WOBURN - A crowd of more than 250 braved a frigid windy evening to attend the Woburn Historical Society's presentation of "Woburn - a Leather City" held this week at the Woburn Memorial High School auditorium.

Presented by WHS Vice President Kathy Lucero, assisted by Melissa Davidson-Kyle and narrated by local attorney and historian John McElhiney, the program consisted of a filmed history of the industry that transformed Woburn and was the backbone of its social and economic development .

As photos of the scores of tanneries that once dominated the city's landscape flashed across the screen, McElhiney traced the history of the industry through good times and bad from colonial days until 1988 when the last tannery finally closed its doors forever.

The audience was struck by the graphic illustrations of the difficult working conditions that the mostly migrant workers had to endure as they struggled to provide for their families without the benefit of any health insurance, workman's comp or public assistance of any kind.

The film also showed the elegant mansions that were built by the tannery owners for themselves, some of which are still standing today.

It provided a sharp contrast to the squalid conditions endured by the workers in the factories.

Most of the audience was amazed by the quality of the film produced by Plasma Films, whose owner, Brian Ouellette volunteered his time and equipment to make this unique production. "A Hollywood film company could not have done a better job," was an oft-heard audience comment.

The society was also pleased to have as one of its guests, longtime Woburnite Phil Hawley, who spent his working career in various tanneries and made himself available to answer the many questions posed by the audience.

This presentation was the latest in a series of the Historical Society's monthly programs that continue to attract larger and larger crowds.

Its next meeting is slated for March 10 and will feature a program based on music from the 1940's as well as the society's annual election.

Not to be confused with the Woburn Historical Commission, the Society is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 to enrich the understanding of Woburn's long and colorful history.

For more information, the society's website is

woburnhistoricalsociety.com.