OF WAKEFIELD
FROM THE COLLECTION OF
BEEBE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
345 Main Street,
Wakefield, Massachusetts.
- WAKEFIELD POSTCARDS FROM THE COLLECTION OF WILLIAM WALSH
- MORE POSTCARDS FROM WAKEFIELD'S PAST
- CAMP CURTIS GUILD PHOTOS
- WAKEFIELD'S RATTAN/WICKER FURNITURE INDUSTRY
- SCENES FROM PLEASURE ISLAND
- MISCELLANEOUS IMAGES OF WAKEFIELD
- IMAGES FROM THE PAYRO COLLECTION
- OBJECTS & ARTIFACTS FROM WAKEFIELD'S PAST
WAKEFIELD POSTCARDS FROM THE COLLECTION OF
WILLIAM WALSH
(NOTE: CLICK ON SMALLER "THUMBNAIL" IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE.)
These postcards appear courtesy of Wakefield resident William Walsh.
Wakefield Volunteer Hose Company, circa 1912.
"A Pair of Beauties."
Wakefield Fire Department, 1922.
The old Greenwood Train depot. The building was moved in the late '50s to Pleasure Island, the amusement/theme park located off Audubon Road where Edgewater Office Park now stands. The old building was used as the depot for the locomotive ride at Pleasure Island. After the park closed in 1969, the depot building was destroyed in a fire.
Greenwood Depot.
Wakefield Junction.
"Upper Station," Wakefield, Massachusetts. St. Joseph's Church can be seen in the background.
"Wakefield Center railroad Station, about 1913.
The interior of St. Joseph's Church from a postcard dated 1914.
St. Joseph's Church.
St. Joseph's Church.
St. Joseph's Church from the Albion Street side, around 1913.
A 1911 postcard image of St Joseph's Church.
St. Joseph's Rectory.
St Joseph's Church and Rectory.
Interior of the old St. Joseph's Church.
The old St. Joseph's Church.
St. Joseph School, Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Episcopal Church, Wakefield, around 1908.
Episcopal Church.
Episcopal Church, Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Greenwood Union Church, about 1919.
(NOTE: CLICK ON SMALLER "THUMBNAIL" IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE.)
A postcard view of Crystal Lake from Hart's Hill, postmarked 1906.
Another postcard view of Crystal Lake from Hart's Hill.
A postcard view of Crystal Lake from Hart's Hill, postmarked 1918.
A postcard view of Crystal Lake from Hart's Hill.
Hart's Hill and tower.
The tower atop Hart's Hill.
A colorized view of the Hart's Hill tower.
A postcard view of Crystal Lake from the west side, looking back at Hart's Hill. Postmarked 1916.
The old Wakefield Town Hall. A gift from Cyrus Wakefield, the building stood at the corner of Main and Water streets, the current location of the municipal parking lot. The Town Hall was dedicated in 1871 and torn down in 1958.
A 1921 postcard of the old Wakefield Town Hall, with the Miller Piano factory building behind it, to the right.
Wakefield's old Town Hall, decked out for a celebration, around 1910.
Another postcard of the old Town Hall.
This postcard of the Town Hall is dated 1911.
Another view of the old Wakefield Town Hall, postmarked 1912.
The east side of Wakefield Square, about 1912. Note that Main Street was still a dirt road.
Wakefield Square, looking south, around 1910.
Main Street, Wakefield Square looking north, around 1910. The corner of Richardson Avenue is on the left, where the Post Office was located at the time. The Taylor Building is in the foreground on the right. Note the utility poles. Today, there are no poles in Wakefield center, as all utility wires in downtown Wakefield are now underground.
Main Street, Wakefield, looking north in this undated postcard.
"The Richardson Block," at the corner of Richardson Ave. and Main Street, around 1907. At the time, the Wakefield Post Office was on this corner.
(REMINDER: CLICK ON SMALLER "THUMBNAIL" IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE.)
Wakefield Center, around 1950.
About 1929.
Albion Street, circa 1914. The Wakefield Daily Item building is on the left.
Main Street, Wakefield center, looking south. The corner of Albion Street is on the right.
Wakefield Center, circa 1960s.
Wakefield Center, 1960s.
Wakefield Center, postmark: 1965.
The Unitarian-Universalist Church is the oldest religious meeting place in Wakefield, built in 1839.
Bank Building, now The Savings Bank, which now also occupies the Odd Fellows' Building just to the right.
Bank Building (postmarked 1910).
The Savings Bank and the Oddfellows Building in an early, undated postcard. Presently, the bank occupies both buildings.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library.
The Wakefield YMCA, in an undated postcard.
(REMINDER: CLICK ON SMALLER "THUMBNAIL" IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE.)
L.B. Evans shoe factory, about 1907.
Evans factory, about 1910.
The L.B. Evans shoe factory, around 1915.
The Crescent House, 48 Water Street, at the corner of Crescent Street. From a postcard postmarked 1910.
The Rockery, from an undated postcard.
This card was postmarked 1914.
Another undated postcard featuring the Rockery.
The Rockery, from an undated postcard.
The Rockery.
The Rockery. Postmarked 1915.
Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company, around 1912.
The Heywood-Wakefield factory 1906.
Wakefield High School, circa 1906, also known as the Lafayette Building. After several renovations over the years, it is presently the William J. Lee Town Hall. The building served as Wakefield High School until 1923, when the new High School building opened on Main Street, next to the present Americal Civic Center.
The old Wakefield High School. Postmarked 1907
Wakefield High School, circa 1912.
A colorized postcard of Wakefield High School, undated.
Another undated view of Wakefield High School from the early 20th century, showing the corner of Common and Lafayette streets.
The Wakefield Town Hall, in a 1971 postcard image. The building (shown in the previous images) served as Wakefield High School until 1923.
The "new" Wakefield High School, built in 1923, stood next to the Americal Civic Center on main Street. It later served as the Wakefield Junior High School.
The same building as the previous image, in its incarnation as Willard B. Atwell Junior High School. Undated, but this image is probably from the 1950s. In the 1960s, the Atwell Building again became part of Wakefield High School, along with an attached newer building next door, (now the Galvin Middle School). The Atwell Building was destroyed by fire on December 12, 1971.
A colorized postcard of Wakefield High School, undated.
OLD VIEWS OF LAKE QUANNAPOWITT AND WAKEFIELD COMMON
(Click on small images to see full-size)
Wakefield Common, around 1907.
Wakefield Common, around 1935.
Wakefield Common.
Wakefield Common.
"The Willows."
"The Willows."
Lake Quannapowitt.
Wiley's Boathouse on Lake Quannapowitt, Wakefield Massachusetts. Known at different times as "Wiley's Boat House" and "Hill's Boathouse," it was located at Lake Quannapowitt on the shore of Wakefield Common, where the Spaulding Street childrens playground now stands. In addition to serving the boating crowd, for years the boathouse also hosted dancing to the popular orchestras of the day.
Lake Quannapowitt, around 1907.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt, around 1908.
Lake Quannapowitt and Wiley's Boathouse.
Lake Quannapowitt, circa 1910.
(REMINDER: CLICK ON SMALLER "THUMBNAIL" IMAGES TO ENLARGE TO FULL SIZE.)
Lake Quannapowitt shoreline, around 1915.
Lake Quannapowitt, about 1909.
Sailing on Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt, around 1907.
Lake Quannapowitt, about 1919.
Lake Quannapowitt, circa 1907.
Lake Quannapowitt, about 1908.
Lake Quannapowitt, around 1948.
Lake Quannapowitt--a view from the Congregational Church tower.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt, circa 1915.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Beebe's Cove, Lake Quannapowitt.
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Beebe's Cove, Lake Quannapowitt, dated 1936.
Lake Quannapowitt, about 1915.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Lakeside.
"From Lakeside," around 1908.
"At Lake Quannapowitt."
Lake Quannapowitt & Wiley's Boathouse.
Lake Quannapowitt.
Main Street, Lakeside circa 1907.
The Bandstand on Wakefield Common.
The Bandstand.
The Bandstand on Lake Quannapowitt.
West Shore of Lake Quannapowitt.
"The Park," aka Wakefield Common, dated 1921.
Wakefield Common.
Soldiers' Monument, Wakefield Common.
Soldiers' Monument, Wakefield Common.
Wakefield Common, about 1907.
Lake Quannapowitt, from Church Street.
Wakefield Common, around 1913.
Salem Street, from Main Street, Wakefield, Massachusetts.
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MORE POSTCARDS FROM WAKEFIELD'S PAST
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
The old St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Albion Street. The church was built around 1871, and was enlarged and remodeled in 1889. The church was destroyed in a spectacular fire on March 24, 1977. The present day St. Joseph's Church was built on the same site, and dedicated in 1980.
A postcard of Wakefield's First Baptist Church. This structure was built in 1872 and dedicated on December 11, of that year. The previous Baptist Church was located at the corner of Main and Crescent streets until it was destroyed by fire on June 21, 1871.
St. Florence's Catholic Church on Butler Ave., in Wakefield. Built in 1960, it succeeded the old St. Florence's Church on Water Street. The vintage car parked in front may help to date this postcard.
The Congregational Church, as it looked around 1921. To the left are the Old Burial Ground and the Floral Way. To the right is Wakefield Common. The building was dedicated in 1912, and stands to this day.
Wakefield's Floral Way, runs through the Old Burial Ground, adjacent to the Congregational Church.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Massachusetts.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Massachusetts, under construction, circa 1921.
Lake Quannapowitt and lakeside, Wakefield, Massachusetts about 1907.
"Rosson's Grove," Wakefield, Massachusetts about 1908. Around the turn of the 20th century, Wakefield had a number of "groves" that were used for picnics and recreation. Visitors often travelled by train from Boston to Wakefield to enjoy these groves.
This boathouse, shown here in about 1906, was a Wakefield landmark for more than half a century. Known at different times as "Wiley's Boat House" and "Hill's Boathouse," it was located at Lake Quannapowitt on the shore of Wakefield Common, where the Spaulding Street childrens playground now stands. In addition to serving the boating crowd, for years the boathouse also hosted dancing to the popular orchestras of the day.
This building, on the corner of Lafayette and Common streets, served as Wakefield High School until 1923. That year, a new high school opened on Main Street, between the present Galvin School and the Americal Civic Center. (That building, the "Atwell High School" was destroyed by fire on December 12, 1971.) The "Lafayette Building" was used as a centralized 8th grade, and later as town office space. In 1958, it officially became the Town Hall after the previous Town Hall at Main and Water streets was torn down. In the 1990s, it was officially re-named the "William J. Lee Town Hall," after a prominent local citizen.
The old Massachusetts State Armory, later called the Massachusetts National Guard Armory, presently the Americal Civic Center. In 1975, the town purchased the building from the state for $1. In 1976, with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy officiating, the building was re-dedicated as the Americal Civic Center. To the left of the old Armory stood the Atwell Memorial High School until it was destroyed by fire in 1971.
This postcard depicts the Lincoln School, built in 1892. This building still stands at the corner of Crescent and Otis streets. It is presently elderly housing.
This colorized postcard shows Wakefield Common with Lake Quannapowitt in the early 20th century.
A horse trough near the Rockery in Wakefield square.
The Rockery, around 1907. Note the trolley tracks in the foreground. In the background is the upper common.
This undated postcard shows Wakefield square in the days when trolleys ran along tracks through the downtown area.
The Savings Bank. This bank building was built jointly in 1902 by the Wakefield National Bank and the Wakefield Savings Bank. In 1924, The Savings Bank took over the entire building, still located on the corner of Main and Chestnut streets.
This postcard shows Wakefield's common and bandstand in the early 20th century. Lake Quannapowitt is in the background.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the upper common, Wakefield, Massachusetts.
The Harvard Knitting Mills in the early 20th century. Note the dirt roads. The complex of buildings at the corner of Albion and Foundry streets was later home to an electronics firm called Transitron. Presently, they are office buildings.
The glass enclosed swimming pool at the Colonial Hilton Inn, just off Route 128 in Wakefield. The text on the back of this postcard calls the Colonial Hilton "New England's most spectacular motor inn, featuring 180 luxurious rooms and suites, year 'round glass enclosed pool, health club, 18-hole golf course,cocktail lounge, coffee shop, banquet and meeting rooms."
The Lord Wakefield Motor Hotel, on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt, shown in this postcard from 1970. The text on the back of the postcard reads, "Colonial decorated lakeview dining room, coffee shop and new Cypress Cove cocktail lounge augment the 92 fully carpeted, air conditioned bedrooms. Spacious parking and swimming pool add to your pleasure at this modern AAA recommended hostelry."
A postcard from Camp Curtis Guild, printed by Bourdon Studio of Wakefield. The postmark on the back of the card dates it to 1938.
Camp Curtis Guild in an undated postcard published by Bourdon Studio, Wakefield.
The rifle range at camp Curtis Guild, in an undated postcard published by Bourdon Studio of Wakefield.
Another postcard of camp Curtis Guild produced by Bourdon Studio.
The incription at the bottom of this undated postcard reads, "Looking toward 1000 yard range, B.S.M.R.A., Wakefield, Mass."
"Company Street, Camp Plunkett, Wakefield, Mass.," is the inscription on this undated postcard.
CAMP CURTIS GUILD PHOTOS
These photos were donated to the library by Bernard Delorey. The photos appear to have been taken circa 1917.
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
A bugler identified only as "Bentley" sounds the call at Camp Curtis.
Soldiers line up for chow at Camp Curtis in this 1917 photo.
Two soldiers identified as "Leo and Bentley" at Camp Curtis.
Soldiers from Camp Curtis marching through Wakefield square.
A soldier named Vanuti poses with an unidentified friend at Camp Curtis.
The Camp Curtis/Wakefield Rifle Range
Charles Lamont sounds the bugle call at Camp Curtis.
Soldier and beast at Camp Curtis.
Lt. Crawford at Camp Curtis.
WAKEFIELD'S RATTAN/WICKER FURNITURE INDUSTRY
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
Note that the identifications inscribed under the two Cyrus Wakefield photos are reversed. The first Cyrus Wakefield, the man who founded the Wakefield Rattan Company around 1855 and who lent his name to the town in 1868, is on the right. The man on the left is his nephew, Cyrus Wakefield II, who took over the company in 1873 following his uncle's death.
"The Wakefield Factory, around 1856."
An 1865 view of "WAKEFIELD'S RATTAN MANUFACTORY."
"The Wakefield Factory, around 1866."
An 1870 photo shows the "rattan machine shop from east."
An 1880 exterior of the "rattan wood and machine shop."
An undated illustration of the "Wakefield Clipper Ship Hoogly discharging a cargo of rattans at Constitution Warf, Boston."
A load of rugs upon a horse-drawn truck outside the rattan factory in 1894. The driver is identified as Andy Dulong.
Workers at the Heywood-Wakefield rattan factories, 1897.
A 1905 view from the east side of the Wakefield rattan factories, when Water St. ran through the factory yard. Land in foreground was once cow pasture and is now Nasella Park. The top of the Lincoln School can be seen in background, right.
A truck loaded with 250 chairs from the rattan factory, driven by Paul DiDonato, Dec. 4, 1917.
A view of the rattan factories from 1926.
50-year employees of the Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1928. Front row, from left: Andrew Anderson, Mary McCann, John Foley, Henry DeRoche. Back row, from left: Napoleon Munier, James Coleman, Patrick Maloney, Patrick Finneran, Cornelius O'Leary.
A Heywood-Wakefield wicker furniture showroom.
A furniture showroom at the Heywood-Wakefield Company.
A wicker cabinet made by the Heywood-Wakefield Company.
A wicker chair made by the Heywood-Wakefield Company.
Another chair made by the Heywood-Wakefield Company.
For more information and images related to the wicker and rattan furniture industry
in Wakefield, go to THE WAKEFIELD WICKER SOCIETY web site.
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
For much more information on the Pleasure Island amusement park, and lots more images, visit THE FRIENDS OF PLEASURE ISLAND web site.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows the mall just inside the park entrance.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows the "Clipper Cove" section of the park.
An illustrated Pleasure Island postcard shows the same lighthouse in Clipper Cove.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows pirate characters in costume ready to welcome landlubbers aboard authentic thatch-topped boats that sailed to a realistic pirates' hideaway--complete with a treehouse, animals, lookout towers and wrecked ships.
Pleasure Island park characters stage a "holdup" of the train that circled the park.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows the "Goldpan Gulch Stagecoach ride.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows characters playing "early settlers." The street was billed as "an authentic waterfront village as it might have looked a hundred years ago." Note the hand-spun chocolate shop and old-fashioned popcorn wagon.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows one of the many shops & stores in the park.
A Pleasure Island postcard shows "Western City" section of the park.
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
Unusual round stable in foreground was owned by Dr. Solon Richardson.
An 1882 map of the town of Wakefield Massachusetts.
An 1870 map of the town of Wakefield Massachusetts.
Located in a home on Montrose Ave., the Studio School for Children was
run by Hope Dillaway from 1942 until 1968.
A well-known artist in addition to being a teacher, Hope Dillaway painted this portrait of several of Wakefield's founders and early leaders.
Not the Lucius Beebe for whom the library was named, but his more famous grandson, Lucius Morris Beebe, a journalist, author and bon vivant. From a 1939 LIFE Magazine cover.
Joseph C. Payro moved to Wakefield from Montreal, Canada in 1883 at the age of 21. A member of the Wakefield Historical Society, he became a student of Wakefield's history. Mr. Payro studied photography and oil painting, leaving behind a legacy of snapshots and paintings of old Wakefield buildings and landmarks. He died in Wakefield in 1953 at age 90.
(NOTE: Click on thumbnails to see full-size images.)
OBJECTS & ARTIFACTS FROM WAKEFIELD'S PAST
WEB SITES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF Lucius Beebe Memorial Library
One of the earliest panoramic photographs of Wakefield, taken in 1855, when the town was still called South Reading. This view is from the top of Hart's Hill. From the Payro Collection.
An old view of Church Street, around 1860, created by Joseph Payro.
The Taylor Store Fire, March 5, 1907. The store was on the south corner of what is now Princess and Main streets. The photo was taken from the Bourdon Block, at Main and Albion streets. From the Payro Collection.
The ruins from the Hathaway Stable fire, 1899. 39 horses perished in the blaze. 18 buildings on Mechanic (now Princess), Crescent and Lincoln streets were destroyed, including the fire station. The Lincoln School building can be seen in the background. From the Payro Collection.
The corner of Water Street and Wakefield Ave., in a photo dated July 23, 1945. From the Payro Collection.
The first Woodville School being torn down in 1920 In the background is the then "new" Woodville School. Ground was broken on the third Woodville School in 2001. The present 450 student elementary school opened in 2003. From the Payro Collection.
Wakefield's old Town Hall stood at the corner of Main and Water streets. Industrialist Cyrus Wakefield donated the land and a sum of money to build the Town Hall. In appreciation, the townspeople voted to change the name of the town from South Reading to Wakefield in 1868. Behind the Town Hall to the right is the Miller Piano factory. To the left, is the Taylor Building. The Town Hall was torn down in 1958. A municipal parking lot occupies the block today. From the Payro Collection.
The Evans Shoe factory on Water Street on December 3, 1936. The company employed generations of Wakefield residents, including many immigrants. The building has been renovated and is an office building today. From the Payro Collection.
Another view of the Evans Shoe Factory, from 1943. From the Payro Collection.
Looking west from the top of the old Town Hall in 1896. From the Payro Collection.
At the south corner of Main and Albion streets, the "Perkins Block" was being torn down in this October 29, 1940 photo. The Bonney & Dutton drug store was a Wakefield institution. From the Payro Collection.
A 1930 photo showing (left to right) the Wakefield YMCA, the Baptist Church and the Lafayette Building (presently the William J. Lee Town Hall). From the Payro Collection.
The Wakefield Town Farm (1931 photo) stood at the corner of Farm and Nahant streets. From the Payro Collection.
The Town Farm on July 5, 1947. From the Payro Collection.
St. Joseph School on Gould Street, May 8, 1936. From the Payro Collection.
The "Gas House" or "coal gassification plant" on North Ave., in 1909. The site is across from Veterans' Field and Hall Park, approximately where the MGLD building now stands. From the Payro Collection.
A locomotive steams along the tracks next to Crystal Lake (background) in this 1916 photo taken from the "Greenwood Bridge," now known as the Meriam Street Bridge. From the Payro Collection.
Another photo of a train heading south on the tracks next to Crystal Lake, which would be on the left, in this 1939 photo from the Payro Collection.
A 1905 view of the Lincoln School. From the Payro Collection.
The old street railway car barns and power house (rear view). Water Street is in front. The view is looking north in this 1895 photo by T. Munier. From the Payro Collection.
WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS