This is part of a series. It was submitted by Nancy Bertrand.
Today’s Women’s History Month profile spotlights a lifelong resident of the town, whose legacy lives on today: Mrs. Emma Dolbeare.
Emma Brown (Skinner) Dolbeare, born on January 10, 1871, was the daughter of Thomas Judson Skinner and Harriet E. (Brown) Skinner. Thomas Skinner was one of three members of the first class to be graduated fromWakefield (then South Reading), High School in 1863. He was a well known Civil War veteran (a member of the Richardson Light Guard who had served in the 8th Mass. Vol. Militia Co. “E” in 1864). He later went on to an almost incredible record in town affairs, serving as Town Auditor and Town Treasurer, VP and then president of Wakefield Savings Bank (now The Savings Bank), the first president of the Wakefield Cooperative Bank, and a director of the old Wakefield National Bank, later the Wakefield Trust Company. He was on the committee that built both the fourth and fifth meetinghouse of the First Parish Congregational Church.
His daughter Emma graduated from local public schools and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1889. Of ancient pioneer stock herself (her maternal ancestors were among the first settlers in the Malden/Reading/Wakefield area), she married Harris M. Dolbeare on June 6, 1895. Mr. Dolbeare was then a cub reporter for the town’s weekly newspaper “The Citizen and Banner.” He purchased the then six-year old “Daily Item” in 1902; nine years later he would also purchase the weekly paper and merge them into the Wakefield Daily Item. He continued as its publisher until his death in 1938.
Emma had a busy life. The couple had moved into their home at 13 Chestnut Street (right next to her parents’ newly constructed home, which later was used as the Langone Funeral Home). She had four children (one of whom died tragically early, at age 4), and actively participated in many local groups and activities. She was very active in many committees and guilds in the First Parish Congregational church, but she was also a member of the women’s club the Kosmos Club for over 50 years, a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Arts & Crafts Society, the Wakefield Garden Club and, in her spare time, did a lot of knitting for the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Association, of which she was a sustaining member. Upon her husband’s death, Emma succeeded him in the position of president of the Wakefield Item Company, and held that position until her death in 1964, in her 94th year.
Born and raised in Wakefield, Emma was an active contributor to the life of the town for 94 years. Recently, through the generosity of her granddaughter Betty (Curtis) Adam, Emma’s wedding gown and ‘going away outfit,’ along with some family hand-made quilts and aprons, were gifted to the Wakefield Historical Society, where they will be carefully preserved and showcased in an upcoming exhibit on “Wakefield’s Women,” featuring all of the women in this series, and many, many others. The exhibit is tentatively scheduled to open in the fall of this year.
“Women in Wakefield” is a feature of the Wakefield Historical Society in honor of Women’s History Month. Every day the life of a different woman is being featured to illuminate the town’s history and character. All profiles are featured on the social media pages of the Wakefield Historical Society as well as on their blog at wakefieldhistory.org. Many are also shared through the courtesy of the Wakefield Daily Item.