Then And Now: Worthen's Food Mart

At first glance, this image almost looks like some long-ago Lynnfield man decided to stock up, just in case, around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. But that's not the case at all. In fact, Worthen's Food Mart was a local landmark for much of the 20th century, and a noted that it also once hosted what appeared to be the first telephone system in town.

I've been told that Worthen's stood over by the present-day Center Street Market and Village Pharmacy, etc.

An online search for more information finds some things, but not much. This obituary for Kenneth Worthen appears far down in a page of other obits, and says that along with running the store with his wife Ireta for more than 30 years, he was also the first president and a founding member of the Lynnfield Rotary Club.

Another obituary found online is for Joseph Carmody, who died in 2007 and who was produce manager at Worthen's for more than 20 years, as well as a World War II veteran and former Hood employee.