XLV 



time, and he recollected being carried, when a little boy, 

 to see the old building torn down. At this tavern, as he 

 had heard the story from an ancient dame, "Washington 

 once stopped during his journey, rested awhile, and only 

 allowed himself a cup of cold water. Mr. X. also spoke 

 of a series of articles on the history of the town, pre- 

 pared by his late father Benj. F. Xewhall, and printed in 

 the Lynn Reporter, a reprint of which is under consider- 

 ation. 



Joseph Dampney, of Lynn, gave some further statements 

 in the same direction, particularly as to the first church 

 built in Saugus, which was at. the " Center." 



The chair said that Saugus was a place very interesting 

 to the antiquary, and historian. Some of the ramblers of 

 the day had probably seen the heaps of scoria at the 

 " Center" called the " Cinder Bank." At that spot was 

 established the first iron foundery in the country, the scene 

 of the labors of Joseph Jenks, one of the pioneers of 

 American inventors. It was he who first contrived and 

 introduced the long stiff scythe now used by mowers ; and 

 we also find record to show that he invented an " engine 

 for the more spedye cutting of grasse," for which he 

 sought legislative encouragement. What this " engine" 

 was does not well appear. The foundery was a success, 

 it would seem, and a choice relic from it is yet preserved 

 in the family of the late Alonzo Lewis, of Lynn, to wit, the 

 first article cast, being a small quaintly shaped iron pot. 



Rev. C. C. Beaman, of Salem, gave a brief account of 

 the delightful scenery at and about " Pirate's Glen" and 

 also adverted to the tribe of Indians who formerly dwelt 

 hereabout. It was said that their camps might still be 

 traced by the imbedded clam-shells in the soil : and there 

 were some who could recollect the last of these easy, 

 indolent, fish-eating people, as they lingered awhile among 

 their civilized and more powerful successors. 



