THIS 1948 AERIAL PHOTO shows what downtown Wakefield looked like 70 years ago. Visible in the lower right is the old Atwell High School, with Walton Field behind it (the present site of the Galvin Middle School). Next to the Atwell, the old Armory (present Americal Civic Center) stands. The LB Evans shoe factory can be seen in the upper right quadrant, along with the old Town Hall, the Miller Piano Factory and the Taylor Building. Across from the Town Hall is the block that housed the Wakefield Cinema (presently the Old Theatre Block). Near the top center of the photo are the Fire Station and the Lincoln School. Moving to the top left, the Unitarian Universalist Church is visible (back when it had a full steeple), along with the First Baptist Church. Moving south along Main Street, look for the old YMCA building (now Artichokes) the Post Office, Beebe Library, the Odd Fellows Building, The Savings Bank and the Wakefield Trust Company (now Santander Bank). The photo was found on eBay by Water Street resident Bob McLaughlin.
