Lewis of Lynn, Massachusetts
After ten years of research and study and a four day train trip, we were finally standing in the place where Michael's ancestor, Edmond Lewis lived 370 years ago, from 1639 to 1650, and where his descendants lived for the next 250 to 300 years. Here we were, centuries later, making our way through the landscape, trying to find our way from the train station to our B&B. We even walked on Lewis Street, named for Edmond and family, for a couple of blocks without realizing it, as there were few street signs to announce the historic location.
Soon enough we found ourselves walking under the green awning to the Diamond District Inn, where our host, Sandra Caron was working in the garden by the front door, taking up pansies (to be replanted in back) and planting coleus. She stood up, brushed the dirt from her hands, and greeted us. We immediately felt at home.
Soon enough we found ourselves walking under the green awning to the Diamond District Inn, where our host, Sandra Caron was working in the garden by the front door, taking up pansies (to be replanted in back) and planting coleus. She stood up, brushed the dirt from her hands, and greeted us. We immediately felt at home.
Returning to our B&B by way of Lewis Street, we stopped at Perkins Real Estate on the corner of Lewis and Lafayette Park, the site of Edmond Lewis's home and farmstead. The people were bemused at our enthusiasm, and we enjoyed announcing the return of the prodigal eleventh Great Grandson to Lewis Street. |
We returned to the Inn, with fresh fruit and wine for a relaxed evening in our room, where we watched "April Morning," a movie about the first encounter between British troops and colonials in Lexington, on April 19, 1775, just 23 miles by road from our comfortable bed.
In the morning, we enjoyed a leisurely and scrumptious breakfast prepared by our hostess, Sandy. The meal included fresh bakery muffins, fresh fruit compote and fresh asparagus omelets. Replete from breakfast, we walked to the Swampscott station for the train ride 10 miles northeast to Salem. The Salem station is at the northern edge of the historic district and we walked among the 18th Century buildings, most of them advertising some version of the Salem Witch Trials. |
Back in Lynn, we freshened up and walked back to Swampscott to an Italian restaurant we had spied near the train station that morning, Paradiso Ristorante, which turned out to be the gustatoral highlight of our stay in Massachusetts. Incredible Eggplant Parmigiana, good wine, friendly people and Dean Martin singing Italian favorites... what more could one ask for? We waddled "home" for another comfy night under the gables of the Diamond District Inn.
On Friday, we had planned to go to Watertown to see the place where Edmond Lewis had initially lived when he and his family came to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634. But we were so intrigued with what we had found in Lynn so far, we decided to stay in the area and explore further.
On Friday, we had planned to go to Watertown to see the place where Edmond Lewis had initially lived when he and his family came to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634. But we were so intrigued with what we had found in Lynn so far, we decided to stay in the area and explore further.
Back on our feet once again, we headed to Lewis Street, and north along Lafayette Park Street to Ingalls' Pond, now known as Gold Fish Pond. This heart-shaped natural pond was on the border of the Lewis and Ingalls farms in the 1600s, not far from the Ingalls farmstead that became the first tannery in Lynn, eventually bought from the Ingalls by a descendant of Edmond Lewis's oldest son John. The Lewis and Ingalls families lived in this area for 250 years, passing the land back and forth through purchase and marriage. The streets that now run from Lewis Street down to the beach were once farm lanes used by the locals to gather seaweed to put on their lands as fertilizer.
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Lewis of Lynn Signs was founded in 1886 by Joseph Carlton Lewis, a descendant of Edmond Lewes, through his son John. Gary's father served in Europe in World War II and sent many letters back home to his family in Lynn. Joseph saw the letters, was impressed with his penmanship and offered Gary's father a job on his return. Gary inherited the business from his father and is now the proud owner and craftsman. |