BEVERLY - When the train rolled into Beverly Farms in 1847, on it came wealthy businessmen who built summer estates.

They constructed giant mansions, told their friends about the oceanfront community, and the small section of town evolved into a popular destination for rich bankers, lawyers and politicians.

Farms resident Nancy Coffey, however, is interested in what happened to the people who were already there - the fishermen and farmers who became gardeners and builders to the newcomers.

Over the last three months, she has researched the development of the neighborhood from 1847 to about 1947 - right after World War II. She's exploring how the "very tight and very separate community" related to the rest of Beverly. She's also seeking stories from people who remember buying coal from Hardy's Market, pouring molasses down rich people's toilets so the water wouldn't freeze during the winter, and getting excited about the 25-cent bean supper at the Baptist church - no matter what religion they practiced.

"My immediate goal is really preservation," said Coffey, who lives on Haskell Street. She grew up in North Beverly and was a volunteer curator at the Beverly Historical Society about 30 years ago. Although she moved out of the area, she returned about three years ago and decided she wanted to know more about where she was living.

Her initial intention was to create a neighborhood project to bring people together. She arranged for 9-year-olds to interview 98-year-olds, convinced people to start researching the history of their houses, and has gone through all the old photographs and books at the Beverly Farms Library.

"I guess I'll eventually write a book, although I didn't necessarily think it would result in that," she said.

It all started with a meeting at the Beverly Farms Library in May, where Coffey handed out a quiz with some interesting facts about the history of the area.

"People got really interested in trying to answer the questions," she said. About 75 people showed up at the next meeting to see if they got the correct answers.

"People are proud of their history here," she said, and she wants to record the story before the people who experienced it disappear. "Most of that first generation has died off, but their children are still here."

Sisters Margaret McKenzie, 84, and Alice Malone, 93, live next door to each other on Haskell Street and grew up during that time.

In the winter they would ride on the back of the wooden horse-drawn plow as a driver removed snow from their street, and they used to slide down Juniper Hill in the days before traffic. As they got older they both worked as nannies at the estates, and they lived in an era when everyone knew everyone. With its own bank, grocery store, elementary school, church, post office, and social organizations, there was no reason to leave Beverly Farms.

Perhaps it was because Hale Street, the main route to the rest of Beverly, used to be a dirt road through a swamp. Or maybe it was because Farms people's fortunes were tied to the estates, and they operated on a separate economy. Whatever the reason, Beverly Farms isolated itself from the rest of the town, and actually tried to secede in 1897.

After World War II, things changed as many people lost their fortunes and could no longer afford a summer home by the ocean. With a declining need for gardeners and nannies, the community slowly branched out. Now, Malone and McKenzie buy their groceries at Stop & Shop in North Beverly, since the markets they used to shop at have closed.

"All we have now are hairdressers and restaurants," Malone said.

"And Dunkin' Donuts," McKenzie added.

They still greet the people they see on the street, but they no longer recognize their faces.

"If you walk around downtown and say hello, they look at you like, 'Who are you?" Malone said.

Some of their old friends are still alive, but many more have died. Soon, their history will be lost.

Or it would be, if it wasn't for Coffey. She hopes to get more people involved with the project in the fall, and hopes other communities in Beverly will begin their own research.

"I'm very interested in encouraging other neighborhoods to do the same thing," she said.

To help out with the project or for more information, e-mail Coffey at farmshistory@gmail.com.