USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 6
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Early in the evening of Aug. 13, the large box factory building of S. O. Breed, near the southerly end of Commercial street, was struck by lightning and set on fire. It was totally destroyed, together with a small building in the rear. The bolt was seen by several persons when it struck.
The summer of this year was remarkable for its excessive heat and the frequency and severity of its thunder showers. It was also remarkable for the abundance of winged insects, particularly mosquitos and house flies. From April to Nov. much rain fell.
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The brick house of worship of the First Congregational So- cicty, on South Common street, corner of Vine, was dedicated on Thursday evening, Aug. 29; sermon by Rev. Mr. Dennin. An auction sale of pews was held on the evening of Sept. 18, and $3.000 raised. The highest bid for choice was $250. The corner stone was laid on the afternoon of July 10, 1871.
The capacious and elegant Ingalls school house, on Essex street, was dedicated Aug. 31. Ingalls school was so named from Edmund and Francis Ingalls, the first settlers.
Died, in Swampscott, Sept. 25, Joseph Harding, aged 97. He was supposed to be the oldest free-mason in the State, having joined the Adams lodge, in Wellfleet, in 1800.
William F. Mitchell, having been chosen City Missionary by representatives of the different religious organizations, entered upon the duties of the office in September. He served faithfully for five or six years, and then the distinctive office was discon- tinued.
From May 19 to Oct. 6, inclusive, on all the Sundays, twenty- one in number, the weather was pleasant.
So famed had Swampscott become as a watering place that during this year it was estimated that there were between 10.000 and 11.000 visitors. The fashionable time for driving was from four in the afternoon, till dark ; and at that time the fine drives in the vicinity afforded as much elegance and as great diversity in turn-outs as could be seen any where. The gay nag pranced with the lordly equipage, and the raw-boned roadster with his rattling gig. There is probably no place on the New England coast with a more salubrious climate, or affording better facilities for the comforts and enjoyments of a temporary summer resi- dence. Yachting, rowing, fishing, bathing, and in short all kinds of marine exercise or sport, can here be indulged in to the heart's content. Here, too, all the fashionable in-door recreations and diversions - games, music, dancing, social converse - may be pursued in the most genial company. And then the magnificent and ever changing ocean views, by sunlight and moonlight, and the charming landscape scenes are never wearying to the culti- vated eye.
During the warm months of this year and the three preceding years there was great activity in real estate transactions, and prices advanced wonderfully, not only in the central sections but in the remote outskirts and rough highlands. Indeed they were rank speculative times. Many who owned small estates near business centres found themselves suddenly rich -and it should be added that if they invested their sudden gains in other real estate, and continued to hold it a couple of years, they probably grew just as suddenly poor again, for an equalizing depression followed the inflation.
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Odd Fellows' Hall, on Market street, corner of Summer, was dedicated on Monday, Oct. 7. During the afternoon there was a parade, in regalia, which attracted much attention, and a dinner was partaken of at the Kertland House. The dedicatory services, held in the evening, were of a highly interesting character, and at the close the officers partook of a supper at the above-named house. Soon after the dedication a great Fair for the benefit of the lodge was held in the new building, and the sum real- ized was a little over $5.000. The Bay State Lodge of Odd Fellows, in Lynn, was instituted in 1844, and at the time of the dedication numbered a membership of 680.
ODD FELLOWS' HALL, LYNN : ERECTED IN 1872.
Cheap rail-road trains, intended particularly for the benefit of working men, commenced running on the Eastern Rail-road, between Lynn and Boston, in November. Twenty tickets were sold for a dollar, which made the fare about half a cent per mile. A train left Lynn at half past five in the morning and Boston at half past six in the evening.
The great fire in Boston commenced on the evening of Satur-
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day, Nov. 9, and continued to rage sixteen hours, destroying property to the value of $70.000.000. During the night, from the hights about Lynn the flames presented a grand and startling spectacle, and the light was seen by passengers on board the steamers as far off as Long Island Sound. Detachments of the Lynn firemen hastened to the assistance of their unfortunate neighbors, taking with them a couple of our steam fire engines, and were afterwards by the Boston officials publicly thanked for their efficient services. A number of the business men of Lynn were large sufferers by the calamity. Between fifty-nine and sixty acres of the heavy business portion of the city were burned over.
During the latter part of the autumn of this year a singular disease prevailed among the horses here and all over this region of country. It seemed to be a sort of catarrhal fever. Epizootic was the name usually applied. Scarcely a horse in all Lynn escaped, though it proved fatal in but few cases. It was, however, disabling, and evidently painful. So extensively did the disease prevail that for some days the accustomed noise of wheel car- riages almost entirely ceased to be heard in our streets. Hand- carts and wheel-barrows were put in requisition, and oxen, cows, goats and dogs were put to new duties. Odd and comical turn- outs were every where seen. In some instances teams of from three to six men were seen hauling along loads. The trips of the horse cars to Boston were suspended, and only occasionally was one made through Lynn. Public request was made by the authorities for the citizens to hasten, in case of an alarm of fire, and assist in dragging the steam fire-engines. In Boston, the United States mails were carried to and from the post-office in ox teams. The ministers in many instances took up the matter as the theme of their Sunday discourses ; and the whole community began to realize our dependence on the equine race. In many cases the recovery was slow, and the exhausting effects were felt for months.
The brick and iron station of the Eastern Rail-road, on Central square, was built this year ; also the brick and iron station on State street ; which latter was soon taken down. On pages 40, 41, and 42, may be found a brief account of the " rail-road war," so called, which took place about this time. The number of daily passenger trains running from Lynn to Boston was forty ; and the number from Boston to Lynn was the same, including five from East Boston. Ten years before but twelve ran each way.
The Reservoir, on the northerly slope of Second Pine Hill was built this year.
The whole number of streets in Lynn, this year, was 236; and the number of courts and alleys 75; together making about ninety miles in length.
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1873.
The pumping engine at the public water works, on Walnut street, was first put in operation on the afternoon of January 14, sending up the water from Breed's pond into the Pine Hill Res- ervoir. And on the 27th of February the water was let into the distributing pipes. It was, however, soon discovered that serious leaks existed in the reservoir, and it became necessary during the ensuing summer to puddle the entire bottom. Measuring on a depth of fifteen feet the reservoir has a capacity of 2.000.000 gallons, and is 177 feet above the sea level. The depth is 18 feet, and the water surface about five acres.
PUMPING ENGINE HOUSE, Walnut Street, Lynn. (Rear View.)
On the night of March 7, a fire commenced in the hardware store on the corner of Washington and Munroe streets, by which property to the amount of $3.600 was destroyed.
This year Lynn had five organized bands of music, and few public parades of any note took place without the services of one at least.
On the morning of April 9, the keeper of Egg Rock light shot two wild geese which had alighted on the rock for rest on their migratory journey northward.
Several of our enterprising Lynn residents sent specimens of their manufactures to the "World's Exposition" which was
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this year in successful operation at Vienna, in Austria, Speci- mens of boots and shoes, of elastic car wheels, and steam gauges were forwarded, and elicited favorable notice.
On Soldiers' Memorial Day, May 30, Col. C. B. Fox delivered the address.
English sparrows made their appearance in Lynn, this year - probably the progeny of those imported into Boston a few years before in the hope that they would, in a measure at least, pre- serve the trees from the ravages of canker worms and other destructive insects. Bird houses were placed in the trees on and about the Common and on many private grounds for their accommodation.
A singular and almost amusing instance of forgetfulness hap- pened to one of our Lynn ladies this year. When about going away on a visit, she concealed, in a rag-bag, divers valuables in the shape of notes and bank books, representing some four thou- sand dollars. Some time after her return she sold to a travelling rag gatherer the contents of her bag, entirely forgetting the con- cealed treasure. But the alarming fact soon after occurred to her, and she hastened to attempt the recovery of her treasure. She traced the rag gatherer to Salem, found the place in which he deposited his musty chattels, and there regained her valuables.
On the morning of Aug. 16, John Cuzner, aged 34, while at work, with two others, on the northerly side of the tower of the Washington street Baptist church, then in course of erection, was precipitated to the ground from a height of seventy-eight feet, by the fall of the staging, and so injured that he died in an hour. The two others were seriously injured. Charles L. Sav- age, a mason, who worked on the same building, lost his life on the morning of July 1, also by defective staging.
A serious fire occurred in Union street, on the morning of Aug. 25, commencing in French's furniture store, near the Saga- more hotel, the latter barely escaping. Four hundred thousand gallons of water were used in extinguishing the flames, and the water in the new reservoir was lowered four inches.
Died, Aug. 27, William S. Boyce, aged 63. He was greatly respected for his many excellent qualities. His native place was Portland, but he came to Lynn when about nine years of age, and by industry and diligence accumulated a respectable fortune. He was a member of the Society of Friends, upright in his dealings, intelligent and liberal ; was officially connected with several monetary institutions, and for the last seven years of his life was president of the First National Bank. His death was tragical. He called at the United States Hotel, in Boston, and retired to a bathing room. Remaining so long as to excite alarm, the door was forced open and his lifeless body found, in such a condition as to leave no doubt that his death was volun-
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tary. His garments were found disposed in neat order, and every thing indicated premeditation. No satisfactory reason could be given for the act, though he had somewhat failed in health and become depressed in spirits. On the day of his funeral respect was shown for his memory by the closing of a number of prominent business places, and the attendance of many friends.
The Soldiers' Monument, in Park square, was dedicated on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The day was pleasant, and Lynn perhaps never before witnessed a grander demonstration. A long pro- cession, consisting of military organizations, associations of vari- ous kinds, and the fire department, marched through the principal streets, along which many buildings were beautifully decorated, the City Hall especially exhibiting a profuse array of flags and streamers, with various emblematic devices. The dedicatory exercises were held on a platform erected for the purpose, in front of the City Hall, and consisted of music by the military bands, singing by the Lynn Choral Union, prayer by the Rev. Mr. Biddle, an oration by Col. E. P. Nettleton, and a poem by Mr. E. P. Usher. The monument, allegorical and classic, was designed by John A. Jackson, a native of Maine, but resident of Florence, Italy. The casting was executed at Munich in Bavaria, and the whole cost was $30.000.
IN !!!
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, Park Square. Dedicated Sept. 17, 1873.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1873.
The new stone and brick house of worship of the First Uni- versalist society, on Nahant street, was dedicated on the 11th of September, the sermon being preached by Rev. Elbridge G. Brooks. The corner stone was laid May 27, 1872.
Concrete crossings began to be laid in the streets this year.
The branch of the Eastern Rail-road, from Swampscott to Marblehead, was opened for travel, Oct. 20, its length being four miles.
There was a grand masonic parade in Lynn, Oct. 22, on the occasion of constituting the Olivet Commandery, installing the officers, and dedicating the hall. The day was fair, and the proceedings attracted much attention.
October of this year was found to average the warmest in forty ycars ; but the next April averaged the coldest in fifty years, rain or snow falling on thirteen days, and there being but nine clear days.
In the course of local discussions and disagreements as to the source from which the public supply of water should be drawn, a good deal of false alarm was created during the summer and fall. Some asserted that an extraordinary amount of sickness had prevailed in the previous year, and that it was in part at least attributable to the impurity of the water of Breed's pond, which at that time furnished the supply. This induced the Lynn Med- ical society to publish the result of their investigations, which they did in the following terms : " Whereas, it has been generally reported that the last year has been unusually sickly, and the use of the water lately introduced has been assigned as the cause, therefore, Resolved, That the past year has been unusually healthy, and probably the improved health of our city is in some measure to be attributed to the use of water more wholesome than that of wells, many of which are contaminated."
The Friends' Biennial Conference was held in Lynn this year, commencing Nov. 19. A large number from all parts of the country were present, and the meeting-house, in Silsbee street, being inadequate for their accommodation, some of the meetings were held in the First Universalist church, on Nahant street, which was courteously tendered for their use, other houses of worship being also offered. Many leading members of the denomination, male and female, were present to give their testi- mony, to advise, and to discuss ; and it was considered a season of much spiritual profit as well as social enjoyment. The attend- ants from abroad were hospitably entertained by our people of all denominations, and on their departure expressed much satis- faction.
The three masted schooner Robert Raikes, of Provincetown, from Digby, N. S., struck on the "outer ledge," Swampscott, near midnight, Nov. 17, during a severe storm, and was com-
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pletely wrecked. All on board perished. The fatal place was near where the Tedesco was wrecked, in 1857, and also the Fred Bliss, in 1870. There were five persons on board the Robert Raikes. The captain's name was John Ellis, and his brother William was also on board. And it was a rather remarkable coincidence that another brother, attached to another vessel, was lost during the same storm. Capt. Ellis's body was not recov- ered till Nov. 30.
A prize fight was interrupted by the police at the Half-way House, on the Turnpike, on the morning of Dec. 31. The prin- cipals were from Providence, R. I., and Boston, and most of the company were from those places. The principals and several others were made prisoners. The fight was going on in an apartment of the house, and it was with great skill and caution that the officers eluded the sentinels and made the captures.
Three masted coasting schooners, which for some years had occasionally appeared in our harbor, began now to be quite com- mon, that style of vessel proving to be much more readily and economically worked than the square rigged of equal tonnage.
During the year, 515.952 mail letters and 39.162 drop letters were delivered in the city by post-office carriers.
Birch Pond was formed this year, for the purpose of securing an additional supply of water, by building a dam across Birch Brook valley, on the east of Walnut street, near the Saugus line. The pond was made to cover about sixty-seven acres.
1874.
On the morning of January 10 a fire commenced in the stable of the Glenmere line of stages, on Chatham street, and consumed the building, several tons of hay, and other property. The most serious matter, however, was the death of ten horses. The whole value of the property lost was $2.500.
George W. Keene died suddenly in the St. Nicholas Hotel, New York, Jan 27, aged 58. He was a native of Leicester, in Worcester county, but from his early youth, with the exception of one or two brief intervals, was a resident of Lynn ; and his sudden death created more than ordinary sensation, for he was widely known as an active business man as well as for his genial manners and benevolent disposition. He belonged to a Quaker family, his mother being the accredited preacher spoken of under date 1867 ; but he early adopted the Unitarian faith and held fast to it to the end of his life. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities and attained to high ranks in the lodges ; had a cultivated mind and took considerable interest in literary and educational affairs ; was thoughtful, and in his med- itations and reasonings did not always pursue the beaten track.
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He became an adherent of the doctrines of the spiritualists, though perhaps in a modified form, and held a newspaper discus- sion on some points of their faith, with President Felton of Harvard college. For almost the whole of his business life he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes, the great staple production of Lynn, and by his enterprise in seeking out new inventions and introducing the most approved machinery did his full share in elevating the trade from the position of ill-requited toil to one of profit and commanding importance. The circum- stances of his death were peculiarly afflictive to his friends. He left home on Monday, accompanying a niece to New York, and on Tuesday evening, having taken lodgings at the St. Nicholas, as he was passing through the entrance hall, fell, and in a few minutes expired. He was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, in the original purchase, laying out, and ledication of which, he took a lively interest. The funeral services were held in the Unitarian church, on the corner of South Common and Church streets, on a day of intense cold and amid the buffetings of a raging snow storm. Mr. Keene married a daughter of Hon. Isaiah Breed, and by her had eight children, five of whom died in infancy. One daughter, Mary B., and two sons, William G. S. and Frank, survived him.
The act incorporating the Lynn "Home for Aged Women," was passed Feb. 6, the institution being " for the purpose of pro- viding for the support of aged indigent females, not otherwise provided for." The institution was opened with a banquet and informal reception, on the evening of April 20, 1876, a large company assembling.
The Irish organizations of Essex county joined in a grand celebration of St. Patrick's day, March 17, in Lynn. The pro- cession was long, and quite imposing - pronounced by some to be one of the three finest ever seen here, eight bands of music enlivening the long march, and the showy regalia and banners attracting much attention. A number of buildings were hand- somely decorated. The weather, however, was very unfavorable.
A lady in Lynnfield gave birth to three children, at one time, in March, making up a family of four infants, under the age of thirteen months, and eight children, all under twelve years. The parents not being in very flourishing pecuniary circumstances, were deservedly the recipients of many useful gifts.
Comrade George S. Merrill was the orator on the Soldiers' Memorial day, May 30.
In the summer of this year, some workmen in digging a cellar on Pine street, in Swampscott, exhumed what were undoubtedly the remains of an Indian, probably of the ancient Naumkeag tribe. Their situation showed that the person was buried in a
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sitting posture. Other remains, supposed to be Indian, were found a short time afterward in the same vicinity. Aboriginal remains, as they undoubtedly were, were also dug up in Lynn, near the corner of Ocean and King streets.
The act incorporating the Flax Pond Water Company was passed June 2, being granted by the legislature for the purpose of supplying with pure water "the city of Lynn or any city or cities, town or towns." It enabled the corporators, their asso- ciates and successors, for the purpose named, to purchase and hold the waters of Flax, Sluice and Cedar ponds in Lynn, and Nell's pond, in Lynnfield, together with the tributary streams and a suitable width of land around to preserve the purity of the water, and such other lands as might be required for the neces- sary works.
Died, in Peabody, June 6, Oliver B. Coolidge, aged 76. He was for many years a resident of Lynn and an acting justice of the peace, in which capacity his services were much sought for, as his judgment and discretion were greatly relied on. For several years he was ticket-master at the Central rail-road station, for which position his patience and urbanity well qualified him. He was a native of Woburn, and seven years town clerk there, likewise representing the town in the General Court. One of the most notable points in his life was his association with Mr. Good- year in his early attempts to vulcanize India rubber ; and it was interesting to hear his details about the experiments on an old cooking stove, amid poverty and every sort of annoyance and discouragement.
The brick house of worship of the Washington Street Baptist Society, corner of Washington and Essex streets, was dedicated on Wednesday evening, June 10, the corner stone having been laid on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 5, 1872.
A comet, with what is popularly called a feather tail, was visible this year, in the northwest, being brightest about the middle of July.
Base-ball had, for the last few years become so popular a sport in different parts of the country as to be spoken of as the national game. Many of our active young men formed themselves into clubs and played match games with those from other places, some times from other states. Lynn Common was frequently the scene of these friendly contests, which called together crowds of spectators, before whom, in their often rather picturesque cos- tumes, and repeatedly in the fervid heat of summer, they exhibited their skill and prowess. But this year a convenient ground for the games was enclosed on the south side of the old Turnpike, a short distance east of Saugus river.
Died, Sept. 2, John B. Wormstead, aged 85. He was a native of Marblehead, but long a resident of Lynn. In the war of 1812
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he was a privateersman, and assisted in the capture of seven prizes. One of the vessels had a large amount of specie on board, designed for the payment of British troops, and while under convoy for an American port, Mr. Wormstead, being on guard over the prisoners, discovered a mutinous movement, just in time to prevent the disasters of a recapture.
The crew of the fishing schooner Laughing Water, of Swamp- scott, on the 11th of Sept. captured, off Boon island, a sword fish, weighing, when dressed, six hundred and ninety pounds.
John H. Smith, aged 23, driver of Empire steam fire engine No. 5, was killed on the evening of Sept. 18, by being run over by a hose carriage when starting at an alarm of fire. His head was crushed by one of the wheels. He was buried from the Washington Street Baptist Church, on Sunday, the entire fire department attending, and also one or two societies of which he was a member.
Wong Chin Foo, a native Chinese, lectured in Odd Fellows' Hall, on Sunday evening, Oct. 11, to a large audience. He appeared in native costume, and his subject was " Contusius, the Founder and Teacher of the Chinese Religion." He spoke good English, and his lecture, giving a very favorable account of his countrymen, was listened to with much interest. He considered the religion of Confusius more promotive of the good of the four hundred millions of people by whom it is embraced, than any other could be, if indeed it were not the best for the whole world. He endeavored to remove from the minds of his hearers the false belief that his was a nation wholly given to idolatry, and to impress upon them the fact that multitudes of profound scholars and philosophers were to be found there, that moral science was cultivated and virtuous living enforced.
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