http://hdl.handle.net/10262/295 Search the Channel search http://diglib.noblenet.org:8080/dspace/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4788 Title: Lincoln School circa 1910 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "The Lincoln School on Crescent Street was built in 1892 and was one of four schools built from 1883 to 1902. The Town Report of the year ending January 31, 1893, stated that 'according to Section 46 of Chapter 43 of the Constitution of the State, every town not divided into school districts shall provide and maintain a sufficient number of school houses, properly finished and conveniently located for the accommodation of all children therein entitled to attend the public schools.' Section 4 of Chapter 46 added that 'every child must be in school for at least 20 weeks of the year, from the time he is 8 until he reaches the age of 14.' When the Lincoln School opened at the beginning of the 1892-1893 school year, several changes were made to the 'Centre' schools: the Centre First Grammar School was transferrred from the third story of the high school building (it was determined that the third floor was not a suitable place for young children), and the Hamilton First Grammar School students moved from the Hamilton School to the new school (to relieve crowded conditions). The school was built on Academy Hill, with the two schoolhouses on the site moved to the west side of the lot. Town Meeting appropriated $50,000 in March 1891 and ground was broken in April. An additional $8,000 was approved in March 1892 for furnishings and to grade, fence, and improve the grounds and sidewalks. A vote was also taken at the meeting to name it the Lincoln School. When it opened, the school had 10 school rooms, two 'good' recitation rooms, a teachers' room and several minor rooms. It was noted that the building 'though plain, presents an imposing appearance, being well-proportioned and finely situated. It will be a credit to the town and to the architects, Messrs. Wait and Cutter.'" - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture : http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4787 Title: The Big Freight, 1930 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "Local resident Ernie Payro, son of Joseph Payro, took this photo of the 'Big Freight' with its 100 cars, in July 1930. It was taken during a time when Boston and Maine Railroad was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the railroad and during the same month that the legendary 'Flying Yankee' first took to the rails on its express runs from Boston to Portland, Maine. According to reports, the largest of the Boston and Maine freight trains was a huge 4000 class, weighing 337 tons, with a rate of 3400 horsepower. It was said to carry 18,000 gallons of water and 24 tons of coal." - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of John Neiss.; 1 picture : http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4786 Title: Main and Avon Streets, circa 1921 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "In 1916, 1,200 Wakefield residents contributed a total of $12,000 to buy the land to build a new public library. Soon after, Junius Beebe donated an additional $60,000 to build the library in memory of his father, Lucius Beebe. According to the 1917 Town Report, the Library Building Committee and Mr. Beebe decided to postpone the project due to the unsettled conditions in the business world and the high cost of building materials. The money was put into the Wakefield Trust Company. Other members of the Beebe family made generous donations to the fund; by the time the building was erected, it was said that the fund had risen to more than $200,000. Progress was made in 1919 when Town Meeting voted to accept the deeds of Edward Mansfield and the Cushing family, both of which were already in the name of building committee treasurer Arthur Evans, and Mrs. Hickok. John White deeded an additional tract of land at 361 Main Street, at the north of the lot, to the Town in 1921. His lot was later used for the Post Office. The project was delayed again, until 1921 when the building committee selected its architects, Cram & Ferguson, and work began. It appears that the committee wanted to save on demolition costs; the sign on the building read: 'This building is being torn down by New Eng. Contracting Company, building wreckers. All materials offered for sale on the premises.' The cornerstone for the new building was laid on March 17, 1922. The new library was dedicated on April 15, 1923." - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture : http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4783 Title: The Armory, A Company, 6th Regiment, near the corner of Main and Water Streets, 1906 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "In April 1894, the armory in the Rink Building at 390 Main Street, was deemed unfit for use by state building inspectors, and Company A, also known as the Richardson Light Guard, was ordered to remove all state property from the building. On May 1, 1894, Town Meeting voted to appropriate $12,000 to build a new Armory. Shortly thereafter, a lot of land was purchased next to the Cutler Bros. grocery and grain store at the corner of Main and Water Streets, just south of Town Hall. To help furnish the building, the company held an event on December 19, 1894 that 'cleared' $100. The new armory was designed, built, painted and decorated by members of Company A. The new armory was dedicated on February 15, 1895 in a ceremony that was called 'a notable event' with 'many distinguished military guests' present. The evening included a banquet at 4:30 p.m., followed by a concert and grand ball attended by 100 couples. Just 16 years later, Company A was without a home again when fire partially destroyed the armory after lightning struck wires at the corner of Water and Main Streets on July 6, 1911, igniting the Cutler Bros. store and, eventually, the armory. The building was later rebuilt, with the former drill hall becoming the new home of Robert Godfrey and Jacob Barnard's Quannapowitt Bowling Alley, and the front of the building remodeled into storefronts. The company's final armory, now the Americal Civic Center, was dedicated in January 1913, and was built across the street from its former home, on the north corner of the Cyrus Wakefield estate." - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture :