Ipswich, Massachusetts was founded in 1634 in an area the Native Americans called “Agawam,” and is America’s best-preserved Puritan town. The historic neighborhoods of Meeting House Green, High Street, the East End, and the South Green are well-preserved streetscapes of 17th to 19th-century residences. Opposition by the people of Ipswich to a tax imposed in 1687 is commemorated in the seal of the town of Ipswich, with the motto, “The Birthplace of American Independence 1687.”
Attractions - With the North Shore's best beach, dozens of outdoor attractions and the best-preserved Puritan town in America, there's so much to do in Ipswich, MA!… Continue reading Attractions 
Settlers and early inhabitants of Ipswich - The Puritan settlers of Ipswich arrived during the “Great Migration."Sources include "Early Inhabitants of Ipswich" by Abraham Hammatt, "Vital Records to 1850," and "Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony" by Thomas Franklin Waters.… Continue reading Settlers and early inhabitants of Ipswich 
Stories from Ipswich - Legends and stories from Ipswich and other North Shore communities… Continue reading Stories from Ipswich 
Old North Burying Ground - Established in 1634, the Old North Burying Ground in Ipswich, Massachusetts is one of the oldest cemeteries in North America. … Continue reading Old North Burying Ground 
First Period, Georgian and Federal-era houses of Ipswich - There are more remaining first Period houses (1625 through 1725) in Ipswich MA than any other town in the country.… Continue reading First Period, Georgian and Federal-era houses of Ipswich Recent posts
“A State of Nature”, Worcester in 1774
“In Worcester, they keep no Terms, openly threaten Resistance by Arms, have been purchasing Arms, preparing them, casting Ball, and providing Powder, and threaten to attack any Troops who dare to oppose them….the flames of sedition spread universally throughout the country beyond conception.” -Gen. Thomas Gage… Continue reading “A State of Nature”, Worcester in 1774
The Intolerable Acts of 1774
Despite the failure of the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts, the British Parliament responded to the “Boston Tea Party” by passing even more restrictive acts to punish the American extremists.… Continue reading The Intolerable Acts of 1774
How Christmas came to Ipswich
Puritans shunned Christmas for its pagan roots, allowing only Thanksgiving as a time for feasting, and imposed a five-shilling fine on any persons found “observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way.”… Continue reading How Christmas came to Ipswich
John Freeman, an African American Revolutionary War soldier from Ipswich
John Freeman, son of enslaved Peter and Jane Freeman of Ipswich, enlisted into the militia of the Revolutionary War in the year 1777, and served in Rhode Island, Providence and Cambridge.… Continue reading John Freeman, an African American Revolutionary War soldier from Ipswich
The women of Chebacco build a Meeting House
When Chebacco Parish (now Essex) began building their own meeting house, Ipswich authorities obtained an order that “No man shall build a meeting house at Chebacco.” Abigail Proctor saw a glaring legal loophole…… Continue reading The women of Chebacco build a Meeting House
Persecution of Quakers by the Puritans
Beginning in 1656, laws forbade any captain to land Quakers. Any individual of that sect was to be committed at once to the House of Correction, to be severely whipped on his or her entrance, and kept constantly at work, and none were suffered to speak with them. In Ipswich, Roger Darby his wife lived on High St, and were warned, fined and dealt with harshly.… Continue reading Persecution of Quakers by the Puritans
Self-governed at Market Square
Newcomers and visitors to Ipswich inevitably suggest installing a traffic light at the confusing intersection of Market, Central, North Main and South Main Streets, but most people agree it would be a bad idea.… Continue reading Self-governed at Market Square
Traditional American Thanksgiving in Art and Song
Among America’s most beloved 19th century renderings of Thanksgiving Day are Currier & Ives lithographs, Grandma Moses’s paintings, and Lydia Marie Child’s famous poem/song “Over the River and Through the Wood.” In the 20th Century, Norman Rockwell depicted an idealized version of American Thanksgiving. By Helen Breen… Continue reading Traditional American Thanksgiving in Art and Song
Sullivan’s Corner
For eight decades the Sullivan farm in Ipswich, MA practiced a pre-modern way of life. The two sisters who took over their father’s family farm in 1916 were also teachers and principals in the Ipswich schools.… Continue reading Sullivan’s Corner
Along the Ipswich River
Historic photos of the Ipswich River from original glass negatives taken by early Ipswich photographers Arthur Wesley Dow, George Dexter and Edward L. Darling. … Continue reading Along the Ipswich River
The Birthplace of American Independence, 1687
The important events I shall describe were a mere tradition in the town where I was born. It was almost a revelation, when, in later years, I found unquestioned historical records deserving of national attention.… Continue reading The Birthplace of American Independence, 1687
The Sidney Shurcliff Riverwalk
In 1984, the Town of Ipswich laid a sewer along an old footpath beside the Ipswich River between The County St. and Green Street stone arch bridges. In 1998 the Mass. Highway Dept. completed construction of the Sidney Shurcliff Riverwalk, due in part to efforts by Sidney Shurcliff’s sister Alice.… Continue reading The Sidney Shurcliff Riverwalk
300 years on Grape Island
Grape Island was once a small but thriving community, and briefly a popular summer resort. In 1941, 3000 acres of Plum Island including Grape Island were purchased by the U.S. government to establish the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.… Continue reading 300 years on Grape Island
Ipswich Mill Dam drop-in event Wednesday December 14th
The Ipswich River Watershed Association and NOAA are organizing a drop-in event to be held at Town Hall for the public to come in and ask questions and have conversations with a series of experts who are familiar with different aspects of the Ipswich Mills Dam removal project.… Continue reading Ipswich Mill Dam drop-in event Wednesday December 14th
The Cape Ann Earthquake, November 18, 1755
At between 6.0 and 6.3 on the Richter scale, the 1755 Cape Ann Earthquake remains the largest earthquake in the history of Massachusetts, and caused great alarm. … Continue reading The Cape Ann Earthquake, November 18, 1755
November 5: Guy Fawkes Day (“Pope Night”)
After Guy Hawkes, a Catholic, attempted to blow up the king and members of Parliament, effigies of Guy Fawkes were burned every year on Nov. 5, accompanied by a day of odd activities. The tradition was continued by English settlers in America. … Continue reading November 5: Guy Fawkes Day (“Pope Night”)
The Rev. John Wise of Ipswich
The concepts of freedom about which Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence originated from the pen of the Rev. John Wise of Ipswich: “The origin of civil power is the people…and when they are free, they may set up what species of government they please.”… Continue reading The Rev. John Wise of Ipswich
Block prints from the 1950 IHS calendar: Old Time Ipswich
Ipswich High School “Old Time Ipswich.” featuring block prints created and printed by the students for each month of the calendar.… Continue reading Block prints from the 1950 IHS calendar: Old Time Ipswich
Request for Statements of Interest for Public Safety properties
If you or your organization or department are interested in submitting a proposal for future use of either the present Ipswich Fire Station building or the Police Station building, continue reading to download a Statement of Interest form.… Continue reading Request for Statements of Interest for Public Safety properties
Old house, new home
Saved from a bulldozer in the 1960s, this 18th-century Georgian-style Ipswich house has a new home as a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of American History. … Continue reading Old house, new home
Haunted houses of Ipswich
Old Ipswich tales, and some stories shared on social media.… Continue reading Haunted houses of Ipswich
Chelmsford Center for the Arts
The former town hall in Chelmsford, MA was erected in 1879. Town Meeting voted to use Community Preservation Funds to renovate and restore the building, and on July 4, 2012 the Chelmsford Center for the Arts opened in the fully-restored elegant facility. … Continue reading Chelmsford Center for the Arts
Ipswich Hosiery
After the first stocking machine was smuggled from England to Ipswich in 1822, immigrants arrived in Ipswich to work in the cotton and hosiery mills, contributing to the town’s diverse cultural heritage.… Continue reading Ipswich Hosiery
The Central Street Victorian neighborhood
Central Street was laid out in 1870, Manning High School opened 4 years later, and stores began to be constructed. By 1884, the Victorian neighborhood that lines Central, Hammatt, Manning, Mineral, Liberty, Brown and Maple Streets had been created. … Continue reading The Central Street Victorian neighborhood
Pioneer in Partnership award
At the Essex National Heritage Commission’s annual gathering, Executive Director Annie Harris surprised our own Wayne Castonguay by presenting him with the 2022 Pioneer in Partnership Award.… Continue reading Pioneer in Partnership award
The Arts Need Space
This exciting collaboration between the Living Faith Methodist Church and Ipswich Citizens for the Arts will bring live music, theater and more to the historic heart of Ipswich, while helping save one of most venerable landmarks.… Continue reading The Arts Need Space
An introduction to First Period architecture in Ipswich
Of the roughly 300 houses that were constructed (in part of in whole) during the first century of English settlement of Massachusetts, 59 are in Ipswich. In this video, Ipswich Town Historian Gordon Harris, identifies features which identify First Period structures based on appearance, layout, and details that distinguish them from the succeeding Georgian era.… Continue reading An introduction to First Period architecture in Ipswich
The Giles Firmin Park: from tannery to arboretum to playground
The locality became very unsightly and in 1906, the land and buildings were bought by a private association which removed the unsightly buildings, laid out the lot as a park and garden. … Continue reading The Giles Firmin Park: from tannery to arboretum to playground
How I came to Ipswich
The moral of this story is that it’s never too late to decide what you’re going to be when you grow up.… Continue reading How I came to Ipswich
The Switch Rideable Artscape
The SWITCH Rideable ArtScape is a permanent installation made of poured concrete, sculpted metal, and organic materials, located at Bialek Park in Ipswich. The SWITCH serves primarily as a rideable concrete skatepark for riders of all skill levels, as well as an outdoor art gallery, a public performance space, and a gathering area for our… Continue reading The Switch Rideable Artscape
Living Descendants of the Native Americans of Agawam
Descendants of the Pawtucket are living in Abenaki, Pequaket, Penobscot, and Micmac communities today in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Nova Scotia.… Continue reading Living Descendants of the Native Americans of Agawam
Images from the Ipswich Rotary “harnecues,” 1952-55
Horse shows were held at Maplecroft Farm on Essex Rd. from 1952 through 1955, sponsored by Ipswich Rotary. Known as “harnecues,” the two-day events combined harness racing with barbecues to augment the Rotary student loan fund and benefit Cable Memorial Hospital’s building fund, and featured class A equestrian events for children and adults.… Continue reading Images from the Ipswich Rotary “harnecues,” 1952-55
Saving the Egypt River
In partnership with the Parker River Clean Water Association, the Ipswich River Watershed Association produced a new video on the plight of the Egypt River. The video begins by asking Ipswich residents the question “Where is the Egypt River’?” … Continue reading Saving the Egypt River
President Washington visits Ipswich, October 30, 1789
On October 30, 1789, Washington passed through Ipswich on his ten-day tour of Massachusetts. Adoring crowds greeted the President at Swasey’s Tavern (still standing at the corner of Popular and County Streets) where he stopped for food and drink.… Continue reading President Washington visits Ipswich, October 30, 1789
Drunkards, liars, a hog, a dog, a witch, “disorderly persons” and the innkeeper
As the young boys who arrived with the first settlers of Ipswich approached adulthood, they developed a fondness for hard liquor and rowdiness, which frequently landed them in court.… Continue reading Drunkards, liars, a hog, a dog, a witch, “disorderly persons” and the innkeeper
1st, 2nd & 3rd period houses in Ipswich
There are more remaining first Period houses (1625 through 1725) in Ipswich MA than any other town in the country.… Continue reading 1st, 2nd & 3rd period houses in Ipswich
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Historic Ipswich 