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Summer 2001 Currents

Saugus River and the Whaling Industry This article was contributed by Kathy Wrynn (President of the Saugus River Watershed Council and Board Member of the Lynn Museum). It is the first article in an occasional series highlighting little known history of the Saugus River. Today, we are interested in the welfare of the few whales left in the world. We recognize what noble and beautiful creatures these massive sea mammals are. This past summer, we watched on TV as scientists attempted to free a whale named Churcil from the fishing lines that entangled him and threatened his life. During the 19th Century, whales were not an endangered species and men chased them for their oil. While not generally known, a whaling enterprise was located along the Saugus River for a short period of time. Mr. Hezekia Chase of Lynn was a successful businessman in 1819 when he bought a tide mill at the confluence of Strawberry Brook and the Saugus River. There he manufactured chocolate and engaged in the trade of spices, corn and chocolate using the Sloop Patriot that sailed out of Boston to send his goods to other cities. He built a fine estate on property between Mill Street (now Summer Street) and the Salem Turnpike (Route 107). In 1929, Hezekiah took a partner named Nehemiah Berry and the two men formed a whaling company by purchasing two ships from Johnson Chase, Hezekiah’s brother. The Atlas and the Louisa sailed out of Boston for the next two years. By January 1832, another ship called the Henry Clay had been bought and outfitted as a whaler. In the meantime, arrangements had been made to have a wharf built on the Saugus River so that the whaling ships could put in there instead of Boston. The wharf, which was built on the south side of the turnpike where it enters upon the drawbridge, extended out to the deep water of the channel. At that time the river was dredged at a cost of $1,000. Two large warehouses and other businesses associated with whaling were built. Among these was a sail-loft established by Richard S. Butman of Marblehead and a rope walk (with steam-driven machinery), which was built on what is now West Neptune Street. A cooperage for the manufacture of barrels and casks was erected by Barzillai Cone and his sons Henry B. and John W. who came from Sag Harbor, Maine. Opposite the cooper’s shop was the blacksmith, A.M. Skellinger, and nearer to the turnpike, Stewart G. Hand opened a cordage shop where sailors could buy clothing and small wares needed at sea. Shipbuilding was also introduced at this time and two large buildings for that purpose were built on the western side of the bridge near a “sandy beach” which at high tide could float all but the largest vessels. A few very fine homes and many modest cottages were built in the River Street area. It seems an entire small seaport village had sprung up along the Saugus River. The success of various enterprises in West Lynn was such that the Nahant Bank was formed in 1833, and in 1834 the Lynn Whaling Company was formed by several prominent Lynn men. Two ships, the Commodore Preble and the Ninus sailed for this company. Unfortunately, this busy and industrious corner of West Lynn was not to last. The river proved to be too shallow and unpredictable. Many times cargo had to be off-loaded into smaller boats and brought to shore causing extra expenses that cut into profits. At the same time, the economy had been pushed too far, too fast and a financial panic in 1837 closed the Nahant Bank and wiped out many investors. The final blow to the whaling ships came in 1838 when the first railroad bridge was built across the Saugus River downstream from the wharf. This made it impossible for large ships to sail up the river, thus bringing an end to this little Seaport on the Saugus River. All that remains today, in evidence of this time in history, is the name Cooper Street where the barrels that held whale oil were manufactured.

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Saugus River and the Whaling Industry
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