Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Kingman Block, 369 Main Street :September 1923

Description

One of the oldest commercial buildings in downtown Wakefield, the Kingman Block, was built around 1860 during the tenure of Samuel Kingman, a tailor who later became Postmaster. Now known as the Bourdon Building, the building housed the Post Office until 1901 when it moved to the corner of Main Street and Richardson Avenue. During the late 1800s, Kingman's Hall was on one of the upper floors and was used for social parties and assemblies. The third floor was once the armory of the Richardson Light Guard, as well as the A.O.H. Hall and the Red Men's Hall. After the Post Office vacated the building, the bottom floor of the building was altered over the years to accommodate many businesses, including Wilhelmina's Smart Shop, O'Connor's Men's Shop, and Wm. M. Deadman's Market which was on the Albion Street side of the building. Kenwood's Lunch was the occupant of the first floor when this picture was taken on September 21, 1923 just before the razing of the Bessey Livery Stables pictured on the right. Kenwood Lunch advertised that it was an American restaurant with American food and management and encouraged readers to "come and enjoy a real good meal. We solicit your patronage and guarantee satisfaction." The Willard Service Station, the taxi office of Richard Barrett, and the Victor Shoe Shine Parlor, to the right of the Kingman Building were also razed in November 1923 in preparation for the Wakefield Trust Company building.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2019

Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Historical Society.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

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

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Date

09-21-1923

Format

image/jpeg

Language

eng

Publisher

Wakefield, Mass. : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

1 picture :black & white

Extent

32 x 17 cm.