USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 5
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 5
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nies took place. The oration was delivered by J. K. Tarbox, Esq. of Lawrence.
The corner stone of Odd Fellows' Hall, on the site of the old Lyceum Hall, on Market street, corner of Summer, was laid on Monday, June 12, with appropriate ceremonies. Preparations had been made for a grand display, and organizations from abroad had been invited. But the unpropitious weather interfered with many details.
It is an old belief, traces of which may be found reaching back to periods long before European settlement commenced here, that shell fish, clams especially, are poisonous during the warm season, or, as it is usually expressed, during every month that is spelled without an R. Many, however, have contended that the bivalves are as healthy for food at one time as another. But an incident occurred here, on July 6, which was accepted by many as confirmatory. Four men went over to Pines Point, and there ate rather bountifully of raw clams. They were soon taken sick and hastered homeward. Immediately after their arrival two died ; but the others, after much suffering, recovered. Such a meal, however, might be accounted sufficiently dangerous for any stomach, irrespective of the idea of poison. An incident similar to the foregoing ocurre l in June, 1848.
A singular case of spontaneous combustion took place in August, in a body of some four hundred tons of Sydney coal, on a wharf running from Broad street. It appears to have smoul- dered for a few days, when, on the 11th, it set fire to the shed under which it hy. A steam fire engine was employed in the attempt to extinguish it, but it was necessary to throw a portion into the dock, to save the remainder. About sixty tons were lost The combustion appeared to have been caused by rain and the heat of the sun.
An unusually long drought occurred in the summer of this year. No rain fell for forty two days.
Five tents of Indians - about the number who usually appear here when the summer visitors arrive - encamped on the Beach. near the foot of Beath street, and remained a month or two, plying their humble trade in baskets and bead-work.
A terrible disaster toca place on the Eastern Rail-road, at Revue, on the evening of Saturday, Aug. 26, the weather being damp and foggy. An accommodation train from Boston reachedl the Revere station soon after eight o'clock. The passengers for that place hund landed and the tram was just beginning to move forward when an express train, with a terrific crash, dashel down upon it, the locomotive fairly burying itself in the rear car, which was crowded with passengers, their number being not less than a hundred, many of whom were standing. By this appalling casualty thirty persons were killed, eleven of them of Lynn, and
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some seventy-five injured, fifteen or twenty seriously. The ven- erable Dr. Ezra S. Gannett, a Unitarian minister of Boston, and long a colleague of the celebrated Dr. Channing, who was on his way to Lynn to preach in the Unitarian church, the next day, was among the killed. Mr. Thomas F. Bancroft, a deacon of the First Church of Lynn and an extensive shoe manufacturer, was also among the killed. He had but recently made the long jour- ney to and from California, over the Pacific Rail-road, without meeting with an accident. Large claims for damages were made against the road, and they were honorably settled.
There was a violent storm on Sunday evening, Aug. 27. Sev- eral small buildings and numerous trees were prostrated.
The Odd Fellows of Essex county had a great parade in Lynn, Sept. 29. The weather was favorable and the members appeared in their rich and showy regalia.
The Electric Fire Alarm was first operated through all the circuits, on the evening of Oct. 2.
Something of an idea of the passion for out-door social gather- ings, or pic-nic parties, as they are called, at this period, may be formed from the fact that thirty-seven were held in the single locality of Echo Grove, during the summer ; and that grove is but one of several similar places of resort within or about our borders. Many of the parties were from neighboring towns ; and on the other hand many Lynn parties went to other places.
Died, at his place of residence, South Common street, corner of Commercial, Oct. 11, David Taylor, aged 68. He was not a native of Lynn, but came here at an early age, friendless and poor. By industry and business tact, however, he took rank, while yet a young man, among the first of our shoe manufactur- ers. In January, 1833, he met with a serious loss by fire, his manufactory, which stood on the corner of Elm and Ash streets, being burned, with a large amount of stock. But he was soon again in prosperous business and largely engaged in the southern trade. He took considerable interest in political affairs though not an office holder, and in 1838, in connection with Charles Coolidge established the Lynn Freeman, a large and well-ap- pointed political weekly newspaper of the Whig stamp. His connection with the paper, however, was not of long continuance. He established a business house in New Orleans, and for several years spent a large part of his time in that city. A newspaper writer said of him, " He was a fixture in the New Orleans market, and was as well known there and up the river as the most popu- lar boat that came and went. We can see him now as he used to appear, with his portly person, his partially bald head, his genial countenance, his neat dress, and his massive gold fob- chain and seal." The war of the Rebellion found him in the
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south, a staunch Union man ; and he suffered severely, in a pecuniary way. After the close of the war, he was able to gather up something from his scattered fortune, and passed the remain- der of his life in Lynn, in comfortable though not affluent circum- stances. He was accustomed to take a practical view of life, and for his reading chose the more solid works. And having been in contact with all classes and travelled in various parts of the country, with an observing eye, he was enabled to impart much useful information. The house in which he died was the same which he had in process of erection at the time of the burning of his manufactory, in 1833. "Taylor's Building," on the corner of Elm street, and adjoining the western extremity of "Healey's Arcade," which was, at the time of its erection, probably the most costly building in Lynn, and considered by many to be quite beyond the requirements of the times, remains as evidence of his enterprise.
By the great fire in Chicago, which commenced on the night of Oct. 7, it was for a time feared that some of our business men would suffer materially, the shoe and leather dealers there being indebted to Lynn manufacturers to the amount of some $150.000. But the real loss, happily, proved inconsiderable. A meeting in aid of the sufferers by the calamity was held in Music Hall on the evening of October 10, at which resolutions of sympathy were adopted, and arrangements made for systematic contributions of money, clothing, and all articles of prime necessity. The contributions in money amounted to something above $17.000. And some forty cases of bedding, clothing, boots and shoes, &c. were likewise gathered and forwarded.
President Grant passed through Lynn on the morning of Oct. 16. A large crowd had assembled in Central square to greet him, but he merely stepped out upon the platform of thePullman car in which he was journeying eastward, bowed to the multitude, and bad them good morning.
The autumn foliage this year presented unusually rich and varied tints. It was a rare treat even to one accustomed to these annual displays to witness the brilliant show, and many a fair lady could be met on a pleasant day wending her way from the woods with leafy gatherings of almost dazzling brightness.
Two human skeletons, supposed to be aboriginal remains, were exhumed, in Ocean street, Nov. 2.
A very violent easterly storm commenced on the evening of Nov. 14, and continued through the 15th. The wind was very high, and drove the sea in with great fury. Much damage was done along the coast. The lower part of Beach street was overflowed to the depth of something more than two feet, and the condition of the wharves indicated a tidal influx as great,
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within a few inches, as during the memorable storm of April 15, 1851. A great concourse, among whom were many women, gathered all about the headlands and in the vicinity of the beaches, to witness the grandeur of the scene, heedless of the pelting of . the storm. The embankment along the seaward front of Ocean street was much damaged, and the Eastern Rail-road track was rendered impassable for some hours. The stone monument on Bowditch ledge, off Marblehead, was carried away, after having withstood the stormy assaults of thirty years.
On the night of Nov. 17, a shocking death occurred in a house on Howard street. Mrs. Jane Clinton, wife of John G. Clinton, a barber, was found dead on the kitchen floor, the body bearing such marks as at first led to the supposition that she had been murdered, and an attempt made to conceal the crime by setting fire to the premises. Suspicion fell on the husband, and he was arrested. A coroner's inquest was held, and the result of their examination was that she was burned to death by the breaking of a kerosene lamp. The jury also found that both husband and wife had been intoxicated and engaged in a quarrel during the afternoon. They ascribed to the husband no direct agency in the death of the wife, but added that had he been sober, and attended to his duty, the death might not have taken place.
A fire occurred on Lamper and Brother's wharf, at the foot of Pleasant street, on Wednesday evening, Dec. 13. A large stable and wagon shed, with a quantity of hay, were consumed. But the most lamentable feature of the disaster was the perishing of sixteen valuable horses.
A startling tragedy took place on Saturday forenoon, Dec. 16, in which William Vennar, known also as William Brown, a man about thirty-six years of age, and a native of Maine, but who had resided here a few months, was chief actor. He came to Lynn with a woman who appears to have been the wife of Thomas Jones, of Washington, Me., but who had abandoned her lawful husband to live with Vennar, who seems to have had a wife in Washington. They were boarding, temporarily, with Mrs. Sarah Roundy, on Adams street. He was intemperate, and, especially when in liquor, of ferocious disposition. The two had many quarrels, but were represented to have appeared unusually loving on the morning of the murder. A Mrs. Conway, who resided in another tenement in the same house, at about half past nine, hearing terrific screams, hastened to the door, and saw Vennar clutching his victim by the hair, and with a large dirk knife actually butchering her. Having accomplished his purpose, by nearly severing the left jugular vein and wholly severing the carotid artery, he washed his hands and fled. But Mrs. Conway had, as soon as she recovered from the first shock of horror, given the alarm, and persons were fast gathering. Vennar, how-
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ever, escaped, and gained a patch of woods on Farrington's hill, on the north side of Western avenue. Here he was surrounded, and kept at bay till others arrived, among them the city marshal and several police officers. Vennar now took a defiant attitude, brandishing his still bloody weapon and threatening death to any one who dared approach. By direction of the marshal, offi- cers Thurston and Whitten endeavored to disarm him, but did not succeed. Finally, officer Thurston, in an attempt with a club to strike the arm that held the knife, lost his footing. Ven- nar then sprang to him, and with the utmost fury began to stab him. That was the decisive moment, it being evident that Thurston's life was in imminent peril, and that instant action alone could save him. And the marshal proved himself equal to the emergency. With promptness and coolness he levelled his pistol and fired two shots. And Vennar fell dead. The coro- oner's verdict, as well as public opinion, fully justified the act of the marshal.
During the winter of this year the frost penetrated to an unu- sual depth ; in many places fiveor six feet. There was little snow. and many days of intense cold.
During the three months ending Dec. 31, the Swampscott fishermen brought in 1 140.000 pounds of cod. At two cents a pound, which was rather a low price for that year, the value would be $22 800. Some $3.000 worth of oil was also obtained during the same three months.
The number of passengers carried over the Eastern Rail-road during the year was 4-035 482 ; and the tons of freight, 378.199. The rate of speed per hour, including stops, was as follows : freight trains, 15 miles ; accommodation passenger trains, 20 miles ; express trains, 28 miles.
The number of feet of lumber imported into Lynn during the quarter ending with December, was 8.443.000. . \bout 50.000 tons of coal were brought in during the year.
The number of persons carried to and from Boston, by the horse cars, during the year, was 122 000.
There were 392 marriages in Lynn, this year. The ages of the oldest couple were 66 and 46 years, and the youngest, 18 and 16 years. The largest number solemnized by any one min- ister was by Rev. Patrick Strain, of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church.
This year and the two preceding years were remarkable for the little rain that fell. It was a common remark that we experi- enced a three years' drought. The winters set in with extremely low springs.
So many cases of small-pox occurred in Lynn, this year, that some alarm was occasioned, and measures were taken to have a general vaccination.
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1872.
The new Methodist Meeting-house on the corner of Maple and Chesnut streets, Glenmere village, was dedicated on the afternoon of February 15.
The schooner Champion, of Swampscott, on Friday and Satur- day, Feb. 16 and 17, with a crew of twelve men, stocked 30.000 pounds of fish, which sold for four cents the pound - $1.200. For Friday's catch the crew realized $72 each.
A two story wooden building, on Willow street, formerly stand- ing on the north side of Central square, and known as the Bay State Building from the circumstance of its being that in which the Bay State newspaper was printed, was nearly destroyed by fire on Sunday morning, Feb. 25.
The City Hall bell was raised to its position, on Saturday, March 2. Its weight is 4.937 pounds.
During the early part of March there were several extremely cold days. Ice was formed from Swampscott to Nahant. On the 7th the fishermen were able to do what they had not done before for nineteen years, that is, walk on the ice to their vessels at the moorings. A great many garden evergreens and hardy shrubs were killed. The average temperature of the month, at sunrise, was twenty-one and a half degrees, which was three degrees colder than the average temperature of January.
On Thursday, March 14, the trim little steamer Meta, com- menced running to and from Boston, making two trips daily,. each way, with passengers and freight. In July, the Carrie was added to the line, and the two together then made six trips each way, daily. But the line was soon discontinued.
86.000 lobsters were taken during the three months beginning with Jan. I, by the fishers of Nahant. Fears began to arise, and calculations to be made as to the probable extermination of the species, if the great destruction were not checked. It was shown,. at least to the satisfaction of many, that in forty years lobsters would become unknown upon the coast, if some restrictions were not enforced. The apprehensions became so lively that the legislature was induced to interpose, and in 1874 passed a law that " Whoever sells, or offers for sale, or has in his possession with intent to sell, either directly or indirectly, any lobster less than ten and one half inches in length, measuring from one extreme of the body to the other, exclusive of claws or feelers, shall forfeit for every such lobster, five dollars." The fears for the fate of the lobster were by no means groundless ; yet one is reminded of the appeals of some of the early settlers who were sorely apprehensive that the old iron works would consume all the wood that grew hereabout.
A meeting of the City Council was held in the common coun-
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cil chamber on the evening of Tuesday, April 16, to join in testimonials in honor to the memory of Professor Morse, the inventor of the electric telegraph, who had recently died. Appro- priate resolutions were passed, and ordered to be entered on the records of both branches, and were also immediately sent forth, on the wires, to the meeting at the same time convened in the national representative hall, at Washington. Brief addresses were made by the mayor and several of the city clergymen ; and the whole proceedings were highly eulogistic of the deceased.
Died, at his residence on Western avenue, April 21, Dr. James M. Nye, aged 53, a native of Salisbury, Mass. He was a prac- tising physician here, some thirty years, was highly respected as a citizen, and for skill and promptitude in his profession. In scientific pursuits and all educational matters, he took great interest, and was not remiss in labors for the moral elevation of the community. For many years he was a prominent and useful member of the First Baptist church.
The Lynn Homeopathic Society was formed, April 23, by the resident homeopathic physicians.
May 30, was, according to the now established custom, cele- brated as the Soldiers' Memorial day. The address was delivered by ex-Governor Fairfield of Wisconsin, in the vestibule of the City Hall, the inclemency of the weather interfering with the contemplated out-door proceedings.
The fine brick building in Franklin street, erected for the Cobbet school, was dedicated May 31. Besides the usual intel- lectual entertainment, a banquet was provided, to which ladies as well as gentlemen were invited. The Cobbet school received its name from Rev. Thomas Cobbet, settled here in 1637, as colleague of Rev. Mr. Whiting.
There was a heavy thunder shower, June 12, during which the lightning struck in five places in Lynn, and considerably disar- ranged the telegraphic fire alarm.
On the 17th of June, a regatta took place under the auspices of the Lynn Yacht Club, which afforded much gratification to the large company assembled.
The great musical entertainment known as "The World's Peace Jubilee and International Musical Festival," commenced in Boston, June 17, with its chorus of 20.000 voices and its orchestra of more than 1.000 instruments, its great organ, mam- moth drum, and belching cannon, and continued some fifteen days. Many ladies and gentlemen of Lynn lifted their voices in the chorus. Among the most notable features of the whole occasion were the grand performances of the instrumental bands from Europe- the English, Irish, French, and Prussian. The weather was excessively warm most of the time, and the crowds of people in and about the Coliseum, and indeed around the city
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generally rendered a visit though highly interesting, subject to many discomforts.
Died, in Saugus, June 19, Joseph Cheever, aged a hundred years and three months. He served as a representative in the legislature in 1817, and for several terms in subsequent years, his last service being in 1835.
The first Roman Catholic church on Nahant was built this year, and occupied in July.
The National Association of Morocco Manufacturers, composed chiefly of the principal persons engaged in the trade, in the Middle and New England States, visited Lynn, July II. They were hospitably entertained by the brethren of the trade here, and taken to Nahant, where they partook of a dinner, and then to Swampscott, where a supper was provided. During the day opportunity was taken to discuss matters pertaining to their branch of business, which had risen to be of commanding impor- tance in the country.
A company was formed this year for the manufacture of Frear stone. They established a factory in Essex street, and among their first contracts was that to furnish the trimmings for the Baptist church, about that time in process of erection at the corner of Essex and Washington streets. Door-steps, memorial stones, garden urns, and a variety of other articles were made, which it was claimed were quite as durable and in some respects preferable to manufactures from natural stone. The company, however, were not successful, pecuniarily, and operations were soon discontinued.
On the 18th of July, there was a considerable gathering under the auspices of the Lynn manufacturers, of persons engaged in the shoe and leather trade in different parts of the country. The portion of the company assembled at Lynn rode to Nahant in procession, and were there joined by others who came from Boston by steamer. The occasion was rather designed for social enjoyment than dry business purposes, and a band of music was employed to enliven the occasion. Every provision was made for table gratifications, and speeches, humorous and sedate, were delivered. Various sports were engaged in, and the inter- esting spectacle of a regatta provided. The latter, however, proved rather a failure, as a dense ocean mist rolled in.
A comical little incident occurred to some of our grave city officials on a certain balmy summer day. The question of a new almshouse had been agitated in the council, and afterwards, in committee, the style of the proposed building was considered. In the course of the discussion it was represented, on newspaper authority, that a model institution had lately been erected in Hartford. Upon the information, such high authority not being questioned, three or four officials went forth on a tour of inpsec-
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tion. Arrived in Hartford, they forthwith waited on the mayor and proceeded to unfold the purpose of their visit. They were hospitably received, but without circumlocution and with manifest astonishment informed that no such building as they came to inspect, existed. The polite attentions were calculated to alle- viate their chagrin, but not to abate the unspoken maledictions upon the disseminator of the false information that induced their fruitless journey.
The lamps placed along the beach road leading to Nahant were lighted for the first time on the evening of July 24. They proved not only a great convenience, but quite a picturesque feature, as viewed from the heights.
A Crispin strike, so called, took place in Lynn during the summer. The organization known as the Knights of St. Crispin had been in existence several years and embraced a large portion of the operatives in the shoe business. For a year or two they had been working at prices agreed upon between themselves and the manufacturers ; but the time to which the arrangement was limited had expired, and the employers were not all disposed to continue to pay the same prices, in every department, some of them proposing to make a small reduction in the price of work on a particular part of the shoe, where it was alleged such facili- ties had lately been introduced as to justify such a step. This was met by the peremptory order of the Crispin " Board of Ar- bitration," that all members who were at work in the shops where the reduction was made, should cease work on Friday, July 26, as well those who were not called to suffer a reduction as those who were The manufacturers dul not propose to reduce the prices generally. In compliance with the official order, the Cris- pins in the shops alluded to, ceased to work ; the great body of the associates were soon idle ; and some of the largest manu- factories were brought to a "stand still," as the phrase was. To indulge long in such a course, it soon became apparent, would not only be damaging to individual interests, but seriously detrimental to the prosperity of the city. Some prominent man- ufacturers made preparations to move their machinery to other places, where they would not in future be embarrassed by the action of such organizations. A good many Crispins who had been satisfied with their situations and rates of pay, were forced by the order of their Board of Arbitration to remain idle for weeks, much to the injury of themselves and their families. It happened to be a season when business was not brisk, so that the manufacturers felt the better able to take a persistent stand against the demands of what they deemed an unjust and unrea- sonable organization. The Crispins, being generally dependent on their daily labor, and, with perhaps the exception of a few
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hot-heads, really considerate and fair-minded, began to see the greater evils that must follow, if things remained in that position, or if the business were driven out of the city. On the evening of August 2, the manufacturers held a meeting at which it was resolved " That it is for the best interests of the city of Lynn that every manufacturer manage his own business, irrespective of any organization." The following agreement was then drawn up, and received the signatures of some fifty of the principal individual manufacturers and firms : " We the undersigned, man- ufacturers of the city of Lynn, hereby agree that on and after Saturday, Aug. 10, we will employ no person subject to, or under the control of, any organization claiming the power to interfere with any contract between employer and employee." They claimed that they had a right to make their own bargains, and had decided to make them with such only as were free to bargain for themselves. The Crispins received notice of the determina- tion of the manufacturers, and though at first there seemed to some extent a disposition to refuse compliance, the organization in reality soon ceased to claim control over its members in the vexed matter of bargaining for wages. And then, when business revived, all hands went cheerfully to work. On the whole, per- haps, this movement was beneficial in its results, for it was taken notice of throughout the country, and elicited discussions touch- ing such organizations which were calculated to prove widely useful. And here, at home, the good and evil features of the local organization were canvassed in a manner that may have a permanent influence for good. There was an unusually small amount of personal acrimony exhibited during the proceedings, the troublesome questions being mostly met, by both sides, in a forbearing, manly way. Possibly the circumstance most to be lamented was that some of the enterprising manufacturers with- drew portions at least of their business from Lynn and established factories in other parts of the State, in Maine and New Hamp- shire. Some distant towns, availing themselves of the posture of affairs here, offered large inducements in the way of remission of taxes and assistance in various forms to such as would com- mence establishments within their borders.
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