Amesbury 2012

2012 guide

Amesbury

2The Daily News TuesDay, May 22, 2012

From its beautiful riverfront drive to its historic downtown, Amesbury offers sights and delights that will catch your interest.

Amesbury’s charm has caught the eye of many people over the years, among them Nathaniel Cur-rier, co-founder of the famed Currier & Ives print com-pany whose 19th century drawings have become iconic images of America.

The heart of Ames-bury has always been the Powow River falls, which cascade through the middle of the downtown. Around the falls grew textile mills, carriage factories and a thriving commercial center. Today, downtown Amesbury offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants for tourists and Amesburyites alike.

Amesbury’s past is still alive and acces-sible. The town has several museums and

historic homes open to the public, rang-ing from the National Historic Landmark Lowell’s Boat Shop to the home of famed 19th century poet John G. Whittier.

Amesbury has managed to hold onto many of its scenic landscapes, making it a pleasant place for hiking, picnick-ing and exploring. The rolling open hills of Woodsom Farm are popular with dog walkers, kite flyers and, in the winter, tobogganers. The extensive trail

network that connects Battis Farm and scenic Lake Gardner leads hikers to the summit of Powow Hill, the highest coastal hill in the county. Views from its summit extend far up the coast and across local farms and forests.

Whatever your interest may be, Ames-bury offers visitors a fascinating and fun place to explore.

introduction

3TuesDay, May 22, 2012 The Daily News

Amesbury dAys

A summer tradition since 1899, Ames-bury Days will once again feature a lineup of events, activities and festivities sure to dazzle locals and visitors alike.

The celebration kicks off June 23 and extends a dozen days before wrapping up July 4 with the annual Fourth of July fire-works from Woodsom Farm.

This year’s committee, comprised of Kate Broughton, Don Meskie, Kimberly Czar, Frank Czar and Heidi Thompson, is promising several new attractions to complement Amesbury Days mainstays. An Amesbury Days Ale is even being brewed especially for the celebration.

New events and details are regularly being added. Visit www.amesburydays.org for updates.

Here are some highlights:FRIDAY, JUNE 22

Amesbury Days Eve, Main Street Congregational Church Strawberry FestivalSATURDAY, JUNE 23

Amesbury Moves! Field Days, dawn to noon, Town Park

Lake Gardner Classic Kayak and Canoe Race

Home brewing workshop hosted by Cody Brew- ery and Riverwalk Brewery with preview of Ames-bury Days Ale

Grand Kickoff Event featuring the Essex Cham- ber Music Players and a “creative black tie” event and celebration of 225th anniversary of Millyard renovation

Gianna Surpentant, 6, Taylor Papas 5, Hannah Gale, 5, Hayden Talbot 5, and Liv Talbot 2, do the twist at the Amesbury Days Sock Hop at the Al Capp Amphitheater.


Amesbury dAys

SUNDAY, JUNE 24Trivia Night in the Millyard

MONDAY, JUNE 25-FRIDAY, JUNE 29Chautauqua Tent: Expert how-to demonstrations

and hands-on presentations in MillyardMONDAY, JUNE 25

Theater in the Open performance Harriet Tubman historical re-enactment by Chi-

cago’s Historical Perspectives for Children

TUESDAY, JUNE 26Annual Senior Center cookout Millyard Concert

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27Chamber of Commerce Block Party Whole Music Teen Review in the Millyard

THURSDAY, JUNE 28Kids Day in the Park Kids Night in the Millyard

FRIDAY, JUNE 29Third annual Amesbury BrewFest Millyard Sock Hop

SATURDAY, JUNE 30Town-wide Yard Sales Downtown Bazaar The Amazing Amesbury Race Third annual Melting Pot Cook-off Kayaking on the Powow River Cars for a Cure Vintage Auto Exhibit Riverfront Dock Party, hosted by Larry’s Marina

SUNDAY, JULY 1Firemen’s Muster at Woodsom Farm Rocky Hill Meeting House Concert The Spirithouse Band in concert

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4Fireworks at Woodsom Farm

Tom Champion of Amesbury checks out a 1957 T-Bird convertible at the "Classics for a Cure" antique car show at the All Saints Church Parking lot during the Amesbury Days Celebration.


Amesbury’s carriage-making legacy will be celebrated at the inaugural Amesbury Carriage Festival June 30 and July 1 at Bob-Lyn Stables, 91 Monroe St.

Sponsored by the Amesbury Carriage Museum and Carriage Barn Equine Assisted Therapy Programs, the festival seeks to highlight Amesbury’s influential place in the nation’s carriage-making history.

The festivities begin Saturday, June 30, with a “Bluegrass, Brew and BBQ” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Southern Rail will perform, with beer provided by Amesbury’s Cody Brewing Co., and dinner served by American BBQ. An auction will also be held. Tickets $25; registration is required at amesburycarriagefest.com.

On Sunday, July 1, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a traditional driving demonstration featuring horse-drawn carriages; carriages and “horseless

carriages” on display from private collec-tions and Amesbury Carriage Museum; expert advice on restored and unrestored

carriages; blacksmith-ing demonstration; and numerous vendors, including arts, crafts, local food growers and antiques dealers. Admission is free,

Amesbury was at the forefront of carriage design and manu-

facturing in the 1800s and early 1900s. Dozens of manufacturers produced a wide range of carriages, with produc-tion peaking in the late 1800s as more than 14,000 carriages were shipped from Amesbury’s train depot.

By the early 1900s, the emergence of the automobile gradually overtook the carriage industry. Amesbury’s carriage-makers produced many of the first auto-mobile bodies, but the Great Depression of the 1930s shut down most of the town’s auto and carriage-related businesses.

cArriAge festivAl


The home of poet and Civil War aboli-tionist John Greenleaf Whittier will be open for tours and special events throughout the summer.

Whittier, a 19th century poet, lived in Amesbury for most of his life in a home that has been lovingly preserved at 86 Friend St. His most famous poem, "Snowbound," was a commercial and critical success that made Whit-tier a household name. Other poems drew upon local inspiration, such as his tale of the Captain's Well, an Amesbury his-torical landmark located on Main Street.

Whittier was also a well-known abolitionist, joining efforts with oth-ers such as William Lloyd Garrison to bring about an end to slavery.

The home contains Whittier's personal belongings and some of his manuscripts.

It is open for tours until Oct. 27, on Saturdays from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Special

tours can be arranged by calling the home at 978-465-5964 or 978-388-

1337.Special events are held

throughout the summer.The Whittier Home

Association also has planned its annual Old-Fashioned Tea Party to be held in Whittier’s Victorian Garden, located behind his home. It will take place June 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 per

person.The Whittier Home

Museum will also hold its third annual “Celebrat-

ing John Greenleaf Whittier” fundraiser and auction, on Sunday,

June 24, 2–5 p.m. (rain or shine) at the Maudslay Arts Center, 95 Curzon Mill Road, in Maudslay State Park, Newburyport. The cost is $25.

Whittier home


The Amesbury Public Library at 149 Main St. has a fun summer of activities planned. Here are some highlights:

Kids Summer Events(Unless noted, events

take place at the library)Mother Goose on the Loose:

Fridays, 9:45 a.m., June 29 to Aug. 10; interac-tive program for 0 to 23 months packed with pup-pets, songs, stories and movement

Crafts that Dream Big: Mon-days, 10:30 a.m. to noon, June 25 to Aug. 6; create fleece pillows, a hanging bat and other crafts

Lunch 'n Read: Wednes-days, noon, July 18 to Aug. 8; bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the shade of the library tree along with a reading and other outdoor

Amesbury librAry


activity; all ages welcomeLittle Scientists: Earth Exploration, June

26, 10:30 a.m., ages 3 to 5 Teddy Bear Picnic: July 11, noonMusician Charlie Hope: July 13, 6:30 p.m.Joppa Flat Presents Owl: July 17, 3 p.m. Nappy’s Puppets: July 19, 3:30 p.m.,

Amesbury Cultural Center; shadow pup-pet show

Museum of Science: One Sky, Many Sto-ries, July 23, 3 or 3:50 p.m., Town Hall Auditorium; explore the night sky in the Museum of Science in Boston’s portable planetarium; ages 7 and up; registration required.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover: July 26; bring a stuffed animal and let them spend the night and pick them up the next day; all ages welcome

Dream Big Pajama Time: July 31, 6:30 p.m., ages 2 to 5

Live Night Animals: Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m., Amesbury Cultural Center: Discover what animals are awake while you’re sleep-ing; ages 5 and up

Puppets and Ice Cream Party: Aug. 14, 6:30 p.m., celebrate the end of summer read-ing with ice cream sundaes

Kids Summer Reading Program: The library explores the night with Dream Big programs for big and small, including ones on owls and other night animals, the night sky and pajama story times. Children entering kindergarten through fifth grade can register online and receive rewards such as Topsfield Fair tickets, while ages up to 4 enjoy the early literacy Owlet reward program.

Teen Summer Reading Program: “Reach for the Stars,” July 12, 2 to 3 p.m., T-shirt dec-orating contest; Henna Tattoo program, July 16, 6 p.m., registration required; Origami for Teens, July 18, 3 p.m., reg-istration required; Laughter is the Best Medicine Mime Show, July 25, 6 p.m.

Adult Summer Reading Program: “Between the Covers,” seven-week program for ages 19-plus starting June 18; register online, prize-winners to be drawn each week,

Visit www.amesburylibrary.org for more.

Amesbury librAry


Playground BuildA playground community build takes

place June 2 and 3 at the Town Park at the site of the former playground. Vol-unteers are sought; visit amesburyim-provement.org.

Chamber Annual Golf TournamentThe Amesbury Chamber of Commerce

& Industrial Foundation hosts the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament Monday, June 4, at The Links at Outlook, South Ber-wick, Maine. The all-inclusive entry fee is $185 per golfer and includes greens and car fees, mulligans, lunch, din-ner and various links contests; public invited.

National Night OutThis annual event is Tuesday night,

Aug. 7, in Amesbury High school park-ing lot. Features a Car and Truck Show for kids of all ages with antique cars, military vehicles, construction equip-ment and emergency vehicles. Free refreshments and food.

3rd Annual Dam Triathlon

3rd Annual Dam Triath-lon, a USAT-sanctioned triathlon, is July 14 at Lake Gardner. Distances are: half-mile swim, 12.3-mile bike, 3.2-mile sprint distance run. Cash prizes awarded. Visit http://heat-

eventmanagement.com/dam-triathlon/.

Relay for LifeThis annual overnight relay from 2

p.m. Aug. 18 to 8 a.m. Aug. 19 at Lan-dry Stadium raises money for cancer research. Visit Amesbury Relay for Life’s Facebook page for information.

2012 speciAl events


Bartlett Museum270 Main St.Open from Memorial Day until

Labor Day, Friday and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. 978-388-4528. $3 adults, $1 children.

Housed in a 1870 schoolhouse, the

museum is a repository for artifacts relating to Amesbury and the immediate surrounding area. Artifacts date from prehistory to the present.

Mary Baker Eddy House277 Main St. Open May to October, first and second

Saturday of the month, by appointment, 800-277-8943. $5 suggested donation.

Originally owned by the Bagley fam-ily. Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science Church, was a boarder in this house in the late 1860s. Contains period furnishings.

John G. Whittier Home86 Friend St.Open Saturdays through Oct. 27, 11

a.m. to 3:30 p.m or by private appoint-ment. Call the home at 978-465-5964.

Famed poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier lived here from 1836 until his death in 1892. The home con-tains his original furnishings, correspon-dence, books and memorabilia.

historic sites


historic sites

Graham McKay, shipbuilder at Lowell’s Boat Shop, poses with a replica whaleboat that is being built for the whale ship Charles W. Morgan, docked in Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.


Lowell’s Boat Shop459 Main St.Open Tuesday to Friday, and Sunday,

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; or call to make an appointment for a tour at 978-834-0050.

Started in 1793, this is the oldest work-ing boat shop in the nation. The boat shop also offers courses and special lectures; for a complete listing, check lowellsboatshop.com. The building, a rare survivor of the boat-building trade, is a national landmark.

Salisbury Point Railroad MuseumWater StreetOpen by appointment; contact http://

salisburypoint.tnsing.com.This building was the original Salis-

bury Point rail station, located on the Amesbury spur line. It now houses a collection of local train memorabilia and displays.

Macy-Colby House

257 Main St.Open Sat-

urdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Memorial Day

to Sept. 30, or by appointment. 978-388-3054. $3 adults.

Built circa 1654, this Colonial home contains artifacts and furniture rep-resenting Colonial Amesbury and the Colby family. This is the 110th year that the home has been open to the public.

More informationAmesbury’s museums and historic

sites have collaborated to form an umbrella group called Amesbury Treasures that highlights the town’s rich history. To download a brochure and map and order an audio driving tour of the town, visit amesburytrea-sures.org.

historic sites


Alliance ParkMain Street, on Merrimack River

This small riverfront park pays tribute to the U.S.S. Alliance, a Revolutionary War frigate that was built nearby. The park offers expansive views of the Mer-rimack River and is a favorite place for fishermen.

Lake Gardner BeachOff High Street

This freshwater beach features calm, shallow water and a sandy beach area.

Battis FarmSouth Hampton Road

This serves as the entry point to an expansive network of trails connecting some of Amesbury’s most attractive natu-ral features — Powow Hill, Lake Gardner and the Powow River. A favorite place for dog walkers and hikers.

RiverwalkAccessible from Water Street and Rocky Hill Road

This paved trail follows the old railroad spur line that once connected Amesbury to the Boston & Maine rail line. The trail is easily accessible to the downtown.

Town ParkFriend Street and Highland Street

This historic park is a centerpiece for active recreation. It contains a play-ground, a disc golf course, skateboard park, ball fields and a skating rink in the winter months.

Woodsom FarmLion’s Mouth Road

With almost 400 acres of open pas-ture, forest, playing fields, wetlands and trails, Woodsom Farm is the town’s most active outdoor place. It includes an impressive array of steep hills that are favorite places for winter sledding and summertime walks. Woodsom features occasional festivals and events during the year. This is also a favorite place for dogwalkers.

outdoors




Amesbury 2012

Documents

amesbury cultural

lowells boat

amesbury carriage

lake gardner

merrimack

woodsom farm

historic sites

visit www