Swampscott, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Swampscott is a town
in Essex County, Massachusetts
, United States located 15 miles up the coast from Boston
in an area known as the North Shore
. The population is 13,787. A former summer resort on Massachusetts Bay
, Swampscott is today an affluent residential community; the 16th wealthiest in the state, which includes the village of Beach Bluff, as well as part of the neighborhood of Clifton. It is known for its quiet suburban character and beaches. The town is home to Marian Court College
.
, and was set off and officially incorporated in 1852.
Swampscott, a beach town north of Boston, (measuring 3 square miles (7.8 km²), and abutting Salem
, Marblehead
and Lynn) was an important destination for the wealthy at the beginning of the 20th century; while Revere Beach
, which lies just several miles down the road, has the honour of technically being America's first public beach, Swampscott was the de facto first resort town. Lynn was the divider between the poor beach and the rich resort town. The name 'Swampscott' comes from the language of a local native American tribe. The following is verbatim from the official Swampscott web page: "History of Swampscott."
Early historical accounts of Swampscott indicated that the Native Americans
, referred to Swampscott as M’sqiompsk meaning red rock. It then became M’squompskut, for the phrase “at Red Rock” because of the red granite outcroppings that were visible to those offshore.
Originally part of the large Saugus
land grant and later the eastern part of Lynn's Ward One, Swampscott was settled and established in 1629 when Francis Ingalls came and built the first Massachusetts Bay Colony
tannery
on Humphrey's Brook. Long known as a seafaring fishing village, Swampscott hosted a large commercial fishing fleet which sailed daily from our protected bay. Early accounts of Swampscott considered it a "community of modest means" and indicated that one man in three was a fisherman. Of the rest, a goodly number were shoemakers (also known as "cordwainer
s"), shoe cutters (known as "clickers"), yeomen or farmers and merchants.
In the late 18th century, Ebenezer Phillips learned the dry fish process
from the Naumkeags and set up a processing facility for cod
whereby the cod was dried, put in barrels and shipped all over the world. Phillips’ business was a success and he became one of this country's first millionaires.
From its fishing interests, Swampscott reached worldwide status as the place where Ebenezer Thorndike invented the lobster pot in 1808 to revolutionize lobster
harvesting. Lobstering today is still extremely popular. The yacht club in Swampscott makes it easy for people to be able to access their boats and begin lobstering. Also, The Swampscott Dory
, a fishing boat still in use throughout the world today, was invented in 1840 by Ralfus Brackett to row and to pull lobster pots. The dory
was considered the best seaworthy boat for fishermen due to its unique flat-bottomed design.
A few large resorts were built in the 19th century which attracted wealthy patrons, families and businessmen from across the country. Many stayed and built grand homes in the area which played a vital role in the town's diverse history.
Swampscott separated from Lynn when a group of 97 petitioners told the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
that: 1. They are situated somewhat remote from the central portion of Lynn; and 2. That their business is different from that of the principal part of Lynn; and 3. That their convenience and interests would be promoted by a separate government, especially after the citizens of Lynn opted to switch from a town to a city form of government.
Lynn offered no substantial opposition, so the legislature passed an enabling act which authorized the organization of a separate town government under the date of May 21, 1852. On October 9, 1852 Lynn was paid $5,450.00 for the land it lost to the new community now known as the "Town of Swampscott." In 1857, land at the far western edge of Salem known as the "Salem Finger" was annexed to Swampscott, bringing the total land area to 3.05 square miles (7.9 km²).
Alongside Swampscott's fishing heritage came the advent of large hotels and homes as the community attracted summer residents from every corner of the world. There were also homes of specific historical significance. For example, John Humphreys, the first deputy governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
, lived in an attractive saltbox home in 1637 which is now home to the Swampscott Historical Society at 99 Paradise Road and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Stately homes which evolved in Swampscott include Professor Elihu Thomson
's Georgian
revival mansion with its unique and ornate interior carvings. Professor Thomson founded the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, which became the General Electric
Company via a merger with Thomas Edison
's company. The building, designed by James T. Kelley, now serves as the Town Hall, and is also listed on the National Historic Register. The Swampscott Fish House
, at Humphrey Street on Fisherman's Beach, is the only municipal fish house on the East Coast. Built in 1896 on land taken by eminent domain, the Fish House was built to consolidate the many fishing structures that stretched along the oceanfront obscuring views of the ocean and subtracting from the area's appeal. The Fish House is an historic building and part of the National Register of historic places. It is also home to the Swampscott Yacht Club and the Swampscott Sailing Program.
Andrew Preston
, founder of the United Fruit Company
, had one of the major summer estates in Swampscott. The Preston estate covered over 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and included its own golf course. Architect Arthur Little built several of the first shingle-styled homes in Swampscott, all expansive summer homes with ocean views and most with ballrooms.
The hotel and boarding house business flourished to serve the influx of summer visitors with the Ocean House, the Hotel Preston, the Lincoln House Hotel, the Hotel Bellevue and the New Ocean House Hotel. Notable summer guests, including President Calvin Coolidge
and his wife, and Woolworth heiress Ethel Donahue, frequented the town's lavish accommodations.
None of the large hotels remain standing today, most having been destroyed by fire or savage coastal storms, and most of the large estates have been subdivided into single family homes although some still remain to this day. Home prices vary from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than five million depending upon ocean view, desirable view of the Boston skyline, and size as some homes can be quite large. Swampscott's quiet suburban character, many beaches, good school system, and easy access to Boston make it a very desirable town to live and raise a family in.
Nevertheless, Swampscott has retained the essence of a quiet setting along the north shore of the Atlantic Ocean with the soothing sounds of the ocean lapping along the seashore.
Swampscott's public school system includes four elementary schools, Hadley School, Clarke School, Machon School and Stanley School, one middle school, Swampscott Middle School, and one high school, Swampscott High School. A new building was completed in 2007 for Swampscott High School. http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1942924074/Swampscott-could-build-3M-turbine In 2011, The Town of Swampscott is working out the details of installing a massive wind turbine, with the approximate height of a 30 story building on the property of the Swampscott Middle School. When installed it is expected to generate a little more than half of the power for the middle school.http://www.salemnews.com/local/x175567241/Turbine-more-powerful-than-thought
, the town has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it (54.83%) is water. Located beside Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Swampscott lies along a mostly rocky shoreline, though there is enough clear shore for five beaches; Phillips which stretches into Preston and is by far the largest beach in town, Eisman's and Whales, Fishermans, and a part of King's Beach, which extends into Lynn. There are several small parks, along with the small Harold King Forest in the northwest corner of town and the Tedesco Country Club which bisects part of the town. The town also has two small ponds, Foster Pond and Palmer Pond.
Swampscott is mostly suburban, with most of the clear land in the swampy northwest corner of town. There are three villages within town, Beach Bluff to the east, Phillips Point to the south, and Phillips Beach inland between the two. The town is centered around Monument Square, designed by Franklin Law Olmsted; which is four miles south of Salem
, twelve miles northeast of Boston, and twenty miles southwest of Cape Ann
. The town is twenty three miles to the nearest point in New Hampshire
, in the town of Salem
. Swampscott is bordered by Marblehead
to the northeast, Salem to the northwest, and Lynn
to the west. The water rights of the town extend into Massachusetts Bay, bordered by those of Marblehead and Lynn.
Swampscott is located along Route 1A
and Route 129. Both routes enter from Lynn, with Route 1A passing north of the town center towards Salem, and Route 129 following the coast for a half mile before going inland north of Phillips Point and returning to the coast before heading into Marblehead. There is no highway within town, which lies well south of Massachusetts Route 128 and Interstate 95
. The town is served by MBTA bus routes which lead into the surrounding towns. Swampscott has a station
along the Newburyport/Rockport Line
of the MBTA Commuter Rail
, with service from the North Shore to Boston's North Station. Another abandoned spur rail line crosses through the town towards Marblehead, where it has been converted into a bicycle path. The nearest air service can be reached at Beverly Municipal Airport
, and the nearest national and international air service can be found at Boston's Logan International Airport
.
of 2000, there were 14,412 people, 5,719 households, and 3,986 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,725.9 people per square mile (1,824.4/km²). There were 5,930 housing units at an average density of 1,944.5 per square mile (750.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.47% White, 0.74% Black or African American
, 0.06% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population. .
There were 5,719 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $84,174, and the median income for a family was $92,795. Males had a median income of $56,541 versus $38,690 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $45,487. The town is among some of the richest towns in the state (see List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income) and is currently ranked at 16th. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. The median home sale price for the town in 2007 was $565,894. Home values typically range from around $400,000 to upwards of 5 million dollars for ocean front homes. These prices are comparable to other wealthy North Shore towns such as Marblehead
and Manchester-by-the-Sea which are located nearby. In upper class oceanfront neighborhoods and neighborhoods with ocean views or views of the Boston skyline, average home prices increase to as much as $1,038,569 and average household incomes can range upwards of $150,000. Larger oceanfront properties have recently been assessed at values greater than $5 million and in some cases upwards of $10 million.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Essex County, Massachusetts
Essex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Parker River National Wildlife Refuge* Salem Maritime National Historic Site* Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site* Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, United States located 15 miles up the coast from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in an area known as the North Shore
North Shore (Massachusetts)
The North Shore is a region in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, loosely defined as the coastal area between Boston and New Hampshire. The region is made up both of a rocky coastline, dotted with marshes and wetlands, as well as several beaches and natural harbors. The North Shore is an important...
. The population is 13,787. A former summer resort on Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
, Swampscott is today an affluent residential community; the 16th wealthiest in the state, which includes the village of Beach Bluff, as well as part of the neighborhood of Clifton. It is known for its quiet suburban character and beaches. The town is home to Marian Court College
Marian Court College
Marian Court College is a two-year college in Swampscott in the North Shore region of Massachusetts. Marian Court College is a Roman Catholic institution founded in 1964 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy....
.
History
Swampscott was first settled in 1629 as the eastern part (Ward One) of LynnLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
, and was set off and officially incorporated in 1852.
Swampscott, a beach town north of Boston, (measuring 3 square miles (7.8 km²), and abutting Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, Marblehead
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
and Lynn) was an important destination for the wealthy at the beginning of the 20th century; while Revere Beach
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England...
, which lies just several miles down the road, has the honour of technically being America's first public beach, Swampscott was the de facto first resort town. Lynn was the divider between the poor beach and the rich resort town. The name 'Swampscott' comes from the language of a local native American tribe. The following is verbatim from the official Swampscott web page: "History of Swampscott."
Early historical accounts of Swampscott indicated that the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, referred to Swampscott as M’sqiompsk meaning red rock. It then became M’squompskut, for the phrase “at Red Rock” because of the red granite outcroppings that were visible to those offshore.
Originally part of the large Saugus
Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. The population was 26,628 at the 2010 census.-History:Saugus was first settled in 1629. Saugus is an Indian name believed to mean "great" or "extended"...
land grant and later the eastern part of Lynn's Ward One, Swampscott was settled and established in 1629 when Francis Ingalls came and built the first Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
on Humphrey's Brook. Long known as a seafaring fishing village, Swampscott hosted a large commercial fishing fleet which sailed daily from our protected bay. Early accounts of Swampscott considered it a "community of modest means" and indicated that one man in three was a fisherman. Of the rest, a goodly number were shoemakers (also known as "cordwainer
Cordwainer
A cordwainer is a shoemaker/cobbler who makes fine soft leather shoes and other luxury footwear articles. The word is derived from "cordwain", or "cordovan", the leather produced in Córdoba, Spain. The term cordwainer was used as early as 1100 in England...
s"), shoe cutters (known as "clickers"), yeomen or farmers and merchants.
In the late 18th century, Ebenezer Phillips learned the dry fish process
Fish flake
A fish flake is a platform built on poles and spread with boughs for drying cod-fish on the foreshore of fishing villages and small towns in rural Newfoundland, Canada. Spelling variations for fish flake in Newfoundland include flek, fleyke, fleake, flaik and fleack...
from the Naumkeags and set up a processing facility for cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
whereby the cod was dried, put in barrels and shipped all over the world. Phillips’ business was a success and he became one of this country's first millionaires.
From its fishing interests, Swampscott reached worldwide status as the place where Ebenezer Thorndike invented the lobster pot in 1808 to revolutionize lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
harvesting. Lobstering today is still extremely popular. The yacht club in Swampscott makes it easy for people to be able to access their boats and begin lobstering. Also, The Swampscott Dory
Swampscott dory
The Swampscott dory is a traditional fishing boat, used during the middle of the 19th century by fishing villages along the coast of Massachusetts. It is a type of dory designed to be launched off the beach...
, a fishing boat still in use throughout the world today, was invented in 1840 by Ralfus Brackett to row and to pull lobster pots. The dory
Dory
The dory is a small, shallow-draft boat, about long. It is a lightweight and versatile boat with high sides, a flat bottom and sharp bows. They are easy to build because of their simple lines. For centuries, dories have been used as traditional fishing boats, both in coastal waters and in the...
was considered the best seaworthy boat for fishermen due to its unique flat-bottomed design.
A few large resorts were built in the 19th century which attracted wealthy patrons, families and businessmen from across the country. Many stayed and built grand homes in the area which played a vital role in the town's diverse history.
Swampscott separated from Lynn when a group of 97 petitioners told the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
that: 1. They are situated somewhat remote from the central portion of Lynn; and 2. That their business is different from that of the principal part of Lynn; and 3. That their convenience and interests would be promoted by a separate government, especially after the citizens of Lynn opted to switch from a town to a city form of government.
Lynn offered no substantial opposition, so the legislature passed an enabling act which authorized the organization of a separate town government under the date of May 21, 1852. On October 9, 1852 Lynn was paid $5,450.00 for the land it lost to the new community now known as the "Town of Swampscott." In 1857, land at the far western edge of Salem known as the "Salem Finger" was annexed to Swampscott, bringing the total land area to 3.05 square miles (7.9 km²).
Alongside Swampscott's fishing heritage came the advent of large hotels and homes as the community attracted summer residents from every corner of the world. There were also homes of specific historical significance. For example, John Humphreys, the first deputy governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, lived in an attractive saltbox home in 1637 which is now home to the Swampscott Historical Society at 99 Paradise Road and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Stately homes which evolved in Swampscott include Professor Elihu Thomson
Elihu Thomson
Elihu Thomson was an American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the founding of major electrical companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and France.-Early life:...
's Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
revival mansion with its unique and ornate interior carvings. Professor Thomson founded the Thomson-Houston Electric Company, which became the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
Company via a merger with Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's company. The building, designed by James T. Kelley, now serves as the Town Hall, and is also listed on the National Historic Register. The Swampscott Fish House
Swampscott Fish House
Swampscott Fish House is a historic house on Humphrey Street on Fisherman's Beach in Swampscott, Massachusetts. It is the oldest active fish house in the country.The Shingle style house was built in 1896 on land taken by eminent domain...
, at Humphrey Street on Fisherman's Beach, is the only municipal fish house on the East Coast. Built in 1896 on land taken by eminent domain, the Fish House was built to consolidate the many fishing structures that stretched along the oceanfront obscuring views of the ocean and subtracting from the area's appeal. The Fish House is an historic building and part of the National Register of historic places. It is also home to the Swampscott Yacht Club and the Swampscott Sailing Program.
Andrew Preston
Andrew Preston
Andrew Woodbury Preston was a prominent American businessman at the turn of the 20th century. In 1884, Preston and nine others formed the Boston Fruit Company, the birth of the modern banana business. Later, in 1899, Preston and Minor C. Keith combined ventures to form the United Fruit Company...
, founder of the United Fruit Company
United Fruit Company
It had a deep and long-lasting impact on the economic and political development of several Latin American countries. Critics often accused it of exploitative neocolonialism and described it as the archetypal example of the influence of a multinational corporation on the internal politics of the...
, had one of the major summer estates in Swampscott. The Preston estate covered over 100 acre (0.404686 km²) and included its own golf course. Architect Arthur Little built several of the first shingle-styled homes in Swampscott, all expansive summer homes with ocean views and most with ballrooms.
The hotel and boarding house business flourished to serve the influx of summer visitors with the Ocean House, the Hotel Preston, the Lincoln House Hotel, the Hotel Bellevue and the New Ocean House Hotel. Notable summer guests, including President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
and his wife, and Woolworth heiress Ethel Donahue, frequented the town's lavish accommodations.
None of the large hotels remain standing today, most having been destroyed by fire or savage coastal storms, and most of the large estates have been subdivided into single family homes although some still remain to this day. Home prices vary from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than five million depending upon ocean view, desirable view of the Boston skyline, and size as some homes can be quite large. Swampscott's quiet suburban character, many beaches, good school system, and easy access to Boston make it a very desirable town to live and raise a family in.
Nevertheless, Swampscott has retained the essence of a quiet setting along the north shore of the Atlantic Ocean with the soothing sounds of the ocean lapping along the seashore.
Swampscott's public school system includes four elementary schools, Hadley School, Clarke School, Machon School and Stanley School, one middle school, Swampscott Middle School, and one high school, Swampscott High School. A new building was completed in 2007 for Swampscott High School. http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1942924074/Swampscott-could-build-3M-turbine In 2011, The Town of Swampscott is working out the details of installing a massive wind turbine, with the approximate height of a 30 story building on the property of the Swampscott Middle School. When installed it is expected to generate a little more than half of the power for the middle school.http://www.salemnews.com/local/x175567241/Turbine-more-powerful-than-thought
Geography and transportation
Swampscott is located at 42°28′27"N 70°54′21"W (42.474409, -70.905883). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), of which, 3.0 square miles (7.9 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it (54.83%) is water. Located beside Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Swampscott lies along a mostly rocky shoreline, though there is enough clear shore for five beaches; Phillips which stretches into Preston and is by far the largest beach in town, Eisman's and Whales, Fishermans, and a part of King's Beach, which extends into Lynn. There are several small parks, along with the small Harold King Forest in the northwest corner of town and the Tedesco Country Club which bisects part of the town. The town also has two small ponds, Foster Pond and Palmer Pond.
Swampscott is mostly suburban, with most of the clear land in the swampy northwest corner of town. There are three villages within town, Beach Bluff to the east, Phillips Point to the south, and Phillips Beach inland between the two. The town is centered around Monument Square, designed by Franklin Law Olmsted; which is four miles south of Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, twelve miles northeast of Boston, and twenty miles southwest of Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
. The town is twenty three miles to the nearest point in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, in the town of Salem
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
. Swampscott is bordered by Marblehead
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
to the northeast, Salem to the northwest, and Lynn
Lynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
to the west. The water rights of the town extend into Massachusetts Bay, bordered by those of Marblehead and Lynn.
Swampscott is located along Route 1A
Massachusetts Route 1A
Route 1A is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. It is an alternate route to U.S. 1 with three signed sections and two unsigned sections where the highway is concurrent with its parent...
and Route 129. Both routes enter from Lynn, with Route 1A passing north of the town center towards Salem, and Route 129 following the coast for a half mile before going inland north of Phillips Point and returning to the coast before heading into Marblehead. There is no highway within town, which lies well south of Massachusetts Route 128 and Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Massachusetts
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...
. The town is served by MBTA bus routes which lead into the surrounding towns. Swampscott has a station
Swampscott (MBTA station)
The Swampscott Railroad Depot is a historic passenger rail station in Stick/Eastlake style on MBTA Commuter Rail's Newburyport/Rockport Line. It is located at 10 Railroad Avene at Burrill Street in Swampscott, Massachusetts...
along the Newburyport/Rockport Line
Newburyport/Rockport Line
The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg serves Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. From there, a northern branch of...
of the MBTA Commuter Rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
, with service from the North Shore to Boston's North Station. Another abandoned spur rail line crosses through the town towards Marblehead, where it has been converted into a bicycle path. The nearest air service can be reached at Beverly Municipal Airport
Beverly Municipal Airport
Beverly Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Beverly, a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States...
, and the nearest national and international air service can be found at Boston's Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,412 people, 5,719 households, and 3,986 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,725.9 people per square mile (1,824.4/km²). There were 5,930 housing units at an average density of 1,944.5 per square mile (750.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.47% White, 0.74% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population. .
There were 5,719 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $84,174, and the median income for a family was $92,795. Males had a median income of $56,541 versus $38,690 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $45,487. The town is among some of the richest towns in the state (see List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income) and is currently ranked at 16th. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. The median home sale price for the town in 2007 was $565,894. Home values typically range from around $400,000 to upwards of 5 million dollars for ocean front homes. These prices are comparable to other wealthy North Shore towns such as Marblehead
Marblehead
-Places:United States*Marblehead, Illinois*Marblehead, Massachusetts*Marblehead, Ohio*Marblehead, Wisconsin-Other uses:*Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, a biannual sailing race on the North Atlantic...
and Manchester-by-the-Sea which are located nearby. In upper class oceanfront neighborhoods and neighborhoods with ocean views or views of the Boston skyline, average home prices increase to as much as $1,038,569 and average household incomes can range upwards of $150,000. Larger oceanfront properties have recently been assessed at values greater than $5 million and in some cases upwards of $10 million.
Points of interest
- Elihu Thomson HouseElihu Thomson HouseThe Elihu Thomson House is a historic house located at 22 Monument Avenue, Swampscott, Massachusetts. It is a National Historic Landmark and currently serves as Swampscott Town Hall, it is right next to the public library and directly across from a Chabad Lubavich synagogue.The house was designed...
- Fishermans Beach
- Phillips Beach
- Eismans Beach
- Kings Beach
- Swampscott Fish HouseSwampscott Fish HouseSwampscott Fish House is a historic house on Humphrey Street on Fisherman's Beach in Swampscott, Massachusetts. It is the oldest active fish house in the country.The Shingle style house was built in 1896 on land taken by eminent domain...
- John Humphreys HouseJohn Humphreys HouseThe John Humphreys House, also known as Sir John Humphreys House, is a historic house located at 99 Paradise Road in Swampscott, Massachusetts. It is currently a house museum owned by the Swampscott Historical Society....
- Mary Baker Eddy Historic House
- Olmsted Subdivision Historic DistrictOlmsted Subdivision Historic DistrictOlmsted Subdivision Historic District is a historic district roughly bounded by New Ocean St/Paradise Road, Swampscott Avenue, Redington Street and Burrill Street in Swampscott, Massachusetts....
, located on Monument Avenue - Tedesco Country Club
Transportation
- MBTA Commuter RailMBTA Commuter RailThe MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
provides service from Boston's North Station with the SwampscottSwampscott (MBTA station)The Swampscott Railroad Depot is a historic passenger rail station in Stick/Eastlake style on MBTA Commuter Rail's Newburyport/Rockport Line. It is located at 10 Railroad Avene at Burrill Street in Swampscott, Massachusetts...
station on its Newburyport/Rockport LineNewburyport/Rockport LineThe Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg serves Chelsea, Lynn, Swampscott, Salem, and Beverly. From there, a northern branch of...
.
Famous residents
- Bill AdamsBill Adams (American football)William Joseph "Bill" Adams is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League. He played for the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts....
, retired player for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Osborne Anderson, ice hockey player who competed in the 1932 Winter Olympics
- Anthony Athanas, restaurateur and philanthropist
- Harold AlfondHarold AlfondHarold Alfond was an American businessman who founded the Dexter Shoe Company and established the first factory outlet store.-Early life:...
, founder of Dexter Shoe - Charles D. Baker, Jr.Charles D. Baker, Jr.Charles Duane "Charlie" Baker, Jr. , is an American businessman and politician from Massachusetts. He was a cabinet official under two Massachusetts governors, spent ten years as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial...
, C.E.O. of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.Harvard Pilgrim is a not-for-profit health plan that provides a variety of insurance plan options and self-funding arrangements to more than one million members in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Harvard Pilgrim was founded in 1969 out of the merger of the Harvard Community Health Plan and...
, Candidate for Governor of MassachusettsGovernor of MassachusettsThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 2010Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010The Massachusetts gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor Deval Patrick was re-elected to a second term. Also competing were the Republican Party nominee, businessman Charlie Baker; independent candidate and State Treasurer Tim Cahill; and... - Walter BrennanWalter BrennanWalter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
, multiple Academy Award winning actor - Spencer Charnas, singer for heavy metal band Ice Nine KillsIce Nine KillsIce Nine Kills is an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2002 by Spencer Charnas and Jeremy Schwartz, the group originally pursued a style combining emo, post-hardcore and ska into their own innovative blend of rock but have since shifted into more of an experimental...
- Peggy Stuart CoolidgePeggy Stuart CoolidgePeggy Stuart Coolidge was an American composer and conductor. She was one of the first female American composers to have a recording devoted to her symphonic works, and the first American composer to have a concert devoted entirely to her works presented in the Soviet Union...
, Composer and conductor - Eric DeAngelis, famous TV chef, hosts "Runs with Knives" on the Food NetworkFood NetworkFood Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
- Jamie DenboJamie DenboJamie Denbo is an American actress and comedienne. She most recently co-starred in the FX series Terriers.-Life and career:...
, actress and comedienne - Mary Baker EddyMary Baker EddyMary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
, founder of the Christian Science religion - Larry EignerLarry EignerLaurence Joel Eigner / Larry Eigner was an American poet of the second half of the twentieth century and one of the principal figures of the Black Mountain School....
, poet - Freddy CannonFreddy CannonFrederick Anthony Picariello Jr. , known as Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans", and "Palisades Park".-Biography:...
, rock singer who had hits with "Way Down Yonder in New OrleansWay Down Yonder In New Orleans"Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" is a popular song with music by John Turner Layton, Jr. and lyrics by Henry Creamer. First published in 1922, Creamer and Layton advertised it as "A Southern Song, without A Mammy, A Mule, Or A Moon", a dig at some of the Tin Pan Alley clichés of the era.It was...
" and "Palisades ParkPalisades Park (song)"Palisades Park" is a song written by Chuck Barris and recorded by Freddy Cannon. A tribute to New Jersey's Palisades Amusement Park, the song is an up-tempo tune led by a distinctive organ part. It also incorporates amusement park sound effects....
" - Mabel Wheeler DanielsMabel Wheeler DanielsMabel Wheeler Daniels was an American composer, conductor, and teacher. She attended Radcliffe College and studied with George Whitefield Chadwick before traveling to Germany for further study with Ludwig Thuille in Munich...
, composer, conductor, and teacher - Jefferson FriedmanJefferson FriedmanJefferson Friedman is an American composer.-Life:He received his M.M. degree in music composition from The Juilliard School, where he studied with John Corigliano, and his B.A. from Columbia University, where his teachers included David Rakowski and Jonathan Kramer...
, composer - Mel GoldsteinMel GoldsteinDr. Mel Goldstein is the chief meteorologist for WTNH television in New Haven, Connecticut.-Early life and education:Dr...
, chief meteorologist for WTNH television in New Haven, Connecticut. - Barry GoralnickBarry GoralnickBarry Goralnick is an award-winning American designer, recognized for his work in the fields of architecture and interior design, and for the design of home furnishings that include furniture, lighting, and carpets...
, founder of Barry Goralnick Architects. Theatrical Producer of Eve-olution, Scituate, The Irish Curse, Saint Heaven - Barry GoudreauBarry GoudreauBarry Goudreau is a musician, best known as one of the original guitarists for the rock band Boston.- Before Boston :Goudreau had developed a musical interest at an early age and got his first guitar, an acoustic which he borrowed from a friend, at age 11. He began taking lessons and by age 13,...
, original guitarist of the rock group Boston, and the Lisa Guyer Band - Sarah P. HarknessSarah P. HarknessSarah Pillsbury Harkness is an American architect. She was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts.She attended the Smith College Graduate School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in 1940. She was a founder, in 1945, and now Principal Emeritus of the Architects' Collaborative...
, architect - Jim HeganJim HeganJames Edward Hegan was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played for seventeen seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and from to , most notably for the Cleveland Indians. After his playing career was over, he became a coach and scout in a baseball...
, professional baseball catcher and coach - Dick JauronDick JauronRichard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
, former head coach of the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, and Buffalo Bills of the National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing... - Harvey JewellHarvey JewellHarvey Jewell was a U.S. politician who served as the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1868 to 1871. He was born in Winchester, New Hampshire on May 26, 1820, the first of ten children born to Pliny and Emily Alexander Jewell...
, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1868 to 1871 - Mary-Louise HooperMary-Louise HooperMary-Louise Hooper was a wealthy American heiress and civil rights activist and anti-apartheid activist, whose brief imprisonment in Johannesburg, South Africa and subsequent exclusion from South Africa in 1957 was a cause célèbre both in South Africa and the USA...
, civil rights activist - Jackson KatzJackson KatzJackson T. Katz is one of America’s leading anti-sexist activists, and experts on violence, media and masculinities. An author, filmmaker, educator and social theorist, Katz has worked in gender violence prevention work with diverse groups of men and boys in sports culture and the military,...
, anti-domestic violence advocate - Ken LinsemanKen LinsemanKenneth "The Rat" Linseman is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, former professional hockey player (Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
) - Mike LynchMike Lynch (sportscaster)Mike Lynch is the sports director and anchor for WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is seen on the air at 6 and 11 PM from Sunday to Thursday, or when a significant sports event is happening. He has been at WCVB since 1982...
, principal sports anchor at WCVB-TVWCVB-TVWCVB-TV, channel 5, is a television station located in Boston, Massachusetts, owned by Hearst Television and affiliated with the ABC Television Network. WCVB-TV's studios and transmitter are co-located in Needham, Massachusetts. WCVB is also one of six Boston television stations seen in Canada by...
Channel 5 - Todd McShayTodd McShayTodd McShay is a football analyst.McShay is a native of Swampscott, Massachusetts and played quarterback for the Swampscott High School football team . In 1999, He graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in leadership studies, and served as the backup quarterback before a back...
, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
NFL draft prospect analyst - Gerhard NeumannGerhard NeumannGerhard Neumann was a German-American aviation engineer and executive for General Electric's aircraft engine division .-Childhood and education:...
, German born aviation engineer and innovator. Former Vice President of General ElectricGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. - David Lee RothDavid Lee RothDavid Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
, lead singer of the rock group Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
, - Michael PalmerMichael Palmer (novelist)Michael Stephen Palmer, M.D. , is the author of 16 novels, often called medical thrillers...
, author of the First Patient - Barry PedersonBarry PedersonBarry Alan Pederson is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League between 1980 and 1992...
, former NHL and Boston Bruin all star. Current NESNNew England Sports NetworkThe New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
hockey analyst - Johnny PeskyJohnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
, pro baseball coach, former Red Sox shortstop - Antonio PierroAntonio PierroAntonio "Tony" Pierro was, at age 110, recognized as the oldest living man in the U.S. and the world's oldest living WWI veteran . He was one of the last surviving veterans of World War I...
, recognized as the oldest living man in the U.S. (January 9, 2007 to February 8, 2007) and the world's oldest living WWI veteran (January 24, 2007 to February 8, 2007) - Blondy RyanBlondy RyanJohn Collins "Blondy" Ryan was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who is remembered primarily for his fielding and his starring for the New York Giants' 1933 World Series winners. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he was signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1930 as an amateur free agent...
, Major League Baseball shortstop - George P. SangerGeorge P. SangerGeorge Partridge Sanger was an American lawyer, editor, judge, and businessman who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1873 to 1886 and was the first president of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company.-Early life:Sanger was born on November 27, 1819...
, lawyer, editor, judge, and businessman - Mark ShashaMark ShashaMark Shasha is an American artist. He is also an author, illustrator and educator. His subjects are often familiar and are usually inspired by the textures and light found along the New England coast where he lives and works....
, Artist, author Night of the MoonjelliesNight of the MoonjelliesNight of the Moonjellies is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Mark Shasha.The book was inspired by the author's memories of working at his grandmother's hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut in the 1970s... - Fran SheehanBoston (band)Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
, original bass player of the rock group Boston - Leslie Stahl, 60 Minutes60 Minutes60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
correspondent - G. Joseph TauroG. Joseph TauroG. Joseph Tauro was the Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1970 to 1976.Tauro was born in Lynn to an Italian immigrant cobbler and his wife. He graduated from Lynn public schools and attended Boston University's College of Business Administration for a year before...
, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1970 to 1976. - Elihu ThomsonElihu ThomsonElihu Thomson was an American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the founding of major electrical companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and France.-Early life:...
, founder of General Electric - Ilario ZanninoIlario ZanninoIlario "Larry Baione" Maria Antonio Zannino was the muscle and chief gambling honcho for Raymond J. Patriarca and the Patriarca crime family. Zannino was said to be the second-highest-ranking figure in the Boston faction of the Patriarca family...
, member of the Patriarca crime family