USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 8
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
The new and picturesque Town House in Saugus, centre village,' was dedicated March I. Wendell Phillips was chief orator, and all the exercises were appropriate and interesting. The corner stone was laid Oct. 17, 1874, ex-Governor Banks delivering an address on the occasion.
Died, March 13, at his residence on Western avenue, Charles Merritt, aged 72 years. He was born in Bowdoinham, Me., and was a son of Rev. Timothy Merritt, one of the early ministers of the Methodist itineracy. Almost the whole of his long life was spent in Lynn. He was a Deputy Sheriff for the county, about forty years, and performed the perplexing and often disagreeable duties of his office in a highly satisfactory manner. Before the adoption of the city form of government he held several of the most important municipal offices, including that of chairman
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of the Selectmen ; and after Lynn became a city, was called to continue in the public service - was an Alderman in the second year's board, and City Clerk five years. He was also a Repre- sentative in the General Court, and United States Revenue As- sessor. For many years he was an honored member of the South street Methodist church, and always maintained an un- blemished character. His wife was a daughter of William Breed, a father in the Quaker faith, and they reared a respectable family, eight sons and three daughters having been born to them. Few men, after so long and active a life go to their final rest more worthy of grateful remembrance.
The velocity of the wind in and about Lynn, during a storm, March 9, was seventy-two miles an hour.
The annual session of the New England Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, commenced in Lynn, in the old historic Common street Methodist meeting-house, April 4, and continued one week, Bishop Foster presiding. The first session of the Conference here was held in 1795, in an unfinished chapel which occupied the same site.
Sweetser's brick block, a substantial four-story building, at the junction of Central avenue and Oxford street, was burned on the morning of April 7. It was well fitted with machinery and other appliances for the prosecution of the shoe business, on a large scale, and there was considerable stock in the different lofts. The loss, including that of an adjacent three-story wooden building, amounted to some $115.000.
The last building on Market street occupied exclusively as a dwelling was removed in the spring of this year. It stood on the southwest side, between Tremont and Summer streets, and was first owned and occupied by Dr. Coffin.
Some excitement prevailed in the spring of this year regarding mad dogs, and continued many months. Two or three fatal cases of hydrophobia occurred. The city authorities ordered that no dogs should be permitted to go at large unmuzzled, and many canine lives were sacrificed. Samuel A. Parker, of Saugus, a worthy man, of middle age, died of hydrophobia, April 17, having been bitten by a rabid dog, January 15.
A marked religious revival took place in the various evangelical societies of Lynn, in the spring of this year, and many were added to the churches. At St. Joseph's (R. C.) meetings in charge of four Jesuit fathers, from Chicago, were held, com- mencing May 20, which excited much attention and were at- tended by crowds.
Captain Johnson, the intrepid fisherman who did his part in celebrating the centennial year by crossing the Atlantic in his little fishing dory "Centennial," exhibited his memorable craft in Munroe street, in April. He is said to have declared that a
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million of dollars would not tempt him to again undertake such a fool-hardy feat.
Died, in Oakland, Cal., May 2, John B. Felton, a native of Sau- gus, aged 48. While a young man he was a tutor in Harvard college, but settled in California and became a conspicuous lawyer. He was twice a Republican Presidential Elector, was Mayor of Oakland and a prominent candidate for the office of U. S. senator.
On the evening of May 28 there was an unusually brilliant display of aurora borealis. Many honest and observing persons declared that they could distinctly hear a rustling of the corusca- tions. Imagination, however, probably had something to do with the auricular demonstration. " It has often been asserted," says Mr. Payer, the late Austrian arctic explorer, " that sound accom- panying the aurora has been heard in the Shetland Isles and in Siberia ; but all scientific travellers protest against this."
Memorial Day, May 30, was pleasant, and the usual services took place. Rev. Mr. Biddle, of the First Universalist society, was the orator.
An unsuccessful attempt was made in the Legislature of this year, by some of the business men of the east village of Saugus, to have their portion of the town united to Lynn.
During this year, the old belief that light, passing through blue glass, has wonderful power in developing life, both animal and vegetable, and in curing diseases of almost every kind, was revived, and extensively prevailed. Many dwellings had a few blue panes set in the windows, and greenhouses were liberally supplied with the supposed life-giving appliances. The idea was started, at this time, by General Pleasanton, of Philadelphia, and seems to have been, that the electro-magnetism produced by the sun's rays passing through that medium, receives some mysterious and extraordinary power. While the excitement continued, the glaziers in Lynn, as elsewhere, had an abundance of orders. Ladies wore blue veils, and cerulean tints were decidedly in the ascendant.
On the evening of July I, a severe thunder storm passed over the city. Between nine and ten o'clock a terrific peal startled the dwellers in the western section and a bolt struck the dwelling of J. M. Tarbox, at the junction of Myrtle and Walnut streets. Its instantaneous work was strange and destructive, the inte- rior walls being torn and pierced, and the furniture broken and thrown about in the most extraordinary manner. No person, however, was injured further than suffering a temporary shock, all the inmates being in bed. And herein appears additional evi- dence that the recumbent position, especially if a little elevated, is the safest, on such occasions. From the peculiar appearance of what looked like real " witch-work " about the house, it seemed
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not unreasonable to conclude that the bolt had an upward course. The house of Mr. Tarbox is within a stone's throw of the rock which was struck in 1807, a portion weighing some twelve tons being thrown two hundred feet.
The first boy church choir in Lynn, was organized this year, in St. Stephen's, and commenced taking their part in the public services, in the summer. Boy choirs, though comparatively new in this country, are an ancient church institution. In the history of St. Margaret's of King's Lynn, England, mention is made of the choir boys as early as 1478, a bequest or two having been made for their teaching and maintenance.
The British Consular Agency at Lynn, was this year discon- tinued, the insignificance of British trade here not warranting its continuance.
A rattlesnake, fourteen years old, as the number of rattles showed, was killed in Lynn woods, July 5. And on Aug. 4, a huge one swam across Lily pond, Boston street, and as he glided into the yard of John M. Newhall, was killed by a son of Mr. N., a lad of 14 years. This reptile was between four and five feet in length, and some two years older than his courageous destroyer.
For some ten days, in September, at night, the waves dashing along our shores, exhibited an extraordinary phosphorescent glow. The spectacle was grand, strong easterly winds bringing in heavy seas.
On the fifth of October, at about one o'clock in the afternoon, Alderman Aza A. Breed, of Lynn, was attacked by two ruffians, in Belcher lane, Boston, knocked down, and robbed of the large sum of $8.000. A light carriage with a man in it stood near the scene of the assault, and the robbers, after securing their booty, jumped in, and the three rode off. Mr. Breed gave chase, and was fired on from the carriage, three times, one of the pistol shots taking effect in his hand. The robbers escaped. The money belonged to the Central National Bank, and was in Mr. Breed's care, for delivery in Boston. A question as to whether Mr. Breed or the bank should bear the loss arose ; but a settlement was made, the bank agreeing to sustain the principal share.
1878.
At the beginning of this year rather serious labor troubles existed in several of the large manufactories. Disagreements between workmen and their employers, in the matter of wages, were the cause of the difficulties, but mutual concession and temperate negotiation finally resulted in satisfactory adjustments.
The new bell on the First Congregational meeting-house, on South Common street, corner of Vine, was raised to its place, March 28. It may be interesting to mention that the bell which was raised on the Old Tunnel, in 1816, and the one which at
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the same time was raised on the Common street Methodist house, were cast at the old Paul Revere foundry, and that the present one was turned out by Revere's successors in that historic establishment. When the Old Tunnel was removed from the centre of the Common, in 1827, and wrought into the house now on the corner of Commercial street, the bell went with it, and remained in the modest belfry till it was taken down, this year, and recast, the city paying for the recasting, in considera- tion of its having for more than sixty years faithfully marked the hours of twelve at noon and nine at night, as well as having rung out its fire alarms and jubilant peals, besides attending to its other duties of calling together worshipping congregations and announcing the bearing away of the dead for burial. Its Meth- odist coadjutor still survives and sends forth its sonorous calls from the steeple of the new brick edifice in Park square.
A singular custom has for many years prevailed in Lynn, the origin of which it is hard to determine, namely the blowing of tin horns, by the youth, on May-day. From dawn till night, in all directions, these discordant instruments may be heard ; but especially are morning slumbers disturbed.
The services on Memorial Day, May 30, were interesting, though the inclemency of the weather somewhat disarranged the proceedings. Rev. C. D. Hills, of the Common street Methodist society delivered the address.
On the 12th of June, twelve gentlemen, mostly quite aged, and all lovers of old-time customs, set out from Newburyport to enjoy a ride to Boston in the old-fashion four horse stage coach of their boyhood. The driver was a veteran of the road, and eighty-one years of age. The start was propitious and the ride enjoyable, till they reached Lynn, when, near the junction of Western avenue and Washington street, an axle broke and the stage was overturned. Two or three of the passengers were seriously injured, and the aged driver received a severe shock to his system besides painful bruises.
On the fourth of July there was a successful balloon ascension from Park square, Alderman Aza A. Breed, City Marshal Charles C. Fry and Frederick Smith, a Boston newspaper reporter, accompanying the æronaut. A landing was made at Hamilton, in this county. There was to have been a display of fireworks on the evening of the day in question, but a singular accident pre- vented. They had been loaded at the laboratory, preparatory to transportation hither, but by means of fire or friction, they went off in one general explosion. Others, however, were prepared, and on the evening of the 18th a successful exhibition took place.
Dennis Kearney, a radical agitator and " sand-lot orator," so called, from California, addressed a large collection of people, on
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the Common, on the evening of August 12. He was coarse and intemperate in his language, and fitted to make little impression on intelligent minds. He was escorted from Sagamore hotel, on Union street, by a large procession of working men, and a band of music.
Thursday, August 10, was a bright day, and a memorable one for the people of the east village of Saugus, it being that on which the public water was introduced from the reservoir of Lynn. A public celebration was held, with music, speeches, processional displays, illuminations and fireworks. Among the most inter- esting features were the performances of a detachment of the Lynn Fire Department, with their steam engine, hose, and lad- ders -demonstrating to the good people the value of their new acquisition.
The Lynn Light Infantry had a "veteran parade" and banquet on the 11th of October, which had probably never been exceeded in interest since the organization of the old company, in 1812, and elicited much commendation as a genuine and hearty civil- military demonstration. The procession included a number of prominent citizens and military persons from abroad. The march was long, and so interrupted at different points by the acceptance of invitations to pause and partake of refreshments that it was after dark when Exchange hall, in which the banquet was prepared, was reached. After the gastronomic duties had been attended to, music, toasts, and speeches were in order, the latter abounding in cheery hits and entertaining reminiscences.
The brick fire engine house in Broad street was built this year. And the iron railing was placed around the Park.
It may be mentioned as a singular fact among the curiosities of temperature, that at midnight, Dec. 2, the thermometer ran higher in Lynn and vicinity than in any other part of the whole country - six degrees higher than in New Orleans, La., seven higher than in Savannah, Geo. and St. Louis, Mo., nine higher than in Charleston, S. C., and ten higher than in Jacksonville, Florida.
On the 17th of December, for the first time in sixteen years, gold stood at par ; that is, $100 in gold were worth just $100 in greenback government notes. The extreme of variation was in July, 1864, when $100 in gold were worth $285 in bank bills. The difference in the relative values then began to decrease. In 1870 it averaged 114.9, in 1877, 104-7.
1879.
Some 30.000 tons of ice, of remarkably good quality, were cut on Flax pond during the cold season of 1878 and '79.
On the afternoon of February 27, an old trunk was discovered on the margin of Saugus river, near Fox Hill bridge, containing
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the mutilated remains of a young woman. The nose had been severed, among other evident attempts to prevent identification. A great deal of excitement soon prevailed, and the newspapers, far and near, teemed with sensational articles. Hundreds came, many from distant places, to view the remains, some hoping to identify them, but the greater number probably from morbid curiosity. Untiring efforts were made by the police and others to solve the tragic mystery, and it was finally determined that the remains were those of a young woman of the name of Jennie P. Clarke, whose death was occasioned by the mal-practice of parties in Boston. Miss Clarke was a native of Milton, Mass., but at the time of her death was a resident of Boston Highlands, and would have been twenty years of age the very day on which her lifeless body was found. The illegal practice which resulted in her death took place in Lagrange street, Boston, and the offenders were tried in the superior court of Suffolk county. Caroline C. Goodrich was convicted as principal, and received a sentence of ten years in the house of correction, and Dr. Daniel F. Kimball, as accessory after the fact, was sentenced to six years in the state prison. The body was buried from the First Universalist meeting-house, in Nahant street.
The brick house of worship of the Common street Methodist society, on Park square, was dedicated on Thursday, February 27, Bishop Foster preaching the sermon.
Died, at his residence on Boston street, March 29, Henry Moore, aged 52, a native of Brighton. He was a graduate of Amherst college, and principal of the Cobbet grammar school, some twenty-four years ; was a faithful and highly esteemed teacher as well as citizen.
Memorial Day, May 30, was observed in the usual manner, the address being delivered by Comrade W. G. Veazie, of Rut- land, Vt.
The most notable occurrence this year was the celebration of the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Settlement of Lynn - [1629-1879] - which took place on the 17th of June. The day was very pleasant and the temperature agreeable. There was a grand procession, an oration by Cyrus M. Tracy, and other appropriate exercises at Music Hall, and a banquet at Odd Fel- lows' Hall, followed by toasts, addresses, and music. Several friendly and highly interesting communications from prominent officials and others of King's Lynn, England, were read by George H. Chase. Attractive performances and out-door sports, of various kinds, designed to suit different tastes, were held in several localities, and in the evening a grand display of fire- works took place on the Common. A neat volume of 224 octavo pages, was printed by order of the City Council, containing a full account of the proceedings, with an Introduction and a Second
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Part, by James R. Newhall, embracing historical, topographical, statistical and other matter relating to Lynn. It not being certain on what particular day of June the settlement com- menced -nor indeed certain beyond a doubt that it was in June - after some discussion the City Council fixed on the his- toric 17th, as the proper day for the observance, and in April appointed a committee to have general supervision of the pro- ceedings. This committee consisted of Mayor George P. San- derson, Aldermen N. D. C. Breed, and Nathan A. Ramsdell, and Common Councilmen, President Charles E. Kimball, Charles E. Harwood, Josiah F. Kimball, and Alfred P. Flint. This com- mittee decided to invite the cooperation of the citizens ; and the Mayor, on the 30th of April, issued an invitation to the citizens generally to assemble in their several ward rooms, on the 5th of May, to select five persons from each ward, to act with them. The ward meetings were accordingly held, and the following individuals selected : Ward 1. John L. Shorey, William Lummus, Breed Bacheller, John R. Jordan, George W. Vincent. Ward 2. Oliver Ramsdell, William H. Rood, Sylvester H. Mansfield, John Marlor, C. H. Ramsdell. Ward 3. Amos F. Breed, J. Frank Lamphier, Ebenezer Beckford, Jacob M. Lewis, William B. Phil- lips. Ward 4. George T. Newhall, A. B. Martin, James N. Richardson, W. A. Clark, jr., L. A. May. Ward 5. T. P. Rich- ardson, Otis L. Baldwin, S. M. Bubier, N. M. Hawkes, George C. Neal. Ward 6. Gardiner Tufts, James W. Switzer, Wallace Bates, Frank J. Douglass, William Snell. Ward 7. William Shepard, Richard C. Lawrie, William F. Brackett, jr., Alonzo Penney, John Dougherty. The City Council appropriated $3.000 to defray the expenses of the celebration, and liberal individual contributions aided in various ways. Of the city appropriation, $750 were devoted to the juvenile part of the procession, $525 to music, $350 to fireworks, $150 to the rowing regatta, $100 to the antiques and horribles, $50 to dory and tub race, $1o to bicycle race. The balance was absorbed by carriage hire, the banquet, and various incidental expenses.
Rollin E. Harmon succeeded in office James R. Newhall, whose resignation as Judge of the Lynn Police Court took effect Aug. 24. The business of the court had a steady increase, as population increased, from the time of its establishment, in 18.49. The carlier records having been destroyed, at the burning of the old Town House, Oct. 6, 1864, no exact statement can be made as to the business during the earlier years. But in the thirteen years during which the now retiring justice presided, namely, 1866 to 1879, the number of cases disposed of was twenty thou- sand, one hundred and twelve-criminal, 12.971, civil, 7.141 - exclusive of a large number coming under the juvenile jurisdiction and poor debtor laws. The entire term of the retiring justice, in
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the court, was thirty years - seventeen as special and thirteen as standing justice.
John A. Jackson, the designer of the Soldiers' Monument, in Park square, died in Florence, Italy, in August, aged 54 years. He was a native of Bath, Me.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Oct. I, the annual exhibition of the Essex Agricultural Society was held in Lynn, for the first time since 1848. It was the society's sixty-first yearly exhibition. Hon. George B. Loring, of Salem, delivered the address, in the Central church, and dinner was served in Odd Fellows' Hall. The weather was pleasant but very warm, and there was a large attendance. The receipts were found to be $1.937.50, and the net profits $659.37.
St. Joseph's (Catholic) Cemetery, was consecrated, Oct. 16, Archbishop Williams conducting the ceremonies.
The newly-invented telephone came into use in Lynn, this year, especially for business purposes.
Sherry's building, in Munroe street, was built this year, and was the first full six-story brick building erected here.
Anthony Hatch, aged 67, a farmer of Cliftondale, Saugus, died Nov. 19, from injuries received from an infuriated bull which he- was driving to pasture, on the Sunday previous.
Benjamin F. Mudge, died on Friday evening, Nov. 21, at his. residence in Manhattan, Kansas, aged 62. He was born in Or- rington, Me., but at an early age came to Lynn ; was our second Mayor, having been inaugurated June 16, 1852. He had made. a brief visit here within a few months of the time of his death, receiving the cordial greetings of many old friends ; and while here delivered one or two very acceptable lectures on scientific subjects. A biographical sketch appears in our "Centennial Memorial," of 1876.
The extraordinary occurrence of a clear sky,. all. over the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, happened Nov. 24, as reported by the U. S. Signal Corps.
A flock of wild geese, estimated to be half a mile in length, and flying very low, passed over Dungeon rock, Dec. 2.
The length of pipes for the conveyance of the public water, in Lynn, was this year fifty-three miles, and the average daily con- sumption of the water was 1.268.000 gallons.
The number of streets in Lynn, this year, was 480, measuring, in the aggregate, some 125 miles. The increase in the number, in ten years, was 125 ; in twenty years, 208.
This year, after a long season - some seven years - of busi- ness depression, affairs began to assume a much more cheering aspect. Business of all kinds, in all parts of the country, began to revive, and every thing to look promising. Lynn had her full share of depression, and was among the first to feel the rising
6
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tide of prosperity. Under date 1874 appear some remarks con- cerning the then state of things.
From the following statements an idea may be had of the provision for the poor. During the year, 523 families received assistance from the public treasury, the number of individuals being 1.992. The average number of paupers in the almshouse was 52, and the cost of each, per week, for food and clothing, was $1-35. The number of tramps furnished with food and lodging, was 1.757, the average cost of each being 14 cents. Some account of the latter class may be found under date 1874.
The number of volumes in the Free Public Library, at the close of this year, was 27.804. The average daily delivery during the year was 46t volumes.
The appropriation for the free education of the youth of Lynn, for 1879, was $83.000, which, with certain receipts, brought the whole amount devoted to school purposes up to the generous sum of $86 816.88. The number of schools was as follows: I high school, 7 grammar and 55 primary schools, and i evening drawing school. Whole number of pupils in all the day schools, on the first of May, 5.413. Average daily attendance of pupils in all the day schools, 4.667. The expenditure for school pur- poses, for each inhabitant of the city between the ages of five and fifteen years, was $15.66.
As notel under date 1864, the first steam fire-engine procured for the city, arrived that year. And now, 1879, we have four of those efficient machines, and the fire department is, in other respects, well equipped. It has more than twelve thousand feet of hose, and there are distributed about the city, some four hun- dred hydrants, twenty capacious reservoirs, and a number of public wells. The department is also provided with one large four-wheel double tank chemical fire-extinguisher and seven hand extinguishers. In former years Lynn has been, emphatically, what is termed a wooden town, almost every building being of woodl; and had it not been for the fact that there was no really compact part, serious conflagrations would probably have occurred. Lately, numerous capacious brick structures have been erected, and as land increased in value, some of the business streets have become as compact as those of any city. It can hardly be ex- pected that in the future we shall be as free from disasters by fire as we have been in the past ; yet, with the improved facilities for grappling with the flames, and the improved modes in the construction, heating, and lighting of buildings, there is rea- sonable ground for hoping that our good fortune may continue. The telegraphic fire-alarm, which was established in 1871, has proved extremely beneficial, saving an immense amount of con- fusion and delay on the occurrence of a fire.
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