Richardson Light Guard, Richardson home, Main and Richardson Avenue, 1877 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 1 picture : b&w ; 14 x 22 cm.
- – "The Richardson Light Guard marched to the home of the late Dr. Solon Richardson in full dress, which may have been prior to the 'mammoth military pageant' in Boston to honor President Rutherford B. Hayes on June 26, 1877. The Richardson home at the corner of Main and Richardson Avenue was built in 1817 and immediately occupied by Dr. Nathan Richardson and his family, including his son Solon, who was instrumental in the founding of the Richardson Light Guard. The house faced Main Street and had extensive land between Main Street and North Avenue. The land was divided during the late 1890s and the house was moved to the corner of Foster Street and Richardson Avenue. Following the death of Solon Richardson, Jr., the house was sold and was purchased by the jeweler, H.S. Sorenson. It was also home to the Colonial Inn. The Richardson Building, a commercial building, was erected on the original site of the house on Main Street in 1901." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:39Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:39Z
- – 2005.
- – 2005.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2005 ; Inside Back cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
Cornelius Sweetser [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Born in South Reading in 1808, Cornelius Sweetser was the eldest son of Cornelius and Phoebe (Eaton) Sweetser. At the age of 20 he entered into the shoe business in Boston and later moved his trade to East Cambridge, Lowell, South Reading and finally to Billerica where he took up farming, in addition to shoe manufacturing. In 1846 he moved to Saco, Maine where he spent the remaining years of his life. As a resident of Saco he continued to manufacture shoes and boots and also opened a retail store. Eventually Mr. Sweetser became a very wealthy and influential member of the community of Saco and held several positions within the town. He also paid special attention to real estate investments and through sound judgement and foresight, he increased his considerable wealth. Mr. Sweetser died in 1881, leaving a widow but no children. In his will he made numerous bequests to the town of Wakefield. He provided $1000 to the Baptist Church as well as $1000 to the town of Wakefield for the repair and beautification of the burial lot of his parents and $10,000 for a public park. He bequeathed a sum of $10,000 in trust to the town with the directions to 'expend the income yearly in provding such lectures as will tend to improve and elevate the public mind and to impose a reasonable fee for admission to such lectures and pay over the proceeds of the same to such charitable organizations in Wakefield as the municipal officers of the town may designate to be distributed among the worthy poor of the town.' As a result, the Sweetser Lecture Series has provided a number of fascinating lectures for the community. The first lecture was held in 1886 and lectures were conducted each year until 1942. The lectures resumed in 1974. Several charitable organizations have benefited from the lectures throughout the years." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:24Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:24Z
- – 1990.
- – 1990.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1990 ; April.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
Elizabeth E. Boit [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item and the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 2 pictures :
- – "Elizabeth Eaton Boit, the first woman in the United States to be actively involved in the manufacture of textile goods, was born in Newton on July 9, 1848 to James H. and Amanda (Berry) Boit. She attended Newton public schools and the Lasell Seminary at Auburndale for two years. In 1866 at the age of 18, Miss Boit was employed by Dudley Hosiery Mill as timekeeper for the sewing department and was later promoted to forewoman. She was later named Superintendent of the Allston Mills at Cottage Farm, the first position of its kind ever held by a woman. In 1888, she and Charles N. Winship, her co-worker at both Dudley Hosiery Mill and Allston Mills entered into a partnership for the manufacture of ladies undergarments with a combined investment of $2500. The firm, Winship, Boit&Company served as proprietor of the Harvard Knitting Mills and began their operation in Cambridgeport, employing 25 workers who produced 20 dozen garments each day. The company moved to Wakefield in 1889 and occupied the entire third floor of the Wakefield Block, later known as the Taylor Building. At the time 40 workers were employed and the firm boasted 10 knitting machines and five sewing machines. Business increased and the company later occupied several other floors in the building. In 1895, the company employed 160 workers, mostly young ladies, in the factory and between 200 to 250 additional workers who crocheted the finish work in their own homes. At the time the company expanded their line to include infants', children's, ladies' and men's undergarments and did a business of $250,000. Miss Boit served as Superintendent in charge of the office and the business management of the firm. In 1897 the firm purchased a parcel of land at the corner of Lake and Albion Streets. Eventually the firm would occupy over 8 acres of space as several additions were built over the years. She was a friend to her workers and built a 'mini hospital' at the factory for Harvard Knitting Mills employees in 1917 and instituted a maternity leave for the women. Miss Boit was active in the community and was the first woman in the country to serve on the Board of Directors of a bank, (Wakefield Co-operative Bank). She was also active in the First Baptist Church and was involved in several real estate transactions including the Boit Apartments on Richardson Avenue. Miss Boit served as a founder and Treasurer of the Wakefield Home for Aged Women which was established in 1894 to 'furnish a home for women who have been residents of the town of Wakefield not less than ten years.' The home was constructed at 5 Bennett Street and was renamed the 'Elizabeth E. Boit Home for Aged Women' in 1921 in recognition of her generosity and faithful assistance in the management of the home. She passed away in 1932 at her home which is located at the corner of Chestnut and Prospect Streets." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:25Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:36:25Z
- – 1990.
- – 1990.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1990 ; June.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
Lucius Beebe [picture] Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of the Payro family, Louis Picardi, and the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 2 pictures :
- – "Lucius Beebe,immortalized in Wakefield history by the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, was active in the town, both politically and personally, for the 32 years he resided in the community. Born in Hebron, Connecticut on March 2, 1810, Lucius Beebe set off at the age of 15 to seek his fortune in his uncle's flannel factory. The factory soon folded and he later went to work as an apprentice at the Yantic Factory in Norwich, Connecticut. At the age of 18, he took charge of one of the departments, a position he held until he and his four brothers opened a store in New Orleans, shipping goods from the New England area for sale at the store. Business was brisk in all sorts of commodities and, after a short time, the brothers opened an office in Boston for the sale of cotton and for the purchase of merchandise for the New Orleans store. He eventually setlled in Cambridge in 1844 and later moved to Melrose in 1851. In 1852 he settled in South Reading on the eastern shores of Lake Quannapowitt at the estate on Main Street known as the Beebe Farm. It was there that he and his wife Sylenda settled to raise their growing family of 12 children, nine of which survived to reach adulthood. At this time, he was a highly respected businessman in Boston, New York, and New Orleans. He immediately settled into his adoptive town, working in various organizations and holding several offices in the town. He was a Trustee for the public library from the time of its formation in 1856. In 1868 the library was renamed Beebe Town Library of Wakefield in his honor, as he was a major contributor, both in terms of financial contributions and his influence in its support. He was a member of the School Board, serving as its Chairman for several of those years. He was a Selectman and served as Trustee of the Wakefield Savings Bank, President of the National Bank of South Reading, President of the Real Estate and Building Association and served as a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Beebe was Chairman of the Hamilton School Building Committee and was a Corporator of the Wakefield Water Company. He served in the State Legislature in 1880 and the same year was nominated as a Representative to Congress by the Democrats of the Fifth District, although he lost his bid for election. His interest in fire fighting was honored by the Wakefield Fire Department with the renaming of the town's Silby Steamer to the 'Lucius Beebe.' Lucius Beebe died suddenly on April 15, 1884 in his Boston office. To mourn his death, all shops in the town were closed, so beloved was he in his adoptive town. On April 15, 1923, 29 years after his death, the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library was dedicated in his memory. This event was made possible through the actions of his children, primarily his son Junius. Each of his living children and the wives of those sons who died established generous trust funds for the purchase of books in the library." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – Captions: 1. The Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in 1929. -- 2. Lucius Beebe was one of several influential Wakefield citizens on the Board of Directors of the South Reading Bank. (Standing left to right) Cyrus Wakefield and George O. Carpenter. (Seated, left to right) Samuel Gardner, Lucius Beebe, Thomas Emerson, Lilley Eaton, and Edward Mansfield.
- – 2008-06-24T18:25:34Z
- – 2008-06-24T18:25:34Z
- – 1989.
- – 1989.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1989 ; March.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
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
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
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
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 Square as it looked in 1904 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 1 picture : b&w ; 20 x 31 cm.
- – "Wakefield Square as it looked in 1904, complete with an electric street railway. The picture was taken facing South from Chestnut Street." -- Text from calendar.
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:11Z
- – 2008-01-30T22:00:11Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; Back Cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Pitman estate, 840 Main Street, Greenwood, 1923 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Known for many years as 'Brookside,' the Pitman Estate was located at 840 Main Street in Greenwood across from Cooper Street. The house was owned by Lawrence J. Pitman who was for many years associated with his father, Ezekiel Pitman, in the merchant tailoring business in Boston's Dock Square. Although a critical illness forced Lawrence to retire from active business at the age of 35, he recovered and lived to the age of 89. Mrs. Pitman was the former Euphronia J. Whittemore, a resident of Greenwood sicne the age of 14. 'Brookside' was said to have one of the largest and finest private residences with some of the most attractive grounds in Wakefield. His son, Richard, operated the Brookside Greenhouses in Greenwood until he died in 1925. After Lawrence's death in November 1925 at Woodland Rest, a private hospital on Linden Avenue, the estate was left to a distant relative and was said to be in a state of disrepair when it was razed in 1945. The land was developed into a 20-house subdivision by Ralph Morel of the Morel Building Trust of Greenwood." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:48Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:48Z
- – 2004.
- – 2004.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2004 ; September.
- – Pitman Estate (Wakefield, Mass.)
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Rosson's Quannapowitt Grove, circa 1910 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Located at the northern end of Lake Quannapowitt, Rosson's Quannapowitt Picnic Grove and Boat Livery may have been a stop along the Wakefield and Stoneham Street Railway system's Lakeside Route. Moxie, first sold as a soft drink in 1884, was prominently featured on the front of the building. Moxie outsold Coca-Cola until the 1920s. In 1910, the Town was taking action to buy most of the land at the north end of the Lake, from Rosson's Grove to the Boston Ice House, and to use funding from the Metropolitan Park Service parks program. In October 1910, Town representatives and the Park Service 'tramped through the marshes at Rosson's Grove' to contemplate the validity of making a road connecting North Avenue and Main Street." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:49Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:49Z
- – 2005.
- – 2005.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2005 ; July.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Proctor family, circa 1899 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Edith Coflan.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The Proctor family moved to the Town of Wakefield from Maine when Edward Everett Proctor took a job with the newly created Municipal Light Department. The family took up residence on the western part of Chestnut Street. Among family members pictured in the buggy: (back row) Edith Proctor (who later married Henry Miller of the Henry F. Miller&Sons Piano Company), Hattie Proctor and Grace Otis Proctor. (Front row): Arthur Proctor, Edward Otis Proctor (who later served as Assistant Attorney General under Massachusetts Governor Paul Dever) and Edward Everett Proctor." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:50Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:50Z
- – 1993.
- – 1993.
- – D'Onofrio, Jayne M.
- – D'Onofrio, Jayne M.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1993 ; November.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Albion Diner, circa 1940 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Wakefield Item Company.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The Albion Diner at 23 Albion Street opened for business in November, 1935. The diner replaced Clifford Mortimer's lunch cart, 'the Dog Cart' which was located where the WMGLD Albion Street office now stands. Built by George Murphy and Walter Baltzer, the diner was bought by Albert Thompson of Lowell and James Riley of Wakefield in August, 1936. The pair sold the diner to Wakefield resident Ray Orde just a few months later. The diner was reported to be a 'favorite eating place' of many Wakefield residents and enjoyed a 'steadily expanding business.' In 1942, it was noted that table service was available for those who preferred not to sit at the counter. At the same time, it was said that 'whether a patron orders a sandwich or a complete dinner, he is assured of courteous and satisfactory service by the several counter men employed at the Albion Diner.' Ray Orde owned the diner until 1964 when the Wakefield Trust Company purchased three parcels of land behind the bank, including the diner, to build a 26-car parking lot. A public auction failed to find a buyer for the building in April, 1964, and on June 25th, 1964, the landmark diner was demolished, along with homes at 6 and 8 Chestnut Street." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – Chestnut Street (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:51Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:51Z
- – 2001.
- – 2001.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2001 ; January.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Park estate, corner of Bennett and Main Streets, 1893 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "Built somewhere between 1875 and 1888, this home operated as a boarding house in 1893. The house was purchased in the fall of 1895 by a committee of five who represented the Wakefield Home for Aged Women, and organization that received its charter in April 1894. The first annual meeting of the Wakefield Home for Aged Women was held in Union Hall in the spring of 1895. The meeting was attended by a large number of members of the corporation who heard from the officers that in one year, their treasury had grown to $6,108.92. Action was also taken regarding an offer made by Dr. Charles Jordan on a lot of land on Converse Street, 'as a suitable location for the Home.' Although the generosity of the offer was noted as 'highly appreciated,' the members thought it best not to accept it. Later that year, the Town of Wakefield accepted Dr. Jordan's offer for the lot of land on January 18, 1896, and built the Warren SChool in 1897. A special meeting of the corporation was held on September 5, 1895. A vote was taken to open the home within months, and a committee was selected 'with full power to buy or hire an estate.' The committee included Mrs. Joseph Morton, Miss E.E. Boit, Mrs. T.J. Skinner, Mrs. E.A. Carlisle, and Mrs. Maria H. Murdock. On February 1, 1896, all four applicants had been approved by the managers, and the first residents moved into the Wakefield Home for Aged Women on February 8, 1896. A dedication ceremony was held on February 17, 1896" -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:52Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:52Z
- – 2003.
- – 2003.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2003 ; February.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Wakefield Home for aged Women (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Main Street, Wakefield [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of the Payro family and Louis Picardi.
- – "Lucius Beebe, author of 'Boston and the Boston Legend' and 'High Iron', a book about railroads, penned an article for the 1939 issue of 'House and Garden'. In this article, he spoke fondly about the history of the Beebe farm and the Town of Wakefield. He described Wakefield as 'twelve miles north of the Boston Stone on the western division of the Boston and Maine Railroad. (In 1840,) it was a rural community with its squire on the hill, its horse trough in the public square, its Main Street, Railroad Street and Mechanics Street, its common surrounded by various approved Protestant churches, its bandstand where the Richardson Light Guard's band achieved approximate harmony two evenings a week in the summer and its Lake Quannapowitt dotted with modest pleasure craft.'" -- The same area is now the Rockery. -- Text from calendar.
- – 1 picture :
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:53Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:53Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; Inside Front Cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
The boat house [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of Bourdon Studios and the Wakefield Daily Item.
- – 3 pictures :
- – "Lake Quannapowitt and all its beauty has been the source of recreation for several generations of Wakefield residents. The bandstand was the scene of many concerts and the lake and her shore provided endless hours of swimming, sunbathing and boating. In 1872, Albert S. Wiley captured the spirit of the lake and established a boat house at the end of Spaulding Street. His son Will soon joined him and together they built a larger, more modern boat house, complete with a large wharf. This building stood facing West in Hartshorne's Cove, but was later turned to the North and used for several years as the Bath House. In 1887, Will Wiley erected the new boat house which stood at the end of Lake Avenue, directly on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt. For several years after, Wakefield residents enjoyed the serenity of the lake with numerous sail boats, row boats and canoes lining the wharf. A dance hall was added in 1912 where several big name bands performed. After the death of Will Wiley, his widow sub-let the ballroom to local promoters, namely Kimball's and Cubberley's, and the hall soon became the recreational facility for servicemen stationed at Camp Curtis Guild during World War I. The boat house and dance hall were sold to Harold and Gertrude Hill in 1923. The Hills opened the dance hall to flower shows, exhibitions, and special events sponsored by local organizations. The Hills owned the boat house until 1963 when it was purchased by the Town. The property became a Town-owned beach and later a playground for children. Recently the Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association built a new playground for the children which was dedicated in 1987." -- Text from calendar.
- – Captions: 1. Wiley's Boat House was originally located at the end of Spaulding Street. In this photo, taken in 1890, the boat house and its long wharf faces West near Hartshorne's Cove. The building was later turned North and used as the bath house. -- 2. The second 'more modern' Wiley's Boat House was built in the late 1880s at the end of Lake Avenue. A dance hall was added on the second floor in 1912 and the building was purchased by the Hill family in 1923. -- 3. The site of the Wiley Boat House and its successor the Hill Boat House, is now the home of a Town-owned beach and playground. The Bath House can be seen at right.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:54Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:54Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; August.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Boothby's entry, Elks' Carnival, Labor Day, 1920 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photo courtesy of Wakefield Historical Society.
- – 1 picture :
- – "The annual Labor Day Carnival, hosted by the Wakefield Lodge of Elks, was held on Monday, September 6th, 1920 at Wakefield Center Depot field on Water Street. The event was reported to be 'one of the biggest outdoor carnivals ever conducted in this vicinity.' The activities began at 10 a.m. and ended at 11 p.m., and included daylight fireworks with 'Japanese bombs,' lights and streamers; band concerts by the Boston City Band and the fife and drum corps of Branch I.N.F.; Star Vaudeville acts by the B.F. Keith circuit, midway attractions, sideshows, dodgers, 'walking Charlie,' and flying horses for the children. The evening fireworks display was staged by the Randolph Fireworks Company. Among the highlights of the day was the crowning of the carnival queen, Mildred O'Connell of Reading, a title she won by popular vote. Her prize was a 'purse of $50 in gold.' The crowning was preceded by a parade through Wakefield, Reading and Stoneham, which may have included this automobile entered by Mrs. Mabel S. Boothby who was entered into the decorated auto parade. Mrs. Boothby enjoyed decorating her car and entering it into parades, including the 1922 Fourth of July parade when her auto captured first place in the decorated auto section. In that parade, her car was 'a blaze of glory...a shining wonder of orange crepe paper.' Other highlights of the 1920 carnival included the drawing for the winners of a doll cart and a coaster cart, and the grand prize of a touring automobile. In 1920, a Ford touring automobile cost $575. A dual electric starting and lighting system cost an additional $75." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.
- – Elks (Fraternal Order) Lodge no. 1276 (Wakefield, Mass.).
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:43Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:43Z
- – 2004.
- – 2004.
- – 2004
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 2004 ; Inside back cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Pleasure Island [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of Bourdon Studios.
- – 4 pictures :
- – "Dubbed by its owners in the late 1950s as the 'Disneyland of the East Coast', Pleasure Island was a fantasyland for children of all ages. Although it was in operation for less than a decade, thousands of local youngsters and their parents passed through the gates to ride on 'Old Smokey', the Pleasure Island and Western Raildroad and spend the day watching the shows and riding the amusements - over and over again! For the price of admission ($2.25 plus tax for 'grown-ups' and $1.75 plus tax for children under 12), everyone could take rides on the Wreck of the Hesperus, Continental Carousel, Moby Dick Hunt, the Skyscraper Slide, the antique cars in the Horseless Carriage Land, Pirate Cove Adventure, and see the shows throughout the day at the Show Bowl, Magic Land, the Chisholm Trail, and Indian Village. Children could also pet the animals at Baby Animal Land, Monkey Island, and even take a burro ride through 'the Old West.' There was something for everyone at Pleasure Island - food pavilions, shopping areas for souvenirs, and big name entertainment at the Show Bowl. Many youngsters had the opportunity to see Ricky Nelson, the Lone Ranger, Rin Tin Tin and Lassie, to name only a few. Today the site where Pleasure Island once stood is now home to several office complexes. The area is dotted with an apartment complex and several industrial and commercial buildings." -- Text from calendar.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; July.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Massachusetts Wakefield.
- – multiple URL identifiers
Wakefield Post Office [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – Photos courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.
- – 3 pictures :
- – "The Wakefield Post Office has been a central part of the community for nearly 200 years, operating in a number of locations until its permanent home was dedicated in 1937. The first mail was brought to Wakefield by private individuals who traveled to the Charlestown Toll House and returned to South Reading where they left the mail in a central location for distribution. The first home of the Wakefield Post Office was established in 1812 on Main Street with John Rayner serving as the first Postmaster. The building, which was on the opposite corner of the present Post Office, sufficed until 1854 when the Postmaster Samuel Kingman built a new post office on the corner of Main and Albion Streets (now known as the Bourdon Block). During his term as Postmaster, Kingman was responsible for the first mail delivery - each Sunday he would stand outside various churches and hand the mail to the recipients. As the town grew, so too, did the needs of her residents. The Post Office was moved to the brick building at the corner of Main and Richardson Streets, then to the building where the Wakefield Municipal Light Department is located, and finally to the current building at Main Street and Yale Avenue. During that time rural free delivery was introduced in 1900 while parcel post was introduced in 1912 with two mail deliveries made daily. The current headquarters at the corner of Main Street and Yale Avenue was the former site of the John W. White Estate (the Burrage Yale Mansion). The building was officially dedicated on January 27, 1937 with a reception sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce." -- Text from calendar.
- – Captions: 1. The John E. White Estate (Burrage Yale Mansion) in 1934. It is interesting to note that this was also the home of Burrage Yale, the first Postmaster recognized in Washington, D.C. It was Yale who built the original portion of the house. -- 2. The Wakefield Post Office in October, 1936 prior to its official opening. -- 3. The Wakefield Post Office today.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:44Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; April.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – Wakefield (Mass.)
- – multiple URL identifiers
[Main Street, 1900] [picture]/ Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department.
description- – 1 picture :
- – "This solitary horse takes a drink from the horse trough on Main Street in 1900." -- Text from calendar.
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:47Z
- – 2007-12-20T21:41:47Z
- – 1988.
- – 1988.
- – Wakefield Municipal Gas&Light Department calendar 1988 ; Inside Front Cover.
- – Wakefield (Mass.) History Pictorial works.
- – multiple URL identifiers
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