On the Massachusetts North Shore
Every day Charlotte Lindgren boarded at Ipswich Depot for her commute to Boston and back. On February 28, 1956, she was unfortunate to be in two horrible train crashes in the same morning, but survived them both unscathed.… Continue reading Ipswich woman survived two train crashes on February 28, 1956!
In 1652, the Town of Ipswich voted “For the better aiding of the school and the affairs thereof,” building a grammar school and paying the schoolmaster. By the 19th Century there were 10 grammar schools spread throughout the town, and a high school.… Continue reading A photographic and chronological history of the Ipswich Schools
In March 1934, Congress passed the Civilian Conservation bill, creating the Works Progress Administration and the Civil Conservation Corps which accomplished several projects in Ipswich.… Continue reading Ipswich in the Great Depression
One hundred years ago, Lakemans Lane was a narrow dirt road lined by stone walls. You can still see the imprint of the pastures and fields that once marked the original properties.… Continue reading Lakemans Lane and Fellows Road
Until the second half of the 19th Century, much of the area bounded by Central Street, Washington Street, Mineral Street and Market Street was a wetland with an open sewer known as Farley Brook running through it.… Continue reading Hammatt Street, Brown Square and Farley Brook
On June 10, 1913, police fired into a crowd of protesting immigrant workers at the Ipswich hosiery mill. A young Greek woman named Nicholetta Paudelopoulou was shot in the head and killed by police. … Continue reading Police open fire at the Ipswich Mills Strike, June 10, 1913
The Ipswich Bar has a long history of tragic shipwrecks. Its swift currents and shallow waters are especially dangerous during storms, and many ships have gone aground. The hull of the Ada K. Damon sits on Steep Hill Beach.… Continue reading The shipwrecks at Ipswich Bar
The large Federal-era house on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church in Ipswich was built by William Manning in 1820 after he purchased a portion of the ancient Potter family Farm.… Continue reading 175 County Road, the William Manning house (1820)
The house and barn at 21 Lakeman’s Lane were constructed by John Manning 3rd who inherited the farm from his father. The barn features hand-hewn post and beam framing with gunstock corner posts, and may predate the house.… Continue reading 21 Lakemans Lane, the John Manning Farm (c 1825)
Hidden in the woods near the corner of County Rd. and Lakeman’s Lane is a beautiful “Tudor Revival” house, built in 1900 for Charles A Campbell. Thomas Franklin Waters wrote about the early history of the property in Volume II, Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony: “On the east side of the Bay Road, the great tract of pasture, tillage… Continue reading 5 Hemlock Drive: Fairview, the Charles Campbell estate (1900)
The Caldwell Block stands on the site of the former Massachusetts Woolen Manufactory, constructed by Dr. John Manning in 1794. The property was sold to Stephen Coburn in 1847 and housed the post office and other shops. The building was destroyed by fire, and in 1870 Col. Luther Caldwell erected the present building.… Continue reading 15 South Main Street, the Caldwell Block (1870)
Historic Ipswich 