Some say that the Native Americans called Swampscott, the land of the red rock. Swampscott was called the land of the red rock because men would go there to hunt and fish. Swampscott started off a part of Saugus, MA which then turned into a little section of Eastern Lynn, MA.
Swampscott was known as a fishing village, one out of every three men was a fisherman. During the early years of Swampscott, the other men that worked were shoemakers, shoe cutters, or farmers and merchants. A man named Ebenezer Phillips was taught by the Native Americans in the town the dry fishing process. This turned into a very big accomplishment and started a facility where cod fish where dried, barreled up and shipped all over the world. Ebenezer also invented the lobster pot. He thought that the lobster pot would also become big in the town. Ebenezer was correct, and lobstering ended up becoming a big hit in Swampscott. It was then known for its fishing and lobstering. A man named Theophilius Brackett invented the Swampscott Dory, a boat used for lobstering. It was invented so that it was easy to row and pull up lobster pots. The Swampscott Dory is still used today by fisherman everywhere. A couple years after the Swampscott Dory was invented in 1852, Swampscott finally got a legislature act stating that Swampscott was now separated from Lynn and was now its own town. Several resorts were built in Swampscott, attracting people from all over to come and stay in this beautiful ocean front town. Many wealthy families and businessmen stayed at the resorts and ended up building homes in Swampscott for themselves. Hotels such as the Ocean House, The Hotel Preston, The Lincoln House Hotel, The Hotel Bellevue and The New Ocean House Hotel where all hotels that brought people to Swampscott and got them interested in moving to the town. None of these hotels still stand in Swampscott; most have been destroyed by coastal storms and fires.
Above: New Ocean House Hotel
Time Line:
1629- Swampscott was settled and established, Francis Ingalls came and built the first Massachusetts Bay Colony Inn on the Humphrey’s Brook
1700’s- Ebenezer Phillips learned the dry fishing Process from the Native Americans, he set up a facility where cod fish where dried, put in barrels and shipped all over the world.
1800’s- A few big resorts were built in Swampscott, this attracted many wealthy families and businessmen from across the country. These resorts drew people into the town to show them around then many ended up buying land and building big homes, which played a vital role in the town.
1808- Ebenezer also invented the lobster pot to revolutionize lobster harvesting, since Swampscott had already reached the world wide status for it fabulous fishing.
1840- The Swampscott Dory is a fishing boat that is still widely used throughout the world today. This was invented by Theophilius Brackett. The purpose of this invention was to row and to pull lobster pots. This was considered the best boat for fisherman, because the bottom of the boat was so flat.
1852- May 21st- A legislature act passing Swampscott as a separate town separating from Lynn. October 9th 1852, Lynn was paid $5,450.00, for the land that was lost to the new community; this is now known as Swampscott.
1857- Land at the western end of Salem, Ma was attached to Swampscott bringing the land to a whole 3.05 square miles
"Swampscott, MA." The Official Site of Swampscott, MA. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. <http://www.town.swampscott.ma.us/Public_Documents/SwampscottMA_
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Sackowitz, By Karen. "Swampscott." Northshore Magazine. Web. 05 Dec. 2010.
"Swampscott Massachusetts (MA) Census and Detailed Community Profile - AmericanTowns.com." AmericanTowns.com: Online Local Community Network - Connecting The Community Is What We Do Best. Web. 05 Dec. 2010. <http://www.americantowns.com/ma/swampscott-information>.
