| Railroad tracks at Crystal Cove |
| File # |
1109 |
| Title |
Pleasant St. at Woodside Ave. |
| Description |
The section of track sweeping across Crystal Cove was a part of the Boston Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad or "Narrow "Gauge". Construction of this route began in 1886. It was a part of final track configuration that circled the town and also commonly referred to as "the loop". This section of track was originally constructed on piles and later was reconstructed on a landfilled railroad bed whose remains have survived to this day. Winthrop historian, E. Arthur King related that in his youth, he and his friends used the Railroad Bridge as a swimming platform. He said, as trains approached the bridge, youths "mooned" the passengers then proceeded to dive in! ! ! In 1880, the Washington St Bridge was built and later replaced with solid landfill, which transformed the saltwater inlet creating the now familiar Lewis Lake. This new brackish water lake was named after O.E. Lewis, a Selectman and president of the Winthrop Steamboat Company. Through the years this area has been a victim of landfill advocates. Note how much larger the lake appears in this photo as compared to it's size today. The small structure on what is now the Winthrop Elks property was originally the Tewksbury chapel. This small chapel was floated across Crystal Cove and used as part of a boating business. The Union Congregational Church located on Tewksbury Street replaced it. |
| Date |
Unknown |
| Format |
Photograph, TIF (2.5 MB) |
| Location |
Winthrop Public Library & Museum |
| Collection |
J & G Desaulniers |
| Local ID |
109 |
|