USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 4
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
A field meeting of the Essex Institute was held here Sept. 23. The day was pleasant, most places of interest were visited, and numerous specimens in different departments of natural history collected.
A blue heron, a very rare bird in this region, was shot in Swampscott woods, Sept. 29. Its height, when standing upright, was nearly four feet, and its spread wings measured some five feet from tip to tip.
There was a fearful explosion of a part of the steam apparatus at a building in Spring street, on the morning of Oct. 11. Capt. Robert H1. Reeves, of Salem, who happened to be in the room, and a young man named Frank Alley, lost their lives.
A very perceptible shock of an earthquake was felt at about half past five on the morning of Oct. 22. Beds oscillated with sufficient violence to awake sleepers.
An association under the name of The Lynn Board of Trade was formed in the fall of this year. It soon numbered a hundred of the most prominent business men, and its beneficial influence was felt particularly in the interests of shoe manufacturing.
The brick grammar school houses on Ireson and Warren
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1870.
streets were built this year ; the former for the Whiting school, so named in memory of Rev. Samuel Whiting, settled over the First Church, from 1636 to 1680, and the latter for the Shepard school, so named from Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, minister of the same church, from 1680 to 1720. The Whiting was dedicated Sept. 4, and the Shepard Dec. 15.
The Turnpike through Lynn, from Salem to Chelsea bridge, became a public highway, this year, by legislative enactment. It was opened in 1803, and until the building of the Eastern Rail-road, in 1838, was the avenue by which the great bulk of Lynn travel reached Boston. The stock paid large dividends, for many years.
On the 8th of December water from the Flax Pond, to be used in cases of fire, was let into the pipes that connected with the hydrants in various parts of the city. See page 39.
The new Town Hall, at Nahant, was dedicated Dec. 24.
There were forty fires in Lynn, this year ; most of them slight. Eleven were in Munroe street, leading some to fear that that was a doomed locality.
To show the extent of the use of illuminating gas in Lynn, it may be stated that the gas company during the year manufac- tured something over 3.000.000 feet.
An act more stringent than any that had before existed, for the prevention of cruelty to animals, was this year passed by the Massachusetts legislature, and the many prosecutions under it, in Lynn, had a manifestly salutary effect.
1870.
The winter of 1869-'70 was unusually mild, so much so that a good deal of out-door work, such as plowing, digging of gardens and setting of fences, was done. February and March, however, did something to redeem the character for violence. There was a severe snow storm as late as March 13, when about a foot fell. The ice-cutters reaped but a scanty harvest, and the price became high in the succeeding summer. Our ponds had now for so many years continued to furnish a supply, that the article had come to be regarded rather as a necessity than a luxury, and the partial failure was seriously felt.
The City Hotel, at one time called Columbian House, a large wooden structure on Western avenue, near the Summer street crossing, was destroyed by fire on the morning of Monday, Jan. 3. It had for many years been kept as a public house, though not of the first class.
A remarkably beautiful display of aurora borealis took place early on the morning of Jan. 3. Shafts of red, white, and purple shot upward till the whole heavens were nearly covered. And waves of light rolled up occasionally from the north, as if from
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a radiant fountain below the horizon. On the afternoon of the following Thursday, there was the unusual appearance of two sun-dogs, and a circular rainbow. Another extraordinary auroral display took place in August, when emerald green was added to the other colors. And on still another night a well-defined red arch extended across the heavens, from southeast to northwest. About the middle of January, the planet Venus could for several days be distinctly seen, at noon, by the naked eye.
A small piece of land near the Central depot was sold in the carly part of this year for five dollars the square foot. This was in the most valuable locality, and the highest price land had sold tor in Lynn, up to that time.
A little son of Thomas Saxton, on the 5th of February, while playing around a stove, sportively inhaled the steam from the nozzle of a kettle of boiling water, and died the next morning from the effects.
The Young Men's Christian Association was incorporated March 31, though it was formed in August, 1868. Its object was to promote among young men, piety and the christian virtues, as well as social and mental improvement. Devotional meetings were frequently held, visiting and missionary work performed, temperance and other lectures delivered, and assistance rendered to strangers and others, in procuring employment and suitable homes. Rooms were furnished with books and periodicals, and for the holding of meetings, social intercourse and rational amuse- ment. The quarters were made attractive and every one was welcome. Simdar associations were formed in most of the large plares throughout New England, always with highly beneficial results.
About midnight, on Sunday, April 3, the Fred Bliss, a brig of 338 tons, was wrecked on the Swampscott shore, near the old Ocean House estate, a few rods from where the unfortunate Tedesco met her fate, in 1857, when all on board perished. The crew of the Fred Bliss were in much danger, but all were saved. The wreck continued for days to attract numerous visitors. A touching instance of animal sympathy is said to have taken place on the occasion of this disaster. A dog, and a cat with two kittens, were on board. By some mishap the cat and one of the kittens were killed. The dog, seeing the other kitten neglected, seized it and swam ashore, holding it up carefully in his mouth. On reaching the shore he duig a nestling place in the sand and kept vigilant watch over it till some one took it in charge.
A delegation of about seventy-five of the colored citizens of Lynn attended the celebration of the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution, in Boston, on the 14th of April. They were in citizens' dress, but wore badges and were accompanied by the Lynn Band.
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The Exchange Insurance Company, of Lynn, was organized April 23. It was afterwards removed to Boston, though still controlled by gentlemen of this city, and was ruined by the great fire of Nov. 9, 1872.
May 30, the Soldiers' Memorial Day, was duly observed. The address was by Rev. A. H. Currier, of the Silsbee street church.
The first regatta of the Lynn Yacht Club - an association recently formed by young men fond of the healthful exercises indicated by the name-took place June 17. The wind and weather were not very favorable, but the animating contest drew together a goodly number of spectators. On the 4th of July another regatta took place, and the weather being propitious it passed off very satisfactorily.
John E. Gowan, having returned to Lynn from his successful undertaking in raising the ships sunk in the harbor of Sebastopol, during the Crimean war, presented to the Light Infantry a Rus- sian twelve-pound brass field-piece which he brought with him as a remembrancer of his arduous labors.
The publishers and printers of Lynn this year formed an asso- ciation for social and fraternal purposes. An annual fishing trip down the bay, in summer, and perhaps a general meeting and modest banquet in the winter, served to keep alive the good feelings of the craft.
A general meeting of the qualified voters of Lynn was held in the vestibule of the City Hall, on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. I, being the first meeting ever called in accordance with the section of the City Charter which provides that on the requi- sition of fifty qualified voters, such meetings shall be warned by the mayor and aldermen, "to consult on the public good." The meeting had special reference to the laying out of Central avenue, which some prominent parties deemed uncalled for by any public exigency or interest. The City Council had ordered the laying out, and this meeting was called in the hope of obtaining such an expression of public opinion as would induce a reversal of the order. The meeting was large, and several prominent men took part in a warm discussion, which diverged to other questions of public concernment. A decided majority appeared against the measure, and strong resolutions were passed accordingly. But the government, having thoroughly examined the matter, were not led to reconsider their resolution.
The Park, at the east end of the Common, which had heretofore been so low as to be occasionally incommoded by standing water, was this year raised in grade some fifteen inches, over its entire surface.
The severest shock of an earthquake felt for many years, in this region, took place in the forenoon of Thursday, Oct. 20. In several instances persons in different parts of the city were so
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alarmed by the swaying of the buildings that they rushed into the streets. This was the case, especially, at the large brick factory at the corner of Western avenue and Federal street. No serious damage, however, was done.
The brick market house, on Central avenue, was opened for the first time for the sale of commodities, on Saturday, Nov. 19. In the evening, a large crowd gathered.
At the municipal election held Dec. 12, six ladies were elected members of the school committee, this being the first instance of the election of ladies to public office in Lynn.
Music Hall, on Central avenue, was first occupied on Thurs- day evening, Dec. 22. A fair, by the High street Baptist society, was then held there.
Early in the evening of Sunday, Christmas day, the large wooden house of worship of the First Church, on South Common street, corner of Vine, was entirely destroyed by fire. The after- noon service had closed but a short time before the fire broke out, and so rapidly did the flames progress, that it was impossible to arrest them. The illumination was striking, and seen as far inland as Lawrence. Portions of the fixtures and furniture were saved. The house was erected in 1836, but could not lay claim to great architectural beauty. The interior, however, had within a few months been much improved, by repairs and embellish- ments. The fire commenced in the eastern wall, no doubt from a defect in the heating apparatus. From the same cause it had taken fire during service, on Sunday, Oct. 6, 1867, when timely discovery prevented serious damage. There was an immediate offer to the bereaved society, by several of the neighboring churches, of the use of their houses of worship, and much chris- tian sympathy was expressed.
Gold Fish Pond, on Fayette street, near Lewis, was this year greatly improved ; in fact changed from a weedy, bushy sort of shallow lakelet, uncomely to the eye, though to some extent useful for the watering of cattle, to one of the chief ornaments of that quarter of the city. It was formerly known by the local name of "The Swamp;" and was likewise called "Ingalls's Pond," from the circumstance that near it Edmund Ingalls, one of the first settlers, established himself in the year 1629. About 1840 it began to be called Gold Fish Pond, the name originating in the fact that there had then appeared in it numerous gold fish. And these were supposed to have been the offspring of five of the species which some boys procured and let loose there, in 1837. They became so abundant, in a few years, that the youth of the neighborhood gained many a shilling, every season, by catching and peddling them about town. The cost of the improvements of this year, which gave the little pond so picturesque an aspect, was about $3.700.
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The number of arrivals at the port of Lynn, this year, was 704 ; and among the imports were 18.872.961 feet of lumber, 44.205 tons of coal, 2.509 cords of wood, 651.000 bricks, 161.51 1 bushels of grain, and 2.460 bushels of potatoes.
The shoe business of Lynn, for 1870, seemed, on the whole, to have been quite satisfactory. The number of pairs manufactured was about 10.600.000, their value being some $17.000.000, many being of superior quality. It should be remarked that shoes vary in kind, quality, and price, from year to year, a circumstance sufficient to account for apparent inconsistencies in estimates.
The population of the city having become so large, it had for several years been manifest that means for a supply of water for domestic, mechanical, and fire purposes, beyond the primitive resource of wells, must speedily be devised. The great fires in the winter of 1868-'9 spurred to immediate action. Capacious reservoirs, had, indeed, been constructed in different sections, at considerable expense ; but they were far from being inexhaust- ible. After a good deal of discussion in the city council, and out, an arrangement was effected whereby water for fire purposes was to be taken from Flax Pond. Pipes were accordingly laid along some of the principal streets, and the water was first set flowing, on the afternoon of Dec. 8, 1869; that being the first time the city received a supply from any source, by aqueduct, for any purpose. The Flax Pond arrangement being temporary, the subject matter was still further promptly acted on in the council. An accomplished engineer was employed to examine the several sources in the vicinity from which a supply might be obtained - Flax, Sluice, Humphrey's and Breed's ponds, and Saugus river. He made an elaborate report, and strongly recommended the purchase of Breed's Pond, which he claimed would yield sufficient for all necessary purposes, at least, for the time being. The city authorities, being satisfied of the value of the recommenda- tion, soon made the purchase. But Breed's Pond was an artificial one, and depended on the dam at Oak street for its very existence. The dam had never appeared perfectly tight and safe. Indeed during the terrific storm of April 15, 1851, when Minot's Ledge light house was destroyed, such breaches had been made that all the water rushed down into the meadow. Immediately after the purchase, work was commenced on the dam ; and the other necessary labor at the pond was vigorously pushed forward. The pipes, also were laid as rapidly as possible. And on Monday, Nov. 21, the water was sent coursing down into the city, announc- ing its arrival on the Common by leaping up at the fountain jet to the height of a hundred feet. The first cost of the Breed's Pond property, was $21.500, exclusive, of course, of the repairs and laying of pipes, but inclusive of several dilapidated wooden
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1870.
buildings. The reasonable apprehensions that had disturbed many minds, as to what could be done in case of a sudden con- flagration, were now allayed, and a point attained when time could be taken for further deliberation on the question as to what source should be turned to for a permanently sufficient supply for all necessary purposes. The surveyors had determined that Humphrey's Pond would be insufficient ; that Brecd's Pond would supply 1 000.000 gallons per day, on the average ; Flax Pond, with its adjuncts, 3.000.000 ; Saugus River, 5.500.000. Careful estimates were further made as to the probable amount of population in Lynn at certain future periods. And the con- clusion was reached, that by the year 1900, the city would require 4.000.000 gallons daily. So that, at that comparatively near period, no single source, excepting Saugus River, would be ade- quate. The different waters were analysed, for the purpose of ascertaining their relative purity ; and it was found that Sluice Pond was the purest ; next came Breed's Pond ; next Saugus River ; and last, Flax Pond. In future pages of this volume will be found an account of what was subsequently done in relation to the water supply.
For several years there had existed among the Lynn people a good deal of dissatisfaction at the unsuitable and insufficient depot accommodations furnished by the Eastern Rail-road Com- pany The uncomely brick structure, in Central square, which was the principal station, and which was erected in 1848, in a few years hecame entirely insufficient for the increased traffic.
I.A TERN FAR-ROAD STATION, CENTRAL SQUARE, Fre.ted in 1545, taken down in 1872.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1870.
It may, perhaps, be well to mention, in passing, that this was not the first depot. The one erected at the opening of the road, was a diminutive one story wooden structure, standing on the northerly side of the road, without any roofing or other shelter over the track. As soon, however, as the Company manifested a willingness to supply the need, a somewhat warm sectional feeling sprang up, which, to say the least, afforded an excuse for delay. Those who had invested in property, or had established their business in the Square or its immediate neighborhood, naturally enough could not appreciate the claims of those who advocated the removal to a site farther westward. Others, not so circumstanced, claimed that it would be vastly more convenient for the people in general to have the new erection on the westerly side of Market street. There was much discussion and loud talk, success seeming to lean now to one side and then to the other. The legislative arm was invoked, and on the 29th of April, 1865, it was strangely enough enacted that "No rail-road corporation shall abandon any passenger station or depot which is on its road in this Commonwealth, and owned by said corporation, and which has now been or shall hereafter have been established for five years, except by the consent of the legislature; and the accommodation furnished by the stopping of trains at such stations shall not be substantially diminished, as compared with that furnished at other stations on the same road." This was an unexpected and staggering blow to the Market street party, as it was called. And it seemed as if the Company was inclined to take it as an excuse to delay the erection of a new depot in either that street or Central square. But the matter was kept seething, and in 1868 the legislature sent out a committee to examine into the rival claims. They made a report, and on the 11th of June an act was passed requiring the Company to erect a suitable station on the old site in Central square ; with a provision that if they failed to do so, the Supreme Court should have power to appoint commissioners and compel specific performance. Still the Company did nothing, taking the lofty ground that the act was unconstitutional. Then the question of constitutionality went to the Supreme Court, and that august body determined that it was constitutional, and appointed commissioners to pro- ceed with the work of erection. But before they had had time to accomplish any thing, an appeal was taken to the United States Court. But this little stirring episode in Lynn's rail-road history need not be pursued farther than to say that the good people presently came to realise the folly of so illustrating the fable of the Dog in the Manger. And the result was that in IS72 two handsome and costly stations were erected, one in Central square, where it still stands, and the other in State street, a few rods from Market, where it remained some months, and was then
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ANNALS OF LYNN - 1871.
demolished ; thus leaving the old Central square site the perma- nent one. A little wooden building, sufficient for the shelter of waiting passengers, however, was erected on Market street, where some of the daily trains were made to stop. This " depot war," as it came to be called, has its lesson. It shows how a whole community may be made to suffer inconvenience, year after year, and its business be damaged, by the persistent dis- agreement of a few whose pecuniary interests are at stake. Had the good citizens whose tenacity so long prevented the erection of a new depot in either place, been content to yield a little for the public good, the Company would have had no excuse for delay in providing the much needed accommodations.
1871.
Rev. Joseph Cook, who for the time being was stated minister of the First Church, during the carly part of this year delivered a series of Sunday evening lectures in Music Hall. They were of a somewhat sensational character and drew very large audiences. One in particular, "On the Moral Perils of the Present Factory System of Lynn," elicited warm discussion, and was denounced by many considerate people as giving an altogether unwarrant- ably dark picture of the culture and morals of the young men and women who labored in the shoe manufactories ; and as unjustly assuming that there was almost, if not entirely, criminal laxity in the management of the establishments. In style, he seemed to emulate his sturdy predecessor, Rev, Parsons Cooke, often em- ploying language any thing but choice and denunciations far from gentle. The lectures also appeared in print, and caused much acrimonious comment. Mr. Cook, some years after, deliv- ered lectures in Boston and other large cities, where they were attended by very great audiences, and met on the one hand with the warmest applause and on the other with the most vigorous tokens of disapproval.
Died, in Swampscott, Jan. 21, Capt Thomas Widger, a native of Marblehead, aged So years. He commenced a scafaring life when but nine years old, shipping at that time for a fishing voyage to the Grand Banks. He afterwards sailed on merchant voyages to foreign ports, and early in the war of 1812 was taken prisoner by the British, and remained a year in a prison ship, when he was exchanged. Subsequently he sailed from Salem in the privateer America, on a cruise during which several prizes were captured. After the war he was again in the Grand Bank fishery. In 1832 he settled in Swampscott and continued to follow the seas ; finally, as age pressed upon him, employing himself in the humble capacity of a dory fisherman. His habits were temperate, and through life he enjoyed remarkably good
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health, and never required the use of spectacles in reading the finest print. An interesting incident in his stirring life, and one indicative of his horror of inhumanity in a sailor, was his joining in the famous feat of tarring and feathering " Old Floyd Ireson," which remarkable performance has been so often celebrated by historian and poet. It should, however, be kept in mind that it was long since positively denied that Skipper Ireson was guilty of the "hord horted" act of refusing assistance to the wrecked crew, which was the occasion of his ignominious treat- ment, but suffered from false accusation.
Between one and two o'clock on the morning of Feb. 20, a fire occurred in a building on the Osborne estate, on Walnut street, near the Saugus line. Mr. John M'Kenney, with his wife and five young children, occupied a tenement in the building. The alarm was sudden and the fire spread rapidly. Mr. M'Kenney perished in the flames and the others barely escaped in their night clothes. One little fellow of six years fled barefoot upon the ice and snow, with a younger child upon his back, bravely struggling on for about a quarter of a mile, till he reached a place of safety.
The month of March was unusually mild - stated by meteor- ologists to be the warmest for forty-seven years.
There was a brilliant auroral display on the night of April 17. A beautiful arch of several hues rose in the north, and by its constant changes in form and color afforded a most interesting spectacle.
The fine brick building on the northeast side of Exchange street near Broad, was completed in the spring of this year, and immediately occupied by the Lynn Institution for Savings and the First National Bank.
The first lighting of street lanterns on Nahant, was on the night of May 9.
Four of the clergymen of Lynn were this year travelling in Europe.
The little pond near the centre of the Common and its neat surroundings were completed about the middle of May, and the sparkling little fountain then threw up its picturesque jets.
A reputable citizen reported seeing, as he passed Gold Fish pond, early on a May morning, a singular contest between hostile parties of frogs and toads. They were engaged in a fierce battle, which terminated in victory for the frogs. He declared that the poor toads were actually drowned by having their heads forced under the water and there held by the frogs, it requiring in some instances two frogs to overcome one toad. The victory was celebrated by exulting croaks. What the occasion of the reptile war was, did not appear.
On Tuesday, May 30, Soldiers' Memorial Day, fitting ceremo-
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1871.
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