USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 9
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 9
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Speaking of the later style of building, and the more compact
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1879.
character of some of our streets, leads to the remark that the great change in the mode of manufacturing shoes has been the principal cause of this, at least so far as relates to buildings erected for business purposes. It is quite within the recollection of our middle-aged people - as the writer had occasion to remark in the little book giving an account of the proceedings on our two hundred and fiftieth anniversary - that shoes were made by hand, not by machinery. The shoes were cut in the manufacturer's shop, which was generally a small wooden structure, and thence taken by the workman to his own premises, made up, and returned. A great many, however, were carried by express-drivers to coun- try towns, to Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, and there made up, by workmen whose regular occupation was, perhaps, farming, but who resorted to the shoemaker's seat in winter and other unoccupied times. The work of some of these un- skilled operators was very poor and occasioned much complaint and annoyance ; but still a great deal of work went out of town, and a great deal of money went to pay for it. But the intro- duction of machinery wrought a great change. Large factories, often of brick, began to supplant the small cutting shops, and the little work shops of the journeymen began to disappear. The new factories were built in a thorough and substantial manner, as the ponderous machinery required ; some were tastily ornamented, and remain really fine specimens of architecture. To the factory it was now necessary that the workman should go to perform his labor. The work of making a shoe was divided among several, each having his particular part to do; and the labor of all became so interlinked, that each depended much on the skill and promptness of the others for his own success. Rules were necessarily established for the guidance of all ; reg- ular hours of labor, especially, being required ; and efforts were made to place the whole business on a permanent basis. And so the business continues, every day developing fresh energies and evidences of thrift. New factories are constantly rising, and though there is some abridgment of the old-time freedom of the workman as he whistled over his work in his rude little shop, he yet gains by the comfort, order, and sometimes forced indus- try of the factory.
The number of deaths in Lynn, during the year, was 680, which, taking the increase of population into view, was about the usual rate of past years. The most fatal disease was con- sumption, by which 120 died. The next most fatal was diphthe- ria, by which 65 died. Consumption was the most fatal among adults, diphtheria among children. In 1876 there were 121 deaths by diphtheria.
The number of marriages during the year was 429. And the number of births, 717.
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With the year 1879 it was at first thought advisable to close our Annals, the first two hundred and fifty years of our municipal existence being then completed. Yet it seemed as if that reason was hardly sufficient to refuse space for the occurrences of one or two additional years that would elapse before the volume could be presented to the public. It was therefore concluded to pro- ceed till a time nearer that of publication.
1880.
A generous sum was contributed in Lynn, early this year, for the suffering poor in Ireland, our Irish residents being especially liberal.
The winter of 1879 and 'So was uncommonly mild, so far as temperature was concerned. Far less ice than usual was cut on the ponds, and in consequence, the price during the succeeding summer was much higher than during any late preceding year. Yet the number of snow storms was above the average, there being thirty-four in number, and the aggregate depth of snow five feet and three and a half inches.
Edwin Marble, who succeeded his father Hiram Marble in the strange search for treasure in Dungeon Rock, as spoken of under date 1658, chied January 16, aged 48 years, leaving a widow but no children. He had been out of health many months, occasioned, no doubt, by his persistent labors in the dark, damp cavern, though the immediate cause of his death was paralysis. He was a man of good character and agreeable disposition, a firm believer in spiritual manifestations, and a patient laborer under supposed supernatural direction. He was buried near the foot of the rock, on the southwestern slope, it having been his expressed desire to be interred near the scene of his hopeful though fruitless labors. A considerable number of friends, per- haps fifty, most of them of the spiritualistic faith, were present at the burial service, which was simple and affecting ; and held there, deep in the forest, amid the winter scenery, was peculiarly touching. At the close, the hymn " In the Sweet By and By," was sung.
May 29 was observed as Memorial Day, the 30th falling on Sun lay. The address was delivered by Col. T. W. Higginson.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 2, "Summit Villa," the fine mansion on the Galloupe estate, in Swampscott, was entirely destroyed by fire, with most of its contents, the loss, in the aggregate reaching about $15.000. It was rented to Commodore Hutchins, of New York, for $3.000 for the summer.
James McMahon, aged 50 years, a resident of Blossom street, was alleged to have been bitten on the arm, by a black spider,
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June 29. Deeming it a trivial matter, he made no application, till, on the second day, it became swollen and excessively painful. Medical aid was sought, but the progress of the poison could not be arrested, and three days after receiving the bite he died. It should be remarked that this is given as reported at the time ; but good authorities declare that no spider bite can cause death or even much pain. In the physician's return the cause of Mr. McMahon's death is stated to have been malignant erysipelas.
By the summer arrangement of the Eastern rail-road, this year, there were one hundred and twenty-four regular passenger and freight trains entering and leaving Lynn, each week day. Besides these, there were thirty-eight out and in trains on the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn steam rail-road, and the hourly cars of the Lynn and Boston horse rail-road.
Ex-Mayor Hiram N. Breed and his wife Nancy Stone Breed, on the 3d of July, the 4th falling on Sunday, celebrated the " golden " anniversary of their marriage, they having been united on the 4th of July, 1830. There was a large and cheery gather- ing of descendants and other relatives and friends, a number of city officials, and six ex-mayors.
Independence was celebrated on Monday, July 5, in a moderate way. Explosives, as usual, made their demonstrations, early and late, bells were rung, and out-door sports engaged in. In the evening there was a successful display of fireworks, to witness which it was estimated full 10.000 persons assembled.
Adam Hawkes was among the first settlers of Lynn, as we find him here as early as 1630, located in what is still known as the Hawkes neighborhood. He had five sons, and many descend- ants remain, scattered all over the country, and adorning various professions and callings. Several are yet found in the vicinity of the early family home, and among them Louis P. Hawkes who occupies a part of the original farm, in what is now known as North Saugus. And there, on the 28th and 29th of July, of this year, gathered from various quarters, distant and near, an inter- esting company of representatives of the family, to the number of about three hundred and fifty. They met with cordial greet- ings and brotherly sympathies ; and the weather proving favor- able, the most agreeable anticipations were realized, all the exercises and entertainments, literary, social, athletic and gastro- nomic, giving much satisfaction. Hon. Nathan M. Hawkes, of Lynn, was master of ceremonies.
Died, in Saugus, July 30, George W. Phillips, aged 70. He was a native of Boston, a brother of Wendell Phillips the " silver tongued " orator, and a graduate of Harvard college, with the 1829 class. He was a good lawyer and long in large practice, interested in town affairs, but steadily declining to hold office. For some years he was a partner of Franklin Dexter, and man-
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aged many important cases. During the last thirty years he was a resident of Saugus, was thrice married, and his last wife sur- vived him. His death was very sudden. Returning from Boston early in the afternoon, and seeing his men pitching hay, he said, pleasantly, " Boys, would n't you like to have me up there with you ?" He mounted the hay-rigging, and was presently observed to totter and fall, death almost instantly following. The funeral services were held in Saugus, Rev. James Freeman Clarke, Dr. Oliver W. Holmes, and one or two others of his Harvard class- mates being present and making remarks.
A fire commenced on the morning of August 6, in the three story wooden building numbered 2 and 4, Central avenue, owned by S. P. Miles, and resulted in the loss of property to the amount of about $2.500, largely in stock.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 11, a meeting of the wardens and vestry of St. Stephen's Church was held for the formal reception of the stone from the ancient walls of St. Mar- garet's Church, in Lynn Regis, England, which had been sent with its friendly inscription by the authorities of that venerable shrine, to be incorporated in St. Stephen's Memorial Church, then in process of erection on South Common street. Resolutions were passed warmly acknowledging the courtesy of the brethren of St. Margaret's.
Sunday night, August 22, was one of the most beautiful con- ceivable. The full moon rose between seven and eight o'clock and pursued a cloudless course through a sparkling sky. The air was soft, the westerly breeze very light, and the woody hills, rocky shores, and quiet sea defined with marvellous clearness. But this record would be common-place were it not for the additional and uncommon fact that at midnight, as on the 24th of November, 1879, the weather was clear throughout the whole United States, though there were considerable variations of tem- perature. In this vicinity the thermometer stood at about 70°; but proceeding southerly, it grew warmer. At Savannah, Geo., it reached 82 degrees.
Tubular wells having been sunk by the city authorities on the south side of Boston street, between Cottage and Bridge, in the hope of obtaining large quantities of pure water, for public use, pumping from them into the Pine Hill reservoir commenced on the 4th of September. One effect, soon felt, was the draining of wells on estates more than half a mile distant. In the first forty-five hours that the pump was in motion 1.250.000 gallons were drawn.
The cattle show and fair of the Essex Agricultural Society was again held in Lynn, on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 28 and 29. There was a large attendance and highly satisfactory exhibition. Lieut. Col. D. W. Lowe delivered the address.
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ANNALS OF LYNN- 1880.
The entire fire department had a parade, Oct. 20. The display was very fine and to the participants an occasion of much enjoyment. At the close of the march dinner was served in Odd Fellows' Hall.
In the autumn of this year a great sensation was produced in political circles all over the United States, by the appearance, in a New York paper, of a letter purporting to have been written by General Garfield, the Republican candidate for the presidency, and addressed to " Henry L. Morey," of the " Employers' Union," of Lynn. It was in the interest of cheap labor, and in pursuance of the purpose, favored Chinese immigration. The Pacific coast people, especially, became highly indignant at the drift of the letter, and the name of Morey and of Lynn were heard in every quarter. But the letter was soon proved to be a base forgery, concocted to damage the prospects of General Garfield ; and it would, without doubt, have had a serious effect, had not timely evidence of the unpardonable fraud been discovered. It was satisfactorily shown that no such person as Henry L. Morey and no such association as the Employers' Union existed in Lynn.
Early in the forenoon of Oct. 28, a fire occurred on the south side of Broad street, near the foot of Market, which destroyed the steam planing mill of James N. Buffum and Company, to- gether with several neighboring buildings, the entire loss being some $93.500.
Soon after the burning of the planing mill, as above noted, it was concluded to rebuild on a site some six or seven hundred feet southward. The great brick chimney, nine feet square at the base, and ninety feet high, had been left standing in solitary grandeur, and was removed, in its erect position, without accident, by the skillful management of Boston contractors.
On the 22d of November a beautiful mirage appeared in the bay.
The district of Lynn, Nahant, and Swampscott, returned, as the product of their fisheries for the quarter ending Dec. 3, as follows : codfish, cured, 300.000 lbs ; mackerel, 400.000 lbs. ; her- ring, salted, 100.000 lbs. ; lobsters, 7.000 lbs. ; fresh fish, daily catch, 315.000 lbs. ; fish oil, 3.200 galls. Total value, $44.141.50.
A rather singular, though not serious, accident happened to ex-Mayor Buffum on an evening in December. He was in the store of Mr. Barton, on Market street the door of which was composed of a single plate of glass. Observing his horse, which had been left standing in the street, suddenly start, Mr. B. hastily and without realizing that the door was not open, but transparent, dashed through, causing one or two uncomfortable cuts upon his face and other parts of his head.
The United States census, taken this year, gave Lynn a pop- ulation of 38.284. 18.255 males, 20.029 females.
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1881.
The Young Men's Christian Association Building, on the corner of Market and Liberty streets, was dedicated on Monday afternoon, January 17. There was a large attendance, and among the notables was Governor Long, who delivered a short address. The cost of the building was a little rising $57.000. The corner stone was laid on Thursday, April 8, 1880, the prin- cipal address on that occasion being by Russell Sturgis of Boston.
On the morning of Wednesday, January 19, a fire occurred on the westerly side of Market street, near Broad, destroying property to the amount of $156.500. Augustus B. Martin and Co., morocco manufacturers, C. B Lancaster and Co., shoe man- ufacturers, and Skinner and Golder, were the principal losers. For a time there was danger of a more extensive conflagration, and assistance in arresting the flames was received from Salem and Marblehead.
A fire took place on Sunday morning, January 30, in the car- riage manufactory of E. J. Leshe, on Boston street, near Myrtle, by which property to the amount of $3.500 was destroyed.
Dr. Daniel Perley died at his residence in Breed street, Janu- ary 31, at the age of 77, leaving a widow, two sons and a daugh- ter. He commenced practice here in 1836, and became highly esteemed as a physician and citizen. He was a native of Boxford, Mass.
The government weather signals, on High Rock, were shown for the first time, February 23.
A fire commenced in the rubber factory of Melcher and Spin- ney, in Broad street, near Market, March 31. The flames spread so rapidly that one of the workmen to save his life was obliged to jump from a second-story window. Total loss on building and stock, about $3.700.
On the night of May 2, a fire occurred in the morocco factory of Henry Beyer, rear of Spring street, doing damage to the amount of $3.400.
The pond on the Common was this year stocked with gold fish from Gold Fish pond.
The address before the General Lander Post No. 5, of the Grand Army of the Republic, the City Government and others, was delivered in Music Hall, on the evening of May 31, by Gen. James Carnahan of Indiana. It was postponed from the preced- ing evening on account of a violent thunder storm. Memorial Day, May 30, was this year made a legal holiday by the legislature.
Mr. Eugene F. Forman, editor and proprietor of the Lynn Daily Bee and Weekly Reporter, came to his death by a strange and terrible accident, at the Sagamore hotel, in Union street,
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where he boarded, at about one o'clock on the morning of Sep- tember 3. He was at the open window of his room in the fourth story, and by some means lost his balance and fell a distance of about forty feet, to the street pavement, in his descent striking upon an iron railing attached to the basement of the building. He survived, at times suffering great pain, till about six o'clock in the evening. He was a young man of more than ordinary promise in the journalistic profession, of good education, and seemed destined to make an enduring mark in the community. He was born in Nantucket, on the 16th of February, 1852, and was unmarried. The several printing offices in the city were closed, in respect to his memory, at the hour of his funeral.
On the 6th of September, soon after sunrise, the atmosphere began to assume a yellowish hue- brassy, as the phrase em- ployed generally was when speaking of it -and by the middle of the forenoon, there was a very unnatural appearance. People began to wonder what was coming. At noon the obscuration was so great that artificial light was needed for most in-door employments. The blaze of a lamp was no less noticeable than the other phenomena, for it was strangely brilliant and remark- ably white. The greatest darkness was at about three in the afternoon. At that hour it was difficult to read common print by the daylight ; the faces of people were of a light saffron hue ; blues were changed to green ; the grass and foliage had a beau- tiful golden tinge ; and every thing wore a sort of weird aspect. Domestic animals and fowls seemed to notice that something unusual was going on, but manifested no alarm. The day was close and warm, and the smell of smoke very perceptible. The wind was southwesterly but very light. Towards night a gentle westerly breeze sprang up, and before sunset nature had assumed her wonted condition. Several theories were proposed to account for this "yellow Tuesday," as it came to be called ; but there seems to be little doubt that it was occasioned by smoke arising from fires in the woods, some of which were perhaps as far off as Canada. The writer very well remembers that when he was a small boy, probably in 1817 or 1818, he was surprised on going out one Sunday morning to see how yellow everything looked, and called the attention of the family to the appearance. But by " meeting time " the strange hue had nearly passed off. Like a good boy he was drawn by the sound of the bell to the venera- ble Old Tunnel, and clearly recollects hearing a knot of men at the door commenting on the " brassy" appearance of the morn- ing ; and one of them remarked that it looked just as it did on the morning of the great dark day of 1780.
On the night of September 12, between eight and nine o'clock, there was a singularly beautiful appearance in the heavens. A band of dense mist skirted along the horizon, but above, the sky
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was clear and the stars bright. Suddenly there appeared what may not inaptly be compared to two immense comets, one at the southeastern and the other at the northwestern horizon, sending up their broad and sharply defined tails, to meet at the zenith. The arch, if such it may be called, formed a striking spectacle, and was so transparent that stars were visible through it. It retained its most perfect proportions about twenty minutes, and then, sweeping off in a southerly direction, soon faded away. At the Signal Office, in Boston, it was judged to be the corona form of aurora borealis ; but some, professedly wise in such matters, contended that it was a nebulous belt which had made a near approach to the earth. It was described as of a " reddish yellow" tinge as it appeared in some places ; but as it was observed by the writer, it was of a beautifully clear white, and at the time thought to be without doubt the aurora. One scientific observer, who called it a " nebulous band," claimed, in a newspaper commu- nication, that it is recurrent, and is every season to be seen, always in the same direction, and always between the 25th of August and the 20th of September. One of our Lynn papers referred to it as something hardly worthy of remark. But the circumstances under which the writer of that paragraph saw it must have been very unfavorable, or he could not have seen it during the short time of its greatest brilliancy. As seen from the piazza of the stone dwelling at the junction of Walnut and Holyoke streets it was certainly a very striking and beautiful object
About midnight, September 19, the church bells were tolled, announcing the death of President Garfield. The effect was very solemn.
On Wednesday, September 21, "The Exploring Circle," a voluntary association of ladies and gentlemen of culture held a "Camp Day," on a romantic elevation perhaps a mile northward from Dungeon Rock, and as was calculated about the centre of Lynn woods. They had previously held similar meetings in the forest, and consecrated and given appropriate names to some of the other hills which still remain unknown to most of our people, but which would richly repay the visits of every lover of the wild and weird, the romantic and lovely in nature. The occasion under notice was the consecration of " Mount Gilead," one of the most interesting spots within our borders, and from which the view, though chiefly of forest, is grand in the extreme. The services were highly pleasing, music, both vocal and instrumental, lending its charms to the picturesque ceremonials. There were also brief addresses, and the substantial addition of a pic-nic enter- tainment. The day was very pleasant, and several noted indi- viduals from abroad were present. The "Circle" entertains the laudable hope of initiating such measures as will prevent the
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entire destruction of our noble forests by the relentless woods- man's onward march, and perhaps ultimately secure a suitable tract for a public park.
Memorial sevices on the deccase of the President were held in the First Methodist church, in Park square, on the 26th of September. Some public and many private buildings were appropriately draped.
The Hon. Enoch Redington Mudge died very suddenly, on Saturday, October I, at his beautiful summer residence in Swamp- scott. He was at his place of business, in Boston, on Friday, and towards night called to inspect the concluding work on St. Stephen's Memorial Church. Up to the time of retirement he appeared to be in his usual health ; but on Saturday morning, before rising, was seized by a severe pain in the head. Medical attendance was promptly summoned and every effort made for his relief, but all without effect, and before noon he had breathed his last. The death of no one in this community has produced more wide-spread and unfeigned sorrow, for he was universally respected for his integrity as a business man, his great liberality in the furtherance of all good works, and for his christian princi- ples, and genial manners. By diligence, enterprise, and uncom- mon business capacity, he had accumulated a large fortune, which he evidently regarded as entrusted to him for the benefit of his fellow-men. For many of the latter years of his life he was extensively concerned in cotton and woolen manufacturing though in earlier manhood his attention was directed to other employments.
That he was a man of cultivated taste, and a true lover of the beautiful in nature and art, his delightful home at Swampscott, in its surroundings and interior appointments, abundantly testi- fied. And in St. Stephen's Memorial Church future generations will behold enduring evidence not only of his liberality, parental love, and christian faith, but also of his elevated conception of grace and adaptation.
Mr. Mudge undoubtedly regarded the erection of St. Stephen's as the crowning work of his life. And that elegant structure will long remain his noblest visible monument. It is gratifying to think that he lived to see the work well-nigh completed, though we may lament that in the ways of a mysterious Providence he was not spared for a few additional days that he might witness the solemn ceremony of consecration ; a consummation he so devoutly contemplated. His sudden decease sent a thrill through the community such is rarely experienced. And the numerous meetings that were held in Boston and elsewhere by the business men and by public associations, and the eulogistic addresses and resolutions of sympathy, showed that one held in far more than
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ordinary esteem had passed away. And it spoke well for the elevated tone of society that such appreciative tributes were so spontaneously offered to the memory of such a man.
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