Swampscott Water Department (MWRA)

Swampscott Water Department (MWRA) Municipal Water Report Info

Historical records indicate that Native Americans known as Naumkeags came to this "land of the red rock" in the 17th century for fishing and hunting. Initially part of the Saugus land grant and later eastern Lynn's Ward One, Swampscott was established in 1629 when Francis Ingalls built the first Massachusetts Bay Colony tannery on Humphrey's Brook.

Long recognized as a maritime fishing village, Swampscott hosted a substantial commercial fishing fleet operating daily from its sheltered bay. Early town records described it as a "community of modest means" with approximately one-third of residents working as fishermen. The remainder were primarily shoemakers (cordwainers), shoe cutters (clickers), farmers and merchants.

In the late 1700s, Ebenezer Phillips learned fish preservation techniques from the Naumkeaks and established a cod processing facility. The preserved cod was barreled and shipped worldwide, making Phillips one of America's earliest millionaires. Swampscott gained international recognition when Ebenezer Thorndike invented the lobster pot in 1808, revolutionizing lobster harvesting. Additionally, Theophilius Brackett created the Swampscott Dory in 1840 – a fishing vessel still used globally today, valued for its unique flat-bottomed design ideal for lobster pot handling.

Several grand resorts constructed in the 1800s attracted wealthy patrons, families and artists nationwide. Many became permanent residents, building magnificent homes that played a crucial role in the town's diverse history. Swampscott separated from Lynn in 1852 when 97 petitioners informed the General Court that they were "situated somewhat remote from Lynn's central section," had different business interests, and would benefit from separate governance.

Lynn offered minimal opposition, leading to the establishment of Swampscott as an independent town on May 21, 1852. On October 9, 1852, Lynn received $5,450 for the transferred land. In 1857, western Salem land known as the "Salem Finger" was added to Swampscott, bringing the total area to 3.05 square miles.

Historically significant homes include John Humphrey's (first deputy governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony) 1637 saltbox residence at 99 Paradise Road, now housing the Swampscott Historical Society and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Professor Elihu Thomson's Georgian revival house with its ornate interior carvings is another landmark. Thomson founded Thomson-Houston Electric Company (now General Electric), and his James T. Kelley-designed building currently serves as the Town Administration Building, also nationally registered.

While the grand hotels that once accommodated notable guests like President Calvin Coolidge no longer stand (lost to fires and coastal storms), and most large estates have been subdivided, Swampscott maintains its tranquil character along Massachusetts' north shore, with the Atlantic's gentle sounds continuing to define its coastal identity.