In the early 1630s settlers came from Charlestown by way of the Malden River to form the small city that would become Melrose, Massachusetts. The original residents received grants from the English colonial government to settle in what was termed "nothing but rocks, water, and forest." Lead by the Lyndes, the "first family of Melrose," this vibrant community was born and has grown to a population of 25,000. Local historian Anthony J. Pagano explores Melrose and its heritage in this remarkable new volume. From the history of the Lynde family--which held grants for most of the southern portion of Melrose--to the development of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company--the city's largest employer--Pagano provides a rich