Our first picture this week is a painting of the pirate Thomas Veal who according to the legend first detailed in Alonzo Lewis’ History of Lynn was buried alive at Dungeon Rock, Lynn in a great earthquake in 1658 . The painting is owned by the Lynn Museum and according to some writers, was “drawn under the guidance of spirits”. At one time the painting may have hung along with two other characters from the legend in Hiram Marble’s home in Lynn Woods.

Marble spent much of his life digging at Dungeon Rock to find Veal’s treasure and also to prove the validity of Spiritualism. Marble and his son Edwin dug at the rock as the “spirit world” directed them. By the time Edwin died-several years after his father-a tunnel about 150 deep was cut through solid rock. It is still an attraction to those who enjoy a walk through Lynn Woods but some still dream of finding a fantastic treasure somewhere on the site.

Our next photograph is of the original Blessed Sacrament Church (Roman Catholic) which once stood on the corner of Adams Avenue and Herbert Avenue. It was dedicated on October 30, 1898 but it burned down in 1909.

The building shown here could hold about five hundred people and had stained glass windows and cost quite a bit in those days. The pastor was Father Sullivan who would arrive each Sunday in a horse and buggy from Lynn.

Victoria Turcotte, a longtime Saugus resident was one of the members of the choir and also played the organ. Another woman who remembered the church was Violet Thomas who at that time lived at 33 Adams Avenue. In 1976 she told me how there was a shed in back of the church for the pastor’s buggy. Father Sullivan and his assistant used to go over to Violet’s house because there was no water at the church. Her mother often fed Father Sullivan and his associate their Sunday dinner as well.

After the church was destroyed by fire, a new Catholic church was built on Central Street. That building still stands and is owned by the town but it is no longer a church.

Every once in a while I like to present pictures of the different monuments and memorials scattered around Saugus which have been placed there to remind us of the different contributions to our town and nation. Our last picture is of one of the two stones standing in Cliftondale Square. I wonder if many Saugus residents have ever stopped to read what appears on it:

1930 1924
This boulder is placed by Parson Roby Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Assisted by members of the Sweetser Family To perpetuate the old village name of Sweetser’s Corner And as a memorial to the patriots Who answered the first call to arms April 19, 1775.