Ned Martin

Lynn was first settled in 1629 and was officially incorporated in 1850. Colonial Lynn was a major part of the regional tannery and shoe-making industries which began in 1635. The boots worn by Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary War are thought to have been made in Lynn. The shoe-making industry drove urban growth in Lynn into the early nineteenth century. This historic theme is reflected in the city seal, which features a colonial boot. Despite industrial expansion in the early 20th century, Lynn began to decline in the latter half of the century. Much like what was happening to many other older urban centers in Massachusetts, the city was plagued by an increase in crime. In the very early 1990s, the city of Lynn created an advertising campaign to improve the city's image. This was the "City Of Firsts" campaign. Among the numerous Lynn Firsts that are claimed, include: First American jet engine Lydia E. Pinkham - First woman in advertising (and first woman in mass-marketing) First baseball game played under artificial light First dance academy in the U.S. First tannery in the U.S. First air mail delivery in the U.S. In the early 2000s, a number of new development projects in Lynn have led to buzz that the city is experiencing a renaissance. Industrial buildings formerly left vacant have been bought and converted into loft spaces by real estate developers, and eagerly snapped up by young home buyers who enjoy the urban lifestyle of Boston proper but can't afford the higher prices of lofts in Boston's South End and similar neighborhoods. The city itself is supplementing this resurgence by investing in antique lighting, new sign-age, brickwork and the building of a new multipurpose municipal football stadium. In addition, semi-pro baseball (The North Shore Spirit) can be enjoyed in Lynn at the newly renovated Fraser Field.