a loyal and patriotic people. A mass meeting was held at Lyceum Hall, on the afternoon of Monday, 22 April, at which a considerable sum was subscribed for the benefit of volunteers, stirring speeches were made, and divers animating pieces played by a band of music. The following preamble and resolutions were passed by acclamation.
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