History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, Inluding Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1629-[1893] (Volume 2); Including Lynnfield, Saugus,

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1897. Excerpt: ... Next we present an engraving of the first rail-road depot in Lynn; and a poor little one it was, as will be seen. It was erected by the Eastern Rail-road Company as soon as they were ready for travel, in 1838, and stood on the north-west side of the track, occupying as much of the site of the present brick and iron station, in Central Square, as its diminutive proportions required. Half a dozen trains or so of small cars, not much larger than old-fashion stage-coaches, and like them opening only at the sides, passed up and down daily; and the freight transportation was but a fraction of what it now is. After ten years' service it was in 1848 succeeded by the more capacious and convenient but hardly more tasteful brick station, of which a picture may be seen on page 40; and this latter, in 1872, gave place to the well-appointed station that now adorns the Square. KIRST RAIL-ROAD STATION IN LYNN. Central Square, 1838. For a hundred and fifty years shoe-manufacturing has been the leading mechanical industry of Lynn, and till within a few years, the work was done by hand; the buildings required were small and very common in their appointments; but when ponderous machinery was introduced substantial and capacious structures began to appear. While the work was done by hand, the shoes were cut out in small buildings occupied by the bosses, and thence taken by the jours to their own little shops, made up and returned. These shops were to be seen in all quarters, for they rather affected positions whence the incomings and outgoings of neighbors could be observed; and the sprightly music of the lapstone and hammer was well-nigh ceaseless. In the picture of Market street, which precedes the titlepage of this volume, several which adorned that thoroughfare are seen. But hardly any of these ...