Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Gould/Walton Block, Main and Centre Streets, circa late 1930's

Description

"The Gould Block, also referred to as the Walton Block, was one of the many downtown buildings razed during the 1930's to make way for the 'modern' structures which exist today. Formerly owned by Arthur Gould Walton, the block was one of several properties owned by Walton, the man for whom Walton field is named. Following his death in 1937, Walton's heirs sold or auctioned all his properties. When sold in 1938, the block housed McCarthy's Market, John Jeffrey & Sons package store, Western Union Telegraph Company agent L.L. McMaster, and Lucas Jewelry. The Quannapowitt Club which occupied the second floor of the building for 45 years was also displaced by the sale and eventually took up residence in the Hodgdon Building in quarters formerly occupied by Wahpatuck Tribe of Red Men on Main Street, near Water Street. The Gould Block was razed in late December, 1938 to make way for a two story, 58' x 112' building with 'terra cotta front on Main Street and 40' on Centre Street with modern brick sides extending along the remainder of the Centre Street side.' According to published reports, the building was thought to be 'the most modern in this vicinity, with a rounded glass corner at Centre and main Streets, insulation, and all-concealed radiation.' The first floor of the northern half of the building on Main Street was occupied by the Economy Stores, a self-service super market. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company occupied most of the top floor, with the exception of two professional offices on the northern side." -- Text from calendar by Jayne M. D'Onofrio.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 1998

Photo courtesy of Bourdon Studios.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Date

1937-1939

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Gould Block (Wakefield, Mass.)

Walton Block (Wakefield, Mass.)

Commercial buildings

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture : b&w

Extent

17 x 31 cm.