USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 7
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 7
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During the last week of October the tides ran lower, as was calculated, than at any time for forty years. The cause was, partially at least, without doubt, the long-continued mild weather and off-shore winds.
A fire commenced in the furniture establishment of G. B. French, in Union street, on the night of Nov 9, destroying large portions of several stocks of goods. The premises were the same on which a fire occurred Aug. 25, 1873.
A mechanics' fair was opened in the building in Market street, adjoining Odd Fellows' Hall, and known as the Academy of Mu- sic, then just erected, Dec. 22. Many useful mechanical contri- vances and interesting mechanical productions were exhibited by Lynn artisans and tradesmen, and by others from abroad. One rather peculiar feature was the introduction of dramatic enter- tainments during the evenings.
For two or three years, business affairs in Lynn were in a greatly depressed condition ; indeed the same was true of almost
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every part of the country. There were quite a number of failures among the prominent shoe manufacturers, as well as among the smaller tradesmen and mechanics. Many operatives were out of employment for long intervals, and it was generally believed that some families of honest mechanics and laborers suffered, especially in winter, for what were commonly considered the necessaries of life. Real estate declined very much in value, rents fell, and many tenements were vacant. Yet the cost of most articles of family consumption remained high. The better kinds at least of bread stuffs and butcher's meat, sold at prices nearly as high as those of war time ; and the same may be said of articles of clothing. The whole history of the country shows that such seasons of depression follow seasons of great apparent thrift, or inflation, as perhaps they might in most instances be properly called, as surely as night follows day, mainly attributable, no doubt, to the extravagance induced by the prosperous intervals. Extravagance in dress, among women, was a notable feature of the time, and many a conscientious though possibly timid young man doubtless avoided a matrimonial connection from sheer apprehension that he would be unable to supply the demands upon his purse.
About this time there were a great many vagrant wayfarers, called Tramps, homeless wanderers, drifting from place to place, seeking food by day at the hand of charity, and at night lodging in police stations, poor-houses, or other similar retreats. During the winter of this year an average of something rising four hun- dred a month were thus entertained in the basement of the City Hall - provided with a supper and lodging, and a frugal break- fast to start on in the morning. Lynn enjoyed a good reputation among the fraternity, as appeared by a memorandum found on one of them, detailing his experience of the hospitalities of differ- ent places, and giving a sort of bill of fare by which they were entertained. The lodgings here were described in the memoran- dum as being warm, and the food better than in most cities ; facts which in a measure, no doubt, accounted for the favor of repeated visits from some of them. Occasionally rare characters appeared among the motley crews. One evening a hatless orator rose up and entertained the crowd of " brother tramps," as he called them, with an address containing many sensible as well as humorous points, and delivered in a style that showed he had been trained to a different course of life. An artist of more than common skill and taste also appeared one stormy night. Several off-hand sketches that he made were very spirited and attracted much attention. But the entertainment of the increasing num- bers of this questionable class began to be intolerably burdensome in many places, and early in 1875 the legislature interposed to abate the nuisance, passing a law enabling cities and towns to
5
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require all tramps to perform a reasonable amount of labor in return for food and lodging. This, together with the fact that our city authorities somewhat reduced their rations and assigned them less enjoyable lodging quarters had a tendency gradually to reduce the number who sought relief here, though it was some years before there was any really great decrease, as appears by the following showing for eight years : Number of tramps lodged in Lynn in 1871, 1.392. In 1872, 1.017. In 1873, 2.132. In 1874, 3.294. In 1875, 2.958. In 1876, 2.825. In 1877, 2.901. In 1878, 2.500.
Christmas was very generally observed this year ; indeed for manyyears the observance of the day has been gaining in popular favor, over the strange old puritanical prejudices. In 1856 it was made a legal holiday by legislative enactment. The festival of Easter, too, has come to be celebrated by most of our religious societies in a manner calculated to rejoice the hearts of all good churchmen, the floral decorations of the churches in some in- stances being superb.
A rather novel kind of recreative exercise was inaugurated during the winter of this year, in the form of spelling matches. Large classes of old and young, male and female, would meet in churches or other convenient places, with spelling masters and umpires and engage in orderly contests, each member, on missing a word ignominiously retiring, and those successfully passing the orthographic ordeal receiving prizes. These healthful memoriter exercises afforded much amusement, and were sometimes quite productive in a pecuniary way, an admission fee being usually required of spectators.
For many years, Fairs, as they were called, had been frequently held in public halls, church vestry rooms, and other convenient places, at which a great variety of the lighter articles of clothing, musical instruments, and all kinds of fancy articles, together with flowers and refreshments were disposed of for the benefit of some benevolent enterprise, in aid of church funds, or other worthy object. All the ordinary enticements of young lady solicitors, music, and occasionally a merry dance were resorted to. But seriously objectionable features by degrees crept in, till games of chance and lotteries so extensively prevailed that it became necessary to do something to prevent the many serious breaches of the law, and of fair and honest traffic. Most of the principal clergymen of the city during the winter of this year signed an earnest protest which was published in the newspapers, and for a time the more objectionable doings were discontinued ; but by degrees, as generally happens in such cases, similar evils, under other names, began to appear.
One thousand and thirty-eight dogs were licensed in Lynn this year.
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1875.
Dedicatory exercises were held in Trinity (Methodist) Church, Tower Hill, Jan. 13, though the main body of the house remained uncompleted.
During the latter part of January, Eliza Ann, the nineteenth wife of the Mormon seer, Brigham Young lectured in Lynn on her " Life in Bondage." The peculiarities of the Mormon reli- gion and the practice of polygamy as it existed in the Salt Lake Canaan were dwelt upon. The picture she drew was a sad one, both in its moral and social aspect. But why she should have accepted the nineteenth marital position and then claimed that all the wrong was on the other side did not seem to be satisfacto- rily explained.
On Sunday, Feb. 21, the eighty-fourth anniversary of the for- mation of the First Methodist Society of Lynn was observed. Appropriate services were held in the old Common street meet- ing-house, that being the first Methodist house of worship in New England.
A codfish of the extraordinary weight of ninety-six pounds was caught in the offing, March 30.
The Lynn Hospital was formally opened, March 31. The old Phillips mansion, on Waterhill street, the salubrious situation of which strongly recommended it, had been procured and fitted up in such a manner as to make it convenient for the purpose. A number of prominent citizens attended the opening and some made appropriate remarks.
The centennial celebration of the battle of Lexington took place on Monday, April 19, on the territory where the battle occurred. Mayor Lewis and several members of the city govern- ment attended, all, however, bearing their own expenses, the city council having refused to make any appropriation. The Lynn Light Infantry, accompanied by a full band, also attended, as well as a multitude of private citizens. President Grant and some other prominent officials from Washington were present. The day was pleasant, excepting the prevalence of a high, chilling wind. Such an immense concourse assembled that all the public conveyances were excessively crowded, and a great many were compelled to go hungry as the supply of provisions was altogether inadequate.
A demonstration was made in Lynn, May 22, in favor of the Boston Revere Beach and Lynn Rail-road, the first narrow-gauge line in this vicinity, which was then in process of construction. A considerable number of men, young and old, volunteered the work of half a day with shovels and picks. A procession was formed under the leadership of Col. John Nichols, one of the oldest men in town, and accompanied by a platoon of police
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officers and a couple of bands of music, moved through several streets, reaching the scene of their labor about the middle of the afternoon. After performing a small amount of work - the main purpose, no doubt, being rather to show good-will towards the enterprise, than to help much otherwise -they gathered, in number about a hundred and fifty, in a hall in Munroe street, and there partook of an entertainment, after which speeches were made and many good wishes towards the road and congrat- ulations on its fair prospects were expressed.
The great travelling show, known as the hippodrome of P. T. Barnum, the most noted showman of the age, visited Lynn on Saturday, May 29. It is not probable that any exhibition of the kind ever exceeded this in attractiveness. The multitude of male and female performers and attendants, decked in unique and showy costumes, the numerous trained and wild animals, the historic and classic equipages and appendages, which appeared in the long procession that traversed the principal streets on the pleasant morning of their entrance, called forth throngs of specta- tors, old and young. The magnitude of this aggregation of circus, menagerie, and spectacle could warrant exhibition only in the cities and larger towns. The tents were pitched in the Fairchild field, so called, on Boston street, extending back to the vicinity of Lover's Leap, and the principal one was said to be sufficient to accommodate 12.000 persons. Great numbers attended, not only of our own people, but from other places. A special rail- road train was run from Salem and Marblehead. During the afternoon a balloon was sent up, and after a short, successful trip, came down in Lynnfield.
Decoration day, May 30, was duly observed. Gen. A. F. Ste- vens, of Nashua, N. H., was the orator.
On the 17th of June, the great centennial celebration of the battle of Bunker Hill, took place in Boston. The Legislature had made it a legal holiday, the weather proved remarkably favorable, and there was an almost entire suspension of business in Lynn. Extra rail-road trains ran and multitudes visited the city to see the grand military and civic processional display. On the preceding night some famous bonfires were lighted here, the most conspicuous ones on High Rock and Reservoir Hill. The light of the illumination in Boston was distinctly seen in Lynn. This celebration, by the popular voice, both north and south, was pronounced to be more ettectual than any other occurrence since the civil war, in reestablishing the old brotherly feeling between the different sections of the Union.
The corner stone of St. Joseph's (Roman Catholic) church, in Union street, was laid on Sunday, July 4.
The Boston Revere Beach and Lynn Rail-road was formally opened for travel on Thursday, July 22. After the directors and
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1876.
invited company had passed over the road, a collation was had at Odd Fellows' Hall, at the close of which speeches were made and congratulations interchanged. The regular hourly passenger trains commenced running July 29, on which day 1.075 passen- gers were conveyed. A few interesting Indian relics were found during the excavations.
The famous sea-serpent was alleged by several credible persons to have been seen by them, during August, not far from Egg Rock. He was described, so far as his form could be discerned, to be of glossy black, with some white on the under parts ; the head resembling that of a lizard, long, flat, and from twenty-four to thirty inches across ; the mouth large and occasionally widely opened ; the eyes large and staring. He sometimes raised up his head six or eight feet and then suddenly submerged it. Some accounts gave the appearance of a flipper or sort of foot, which strongly indicated some such animal as the supposed extinct ichthyosaurus or plesiosaurus. He was also alleged to have been seen again in the waters of Lynn and Swampscott in November. An account likewise appeared in the newspapers of a furious combat between a serpentine monster and a whale, as witnessed by the officers and crew of a vessel on the southern coast.
A General Convention of Universalists of the United States commenced a session in Lynn, on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and continued three days. The weather was favorable and the at- tendance large. Delegates were present from all parts of the country, one hundred and forty ministersconstituting the clerical representation. Much christian courtesy was extended by people of all denominations. Among the speakers on the closing day of the session was a full-blooded Delaware Indian, an accredited missionary residing in Canada, with settlers of his tribe.
A blackfish, ten feet in length, and weighing three hundred and fifty pounds was found stranded on Long Beach, Nov. 2, having probably ventured too far towards the shore during the night.
1876.
This, the Centennial Year of the Republic, will be remembered for the fervor with which it was observed by all classes, and the magnificence of the displays, military, industrial, and indeed of every kind that enlivened patriotism could devise. Yet it was a year during which there was great business depression through- out the country. Had times been prosperous and means abun- dant it is quite possible Young America would have overleaped his proprieties. The most important enterprise, perhaps, that marked the year, was the World's Exposition, at Philadelphia, which continued open six months - from May 10 to November IO. Great crowds attended. "Excursion parties " were formed
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in all parts of the country, and hastened on to Philadelphia in a pleasant and economical way. The whole great undertaking was eminently successful, all the principal foreign countries heartily joining with splendid contributions. The Lynn exhibit, though not very large, was varied and satisfactory, pertaining almost exclusively to the shoe and leather interest. The speci- mens were much admired by visitors from all parts of the country and from abroad. Some twenty-five manufacturers had their goods displayed in an elegant case, over which was this announce- ment : "Lynn, Mass., greeting : The Shoemanufacturers of Lynn desire to open trade with foreign countries, and are ready at any time to receive orders from Cuba, South America, Mexico, West Indies, or any other market. We make the very finest and the cheapest shoes made in this country. We claim that our facili- ties, wxh our methods, organization and machinery, are not excelled for producing all grades of sewed shoes at the smallest possible cost. We make what is called for." Awards were made by the Exposition judges to several Lynn manufacturers.
The City Item, a weekly newspaper, was commenced on Sat- urday, January 8, by Horace N. Hastings.
A cat show, said to have been the first in the country, though not uncommon in Europe, was opened in Exchange Hall, Market street, Feb. 29, and proved to be quite interesting. A number of the feline specimens were really beautiful, some showed re- markable traits of sagacity and cunning, and others wonderful progress in training. The weight of the heaviest was fifteen and a half pounds. Prizes were awarded.
A grand exhibition of babies took place in Music Hall, Central avenue, March 4, including only those of three years old and under. Much interest was excited, and though arrangements were made for only fifty, the applications were more than a hun- dred. There was a great crowd of spectators, and prizes were awarded for the youngest, the fattest, and the handsomest babies. Among the latter was a sprightly little mulatto. On the 27th of the same month another similar exhibition took place in Odd Fellows' Hall, on Market street, at which seventy-two entries were made.
A violent storm - the " equinoctial " - which suddenly set in on the evening of March 20, did much damage. Three or four of the fishing jiggers were wrenched from their moorings and driven upon the shore or wrecked upon the rocks, at Swamps- cott. It was called as violent a storm as any within twenty years.
The beautiful summer residence of Charles W. Galloupe, at Swampscott, called Bay View Cottage, was totally destroyed by fire, April 2. Loss, between $50.000 and $60.000.
A hair seal, weighing ninety-five pounds, was taken off Swamps- cott, in April.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1876.
"Let us plant a Centennial Tree," was a greeting that this year was heard in all quarters, and heeded by many. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 13, a party assembled in the little square at the junction of Ash and South streets, for an object so indicated. They procured an elm, some thirty feet in height, and put it in position as the stirring tune of Yankee Doodle was being played. A large number were present, patriotic remarks made and songs sung. Several enthusiastic ladies assisted in shovelling in the earth. It became necessary, however, soon to substitute another, as the original tree began to wither.
May 30, Decoration Day, was duly observed. Gen. W. W. Blackmar, of Boston delivered the oration.
From the commencement of the shoe trade in Lynn, a good deal of the manufacturing was done at establishments on either side of the Common, but in June of this year the only remaining factory was removed, the tendency having been, ever since the building of the rail-roads, to concentrate in other quarters. The manufactory of James Purinton and Son, which stood on or very near the site of the old Academy, was the last to leave, being removed this year.
Dom Pedro, Emperor of Brazil, passed through Lynn, by the Eastern rail-road, on the evening of June 9. He did not leave the car, and but few had a glimpse of the royal party, during their short pause at the Central station.
That much-dreaded insect known as the Colorado beetle, or potato bug, first made its appearance here in the summer. It soon came to be a most destructive pest, descending or ascend- ing in countless numbers and in a few hours making such havoc with whole potato fields, as to render it necessary to replant.
Probably not since the adoption of the constitution was the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence so generally celebrated throughout the country, as on this, the centennial year. In Lynn, however, there was no celebration under the auspices of the municipal authorities. Discordant views among the members of the council, and disagreements as to the suitable sum to be appropriated to meet the expenses, were the direct cause of the failure. But the patriotism of the people could not be suppressed, and the day was observed in various becoming ways. Before the morning dawn, bonfires blazed on several of the most commanding heights. There was a grand one on High Rock; but the most noticeable was on Reservoir Hill. The old two-story wooden house, on Boston street, at the south- west corner of North Federal, known as the Hart house, a part of which constituted the dwelling of Richard Haven, one of the very early settlers, and head of the great Haven family now spread all over the country, was, by the willing hands of Young America, and consent of the owner, torn down, a day or two
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1876.
before, and the combustible part of the material transported to the hill just named, and there reared in a pyramid some forty feet in height. As soon as the midnight hour had struck, the pile was lighted, and amid the shouts and cheers and songs of the sleepless young spirits who kept vigil around the centennial sacrifice, it disappeared in a glorious blaze. Morning dawned ; and soon after daylight, there was a parade of the Antiques and Horribles, as such have come to be called ; in other words, a caricature display. The procession marched through the princi- pal streets and afforded much amusement to the early risers by the grotesque decorations and costumes, sarcastic hits, and ludi- crous turn-outs ; some members of the city government who were not in favor of an appropriation for celebrating the day, being remembered in a manner that created considerable mirth. A successful semi-religious celebration was held in the First Methodist meeting-house, in the forenoon, under the general direction of Rev. Charles D. Hills, minister of the society wor- shiping there. The principal feature of the exercises consisted of brief addresses on the following topics and by the following named persons : The Day We Celebrate, by ex-Mayor Thomas P. Richardson ; The United States of America, by John B. Alley, ex-member of Congress ; Christianity and Our Country, by Rev. Daniel Stcele ; The American Public Schools, by Na- thaniel Hills, Principal of the High School ; The American Ju- diciary, by Thomas B. Newhall, ex-Judge of the Police Court ; Massachusetts, by George H. Chase, ex-Postmaster ; The Cen- tennial History of Lynn, by James R. Newhall, Judge of the Police Court ; Our Army and Navy, by Capt. George T. Newhall. And Mrs. Abbie L. Harris was appointed to read the Declaration of Independence. At evening, there were many fine displays of fireworks, at private residences. The "Centennial Memorial," published soon after, by order of the City Council, contained an Historical Sketch, by James R. Newhall, and brief Biographical Notices of all the Mayors, with Portraits and other Illustrations. It formed a volume of 204 octavo pages, and was issued in a style perhaps as creditable to our printers and binders as any book from the Lynn press up to that time. The volume was prepared in compliance with a recommendation of Congress.
A serious fire occurred on the southwest side of Market street, July 26. The principal losses were - by R. A. Spalding & Co., dealers in dry goods, some $5 000 ; Mrs. Lancey, millinery and fancy goods, $2.000 ; WV. T Bowers, photographer, $2.000.
July and August of this year were uncommonly hot. Visitors at the World's Exposition, in Philadelphia, suffered much ; espe- cially those from northern countries.
Died, December 17, at his residence in Park street, Jacob Batchelder, for many years a well-known and much-respected
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resident. He was born in Topsfield, July 10, 1806, graduated at Dartmouth college in 1830, and came to Lynn in 1835, com- mencing his labors here as principal of the Academy. In that position he continued till the establishment of the High School, in 1849, of which he became the first principal, and remained till 1856, in which year he went to Salem to take charge of the High School of that city. In 1861 he returned to Lynn, and took his former position in our High School, remaining, how- ever, but about a year, and then closed his labors as a teacher, after pursuing the vocation for a little over a quarter of a century. In 1862 he was appointed librarian of the Lynn Free Public Library, and that office he continued acceptably to fill till the time of his death. He was Town Clerk in 1847, and collector of internal revenue several years. His remains were buried from the Unitarian church, on South Common street, where he had worshipped many years, and the funeral service was attended by a large number of the most venerable citizens. The lives of his two sons, Charles J. and George W., were lost in the war of the Rebellion, as noted under date 1862. Mr. Batchelder was a man of clear understanding, genial manners, and great industry, and should be long remembered as one who really did much for the advancement of the community in which he dwelt.
A splendid meteor passed over the city about six o'clock on the evening of December 20.
The fine brick fire engine house, in Federal street, was built this year.
1877.
The Lynn Home for Aged Women was dedicated February 15. It was the eligible building on North Common street, erected in 1832 for Nahant Bank, and had been fitted in a very comfortable manner for the reception of those who were to make it the home of their declining years.
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