Marcus M. Merritt

Marcus M. Merritt

Marcus "Mark" Merritt, was a beloved and honorable figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Chelsea civic and political life. Born in Templeton,
Massachusetts in 1838, Mark Merritt came to Chelsea in 1872, and became one of the largest manufacturers of cigars and dealer in tobacco in this sector. Mark Merritt opened a place of business in a store on Broadway in Chelsea Square. Two years later Mark married Emma Florence Kimball of Randolph, Vermont, settling in Chelsea. In 1879, Mark was elected to the Chelsea Common Council, serving until 1882.
In 1886, Mark Merritt was elected State Representative from Chelsea. In 1891, a change was made in the city charter eliminating the common council. The same year Mark Merritt was elected Alderman-at-Large. In 1892 and 1894 Mark was elected again to the House of Representatives.

Marcus M. Merritt and "LO"

Mark Merritt was a staunch Democrat in a Republican dominated city and state. Mark fought and won an amendment abolishing the grade crossing in favor or an overhead bridge between Chelsea and Charlestown. Mark strongly opposed the proposed annexation of Chelsea to Boston. Mark was one of the leaders in the project for the Wachusett Dam, Mark Merritt ran for Mayor of Chelsea in 1906,
losing by a mere 200 votes in a Republican stronghold. These were a few of his many accomplishments.
At the time of the Chelsea Fire of 1908, Mark Merritt was made a member of the Board of Health, giving efficient service in preventing a disease epidemic prevalent at that time. When the Board of Control left, Mark Merritt ran for Alderman-at-Large and won. Marcus Merritt loved children and wanted them safely guarded at play. Through the efforts and persuasion of Mark Merritt, the Revere Rubber Company, ceeded to the City of Chelsea, a parcel of land on Eastern Avenue for a children's playground, with a stipulation that it should be called Marcus M. Merritt Park. The name was officially voted by the Board of Aldermen and the order was signed by Mayor Malone. At the signing Mark said " I hope to see flowers growing and children playing there before I go", his wish was not fulfilled. Mark filed for renomination for Alderman-at-Large in 1915, with a favored projected win, but withdrew his name before election. Marcus Merritt passed away the following January 16, 1916. Marcus was an important and popular member of many financial, philanthropic, fraternal, and social organizations, a successful business man with an army of personal friends. Today, thanks to Marcus Merritt, his dream contributed
more than a playground, for the children of Chelsea. Through many of the years that Marcus Merritt operated his store in Chelsea Square an Indian named "Lo,"stood his watch over the store. Lo began his life as a figure head on a Naval sailing ship. It is believed Lo was carved by Laban Beecher, the man who carved the figurehead for the Constitution. When the wooden warships were being dismantled to be replaced by steamships, a Mr. Taylor rescued Lo from certain destruction. Marcus Merritt obtained Lo from Mr. Taylor, built a stand, and set him in front of his store. Hundreds would enter the store each morning, for one thing or another, with a greeting of "good morning." Lo would stay his watch without as much as an "ugh" in return. When Marcus Merritt passed away. Lo disappeared for a few years.
Marcus Merritt's daughter found Lo and donated him to the Bellingham Cary House where he remains today, carrying on his watch.

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Marcus M. Merritt
		Marcus "Mark" Merritt, was a beloved and honorable figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Chelsea civic and political life. Born in Templeton, Massachusetts in 1838, Mark Merritt came to Chelsea in 1872, and became one of the largest manufacturers of cigars and dealer in tobacco in this sector. Mark Merritt opened a place of business in a store on Broadway in Chelsea Square. Two years later Mark married Emma Florence Kimball of Randolph, Vermont, settling in Chelsea. In 1879, Mark was elected to the Chelsea Common Council, serving until 1882. In 1886, Mark Merritt was elected State Representative from Chelsea. In 1891, a change was made in the city charter eliminating the common council. The same year Mark Merritt was elected Alderman-at-Large. In 1892 and 1894 Mark was elected again to the House of Representatives.
Marcus M. Merritt and "LO"
Mark Merritt was a staunch Democrat in a Republican dominated city and state. Mark fought and won an amendment abolishing the grade crossing in favor or an overhead bridge between Chelsea and Charlestown. Mark strongly opposed the proposed annexation of Chelsea to Boston. Mark was one of the leaders in the project for the Wachusett Dam, Mark Merritt ran for Mayor of Chelsea in 1906, losing by a mere 200 votes in a Republican stronghold. These were a few of his many accomplishments. At the time of the Chelsea Fire of 1908, Mark Merritt was made a member of the Board of Health, giving efficient service in preventing a disease epidemic prevalent at that time. When the Board of Control left, Mark Merritt ran for Alderman-at-Large and won. Marcus Merritt loved children and wanted them safely guarded at play. Through the efforts and persuasion of Mark Merritt, the Revere Rubber Company, ceeded to the City of Chelsea, a parcel of land on Eastern Avenue for a children's playground, with a stipulation that it should be called Marcus M. Merritt Park. The name was officially voted by the Board of Aldermen and the order was signed by Mayor Malone. At the signing Mark said " I hope to see flowers growing and children playing there before I go", his wish was not fulfilled. Mark filed for renomination for Alderman-at-Large in 1915, with a favored projected win, but withdrew his name before election. Marcus Merritt passed away the following January 16, 1916. Marcus was an important and popular member of many financial, philanthropic, fraternal, and social organizations, a successful business man with an army of personal friends. Today, thanks to Marcus Merritt, his dream contributed more than a playground, for the children of Chelsea. Through many of the years that Marcus Merritt operated his store in Chelsea Square an Indian named "Lo,"stood his watch over the store. Lo began his life as a figure head on a Naval sailing ship. It is believed Lo was carved by Laban Beecher, the man who carved the figurehead for the Constitution. When the wooden warships were being dismantled to be replaced by steamships, a Mr. Taylor rescued Lo from certain destruction. Marcus Merritt obtained Lo from Mr. Taylor, built a stand, and set him in front of his store. Hundreds would enter the store each morning, for one thing or another, with a greeting of "good morning." Lo would stay his watch without as much as an "ugh" in return. When Marcus Merritt passed away. Lo disappeared for a few years. Marcus Merritt's daughter found Lo and donated him to the Bellingham Cary House where he remains today, carrying on his watch.

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