Blasts From The Past

As you've probably noticed, there are barges in the Merrimack River and cofferdam construction for the Groveland Bridge is well underway.  (Cofferdams are what allow construction work to continue through the winter.)  The elusive underwater cable was removed this week and the bridge is now 3% complete.  

This month, a lot of Bates Bridge memorabilia has come my way.  The first postcard came from a flea market, with a 1913 postmark.  The message addresses the new bridge built that year.  In 1871, the first Groveland Bridge was built to replace the chain ferry but collapsed 10 years later.  In 1887, a fire destroyed 8 buildings in the square and the bridge suffered damage as well.  It was reconstructed a second time and completed in 1913.  The bridge that stands today was completed in the mid-20th Century.  (Click on an image to enlarge.)



"The Merrimac River from Groveland Bridge, Groveland, Mass."



Before there was a Groveland Bridge, there was a chain ferry that carried horse carts and passengers between Groveland and Haverhill beginning in 1829.

"Miliken's Chain Ferry, 1870; Ran from behind Groveland's present post office until the Groveland Bridge was built in 1871."

As you may recall, the Elm Park Renovation Project was completed in 2004 thanks to the Groveland Historical Society's efforts and funding from a state grant.  Here is a shot of what Elm Park looked like a hundred years earlier--and no doubt what it can look like again someday.

"Beautiful Elm Park, Groveland, 1900; Looking toward the Merrimack River and Groveland Bridge."

The Groveland workforce of the late 19th Century relied chiefly on manufacturing for jobs.  Pictured below is the third of the woolen mills E. J. M. Hale built.  This woolen mill was later owned by Benjamin Parker Hale and Arthur D. Veasey.  That's the same Veasey Family that the former Nun's Hill is named after.

"Groveland Woolen Mills (no. 3 of 3 mills); Built in 1859 and operated until 1927, it was a major source of employment.  Owned and operated by the Hale family, and later the Veasey family."

Byfield Does Halloween

I discovered one of the scariest neighborhoods in the world.  It was right down the street from my house!

Selectman Joe Story wasn't scaring any of his constituents on Halloween afternoon!

Tyler takes time out for the photographer.

A Weekend in Rowley

The Mighills anchor their Halloween decoration on Central Street.

The visiting crane stopped Route #1 traffic in Rowley all weekend.  Experienced birders told Rep. Stanley that it was likely a Sand Hill Crane on its way south for the winter.

Autumn on the Lower Green

Cooper-the-Lab and his families ran a pumpkin patch in Newbury over the weekend.