Most Saugus residents have passed by the old Cheever mansion on Essex Street near Route One. It is still an imposing building, now housing a series of attractive condo apartments. At one time it was the home of Abijah Cheever, Revolutionary War veteran who was a surgeon and prisoner of war when the British captured his ship the “Tarter” in the last few years of the war.
Our first picture this week is of the Bi-Centennial automobile plate discussed in my article on April 25. There wasn’t room to show it on that date do I am presenting it here. Better late than not at all!
Our first two pictures this week have to do with Hoffman’s at Cliftondale Square. Many Saugus residents remember this dry good store with fondness. It was started as early as 1927 and didn’t close until 1988. During the intervening years, Hoffman’s served the Cliftondale area very well. I can still remember Anna Hoffman serving the customers with her quiet dignity. She probably wore clothing of various colors but I remember her as always wearing black.
Our first photograph this week comes from a postcard sent from Saugus to Sanford Maine in 1913 and was undoubtedly a black and white photo with color added before publishing. Views of this type have always been popular and the two structures have even been shown on tiles (hotplates) from time to time.
Local newspapers in January, 1989 told of the sudden death of Iva L. (Handy) Adlington at her home in Prescott, Arizona. She had lived in Saugus for many years and maintained friendship with local residents for years after she moved to Arizona.
A few weeks ago I discussed the novel The Iron Peacock by Mary Stetson Clarke. The novel has the Saugus Iron Works as a setting and has been popular with local students for many years.
Our first photograph this week is of the large stone which marks the spot where the boundary lines of Saugus, Lynnfield and Lynn all meet. The stone is usually almost completely submerged below the water level of Walden Pond but the photo was taken a few years ago during a drought.
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.
A few weeks ago in my article “Saugus Mysteries” I told how Alden Trenholm in Of Time and the River told of the disappearance of his friend Wally Green after the two of them walked home from seeing a movie and having a cup of coffee. It appeared that Wally was never seen by anyone after that night.
There are several Route One former businesses of which I am constantly trying to find photographs. The Drive-In Theater, Kiddie Ranch and the Adventure Car Hop top this list. The number of photographs or advertisements of these establishments are very hard to come by and therefore highly prized when discovered.
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