This Week in Marblehead History: 1907

Every week, Marblehead Patch digs through the Marblehead Messenger microfilm archives at to find out what was happening on this week in local history.

In May 1907:

Selectmen's Meeting:

The Selectmen held their regular meeting, Wednesday evening. The usual bills were passed for payment and the contract to build a retaining wall on bbot Street, near the Lefavour property, was awarded to John F. Powers. Mr. Joseph B. Walsh was appointed to take care of Fort Sewall; Pool licenses were granted to Michael C. Grady, I McIntosh, and John S. Rogers; A bowling license was granted to John S. Rogers. Junk dealers' licenses were granted to H.S. Bennet, James Flynn, Charles. T Cloutman and Wesley Baker; An innholders license was appointed Harbor Master and Mr. James Nicholson was appointed Messenger of the Board.

Won't Enlarge but Will Bridge:

It has been rumored about town that the Marblehead Building Association was to build a large addition to one of the Association factories but the rumor is not confirmed. The firm of Humphrey & Paine are very much in need of more floor space on account of their rapidly increasing business and as they are located on the third floor of Building No. 2 and there is a part of the third floor in Building No. 1 now unoccupied, the Association is to build a bridge connecting the two buildings on the third floors. This will give the firm the desired floor space, and while not quite as convenient as some other plan might be, they will consider it quite acceptable.

Benefit Dance:

The Marblehead Base-ball Team will hold a benefit dance at Monday, May 29. As no admission is charged to the games and some of the players are paid for their services, it is necessary to have funds to maintain the team.

Gone West:

Mr John O. Porter has gone to Kansas City on a business trip. He is accompanied by Mr. Silas Boyes of Salem.

Case of Spotted Fever: 

Arthur, the nine-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Thrasher, is confined to his home with a genuine case of cerebro spinal meningitis, or spotted fever. He was taken ill suddenly Tuesday morning about 3 o'clock and very soon thereafter became unconscious. Dr. H. A. Streeter was called and pronounced the illness spotted fever and during the day Dr. Charles Morse of Salem was also called and confirmed Dr. Streeter's diagnosis. During Wednesday the boy recovered consciousness but had frequent lapses. It was learned this noon that the boy is improving.

Liquor Licenses Granted:

The following victualers' licenses were granted: Hall & Ingalls, Front Street; John Chadwick, Front Street; Thomas Snow, Marblehead Neck; John T. Adams, two on Front Street; Foss & Hutchinson, Pleasant Street; William Girdler, Black Street; Horace B. Usher, Ocean Street; Charles Aiken, Darling Street; John O. Johnson, Tucker's Wharf; Edmund F. Glover, Pleasant Street; Joshua B. Savory, Pleasant Street; William C. Russell, School Street; John E. Hammond Jr., Washington Street; Miss Nellie J. Rodgers, School Street; Levi A. Davis, Washington Street; William H. Howe, Front Street; Philip Trasher Jr., Washington St.

To Open Up New Land:

Mr. William J. Goldthwait and Mr. John O. Porter, who are two of the largest owners of the pasture land near Workhouse Rocks, are to build a road through this land from Pleasant Street to the Boston and Maine Railroad tracks. It will be built parallel with Maverick Street. The will also divide the land on each side of the road, which is to be 40 feet wide, into house lots and offer them for sale.

Do you recognize any of these names or locations? Let us know in the comments section below.