USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, Vol. II. 1864-1893 > Part 27
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A fire occurred in Market street, July 26 destroying some $10.000 worth of property.
The destructive Colarado beetle, or potato bug, first appears in Lynn, this year. Appropriate observance of the centennial year, July 4. "Centennial Memo- rial " published.
Brick engine house, Federal street, built.
Benjamin F. Doak dies, Nov. 8, aged 50 years, bequeathing $10.000 for the poor of the city. [This legacy is now known as the " Doak Fund."]
A splendid meteor passed over the city on the evening of Dec. 20.
1877. Sweetser's four story brick building, Central avenue, with an adjacent building, burned, April 7 ; loss about $115.000.
Extraordinary phosphorescent glow along the shores, in September.
1878.
Successful balloon ascension, July 4, Alderman Aza A. Breed, City Marshal Fry, and Mr. Fred Smith, journalist, accompanying the æronaut.
Dennis Kearney, radical agitator and California "sand lot orator," addresses a large crowd on the Common, on the evening of Aug. 12.
Brick fire engine house, Broad street, built.
Higher temperature in Lynn and vicinity, at midnight, Dec. 2, than in any other part of the United States-six degrees higher than in New Orleans, La., seven higher than in Savannah, Geo., nine higher than in Charleston, S. C., and ten higher than in Jacksonville, Florida.
Gold held at par, Dec. 17, for the first time in sixteen years ; 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 notes. 1879. The brick house of worship of the First Methodist Society, Park square, dedicated, Feb. 27.
The newly-invented telephone, comes into use in Lynn, this year.
Two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Lynn, celebrated, June 17. [A volume embracing a full account of the proceedings was published by order of the City Council.]
Business begins to become decidedly active after seven years of depression.
John A. Jackson, designer of the Soldiers' Monument, Park square, died in Florence, Italy, in August, aged 54.
St. Joseph's Cemetery (Catholic) consecrated, Oct. 16.
Extraordinary occurrence of a perfectly clear sky, all over the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Nov. 4, as reported by the United States Signal Corps.
1880. Hawkes family gathering, July 28 and 29.
Tubular Wells, Boston street, sunk by the city authorities to gain additional water supply ; first pumping from them, Sept. 4.
The notorious "Morey Letter " appears in the autumn, creating much sen- sation throughout the country.
Beautiful mirage in the bay, Nov. 22.
1881. Young Men's Christian Association Building, Market street, dedicated, Jan. 17. Government weather signals, on High Rock, first shown, Feb. 23.
- Lynn Hospital incorporated.
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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
1881. The "yellow day," so called, occurred Sept. 6.
Beautiful celestial phenomena, Sept. 12.
President Garfield's death announced by the tolling of the church bells at midnight, Sept. 19. Memorial services held, Sept. 26.
Free Public Forest Association, or Exploring Circle, formed.
Hon. Enoch Redington Mudge, donor of St. Stephen's Memorial Church, dies, Oct. I.
St. Stephen's Memorial Church consecrated, Nov. 2.
[As our chapter of Annals closes with 1881, and it seems desirable to take some notice of events down as near as possible to the time of publication, the following additions are inserted.]
1882.
The winter of 1881 and '82 was rather remarkable for the quantity of snow, and the long time the earth remained covered. A storm began on the afternoon of Jan- uary 31, during which some eighteen inches fell. And on the next Sunday, Feb. 5, a snow storm occurred that was not for many years before exceeded in violence. The drifts in some places were for a time insurmountable ; and services at several of the principal churches were omitted.
On the night of Feb. 15, a building on Munroe street, owned by Charles G. Clark, together with one or two others, was burned, causing a loss of some $20.000.
The Grand Army Coliseum, on Summer street, was dedicated March 15, with appropriate ceremonies. Its seating capacity is much greater than any other place of assembly hitherto erected here.
On the morning of the 15th of March, just before the time for workmen to assem- ble, a terrific steam boiler explosion took place in the rear of the Goodwin last factory, in Spring street. The engineer was killed, and several others badly wounded. One or two adjacent buildings were much damaged, and a piece of the boiler, weighing about 1.500 pounds, was thrown two hundred feet up into the air, and fell in Newhall street, seven hundred feet distant.
A fire occurred on the morning of April 22, at Houghton, Godfrey and Dean's paper warehouse, Central avenue, destroying property to the amount of $3.000.
Electric lights made their appearance here, in the spring.
At midnight, May 12, according to the weather reports, the thermometer, in Lynn and vicinity, reached a lower degree than in any other part of the United States ; yet it was not so low as to be particularly noticeable.
Memorial Day, May 30, was observed as usual ; address by Comrade James M. Tanner, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Glen Lewis was consecrated, May 30.
Barnum's "greatest show on earth," visited Lynn, July 22. Some half a score of elephants appeared in the street parade. The giant elephant Jumbo and the nursing baby elephant were both members of the caravan. Some 25.000 persons attended the exhibition, and the amount of money received for admission, reached nearly $11.000. The show consisted of a large collection of animals, equestrian, acrobatic, and other circus and semi-dramatic performances. It was, no doubt, the grandest and most costly show ever in Lynn.
An explosion of a part of the underground equipment of the Citizens' Steam Heat- ing Company, at the corner of Washington and Munroe streets, took place, July 27, injuring the street somewhat, and throwing up stones and gravel to the danger
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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
and fright of persons in the vicinity. And subsequently other explosions took place inducing an appeal to the city authorities for protection.
Nickerson's oil clothing factory, in Swampscott, was burned, August 4. Miss Emma Stone, employed in the establishment, lost her life, and the loss of property amounted to about $9.000.
An extraordinary drought prevailed during the latter part of the summer. Most of the crops about Lynn were absolutely ruined, the unripe fruit dropped from the trees, and much of the shrubbery and many of the trees had the appearance of having been exposed to fire blasts. Vet the springs and wells did not indicate any very marked deficiency of moisture somewhat below the surface. We had an uncom- monly long succession of very warm days, with westerly winds and clear skies. And the peculiar effect on vegetation was, no doubt, attributable rather to the burning sun than the lack of moisture. The spring was backward by full two weeks, and the weather was on the whole anomalous, most of the year.
The Ocean House, in Swampscott, a summer hotel of considerable note, was destroyed by fire, on the evening of September 6. It was a large wooden building, six stories in front and five in the rear. The loss was about $65.000.
In October, the fare to or from Boston was reduced to five cents on all the trains of the Narrow-gauge Rail-road, and on a part of those of the Eastern.
Mayor Lovering was, on the 7th of November, elected a member of the U. S. Congress -the second Lynn man ever chosen for that honorable position.
The morning sky for several weeks in October and November was adorned by a splendid comet which rose two or three hours before the sun, in the south-east. A very good representation of it, as seen from High Rock is here given. The steeple of the Central church, in Silsbee street, is seen on the right of the picture, and Phillips's Point, Swampscott, on the left. Astronomers had wonderful stories to tell of this comet -its inconceivable speed and partial disruption as if by some collision.
COMET OF 1882, As seen from High Rock, Lynn.
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TABLES.
The foregoing Chronological Table, as elsewhere remarked, it is thought will be sufficient for a glimpse at our whole history ; and in the present volume nothing more than a mere glance at the times anterior to the point at which the 1865 edition record closes, could be expected or desired, at least by those possessed of a copy of that issue.
Near the close of that volume are various tables, among which are : lists of the surnames of all residents of Lynn from 1629 to 1700-of Assistants and Counsellors - of early Representa- tives - of members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery - of soldiers of the Revolution - of members of important Conven- tions - of Senators - of Newspapers and Editors- of the suc- cessions of Ministers of the various religious societies, &c. These, for the most part, are of course omitted here, as the great accumulation of names would have required space that could perhaps be filled with more interesting matter, inasmuch as they can be readily found elsewhere. A few, however, of those most commonly useful for reference, will be found in their proper connections in these pages ; all of which the reader can easily find by referring to the Index.
PRESIDENTS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
1850. Daniel C. Baker.
1867. Theodore Attwill.
1851. James R. Newhall.
1868. Theodore Attwill.
1852. Edward S. Davis.
1869. Nathan M. Hawkes.
1853. Edward S. Davis.
1870. Nathan M. Hawkes.
1854. Gustavus Attwill.
1871. Bowman B. Breed.
1855. Gilbert Hawkes.
IS72. Nathan M. Hawkes.
1856. Edward S. Davis.
1873. Bowman B. Breed, [died.]
1857. Edward S. Davis.
IS73. Ezra Baker, [part of the year.]
1858. Edwin Q. Bacheller.
1874. William C. Holder.
1859. Nathan Clark.
IS75. George D. Whittle.
1860. Noah Robinson.
1876. George T. Newhall.
1861. George H. Chase.
1877. George T. Newhall.
1862. George H. Chase.
1878. George T. Newhall.
1863. Jesse L. Attwill.
1879. Charles E. Kimball.
1864. Jesse L. Attwill.
ISSO. George C. Neal.
1865. Jesse L. Attwill.
18SI. Edward C. Neal.
1866. Jesse L. Attwill.
IS82. Charles D. Hollis.
CONCLUSION.
A GREAT many individuals who have figured in different periods of the history of Lynn have in the present volume been intro- duced to the reader ; some of them of characters altogether worthy of imitation ; others, perhaps, useful as examples to be avoided. It is not unfrequently difficult to determine the ground of action in a fellow being - whether it be principle, habit, or natural disposition. And many appear to act as if they consid- ered this or that virtue or vice theirs by prescription or inheritance. A prominent fellow-citizen some time ago, when checked for his profanity, replied, with perfect coolness, and an air that indi- cated his full belief in the sufficiency of the plea, "Why, my grandfather used to swear; my father used to swear; and I mean to swear." Parental example, certainly, had influence here. However, our chief means for judging of men in common life, are found in their daily walk ; and if we can discover the tenor of the holding there, a reasonably fair estimate can be made. It is ardently hoped that in the foregoing pages the attempts to elucidate traits, have not been altogether unsuccessful, nor the lessons attempted to be enforced, entire failures. The reply of Rev. Mr. Mottey, the old Lynnfield minister, to one of his complaining parishioners, who called him " odd" was shrewd as well as witty : " Yes," said he, " I set out to be a very good man, and soon found that I could not be without being very odd."
" God gives to every man, The virtue, temper, understanding, taste, That lifts him into life, and lets him fall Just in the niche he was designed to fill."
So says the poet ; but observation would pronounce this predes- tinarian sentiment more poetic than true ; at least, if it be taken in the broad sense that the adjoining lines represent :
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CONCLUSION.
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"To the deliverer of an injured land, He gives a tongue to enlarge upon, a heart To feel, and courage to redress her wrongs. To monarchs dignity, to judges sense, To artists ingenuity and skill."
The great body of mankind fall into niches but poorly fitted for them, and become entangled among cares and vexations that cramp and enervate their very souls
It is believed that in the foregoing pages, abundant evidence will be found that Lynn has produced her full share of worthies in the different walks of life. True, perhaps, she is not able to number among her children any specially illustrious examples in statesmanship, philosophy, or literature; but on a slightly lower level she can firmly stand. The writer has much enjoyed the companionship of the genial ones with whom he has trudged along the historic way ; and will feel disappointed if the reader has not likewise been pleased. It is always a pleasant road that is travelled with agreeable companions.
Here and there suggestions have been made, not always in the direct line of narrative, which it is hoped will not appear obtru- sive ; at all events, devotion to supposed duty, and innocency of purpose, will be the excuse if one seems necessary. Any kind of a history ought to embrace something more than a mere narration of past events. And when treating of individuals, an author's preferences, sympathies, or prejudices, should never lead to invidious condemnation nor to such a tender veiling of imper- fections as to conceal true characteristics.
Perhaps the reader may have occasionally noticed in the foregoing pages an item which appeared to him to relate in no. special manner to the history of Lynn. But he will find such subservient to the general purpose. It may be asked, What has the appearance of a comet, a dark day, or any similar natural phenomenon to do with the history of a town ?- a question rather cavilling than comprehensive; for is it not true, for in- stance, that the last comet or eclipse visible here, or the "yellow day," belonged as much to Lynn as any other place ? It is often as impossible to clearly set forth a matter or elucidate a princi- ple, without a seeming divergence for illustration or comparison, as it is to gather the rarest flowers without an occasional detour ..
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CONCLUSION.
Nearly fifty years ago, as will be perceived by the date of the appended Prospectus, Mr. Lewis and the writer proposed issuing a volume of selections from Lynn writers ; and the reason why the project was not consummated is not now clearly recollected. Attention, however, is here called to the matter, in the hope that the "labor of love" will yet be accomplished. If some one of the gifted coterie now among us, whose literary electric lights are trimmed and burning, would pursue the plan, they would perform a work to which in after years they might recur with much satisfaction, and for which future generations would be thankful - even if they did not receive a commensurate pecuniary return. The design was to have nothing appear that was not the production of a native ; but that might, of course, be modified if deemed expedient. Our prospectus had not been long before the public, when the "Boston Book" was announced; and in that, very little discrimination as to natives was observed ; indeed it almost seemed as if merely passing through the city entitled a writer to a place. The Prospectus alluded to, tells its own story, and is as follows :
WILD FLOWERS AND SEA-SHELLS : Being a Selection from the Writings, Poetical and Prosaic, of Natives of Lynn : embracing the whole period of its History. Edited by ALONZO LEWIS and JAMES R. NEWHALL.
During the period embracing the history of this town, there have from time to time appeared among us, our fellow-citizens are all aware, those of either sex, who were justly looked upon as endowed with mental qualities far above the ordinary standard - those who have shone as stars of the first magnitude in our little commu- nity, and who, haply, under more auspicious circumstances, would have been hailed as brighter lights to a more extended sphere ; - but who have yet passed from among us, leaving a few gems only scattered in their path to the tomb, as memorials of the peculiar favor of their God ; - leaving here a few Flowers gathered from the dark glen or the sunny height, and there a little glittering cabinet of Sea-Shells gleaned from the romantic shores of their own loved home.
. It is the object of the editors to gather up these fragments and select from among them such as they esteem most worthy of preservation ; adding a series of articles, original and select, from the writers of the present day. It is not their aim to gain any thing in a pecuniary point of view ; they ask only remuneration for their actual expenses, deeming the pleasure of presenting the little volume to their fellow-citizens sufficient reward for all their toil. It is believed that the work will also be interesting beyond the immediate sphere of its publication, as the interests and sympathies. of this town and those around her have ever been most strongly united : - together have they toiled through the darkness of by-gone years, and together have they arrived upon the sunny lands of prosperity.
The Prospectus was dated July 15, 1835 ; and the work was to have been an 18mo of about 250 pages, at $ 1 per copy.
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CONCLUSION.
The facilities for travel have now become so great that almost every one, high or low, must have an annual vacation tour. The vacation itself, which a few years ago was hardly thought of by any save a few of those in the so called upper walks of life, the more wealthy and unoccupied, is now deemed almost indispensa- ble by every one above the rank of day laborer, who of all others would seem most in need of an occasional temporary intermission. None will deny that one of the best purposes to which spare pecuniary means can be devoted, is travel for the improvement of mind or body ; and for reasonable self-gratification, too ; but when undertaken for the inferior object of genteel show or vain boasting, its usefulness is not apparent. What are balls, and banquets, and all such entertainments and revels in comparison with right-purposed travel? And thanks be to those who in- vented these modern ways and means which enable us at so little expense of time and money to secure the benefit.
There is the " bridal tour," which every young couple must take on being joined by the silken bonds ; and fortunate it may be if the first disagreement doesnotarise on the question of where and how long it shall be. There is the clergyman's vacation tour which the poor parish as well as the rich is expected without a murmur to accord and further ; for he must have rest and change of scene, although it may happen that the new scene be a niche wherein he is providentially detained to preach a few sermons at extra pay, or, haply, under the same mysterious ordering, become the unforewarned recipient of a call to an improved settlement. There, too, is the schoolmaster's vacation and tour. Well, the faithful teacher is worthy of consideration and esteem though it may be that more hearts swell with joy at his departure than at his return. But we need not further particularize.
Towards Europe the faces of many excursionists are set ; the land where, amid the historic scenes, the depositories of art and learning, and under the stimulation of buoyant inquietude, and renovating airs, the vigor and elasticity of body and mind, diminished by the onerous duties of home, may be restored. In our Annals under date 1871, it will be found stated that four of the Lynn clergymen were then travelling in Europe. But the vacation excursion to the old countries is by no means con- fined to professional persons or to the wealthy. Lynn every
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CONCLUSION.
season is largely, and we trust not unfavorably, represented abroad by numbers of her comely daughters and manly sons, who return refreshed, with sunburnt countenances, rosy descrip- tions, and declarations of unbounded satisfaction.
We have here in Lynn a full share of mutual benefit, benevo- lent, sanitary, and temperance organizations, as well as masonic, odd fellow and military. Various companies for the supply of material wants, we also have, working for the good of the people and profit of themselves. Then there are various clubs and associations for discussion and social entertainment, of a character deserving well of an intelligent and hospitable commu- nity. In them assemble the city statists and savants who put to rights the great matters of public concern and the smaller interest of private life. But whether, if the ghost of Johnson should swagger in at a formal club meeting, he would imagine himself again in the company of his friends and compeers - of Burke, Reynolds, Garrick, Sheridan, "Goldy" the favorite, and those other glowing lights of the time, who shed such lustre upon statesmanship, legal erudition, literary and art criticism-he would be inspired anew, astonished, or diverted, no lesser mind than his is competent to determine.
But after all our boasted privileges, inventions, progress, and attainment - after all the revelations in philosophy, science, and mechanics - after all our rail-roads, steam-driven machinery, tel- egraphs, and electric lights -are there better, wiser, or nobler men and women - better rulers, statesmen, or philanthropists - better fathers, mothers, or children -than there were in the days of yore? Why, no, probably not. Mankind preserves about the same old average and very likely always will. Yet, to come down to our own limited case, there appears reason for congratulation in that the great rank and file of the community are at this day in a physically better condition than at any for- mer period ; better fed, clothed, and sheltered ; better provided with the necessaries and conveniences of life. And would it were possible to say the same of all civilized humanity ; yes, and likewise of all benighted, barbarous, and savage.
The ancient history of the land we occupy is a sealed book, never probably to be opened ; no research has given any satisfactory account of what transpired here, in ages past. The sacred beams
19
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CONCLUSION.
that lighted up the Holy Land - the sombre twilight that glim- mered through old Egypt's gloom - the dreamy scintillations of the pagan realms - the lustre of the old mythology that so adorned the classic lands- shed no radiance here ; no, not even the rugged surges of an Ossian's song tell of the achievements of the unknown people. The red men had some characteristics now found among no other people ; but the race was not one to make an impression on the world's destiny ; and so they have passed away, leaving scarcely a footprint behind.
What civilized nation has so little of a past history as ours ? We have none of the stirring episodes that so enliven the old world chronicles ; no crusaders with their romantic and senti- mental bravery ; no knight-errants with their decorative justice and ideal honor ; no troubadours with their songs of valor and love's enchantments. No, none of these; our knowledge thus far is of stern and hard realities. And are we not still a nation without a name- a family of near forty, each separately called, but collectively with no name indicating consolidated nationality ? In view of the great centralizing achievement of the civil war ought we so to remain ? O, give the nation a name.
The changes that have been steadily going on since the day when the Ingalls brothers and their sturdy companions struck the first blows for civilization within these borders, have attained to what we now behold - a fair city, with a population we would fain believe, as virtuous and as happy as is any where to be found. And could those old worthies return to re-traverse the hills and plains over which they once trod, haply with mis- giving hearts, what would be their feelings. And could the few Indians they found here return in their company, what mad antics would they display, and what frenzied ejaculations and resounding whoops would they utter, as they beheld their old trapping thickets and open hunting grounds occupied by stately buildings and the flaunting insignia of a life never con- ceived of in their wildest dreams.
But there are some things that in the great cycle of ages do not change. The sun, the moon, and the bright retinue of stars which looked complacently down upon the land in the far-off days of forest silence and shadows, now look down with the same com- placency upon our own thronged streets rife with the glittering
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CONCLUSION.
appointments of trade, and flanked by shrines for ghostly worship, and the worship of mammon as well. And the restless ocean, too, rolls up its storm-driven billows against the rocky battle- ments with the same wild rhythm that it did when the lonely skin-clad red man stood upon the trembling cliff and beheld advancing with the coming blasts the misty giants of the spirit land. . . . Here we must pause.
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