USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > History of Wakefield (Middlesex County) Massachusetts, compiled by William E. Eaton and History Committee > Part 12
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1844 - 26 weeks
1894 - 40 weeks
1944 - 39 weeks Number in the Graduating Class -
1863-12
1893-24 1943-217
Number of Teachers -
1693 - One
1844-7 in summer 8 in winter
1894-35
1944-107
Registration -
1693 - A few 1844 - 369 in summer 338 in winter
1894-1341 1944 - as of March
891 High School .
1842 Elementary Schools
2733 Total
403 St. Joseph's Parochial School
3136
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CHAPTER NINE
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
Story of Early Libraries - Lucius Beebe Memorial Library The Gift - Its Services to the Town Today
A CENTURY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT IN WAKEFIELD
While early records show that a circulating library existed in South Reading long before 1800, the Social Library was the first whose name is on record. This library was supported by subscriptions and consisted chiefly of works on theological subjects and ecclesiastical history.
In the year 1831, a group of young men started the South Reading Franklin Lyceum and established in connection with it the Franklin Library, containing works on art, science, history, and medicine. Later the Social and Franklin libraries united and continued under the name Frank- lin Library, which was open six days a week and was much used. Other libraries followed these early beginnings: the Phrenological Library, the Prescott Library, and the Mechanics Library. Though little is known of them, they indicate an active growing interest in books and reading.
In March, 1856, the citizens of South Reading appointed a committee to organize and establish a town library. This committee-B. F. Tweed, Lilley Eaton, Fred A. Sawyer, J. M. Evans, George O. Carpenter, and James Oliver-chose the first floor of the old Town House at the head of the Common as the best place for the library. Books were contributed by citizens and by the older libraries, and in the summer of 1856 the com- mittee opened to the public the Town Library of South Reading.
At the Town Meeting of March, 1857, the first Board of Trustees was appointed : Lucius Beebe, Chairman ; J. M. Evans, Treasurer; Lilley Eaton, P. H. Sweetser, D. B. Wheelock, and E. E. Wiley. At the same meeting an appropriation of $300 was made for the purchase of books and to pay the salary of a librarian. The first Board of Trustees at once bought 420 volumes, 33 volumes were given by citizens, and the school children gave a concert for the benefit of the library, the proceeds of which were used for the purchase of books. At the end of the first year the library contained
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1536 volumes. The same annual appropriation for the library was made the next year and continued until the Civil War. The report of the year 1859 gave the total number of volumes as 1678 and noted a marked in- crease in the circulation. ยท
When in 1868 Cyrus Wakefield gave a new town hall to the town and the name South Reading was changed to Wakefield, one half of the first floor of the new town hall was given over to the library. Lucius Beebe saw at once that many more books would be needed and accordingly gave the trustees the sum of $500. In recognition of this gift the Trustees recom- mended that the library be known as the Beebe Public Library of Wake- field, a name which continued for many years. The gift of Mr. Beebe was followed by gifts from Mrs. Harriet N. Flint and Dr. Francis P. Hurd. These were the first gifts to the library, but through the years twenty-eight trust funds have been given, which now amount to slightly over $105,000.
With the added space in the new town hall, successive advance steps were made: a reading room was opened, closer co-operation with the schools was established, and children's books were purchased. A story hour for the children on Saturday mornings was held under the charge of the Kos- mos Club, an arrangement which continued until the library moved into its own building.
The library grew rapidly with the expansion in service, and through the years the new quarters gradually became inadequate. As early as 1900 it was evident that a building for the library was urgently needed, but not until 1910 was there any definite action taken. In that year the Trustees acquired an option on the Mansfield-Hickock-Cushing lots on the corner of Main and Avon Streets. After a further delay in September, 1916, a whirlwind campaign was begun to raise money for the purchase of these lots, by popular subscription, the first civic drive to raise money to be held in Wakefield. Twelve hundred residents, many of them children, contrib- uted $12,000.
In December of that same year, Junius Beebe, son of Lucius Beebe, made a Christmas gift to the town of $60,000, for a public library building to be erected in memory of his father and mother, on the lots purchased by the citizens of the town. The entrance of this country into World War I delayed the erection of the library, but in 1922 work was actually begun and on March 17 the cornerstone was laid. Meanwhile some changes in the boundary lines of the lot were made in order to make it more sym- metrical, and at this time Mr. and Mrs. John W. White gave a strip of land on the north. Because of the increase in the cost of labor and build- ing materials, Junius Beebe and his family increased the original gift until
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it reached about $200,000. The building, beautiful and substantial, known as the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, designed by Cram and Ferguson, was ready for use in 1923.
Today the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library has two branches in addi- tion to the Main Library, the Greenwood Branch established in 1904 and the Montrose Branch opened in 1943. Both of these branches have the advantage of being located in large, busy schools. The library furnishes many school classrooms with collections of books, which are changed three
I
THE LUCIUS BEEBE MEMORIAL LIBRARY Dedicated April 14, 1923; also the home of the Wakefield Historical Society and its collection.
times a year; other book collections have been placed in the E. E. Boit Home for Aged Women, the Cameron Hospital, and the Forrest Conva- lescent Home.
The library has over 8,000 borrowers and on December 31, 1943, con- tained 67,521 books, subscribed to 173 magazines and had a collection of 3,483 pamphlets, with some 60,000 pictures, used not only in library exhib- its but also by clubs, school classes, and smaller groups. Reference assist- ance is always available and includes an inter-library loan service, whereby local library resources are supplemented by special loans from various col- lege, business, and other public libraries.
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HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
There are many special collections in the library: the garden books; the mothers' collection, dealing with the care and training of children; the Keander collection of Medici prints; the Burley collection of books on furniture design and interior decoration; the histories of the towns and cities of Massachusetts; and the Wakefield collection, containing histories, anniversary records, documentary records, war records, maps, and pictures, as well as descriptive material of the town of Wakefield. A collection of choral music contains many copies in duplicate.
The attractive large room for children, with low shelves, chairs, and tables, has a separate entrance. This room, so well adapted for special work with children has not only books and magazines, but also exhibits, posters, and pictures. Story hours are usually held in the lecture hall just below the children's room. At the time the library building was opened, a former library board member, especially interested in this department, gave an anonymous gift of $500 to obtain new books.
The lecture hall is also used for large exhibits, and is available for meetings of clubs, classes, and other groups of townspeople. Since 1941 it has been especially useful for classes concerned with first aid, nutrition, and civilian defense, and for meetings of the Committee on Public Safety and other special committees.
In World War I, the Secretary of War requested the libraries of the country to raise $1,000,000 by popular subscription for the erection of buildings and the purchase of books for libraries in cantonments and camps. Wakefield's share, $650, was exceeded and $783.33 was subscribed. In addition, 1121 books for the soldiers were contributed during 1917 and 1918.
Again in World War II, the library has done its share, having col- lected over 6000 books for distribution to the men and women in the coun- try's services. The library is also the war information center and its staff has compiled a war information directory of local and state officials. Dur- ing the period when the Report Center was operated by civilian defense personnel, the library maintained a deposit of books at the Center.
Free use of library services is available to service men stationed in Wakefield. A room, called the Victory Room, has been set aside for books on the warring countries and international relations, technical books of special importance in the emergency, the world news of the week, and gov- ernment and Red Cross posters of special interest. There is also a collec- tion of special war service pamphlets.
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WAKEFIELD-1868 TO 1944
This story of public library development in Wakefield from its early beginnings is also the record of the constructive service of the following librarians :
Miss E. M. Newhall Mrs. Emily C. Poland Miss Ella E. Morrison
Miss Victorine E. Marsh
Mrs. Harriet A. Shepard Miss H. Gertrude Lee
Miss Ruth Shattuck, Acting Librarian
Miss H. Gladys Mackenzie, Acting Librarian Miss Helen F. Carleton
The Board of Library Trustees in 1944 consists of :
Hervey J. Skinner, Chairman
Mrs. Florence L. Bean, Secretary
Dr. Richard Dutton
Arthur L. Evans
Walter C. Hickey
Albert W. Rockwood
John J. Round
Mrs. Alice W. Wheeler
Dr. Frank T. Woodbury
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CHAPTER TEN
newspapers
Journalism, Past and Present - Publishers Wakefield Daily Item and Item Press
LOCAL JOURNALISM
Up to 1854, Boston weekly newspapers brought news to South Read- ing. The Middlesex Journal of Woburn, this year, printed a South Read- ing Department. For ten years Edward Mansfield sent in local items.
In 1858, William H. Hutchinson of Boston established the South Reading Gazette.
In 1868, A. Augustus Foster commenced publication of the Wakefield Banner. Four years later it bore the name of the Wakefield Citizen. About this time, William H. Twombly launched the Wakefield Advocate, a campaign sheet, but soon after picked up the discarded name of Ban- ner. In 1874, the two papers were consolidated as the Wakefield Citizen and Banner. Two other sheets to make their appearance locally, each short lived, however, were the "Wakefield Casket" in 1872, and "Our Town" in 1878.
In 1880 Chester W. Eaton acquired ownership of the Citizen and Ban- ner from Mr. Twombly and continued publication until he sold out in 1890 to Maitland P. Foster. In the interval two other weekly papers appeared -the Bulletin in 1881, and the Record, in 1886. These Mr. Foster acquired, and consolidated with the Citizen and Banner, selling out soon to Chester W. Eaton, who continued its publication until 1911.
On May 7, 1894, the Daily Item was established by Fred W. Young, who had previously conducted weekly newspapers in Wakefield.
In September, 1894, another daily, the Wakefield Evening News, was launched by the Citizen and Banner, but it was discontinued after a month's publication.
In 1899, the Wakefield Daily Banner started from the Citizen and Banner office.
Mr. Young sold the Item to Alstead W. Brownell, a printer in the Taylor Building, (then the Wakefield Block) in March, 1900, and a
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WAKEFIELD-1868 TO 1944
few days later, April 1, 1900, Mr. Brownell sold both the newspaper and his job printing business to Harris M. Dolbeare. The name of the printing department was designated as the Item Press. About the same time Mr Dolbeare also purchased of Mr. Eaton the Daily Banner, following its one- year career.
On June, 1911, the Wakefield Citizen and Banner, the town's old established (weekly) .newspaper, was purchased by the Daily Item and discontinued.
In September, 1912, the present Daily Item Building was erected at the corner of Albion and Foster Streets. Previously, since its birth, the Daily Item had occupied part of the second floor of the Taylor Building. Wakefield Square. The Item was one of the first daily newspapers, except in larger cities, to build its own newspaper plant in New England.
In February, 1913, the Wakefield Evening Mail was launched by Fred W. Young, founder of the Item. (Publication discontinued April 3, 1916.)
In November, 1913, a Duplex Junior web press was installed by the Daily Item, making possible the printing, from rolls, of four, six, or eight- page papers in one operation-printed, folded, and counted. The former method, using single sheets of newsprint, called for the printing of two pages at a time on a hand-fed cylinder press. The Duplex press was re- placed in November, 1927, with a larger model, the present equipment.
In June, 1915, the first Linotype (typesetting) machines were installed by the Item-two in number. Five Linotype machines are now used to produce the Daily Item and practically all of the type in the Item (not only news, but the headlines and advertising) is set by modern typesetting (Linotype and Ludlow) equipment.
These machines are also operated for Item Press composition, and with up-to-date job presses, such as the automatic Miehle vertical and horizontal presses, and associated folding, stapling and other machines, the Item Press today is one of the largest and most completely-equipped printing establishments in the Boston area.
On December 15, 1919, the price of the Daily Item was raised from one cent to two cents per copy, the Item taking the lead among suburban dailies in meeting the rising costs of paper stock due to World War I.
On January 1, 1923, the newspaper and printing business, hitherto personally owned and conducted by Harris M. Dolbeare, under his name, and/or that of the Wakefield Daily Item and Item Press, was incorporated under Massachusetts laws in the name of Wakefield Item Company -- five members of the Dolbeare family becoming the sole owners and holders of all stock. There were no changes in personnel or management.
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HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
In October, 1923, a stereotyping outfit, for the casting of cuts (illus- trations) from mats, was installed for the benefit of advertisers. At the same time new and modern equipment was added to the Item Press includ- ing machinery for the production of relief or raised (process) printing, similar to embossing.
On June 12, 1925, announcement was made that in a survey of Massa- chusetts dailies, published in cities of 25,000 or less, the Wakefield Daily Item ranked first in the presentation of strictly local news, outdistancing
DAILY ITEM
WAKEFIELD DAILY - 1TL M
ITEM PRESS
JOB PRNING
---
ITEM BUILDING, ALBION AND FOSTER STREETS Home of the Daily Item -- Item Press
all contemporaries in the survey, and tying with the Gloucester Evening Times for second place as the best all-round local daily in Massachusetts. In other departments of newspaper work, the Item was given more places of honor than any other newspaper in the survey. The survey was made by the Department of Journalism of Syracuse, New York, University, and was conducted from regular issues, none of the newspapers having an oppor- tunity to present specially prepared editions for the judges. The Item since has won numerous honors, particularly for its editorial page content and set-up, in Massachusetts Press Association contests.
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During 1933 and 1934, Mr. Dolbeare purchased two parcels of property west of the original building, and during the summer of 1935 erected a much-needed addition to the plant, on the Albion-Street side, on the site of the former Atherton grocery store, and later the Champagne furniture store. Approximately one-third greater floor space was obtained.
The Wakefield Independent, a weekly, was established by Charles F. Young, son of Fred W. Young (founder of the Daily Item) on June 14, 1934, and was suspended April 16, 1936. Since then, the Daily Item has been the only newspaper to serve the town of Wakefield.
Harris M. Dolbeare, a Wakefield newspaperman for nearly 50 years, (starting in high school in 1888 as a reporter for the Citizen and Banner and with the latter until 1900, when he purchased the Item) died on January 22, 1938. The management of the Wakefield Item Company was assumed by his family, under the direction of two sons, Cyrus M. and Richard B. Dolbeare. The latter answered the call to the colors in January, 1941, having been a national guardsman and officer for many years, and later served with distinction overseas during World War II.
Cyrus M. Dolbeare, as editor and general manager of the business, retained both Gardner E. Campbell, managing editor of the Daily Item, and Paul W. Mortimer, superintendent of the Item Press, in their respec- tive positions, both men having "started in" and worked with the late publisher since the early 1900's. The staffs of the two businesses under one roof, in 1944, total about 30 persons, many of whom enjoy the distinction of having given long and faithful service to their employers.
On May 4, 1942, the price of the Daily Item, in common with other publications, increased from 2 to 3 cents per copy, due to wartime con- ditions and rising labor costs. The Saturday issue was discontinued for two summers-1939 and 1940, then permanently beginning in September, 1940, in order to meet government wage-hour regulations, also to conserve paper and heat, and for other patriotic reasons.
As this history goes to press (April, 1944), the Daily Item enjoys a circulation of approximately 4,800 copies daily, and ranks high in journal- istic accomplishments. As a part of the Town Tercentenary, and in ob- servance of its own 50th anniversary, the Item plans a noteworthy, illus- trated edition of at least 64 pages.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
Industries
Early and Modern Shoemaking - Manufacturing Concerns Wakefield, a Thriving Industrial Town
The Town of Wakefield (known previously as South Reading and the First Parish) for almost its entire existence has been an industrial community. The farm had its cattle, swine and sheep. The early devel- opment of the cattle trade in Salem gave access also to much needed horses, cows, bulls, and swine.
As early as 1655 Lieutenant Thomas Marshall mortgaged his large farm holdings to Robert Bridges of Linn for "the full and just sum of two hundred, four score and two pounds-sterling, fifty pounds to be paid at Boston in the warehouse of Thomas Broughton in good sweet, well-salted and saved fatt beeff without heads or feet, by the barrel at prices current amongst merchants in Boston: and two hundred and fifty pounds in good, well-cleansed, sweet merchandisable dry pease and wheat by the bushel, and in fatt porke by the barrell", etc .- and all of this had to be carried by horse and cart over the old road to Medford and bridge to Cambridge and into Boston by the long highway at Roxbury Neck!
Shoemaking was an early industry in the homes of the settlers. A tannery was also essential. For this, the town granted a two-acre piece of land between the near end of Reading Pond and the Burying Place as a "Tan Yard" to be held only as long as the tanner should make use of this privilege. As early as 1677 one Jonas Eaton was assigned the privilege of wood and herbage on a tract of land, on condition that he remain in town and follow the trade of shoemaker. The establishment of the Sau- gus Iron Works in the neighboring town caused the damming of the Abousett (Saugus) River, preventing alewives from coming up to Read- ing Pond to spawn. The town protested strenuously but without success, and a valuable fish supply, near at hand, was lost to Reading families.
The boot and shoe industry, small at its beginning, continued to grow and develop over the years-from the home, to the little New Eng- land shoe shop in the back yard, to the large Evans factory of the pres- ent time. In 1805 Thomas Emerson began the manufacture of shoes, later
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the firm was known as Thomas Emerson & Sons, the senior member retiring in 1854. The old factory stood on the present site of the Y. M. C. A. and its product was men's fine shoes. They were sold all over the country. It was about 1812, when Bolles Evans introduced shoe making by a col- lective system, centered in his small shoe shop on the northerly side of Salem Street. He purchased leather linings, thread, lasts, tacks, etc., and distributed them among the townspeople for assembly.
Here we find evidence of the work done by women in local industry, the lighter work by women and the heavier by men.
In 1835 Julia Eaton rendered a bill for making 526 bootes at 3c a pair, a total of $13.52 covering time from July 18 to October 30. By steady work she averaged 36 pairs a day, while one day she made 40 pairs, and other days only 12 or 18 pairs. September 18th she was paid $3.00 on account and the balance was paid November 11th. Well does the writer remember the little old shoe shops that stood in yards about town where two, three or more men would gather for the shoemaking-one in the yard of Henry Emerson on Lafayette Street and another in the yard on old Salem Street just east of Vernon Street.
This same year, January 8, 1835, Ruth Parker made for Oliver Burnham a suit of clothes for $2.42, charged 33c for trimmings; 12c for repairing a vest and for twist; 12c for cutting pantaloons, $1.00 for mak- ing a Spencer, and 20c for trimmings-a total of $4.19 and there is evi- dence that in the settlement she was paid only $2.96.
Then there was Eliza Miller's bill of $6.24 for binding shoes at 6c a pair, but in the settlement she was charged $1.00 for a pair for herself.
Then there was the Aborn shoe factory on the east shore of Lake Quannapowitt, near the foot of White Avenue, specializing in ladies', misses' and children's shoes. Other shoe manufacturers were the Wake- field Co-operative Boot & Shoe Company, E. H. Walton & Company with factory on Albion Street, Henry Haskell on Lawrence Street, I. F. Eaton, L. H. Day & Company in Taylor's Block on Main Street, all disappear- ing as the years passed.
The shoe trade required awls and needles, and it was Thomas Wood- ward in his two-story building on Albion Street, in 1810, who developed and improved a shoe awl, being first in America to manufacture a better article than those imported from England. His son, James F., continued the business to a country-wide sale.
It was along in 1822 or thereabouts, that Dr. Nathan Richardson, a physician, developed sundry articles in medicine, and with his son, Dr. Solon O. Richardson, manufactured the famous-over-New England Dr.
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HISTORY OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
Richardson's Sherry Wine Bitters, in a building on Crescent Street at the location of Wakefield's Central Fire Station.
At about this time, Emerson razor strops were being made by Charles Emerson, inventor. On removal of the business to Charlestown, the Messrs. Atwell improved on the Emerson strop and began and continued their manufacture in a building in the rear of the early Atwell home, now standing on Prospect Street. Not far away on the east side of Cedar Street a rope-walk was a local industry.
Burrage Yale, born at Meriden, Conn. in 1781, began as a young man to sell tin ware, and in 1802 came to Wakefield and remained here. He began the manufacture of tin made utensils, and in time had so in- creased his business that he was one of the largest tinware dealers in the state. His home was on the site of the present Wakefield Post Office.
It was over two hundred years before the town could boast a "heavy industry." In 1850 there came to town a sagacious, progressive man with vision and means. He was Cyrus Wakefield, who early acquired much land and soon was the town's leading citizen. His first enterprise was the establishment of the Boston & Maine Foundry Company on Foun- dry Street in 1854, in buildings some of which are still standing. This later became the Smith and Anthony Stove Company, and here until 1917 was manufactured the first enameled bath tub to be produced in the country ; and its products of stoves, furnaces, etc., had country-wide dis- tribution. Today, the Diamond Tank and Welding Company occupy the remaining early foundry buildings.
Mr. Wakefield, the man of vision, had for years been engaged in the rattan business as a broker with raw material from the Far East. To manufacture the cane into forms of beauty and usefulness intrigued him, with the result that in 1855 he built the factories on Water Street, so long known as those of the Wakefield Rattan Company, where business continued until recent years, and where, after being taken over by the Heywood-Wakefield Company of Gardner, the business and equipment excepting the jute mat business, was transferred to Gardner with many of its experienced operators.
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