By Mrs. Liberge

Malden Yesterday and Today

How old is the city of Malden?Native Americans used to live right here in Malden! The city of Malden was originally called Mistick Side by The Pennacook Tribe who were the first people to live here. Nanapeshemet was the leader of this tribe. After he was killed, his wife Squaw Sachem, sold Mistick Side to a group of Puritan settlers who came to Malden from England. Squaw Sachem sold Mystic side for 21 coats, 3 bushels of corn and 19 strings of beads. On May 2, 1649 (365 years ago), Malden became a town. Joseph Hill, a settler and landowner, chose the name Malden because his home in England was called Maldon. Malden became a city on March 31, 1882.

Community Workers-ThenSome of the oldest community workers’ jobs in Malden that we still see today belong to firemen.

Malden's very first steam engine, the 1864 Wanalancet Steam Fire Engine Company #1.

Chemical1FireStation, Malden, MA

Linden Fire Station, Malden, MA

Chemical1FireStation, Malden, MA

Community Workers-Now

Brand new Engine 1Malden Headquarters

Engine 3Malden Firemen

Community Workers-Then and Now

Paddy Wagon and police man-Then

Sanitation Workers-Then

Policeman with K-9 police dog-Now

Sanitation Worker-Now

Community Workers

Mayor Christenson

School custodians

Mrs. Smith, Children’s Librarian at Malden Public Library

Train conductor on MBTA train

Malden Police Force

Famous People From Malden

Johnny A, Musician

Walter Brennan, Actor 1894-1974 80 yrs old

Walter “Killer” Kowalski 1926-2008 82 yrs old

Breno Giacomini, NFL Football PlayerNew York Jets

Jack Albertson, Actor 1907-1987 80 yrs old

Mayor Elisha S. Converse

Rubber Shoe Company in Malden that employed 3,500 people and became one of the largest rubber manufacturers in the USA.

Elisha S. Converse was the first mayor of Malden and a founder and president of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company and a founder of The Malden Bank. He helped establish Malden Hospital, Malden City Hall, Malden Public Library, Malden YMCA and the Malden Auditorium which was a theatre located in downtown Malden.

Malden Auditorium MovieTheatre. Malden had seven movie theatres at one time.

Malden Public Library-opened 1885

Elisha A. Converse, First Mayor of Malden

Housing and Clothing-Then and Now

Clothing 1920s

Clothing 1800s

Victorian House – 1900sClothing style - 2014

Three family style house - 2014

Apartments - 2014

Ferryway School-Then and Now

The Ferryway School was built on Ferryway Green in the year 1999. It took the place of the Lincoln and Belmont Schools. The Ferryway Green was a park that people could enjoy. The park next to the school is called Newman Park. People, especially children enjoy playing on this field.

Ferryway Green

City Hall-Then and Now

Malden City Hall was built in 1857 by Jonathan Clark and was orginally called the Town House. This building held the high school and a dry goods store on the first floor, town offices on the second floor.

Malden City Hall-today

Old, but not forgotten…

Granada Theatre-one of Malden’s most popular cinemas and Jordan Marsh located in Downtown Malden

Parsonage House-oldest structure in Malden-Built 1724. At the time of the Civil War, the house served as an underground railroad stop sheltering fugitive slaves. It also served as the original meeting house.

First Church Congregational-1649- Malden’s first church

Old Fellow Building-built 1907 for a group called the International Order of Odd Fellows. The bottom floor had storefronts; the top floors were for the IOOF group. It has been turned into an office building and houses the Immigrant Learning Center.

Bell Rock Cemetery-oldest cemetery in Malden (pre 1649)

Mr. Devito, Ferryway’s first K-8 principal