http://hdl.handle.net/10262/33 Search the Channel search http://diglib.noblenet.org:8080/dspace/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4303 Title: Carriage house at the Beebe Farm, Main Street, circa 1890 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "The Beebe Homestead and Farm on the east shore of Lake Quannapowitt was designed by Samuel McIntire of Salem and built in 1810 as a gentleman's estate for a member of the Forrester family of Salem. Lucius and Sylenda Beebe purchased the estate in 1852. It was there that they raised eleven of their twelve children. The Beebe's farm was known for its abundant flower and vegetable gardens, fruit trees, herds of milk cows, fowl, and bee-hives. As noted in books and newspaper articles about Lucius Beebe, the carriage house was filled with 'horse rigs and sleighs, cutters (small sleighs that were drawn by a single horse), four-seaters, plows and pungs (low box sleighs).' It was also a Thanksgiving tradition to line the children up to mark their heights on the wall." - Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Donofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture : Tue, 29 Oct 0003 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4304 Title: Lowell Street Station, 1929 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Authors: D'Onofrio, Jayne M.; Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.). <br/> <br/>Abstract: "At one time, Wakefield had six railroad stations, servicing the three branches of the Boston & Maine Railroad: the Main line, the Salem branch, and the Danvers-Newburyport branch. The Lowell Street station accommodated the latter branch. The extension of the Boston and Maine Railroad from Wilmington to Boston in 1845, placed the Town of Wakefield on the main line, eventually leading to an increase in population and status as an important railroad center. The later construction of the Danvers-Newburyport Railroad and the South Reading Branch (the Salem Branch) through Wakefield brought residents closer to other parts of the state and New England. In 1894, the three branches of the railroad attracted over 1,500 riders to and from Boston each day. Forty trains passed through Wakefield daily. Usage dropped off in the early 1920's, and in 1924, there were 20 incoming and outgoing trips daily. This lead [sic] to an announcement in December, 1924 that the Boston & Maine would abandon 76 miles of 'unprofitable tracks, 30 of which were in Massachusetts.' Service from Wakefield Center station (Water Street) to Newburyport and beyond was targeted. The railroad company blamed the 'unprofitable mileage' on the fact that 'the system is a combination of many small roads constructed years ago' and 'the rapid development of the motor bus and motor truck and the extensive program of highway construction and improvement.' Service continued, and in September, 1925, the railroad company made another announcement that the Danvers-Newburyport line would be curtailed to one trip each way through Wakefield. At the time, the line had an operating loss of $106,000 annually. Opposition from other communities mounted and an agreement was made that two trips on the Danvers-Newburyport branch would be kept, leaving Newburyport at 6 a.m. and 7:02 a.m. (reaching Wakefield at 7:14 and 8:21 a.m.) and leaving Boston at 4:49 p.m. and 5:28 p.m. The only stops between Wakefield Center and Newburyport were in Georgetown and Topsfield. Several stations were closed along the way, including the Lowell Street and Lynnfield stations. B & M Transportation Company provided busses [sic] from Lynnfield to the Lowell Street station to Center Station to the present upper station. The passenger stations were retained for shelter purposes only." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture : Tue, 29 Oct 0003 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4305 Title: Burrage Yale [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Abstract: "Burrage Yale was born in Meriden, Connecticut on March 27, 1781, the son of Amerton and Sarah (Meriman) Yale. Since his family was dependent upon the elder Mr. Yale for support, Burrage set off at an early age to care for himself and assist his father financially. He secured an ample supply of tinware and traveled through various towns and states to sell his goods. In 1800 his travels took him to Reading, now Wakefield, where he was the guest of the Boardman family of 18 Elm Street. Mr. Yale settled in the community in 1802 and began preparations for the manufacture of tinware. His business eventually blossomed until he became one of the largest tinware dealers in the state with over 100 peddlers. Mr. Yale held few public offices. He served as Town Moderator and Town Treasurer and was very accurate in his statements, accounts and in all the details of his business. He was appointed as the first Postmaster of South Reading on March 16, 1827 and served for nearly three years. His half brother Eli A. Yale assumed the position in January, 1830. Mr. Yale was very generous to the community and its residents and contributed a large sum for the purchase of the fire company engine which bore his name. He died in 1860 at the age of 79." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photos courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item and the Wakefield Historical Society.; 2 pictures : Tue, 29 Oct 0003 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10262/4302 Title: Wakefield High School Cadets, spring, 1886 [picture] / Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department. <br/> <br/>Authors: D'Onofrio, Jayne M.; Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.). <br/> <br/>Abstract: "The first military drills were introduced in October, 1885, when the 'boys of Wakefield High School' formed a military company and entered into the Second Massachusetts Regiment. Together with the cadets from Reading and Andover, the group formed a battalion. Local military men served as drillmasters; and in later years, officers of the United States regular Army acted as instructors. For several years, the companies which made up the Wakefield Battalion held spring prize drills in the Town Hall and later on the park (common). Military drills were abolished in 1931, due to the crowded conditions at the high school and the overcrowding of the program. With the entrance of the United States in World War II, military training was thought to be of value to the young men entering the service. The program was resumed and required of all boys in the junior and senior classes.' -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio. <br/> <br/>Description: Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.; 1 picture : Tue, 29 Oct 0003 22:58:59 GMT