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Tag: Rowley

The Jewel Mill and Stone Arch Bridge

March 29, 2023March 30, 2023 Gordon Harris
Jewel Bridge in Rowley

In 1642, a dam and fulling mill were built on the Mill River in Rowley. The stone arch bridge on this property was constructed between 1850 and 1870.

Posted in PlacesTagged mill, Rowley

Flight from Rooty Plain

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023 Gordon Harris1 Comment
Rooty Plain near Rowley MA

News arrived in Rooty Plain that the Regulars had come in to Ipswich, and every man was called for, to meet the enemy. One aged man. Mr. Stephen Dressr thought he would sit down a while and smoke his pipe, and waited but they didn't come, and had quite a comfortable nights sleep.

Posted in StoriesTagged 1775, Ipswich, Linebrook, Rooty Plain, Rowley

Adrift on a Haystack, December 1786

December 19, 2022March 23, 2023 Gordon Harris2 Comments
Adrift on a Haystack legend Rowley

In a northeasterly storm in December, 1786 Samuel Pulsifer and Samuel Elwell of Rowley were digging clams on Plum Island, got caught in the storm, and took refuge in a stack of salt hay for the night. In the morning they found they had been set afloat.

Posted in Legends, Storms, winterTagged 1786, Clams, December, hay, Plum Island, Rowley, storm

Along the Old Bay Road

December 15, 2022February 3, 2023 Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Milestone 33 on the Old Bay Road

In 1639, the Colony ordered that a road be laid out from Boston to Portsmouth, to be constructed by each town along the way. The Bay Road made Ipswich an important stagecoach stop. Several milestones to indicate distances are still standing.

Posted in RoadsTagged 1639, Appleton, Old Bay Road, Rowley, Stone markers

Ipswich Village (Upper High St.)

October 7, 2021February 27, 2023 Gordon Harris2 Comments
Jewett Hill, Ipswich Village map

This Ipswich neighborhood has historically had a close social connection with neighboring Rowley. Jewett's mill was created in the 17th Century, and historic houses still line the street.

Posted in RoadsTagged 1700, Commons, Jewett, neighborhood, pengry, Rowley

The Muster Murder of 1787

August 7, 2021October 21, 2022 Gordon HarrisLeave a comment

During the Boston Muster of 1787, Daniel Foster of Rowley participated in the customary celebration of shooting musket balls into the air, and accidentally killed Amos Chapman of Ipswich. A jury ordered his execution, but Governor John Hancock opposed capital punishment and pardoned Foster.

Posted in StoriesTagged 1787, Court, punishment, Rowley

Roads to Paradise

April 27, 2021March 30, 2023 Gordon Harris1 Comment
Roads to Paradise, Ipswich MA

"The ancient way, now called not inaptly Paradise Road, winds through long stretches of woodland, where ferns and brakes grow luxuriantly, and every kind of wild flower finds congenial haunt in open glades or shaded nooks.”

Posted in Roads, StoriesTagged 1807, Rowley

Clam Battle!

March 27, 2021 Gordon Harris1 Comment
Battle of clammers over the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Life Magazine, July 16, 1945: The government had taken over the lands for a Wildlife Refuge, and the clam battle was on. Ipswich hunters were afraid of losing their private hunting reserves. Ipswich farmers were afraid of losing their land.

Posted in StoriesTagged 1945, Clams, July, Plum Island, Rowley

John Dunton’s visit to Ipswich and Rowley in 1686

March 7, 2021March 24, 2023 Gordon Harris1 Comment
John Dunton's visit to Ipswich

in 1686, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart on High St. were favored with a visit from the book seller John Dunton, who came to Ipswich "in the course of his saddle-bag peregrinations."

Posted in StoriesTagged 1686, Commons, October, Rowley, visit

Great Sorrows, the Deadly “Throat Distemper” of 1735

February 5, 2021March 30, 2023 Gordon Harris5 Comments

"What mourning Sighs, and loud Outcries comes from the Eastern Towns, Of Children crying, and others dying, which makes a doleful Sound."

Posted in Disease, StoriesTagged 1736, diptheria, Rowley, scarlett fever

The Agawam Diner

August 10, 2019December 22, 2022 Gordon Harris2 Comments
Agawam Diner when it was in Ipswich

The Agawam Diner on Rt. 1 in Rowley was built by the Fodero Dining Car Company in 1954, and was originally located on Market St. in Ipswich. Two Strand diner cars preceded it at that location.

Posted in Landmarks, PlacesTagged Agawam Diner, Depot, Rowley

Recollections of A Boy’s Life In The Village

July 23, 2019October 20, 2022 Gordon Harris3 Comments
Ipswich Village Schoolchildren

This story was written by Amos E. Jewett in 1945. At the time, he was 83 years old. having been born in Ipswich Village, near Rowley, on June 16, 1862. 

Posted in StoriesTagged Ipswich Village, Jewett, letters, Rowley

The Highs & Lows of the Rowley River

July 19, 2019February 13, 2022 Gordon HarrisLeave a comment
Rowley River clam flats

Enjoy a fascinating hour-long virtual tour of the Rowley River with 4th-generation clammer and former Shellfish Constable Jack Grundstrum.

Posted in PlacesTagged geology, Jack Grundstrum, Rowley, Rowley River

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Ⓒ2023 Gordon Harris gordonharris2@gmail.com

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