Laurence Breed Walker was
born to Charles and Laura (Breed) Walker in Lynn, Massachusetts. According to Walker's own
records, he was eighth in line from Allan Breed, the first settler in Lynn, and also
eighth in line from Peter Walker, the first settler in Taunton. He was direct in line (on
his grandmother Walker's side) from Robert Treat Paine, signer of the Declaration of
Independence. His father was corporate counsel for both the Boston & Maine and the New
York, New Haven & Hartford railroads; thus the stage was set for LB to travel and be
exposed to various transportation modes at an early age. In the meantime, he graduated
from Lynn Classical High, went on to Huntington Preparatory School, then to Boston
University College of Liberal Arts and to a final stint at Trinity College in Hartford,
Connecticut. L. B. Walker studied for the ministry at the General Theological
Seminary of the Episcopal Church, New York, and Pexley Hall Divinity School of the Diocese
of Ohio. This led to Walker's service as minister for parishes in Ohio, and locally at the
First Parish Church of Saco, Maine and the Roxbury Universalist Church in Boston.
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Laurence Breed Walker
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 LB with his mother and aunt, circa 1925.
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In the late 1930s, he was struck down with Infantile
Paralysis. Walker was able to get around to some extent with crutches, but his activities
were severely curtailed. He went through most of his family inhertance in a futile quest
to improve his physical condition in an age without medical insurance. Along with Walker's
finances went his comfortable lifestyle. He had owned a series of fine automobiles,
including a Cord, together with drivers, since he had never learned to drive. He became
very dispirited. Walker eventually moved on, securing positions as a commentator on
various Boston radio stations, as a public relations counsel, a public speaker, a
political campaign coordinator, newspaper columnist, and even as a hotel manager. During
all this time - as a hobby - he had been taking and collecting pictures of trains and
street railways and organizing them into historical files. When Walker first became ill,
all his possessions were put into storage until such time as he recovered sufficiently to
live on his own. When that time finally came, Walker was devastated to discover that among
other things, his photo collection had been stolen. It was never found, nor was the person
or persons responsible ever identified, though Walker had suspicions which were
unprovable. In any event, his doctor, upon learning of this sad circumstance, encouraged
LB to begin again and put together an even better collection. This was especially
valuable, as it would help take his mind off of his misfortune. And so it began ... the
extensive collection which now occupies the basement at Cabot House! |
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| L.B. on the cover of one of the many programs he saved
from his days as a minister. This one was from his stint at the Roxbury Universalist
Church. The church was located on Buena Vista Street, near Warren and was only "three
minutes from the Dudley Street Station of the El" This program dates to Sunday,
February 1, 1931. |
L.B. with his beloved 1930 Cord on Kennebunk Road in New
Hampshire in 1932. Since he never learned to drive, he always had a driver. |
To begin anew, Walker
contacted all the friends and associates with whom he had corresponded and sent photos to
in the past. He asked them to copy some of the pictures and send him prints with which to
start the new collection. Over time this had the desired effect, and, in addition, much
more began to pour in from an ever-increasing circle of new friends and contacts all over
New England. Eventually the subject of what was to become of his collection was raised.
Walker long had sought a safe place for it, but had no luck finding a caretaker whom he
could trust to keep it intact. Many wanted parts of it; but, to Walker it was all or
nothing.
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Walker Curator Richard Symmes
approached BHS librarian Ruth Hill, who felt that Beverly would be a suitable place to
receive the collection, as it would be something different, something few other similar
organizations could claim. It also would be popular with a wide range of people from all
walks of life. She approached Arthur Appleton, the Society 's president at the time.
Appleton agreed, and Miss Hill wrote to LB to inform him that Beverly would be pleased to
have the entire collection.
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| Needless to say, Walker was delighted. In the spring of
1969, it became very apparent that LB was not well, but he still managed to have visitors
and to work on his collection, while stubbornly refusing medical attention. Walker died on
August 15, 1969. The collection was packed up and moved to Beverly Historical Society and
Museum and placed in the basement. Years of volunteer work by regular Walker Collection
members of the Society have transformed it into the facility it is today - while the
collection itself has grown in both size and scope. |
Mr. Walker, in his room, as his visitors found him at any hour of the
day...ready to talk trains! Photo taken about 1960 or so. (Walker Transportation
Collection)
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FEATURED VEHICLES
Airplanes | Boston's
PCC | N.E. Buses | N.E. Diners | N.E. Fire Engines | N.E. Police Cars | N.E. Rails | Ships and Boats | Steam Rollers | White Trucks | Cars
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