First explored by a small band of colonists from Lynn, the land we now know as Wakefield was formally settled in 1644 when seven families and seven houses were clustered around the shores of the "Great Pond" (Lake Quannapowitt). From this pioneer settlement in the middle of the forest primeval, the town grew into a sleepy farming village, then a bustling industrial center, and finally emerged as a settled suburban community. Along the way, it changed its name several times but always retained its essential character. Through the pages of Images of America: Wakefield walk a collection of fascinating characters, whose exploits and accomplishments shaped their town and whose talents preserved its history. In this volume, readers will glimpse the character of these individuals and of the town they helped to shape, along with the images of the byways and the buildings, the places and the faces that contributed to the growth of the modern-day town of Wakefield.