New Book Shows Wakefield's History, In Photos

There's more to a town than what meets the eye in the present day. In her latest book, "Images of America: Wakefield Revisited," author and long-time Wakefield resident shows today's Wakefield residents what their town looked like hundreds of years ago.

The book, brimming with images, is reminiscent of a time capsule. Its pages contain nearly two hundred images with captions from the Wakefield Historical Society's archives to create a thorough account of the town's heritage and personality. Second in a series of another Arcadia Publishing book on the town's history, "Images of America: Wakefield," this volume's title, "Wakefield Revisited" supplements Bertrand's other work.

"It's really exciting because we were able to find some brass plate negatives that we were able to make into photographs so they've never actually been seen before," said Bertrand. 

Bertrand's new volume chronologically follows Wakefield's development, starting in the early 1800s with paintings of the unpaved downtown streets by the young artist Franklin Poole, and ending with Wakefield's 350th town anniversary in 1994.

Readers will enjoy recognizing today's landmarks as they flip through the pages, as well as discover rare black and white photographs of the trolley-lined streets, booming factories, long-lost buildings and festive town celebrations. In one particular image, women in hoop skirts watch as Union soldiers and a marching band parade down Main Street as they prepare to serve in the Civil War.

The photographs of daily life are equally as engaging. In one image, a lone horse drinks from a trough in front of Main Street's YMCA while taking a break from delivering milk to Wakefield residents.

Bertrand's passion for history and storytelling can be seen in the book's remarkably detailed captions.

The volume contains a number of memorable historical tidbits, such as the Lynnbrook House restaurant serving "native chicken, thick steaks, fresh lobster and tasty waffles with Vermont maple syrup," along with one dollar dinner specials. Below a picture of young women sitting on a 250^th town anniversary parade float, Bertrand writes that "one of the participants later complained that the driver was heedless of the low branches along the route, causing the destruction of many hairstyles."

Bertrand views each event and building as an integral part of the town's historical record. She devotes an entire chapter to the structures that are "gone, but not forgotten." Her book, "Images of America: Wakefield Revisited," will urge residents to continue to remember Wakefield's rich history.

Bertrand is donating the author royalties to the .

"I'm happy to have had the opportunity to write it," she said, "and I'm hoping it will be a good little fundraiser for the museum."