R.I.P. Woburn Mall

It’s about to become Woburn Village, something akin to Third Ave in Burlington, a mixed bag of condominiums, stores and restaurants. Here’s a quick Woburn Mall retrospective.

Grand opening photo flub

Look between the two women cutting the ribbon. Notice the disembodied plaid pants? They belonged to City Councilor Paul Meaney, who was running for re-election at the time. According to his son, the Times had a policy against running photos of candidates up for re-election, so the Times photo staff had to remove him — without any modern photo software. They did a pretty good job, except they forgot the pants.

The mall in 2001:

The mall in 2008:

The mall in February, 2019, about to shut down:

Farewell videos:

Risk of theft

A bunch of historic Woburn images are still framed and mounted to a wall in the mall’s rear hallway, waiting to be stolen. One has already vanished. Burlington Retro photographed the rest of them in case they vanish too. You’re welcome, Woburn. (Update: They belong to the Woburn Public Library and are now in safe hands)

High school football team 1892

Leather workers, John P. Crane Company, Crane Street, 1890

Old Woburn Armory, decorated for 250th anniversary, Montvale and Prospect Streets, 1892

250th anniversary arch, Pleasant St. and Winn St., 1892

Highland Hose (fire brigade)

Wyman School group, 1895

American Hide & Leather Company, Cross Street, Woburn, 1912

North Woburn Horse Trolley Barn, Main Street opposite Dexter Ave. 1880

Linnell Market, downtown Woburn, 1913

Homecoming of Woburn Company G, Oct. 21, 1919

Woburn Brass Band

Coming soon:

Want more Woburn Village imagery? Scroll through this PDF: Edens-Woburn-Village