Then And Now: The Ship

This week's image from the files of the Lynnfield Historical Society shows an image of The Ship, as it looked back in 1976.

The Ship has seen numerous incarnations over the years. The most recent one, Mt. Vernon at the Ship, closed its doors last year after about two years in operation. Along with being just known as "The Ship" for many years, there was also apparently a Weathervane restaurant in that location that I've heard more than one resident speak of fondly.

The spot currently occupied by is apparently carved out of the previous restaurant's space, unless I'm looking at the photo wrong. Another retail spot here was home to a pretty decent candy shop I remember visiting once or twice back around the '80s. The spot also just happened to be in the news last week for a gambling-related settlement with the attorney general's office, speaking of adjoining enterprises.

Finally, it's impossible to tell from this vintage photo's angle if there was any sort of business on the space now occupied by the neighboring . Apparently there was a much larger parking lot surrounding the Ship back in the '70s, unless something was later removed to make room for the Christmas Tree Shop.

Looking further back, this website's eBay Report columns and have often made mention of the former Ship's Haven restaurant, which appears to have been the primordial ancestor of Route 1 restaurants in Lynnfield to be shaped like ships.

Editor's Note: Do you have an interesting photo from Lynnfield's (Or Wakefield's) past that you would like to share with the community?  Email it to william.laforme@patch.com to have it featured as a Then And Now photo.