Here are some of the latest items found on eBay that are connected to Lynnfield in one way or another:

Commemorative Stamp: Admiral Byrd was a fairly prolific explorer in the pre-World War II era, completing various expeditions to both the North and South Pole. This postage stamp was issued in 1933, according to a side graphic on the explorer’s Wikipedia page. The main connection to town here is that it was mailed by somebody from Lynnfield, perhaps spending a decade or three in somebody’s shoebox or stamp album along the way.

On a side note, this reminds me of a scene in one of the Marx Brothers movies where Chico says “The dog went to the Pole with Admiral Byrd!” “I bet the dog got to the pole first!” replies Groucho.

The Early Days Of Radio: Back in August when this column first started running, I ran an item showing a “QSL card” from 1933. Here is another one that originated from Lynnfield in 1952. As far as I can tell, these cards are used by amateur radio operators to help each other keep track of how far away their stations can be heard. I’ve seen no other references to there ever being a radio station in Lynnfield, so it’s possible these cards came from some sort of one-man operation in town. If anyone knows anything more about this, please feel free to comment below.

The Trolley Line: The wording on this particular photo listing is not particularly clear and seems to refer to a trolley line that went to the Salem Willows by way of Lynnfield. I’m pretty sure this image from around the World War I era, or somewhat before it, shows what is now the Lynnfield Community Church on Salem Street in the background, not far from the present-day Route 1 intersection. There is also a sign pointing away behind the photographer for the Suntaug Lake Inn, in the direction of its former location on Route 1 right near the Peabody line.

The person taking the photo would appear to have been standing in what is now the parking lot of Our Lady of the Assumption. The roads also appear to have been unpaved at the time. From this point, a trolley could have headed toward the Salem Willows conceivably down Salem Street toward Lynnfield Street, or over toward downtown Lynn and then into Salem.

The Old Schoolhouse: This vintage photo appears to be from around the turn of the century and shows the former Lynnfield Centre School. You can get a good, close look at the building, and it actually bears some small resemblance to the Tapley School building, which still stands on Holton Street in Danvers. The whole scene is actually quite idyllic – note that there is no sign of any pavement or parking areas. It’s just an old schoolhouse in a grassy field, a classic image of Americana.

From Neighboring Wakefield: I've been running one item a week in this column that comes from a town next to or near Lynnfield. One thing that came up this week was this picture of Crystal Lake in Wakefield from 1905. The image shows a small beach and appears to be printed in this pretty interesting peel-back bark thing. Check it out. Sometimes when I'm writing this column I spot objects I would love to just grab for ten or twenty bucks. This thing would almost be one of them.