Wakefield rattan workers, circa 1906 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Frank Ripa and Frank Longo.
- – 1 picture :
- – "This postcard depicts workers leaving the 11-plus acre factory of the Wakefield Rattan Company, also known as the Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company, and later , the Heywood-Wakefield Company. After the 1881 fire, the factory was quickly rebuilt, this time using brick instead of wood. In 1894, there were five main four-story brick buildings, as well as boiler, bleach, dye, office and pump houses; a paint shop and a supply room; three frame storehouses; iron and frame storehouses; lumber sheds; two yarn houses; a frame cold air dry house; coal shed; a barn; and a shed, bringing the total number of factory buildings on the grounds to more than 30. By 1906, the company had grown to over 1,000 workers and was responsible for the influx of workers who eventually settled in Wakefield. The business began to slow down before and after the depression, leading to the dismantling and moving of the company to Gardner in the early 1930s. The buildings were rented to smaller industries, eventually returning the area to an active industrial center. The 11-acre property was sold to Rapid Furniture Company owner Abram B. Fox in May, 1945. A major fire destroyed seven large buildings and damaged several more in 1972 in what was then the Robie Industrial Park." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:19Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:19Z
- – 1999.
- – 1999.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1999 ; Front cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Albion Street, 1930 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Tony and Jean Giuliano.
- – 1 picture :
- – "This view of Albion Street may have been photographed from the Methodist Church which was located on Albion Street until the late 1930's. Although several homes were located along the lower portion of Albion Street, the area was a thriving business section, housing such enterprises as Reid's Market at 77 Albion Street, Spero Bros. Bedding at 11-13 Albion Street, Charles J. Martin (which advertised motorcycle repairs and skate sharpening), and J. Wallace Grace Co. at 14-18 Albion Street. The latter offered 'shoe skate outfits'." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:18Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:18Z
- – 1995.
- – 1995.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1995 ; April.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) Aerial photographs.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield, circa 1929 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Tony and Jean Giuliano.
- – 1 picture :
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 1995.
- – 1995.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1995 ; Inside back cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Pumping station at Crystal Lake, 1905 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Cecilia Payro.
- – 1 picture :
- – "For more than three decades, there was substantial discussion and debate regarding domestic water supply to the town of Wakefield. In 1872, a group of concerned citizens petitioned the legislature to charter the Quannapowitt Water Company to give the provate company the right to take water from Quannapowitt and Crystal Lakes with the tributary waters which flow into them. The bill was hastened by the fact that the cities of Lynn and Boston had made preliminary examinations of the lakes for the purpose of adding them to their own water supplies. The town of Stoneham challenged the bill, and it was later amended to include the neighboring town. After several years of inactivity, Wakefield residents authorized a contract in 1882 with the company for 60 hydrants at $50 each per year, for a total of ten years. The same arrangement was made with Stoneham in 1883. In April 1883, a contract was signed with a Springfield company to build the water works and lay pipes in the two towns. Work progressed quickly, and the company began supplying water to the town from Crystal Lake on December 1, 1883. The works consisted of a pumping station with two large pumps capable of pumping three million gallons in 24 hours, a boiler house, pipe factory, coal shed, stable, superintendent's house and a large iron standpipe (with a capacity of 563,000 gallons) which was built on the highest point in Stoneham. In 1883, the company changed its name to Wakefield Water Company; and on December 2, 1903, the town aquired the company and all its rights, pipes, hydrants, plant and equipment through an act of the legislature." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – Crystal Lake (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 1991.
- – 1991.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1991 ; August.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield Highway Department apparatus, Main Street, 1915 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.
- – 1 picture :
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 1990.
- – 1990.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1990 ; Inside Back Cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Franklin School, circa 1922 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Item Company.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The Franklin School, as it stands, was built in 1902 on Nahant Street. Plans for a new Junction school house began in 1900 when an article was introduced at the May 21st Town Meeting. A committee of five townspeople (School Committee member G.H.S. Driver, Thomas E. Dwyer, Augustus D. Jenkins, Thomas Hickey, and F.O. Clark) was selected to review whether an eight-room school house should be built. They were to make their report without exceeding $100 to procure the plans. In November, 1900, the committee reported back that 'it was inexpedient to make any additions to the present building (then on Franklin Street) as plumbing and heating of the old and new building would not only be expensive, but would make the building unsatisfactory.' The May, 1901, Town Meeting voted to purchase, or take by eminent domain, land on the northwest corner of Nahant and Traverse Streets for that purpose, and to erect an eight-room brick school house, according to the plans drawn by Harland A. Perkins. Some disagreed with the location, based on the costs of removing ledge on the Traverse Street side ($2 per square yard to cut away) and the filling of the bog in the rear (48 cents a square yard to fill). The land was taken in 1901, with construction starting immediately at a cost of $30,000. A sum of $1,000 was appropriated by Town Meeting to furnish the school, which later bought only 42 desks and chairs for five rooms, for a total of 210 seats. When school opened on September 8, 1902, approximately 240 students were on hand. A sixth classroom was quickly assembled with furnishings from other schools and districts. The building was enlarged in 1926 which doubled its room capacity." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:13Z
- – 1999.
- – 1999.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1999 ; September.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – multiple URL identifiers
Track, 1966-1967 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 1 picture :
- – "In 1916, a 'new' sport, track athletics, was introduced at Wakefield High School. The team slowly lost momentum, and after many years of inactivity, the indoor track team was reintroduced to WHS in 1961, competing in the Essex County League. By 1962 the team had a 7-0 record, and by 1964 had captured three league titles. The team joined the Middlesex League during the 1964-1965 school year, the first year under Coach James Duff. They won the league title that year with a 6-0-1 record. In 1966-1967, the indoor track team won the Class B State Championship. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, competition was so fierce in the league that WHS lost the league championship to Lexington by one point, in 1969. Coach Duff was also named coach of the outdoor track team during the 1964-1965 school year. In 1979, Coach Martin Callahan started a girls track team which competed in the North Shore League. They moved to the Middlesex League in 1980, taking the league crown in their first year of competition." -- Text from calendar.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2002.
- – 2002.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2002 ; June.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
40 Salem Street,circa 1875 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The house at 40 Salem Street was occupied by the families of Ralph Woodward (pictured with his wife at right), and Henry Sweetser (at left, with his wife in the center of the photo.) At the left, in the hammock, are E.A. Sweetser, and Herbert H. Sweetser." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2004.
- – 2004.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2004 ; Back cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple fields for title. Ignoring: Forty Salem Street, circa 1875.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Lake Quannapowitt, a changing landscape [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.
- – 4 pictures : b&w ; 7 x 10 cm. - 8 x 11 cm.
- – "It's hard to imagine Lake Quannapowitt without the office complexes and homes which dot the landscape. Yet it wasn't that long ago that the Beebe family home was one of the few homes on the lake's shore. The Beebe Farm was built in 1810 as one of the last works of Samuel McIntire of Salem. Originally built as a gentleman's farm, the house was purchased by Lucius Beebe, a prominent businessman who founded Lucius Beebe&Sons Leather Merchants (Boston), Lucius Beebe&Sons Lumber (Boston) and Lucius Beebe&Sons Cotton (New Orleans). The Beebe Farm boasted old-fashioned flower and vegetable gardens, along with over 100 milking cows, stable horses, truck gardens and acres of woodland. Today Beebe's Cove remains one of the most picturesque areas in Wakefield. The landscape of Lake Quannapowitt was altered in the mid-1950s with the construction of the American Mutual Liability Insurance Company. Officially dedicated in October 1958, American Mutual was designed by Chester Churchill and was warmly accepted by both townspeople and town officials. When it opened, the company employed closed to 1000 people. The building and its land was purchased in 1987 by the Beal Company who plans to redesign and rebuild the property." -- Text from calendar.
- – Captions: 1. Beebe's Cove today. -- 2. Beebe's Cove was named for the Beebe Farm, the only home in the vicinity for a number of years. A lone car rides along Main Street in the cove area in 1900. -- 3. Lake Quannapowitt has always provided hours of entertainment for local residents, as pictured in this 1930 photograph. Pre-American Mutual, residents were afforded an ample view of the Lake's shore. -- 4. Lake Quannapowitt has still retained its beauty throughout the years. American Mutual Liability Company provides a backdrop.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; June.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield Square in 1903 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Payro family and Louis Picardi.
- – 1 picture :
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:14Z
- – 1989.
- – 1989.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1989 ; Front Cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Engine 2, Greenwood Fire Station, July 3, 1954 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Murray Young.
- – 1 picture :
- – "On April 1, 1902, the Town of Wakefield voted to sell the Greenwood Fire Station on Oak Street and convert the adjacent vacant Greenwood School building into a fire station. The school, originally built in 1847 on the east side of Main Street just south of Meriam Street, was moved to Oak Street in 1858. The cost for renovating the building for use as a fire station was $746.75. The building housed the Fire Department's first horse in 1903, which was then replaced by the chemical and hose wagon, the first motorized fire apparatus put in service in Greenwood in 1914. In November, 1924, a 1912 Webb pumping engine was relocated from the Central Fire Station to Greenwood, thereby changing the station designation from Hose 3 to Engine 2, its present identification. The engine pictured, a 600 GPM pumping engine, was purchased from the Seagrave Fire Apparatus Co., at a cost of $7000 and was placed in service as Engine 2 in 1929. The engine was replaced in 1955. The wooden fire station was razed in September, 1962 and replaced by the present wood-joisted masonry fire station in May, 1963. The building also housed the Greenwood Branch of the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 1998.
- – 1998.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1998 ; July.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
State Armory, Main Street, circa 1912 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Called an 'architectural ornament' to the town, the State Armory was built of brick and limestone, with artificial stone and granite trimmings in colonial design. It was built to be different in appearance from other armories in Massachusetts and was planned to be less severe in outward appearance. The armory was dedicated on January 15, 1913. According to printed reports, 'The entire building fronts 77 feet, four inches on Main Street, and is 148 feet deep.' The drill shed at 109 feet long was a full 20 feet longer and 17 feet wider than its predecessor that was destroyed by fire in 1910. It was also noted that 'four handsome columns add to the imposing character of the front of the headhouse, and the approach is by a fine granolithic walk.' Inside the main public entrance, a bronze tablet was placed bearing the date the armory was built, along with the names of the governor, adjutant governor, members of the armory commission and advisory member, Capt. McMahon. The armory was built on the north corner of the Cyrus Wakefield estate, seen at the left of the picture, before Armory Street was graded later that year. In 1922, the knoll and driveway in front of the armory and new high school was cut away, Main Street was widened, anbd the curve on the street was eliminated. In 1923, the retaining wall in front of the armory was moved forward to align the armory lot and wall with the high school lot. This enabled the town to lay a straight sidewalk." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2003.
- – 2003.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2003 ; January.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Football, 1937 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Bourdon Studios.
- – 2 pictures :
- – "In late September 1919, 26 prospective players showed up for football practice, the first time since 1905 that Wakefield High School fielded a team. In the course of a week, an epidemic broke out, canceling three games and practices. When the season resumed, 15 players returned to play 7 games. They won 3 and lost 4 games. The 1937 football team, coached by William D. Healey and captained by John Guttadauro had a 'most successful' season with its 7-2 record. It was noted in the yearbook that attendance during the season was 'remarkable, and those who did attend deserve to share in the team's success.' The team played against Amesbury, Swampscott, Woburn, Watertown, Melrose, Reading and Cambridge Latin. In 1956, Wakefield became part of the new Middlessex Football League with Stoneham, Reading, Concord, Winchester, Lexington, Melrose and Belmont. This meant that the teams had new rules and regulations, including prohibiting spring training for teams and allowing coaches, headmasters and athletic directors to decide whether a game would be played because of inclement weather. Since the new league had previously played against other Class B teams, this meant a change in Thanksgiving Day game rivalry from long-time foe Gloucester to Melrose, which occurred in the late 1950s. Wakefield went on to become league champions in 1956, 1957 and 1958. The WHS football team has been successful over the years. In 1962, the team, with an 8-0-1 record, shared the Middlesex League championship and was invited to the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy. The team, undefeated in 1970, won the Middlesex League and team members received a trip to Bermuda thanks to funds raised door-to-door. In 1999, the WHS football team won the Division 2 Superbowl." -- Text from calendar.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2002.
- – 2002.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2002 ; December.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield Fire Department, 1915 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Murray Young.
- – 1 picture :
- – "1914 Peerless Chemical and Hose Wagon (Greenwood Hose 3); 1914 Peerless Squad Wagon; 1914 Peerless Ladder Truck. In September, 1914, three new pieces of motor-driven fire apparatus were delivered to Wakefield from the Peerless Motor Company of New England at a cost of $6,445.16. With extra equipment and painting, the total cost was $7,392.69. The 1914 Peerless city-service ladder truck was the first apparatus to arrive in Wakefield on Sunday, September 12. Thirty minutes after its arrival, it responded to Box 112 for a fire which heavily damaged a dwelling on Forest Road. The new ladder truck was placed in service on Monday, September 14, as Ladder 1, the Town's first motor-driven ladder truck. The three ton truck had a four cylinder gasoline engine and carried nine ladders with lengths from 15 feet to 65 feet in a single bank. The new ladder truck replaced the horse drawn 1892 Abbot-Downing ladder truck which was discarded. On Friday, September 18, a 1914 Peerless chemical and hose wagon was placed in service as Greenwood Hose Co. 3, replacing the horse-drawn 1906 American LaFrance combination wagon, formerly of the Steamer Hose Co., which was placed in reserve at the Greenwood Fire Station. The four cylinder gasoline engine wagon carried 1000 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose and was the first motor-driven apparatus in Greenwood. On Tuesday, September 22, a 1914 Peerless squad wagon arrived and was immediately placed into service. The six cylinder gasoline engine wagon had a long bench seat in the rear for personnel to ride and was designed to tow the 1907 Amoskeag steamer when needed. With the 1912 Webb pumping engine, all apparatus at the Crescent Street headquarters was motorized. Only Montrose Hose Co. 4 remained horse-drawn. As a result of the arrival of the motor-driven apparatus, the entire team of six horses (one pair from Greenwood and two pairs from the central fire station) were transferred to the MLD and the highway department." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:15Z
- – 1993.
- – 1993.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1993 ; December.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield High School, football squad, 1927 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Tony and Jean Giuliano.
- – 1 picture :
- – "After a disappointing 1926 season, which, according to the Wakefield Town Report was not particularly successful because of the choice of plays, Coach Homer Shellenberger put the following team on the field, (front row, from left to right) G. Buckle, M. Ball, G. Churchill, C. Wilkinson, E. Marshall, C. Melanson, S. Szydlowski, D. Winkler and F. Minardi. (Middle row, left to right) Coach Homer Shellenberger, D. Dutton, R. Hayes, B. Colpitts, W. Walsh, H. Galvin, E. Messer, Manager L. Gardner. (Back row, left to right) J. Climo, W. Allyn, F. Newman, T. Duggan, D. Snowden, and A. Hovey. Coach Shellenberger was inducted posthumously into the first Wakefield High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. He also was coach of the baseball team. " -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 1995.
- – 1995.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1995 ; September.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – multiple URL identifiers
Intersection of North Avenue and Albion Street, June 24, 1930 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Tony and Jean Giuliano.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Although the building at the right rear of the photograph remains standing, the building which housed Roche's Hardware/Houseware and the adjoining one which housed First National Stores and Beasley's Variety Store were torn down. The site was the location of a gas station before it was occupied by the present business. The South Reading Mechanic and Agricultural Institution, incorporated in 1833, and the South Reading Bank, organized in 1854, both occupied the second floor of the building at left. Everett W. Eaton opened a grocery store in 1864 where he conducted business for nearly 50 years. Roche's Hardware/Houseware later occupied the site and remained there for several years. The store's window displays advertised radio supplies, sporting goods and cutlery, while Beasley's Variety Store advertised its many wares in the local newspapers. One such advertisement offered sleds, skis and childrens' snow shovels." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – North Avenue (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 1995.
- – 1995.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1995 ; June.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Lilley Eaton home, corner of Main and Salem Streets, circa 1912 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Wakefield Item Company.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Erected by Lilley Eaton in 1804, this house at the corner of Main and Salem Streets was said to be by far 'the most imposing dwelling in the village and occupied a position which was then accounted the centre of population and business for the South Parish.' A shoe manufacturer until his early 30's, Lilley Eaton opened a country store in his home which he operated until his death in 1822. For three of those years, from 1809 to 1812, it was operated by T&A Evans. In 1813, Lilley Eaton opened the first temperance grocery ever kept in the town. As a 'pillar of the Baptist Church and Society' he furnished for many years, free of charge, a room in his house for the society to use for their religious, social and conference meetings. An unfinished hall on the third floor was used on Sabbath evenings and was known in the family as the Meeting Chamber. The house was also known as the 'Pilgrims' Hotel' because it was a 'general resort' of traveling clergymen, and other brethren and sisters of faith. His son, Hon. Lilley Eaton, was born in 1802. He went on to be instrumental in the town, serving as Selectman for 25 years, a member of the school board for nearly as long, Town Clerk for 20 years, Representative for seven years, Senator for two years, Justice of the Peace for 38 years, and a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1853. He was instrumental in establishing the Mechanic and Agricultural Institution. The house was torn down in 1913. " -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:16Z
- – 2001.
- – 2001.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2001 ; November.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Hartshorne House [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 3 pictures :
- – "The Col. James Hartshorne House was built around 1681 on Church Street, the only road from Reading Common (now Wakefield Common) and the Square. The one 'small house' named in the original deed probably contained the southwesterly corner rooms, downstairs and up. In 1681, the house was owned by Thomas Hodgman who may have built the house on land purchased by his wife Mary from William Hooper in 1664. In 1725, the house was sold to the widow Paterson, who left it to her son. He sold it in 1757 to Jonathan Cowdrey who may have enlarged the home to a 'saltbox' with two rooms in the front center section with a sloping roof over the kitchen in the back. A barn and another building, most likely a smith shop, were added to the property during this time. Dr. John Hart purchased the house in 1792 and again enlarged the house to inlude two large rooms near the Old Cemetery, and removed the east wall to make a lodge room for the Mount Moriah Lodge of Freemasons. He may have also raised the sloped roof to make a room over the kitchen. Under Dr. Hart's ownership, the house was rented and used as an inn named for General Lafayette. Two owners followed Dr. Hart, but they only owned the house for six months before selling it to James Hartshorne, Jr. in 1803. (The house was still known as the Lafayette House for many years to follow). Col. Hartshorne and his first wife, Abigail Coggin purchased the house in 1803 and the Colonel resided there until his death in 1870. Active in local affairs, he was a Wakefield Selectman and served as the Town Treasurer for 15 years. His second wife Mary continued to live in the home with her daughter Mary and her husband John Rayner who later sold the house to J. Reed Whipple of Boston and John G. Morrill of Wakefield who later joined with Frank H. Atwood in forming the Morrill-Atwood Ice Company. The property was purchased as a location from which ice from Lake Quannapowitt would be shipped to Boston customers over the Boston&Maine railroad tracks. The owners were primarily interested in the property and the icehouses were built on Hartshorne's meadow (now Veterans' Field). Because of their lack of interest in the house, only a minimum amount of work was performed on the house which functioned as tenements for the men employed at the icehouse. On September 26, 1929, around the same time electric refrigeration began replacing home ice boxes, a general alarm fire consumed all the property, except the Col. James Hartshorne House. During a special town meeting, residents voted to purchase the house and meadow from the Porter-Milton Ice Company for $14,999. The Town of Wakefield's deed to the property is dated October 30, 1929, the day after the 'Crash' of 1929, the day the Great Depression officially began. Yet, in March 1930, concerned Wakefield citizens convinced the town to appropriate $2000 to restore the house. The work was done under the supervision of the Park Board and a sub-committee of the 1930 Tercentenary Committtee as Wakefield's project in observance of the 300th observance of the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Col. James Hartshorne House Association was formed on July 30, 1930 for the purpose of preserving and maintaining the hosue which is still leased from the town. In the restoration's early stages, much of the work was done by clubs and organizations who contributed to specific rooms or improvements. Over the years, necessary structural repairs were made and a kitchen and bathroom, both with second-hand fixtures, were added in the 1930s. In 1935, a second-hand heating system was added, making it possible for Mr.&Mrs. Archibald Hume to live in the house and keep it open year-round. Mrs. Hume was the hostess until her retirement in 1967. It was Mrs. Hume who created the famous Hartshorne House gardens. Today, the money needed to maintain and repair the home comes from fundraising activities, Association members' dues, and gifts from individuals. The Col. James Hartshorne House is open to visitors by appointment only and is available for private parties. Arrangements can be made by contacting Mr.&Mrs. Gaudet 245-3935." -- Text from calendar.
- – Captions: 1. The hearth at the Col. James Hartshorne House. -- 2. The Col. James Hartshorne House in 1930 shortly after it was purchased by the Town of Wakefield. -- 3. Sometime during the 1930s these Wakefield women reenacted the early days of the Hartshorne House in full costume.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 1987.
- – 1987.
- – 2004
- – Col. James Hartshorne House Association (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1987 ; April.
- – Hartshorne's Meadow (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield Theatre Building, circa late 1930s [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Bourdon Studios.
- – 1 picture :
- – "During the 1930's, there were a number of movies for Wakefield residents to see, and two theaters from which to choose - the Wakefield Theatre at the corner of Main and West Water Streets, and the Princess Theatre on Princess Street. The Wakefield Theatre Building was built in 1915 and was originally referred to as the Appleton Building after the builder, H.A. Appleton. In 1916, the Wakefield Theatre opened its doors for business and boasted of having the first cushioned seats in town. Charles W. Hodgdon, owner of the Princess Theatre, was also owner of the Wakefield Theatre. The marquee on the front of the building was added, with lights, in March 1930. Several new movies were introduced each week, and matinees for children were available until 5 p.m. Children under 12 who arrived before 1:30 p.m. paid a $.10 admission fee. Matinee prices were $.25 for adults and $.15 for children; evening prices were $.35 for adults and $.25 for children accompanied by their parents. Continuous performances ran from 1:30 to 10:30 p.m. In addition to the theatre, the building was occupied by A.C. Verge Real Estate and Insurance, W.T. Grant, Thom McCann, Cataldo's Pharmacy, and Schreider's Apparel Shop (on the corner, at left). The second floor offices were occupied by several organizations and businesses over the years, including the American Legion, Spanish War Veterans and, in the 1940s, the John Hancock Life Insurance Company. The building was plagued by several fires throughout the years, including one on March 25, 1971, which gutted the second floor offices." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 1997.
- – 1997.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1997 ; September.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield
- – multiple URL identifiers
Bourdon Block (formerly Kingman Block), March 1946 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 1 picture :
- – Kingman Block (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:17Z
- – 1996.
- – 1996.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1996 ; Inside back cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
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