Category Archives: Local Historic District (LHD)

A Local Historic District (LHD) is a specifically-designated area deemed historically or architecturally significant that is protected by ordinance from changes that would negatively impact that area’s historic character.

Alterations to Historic Newburyport

I’ve walked the South End of Newburyport, particularly the area closest to Plum Island (Ward 1) now for 30 years. I love to walk, and I walk everyday. (It started when I first moved here in 1981 and walked my new puppy and then added my little boy in his stroller, walking around the South End of Newburyport, pushing the stroller and dragging Sadie, who was then no longer a puppy, behind.)

Back then, when I started walking, the area was sometimes in bedraggled shape, but historically intact. I would fantasize about living on certain streets in the South End. A new house or major alteration would go up here or there. In the beginning it was so minor that it was “quirky.”

Yesterday, I took a walk along some of the streets in Newburyport’s South End, some of the streets that I often fantasized living on. What I realized yesterday, was those streets have been altered so much over the years, bit by bit, a little by homeowners, a lot by developers, that I would now never want to live there. In fact parts of those streets no longer look like an historic city, they look like narrow streets with a sometimes a jumble of houses that have created not particularly, in my mind, compared to what once was there, an attractive area. I was really taken aback. I would no longer want to live in those areas (including an area mentioned in an opinion piece in today’s Newburyport Daily News).

High Street, so far has mostly avoided that fate and so has downtown Newburyport and the areas close to it, in Wards 2 and 3, the area for the proposed LHD (800 houses not 2,800 houses-good grief).

If those areas are doctored little by little, just like the areas on my walk, and become a jumble of architectural styles, Newburyport would change so much that it would just be another suburban place to live, not the place we live in today. That wouldn’t work for a lot of people. The LHD (and I understand people’s concerns over property rights) would make sure that that did not happen. If it can happen and is still happening in the South End at a rapid rate (by developers), it could happen anywhere in Newburyport.

Protecting the integrity of Newburyport is so important for us. And, oh my, I am concerned. There is a very loud and vocal opposition (not the more quiet folks concerned with property rights, that one can have a real back and forth conversation with), that are using misinformation and innuendo to express their point of view. I am concerned that the a real “discussion” about a Local Historic District for Newburyport could get derailed (which is the forcefully stated intent), instead of letting the democratic process unfold.

Newburyport Local Historic District Study Committee

I read the opinions and comments in the Newburyport Daily News from some of the folks who aren’t wildly in favor of the Newburyport Local Historic District Study Committee (NLHDSC).

The hostility and misinformation about the the LHD Study Committee is really over the top, and to quote one of the anti LHD folks, it sounds to me as if it’s often those folks who are made up of “histericals!” (their quote, not mine). Good Grief!!

Lets look back, shall we? The Newburyport LHD Study Committee was appointed by the mayor (just like all other boards and commissions in our democratic Newburyport government), Mayor John Moak and and the Study Committee was passed by the Newburyport City Council on June 25, 2007. (All by the book.)

This is not some “new” idea, by some “volunteer helpers” (their words, not mine) who suddenly sprung out of nowhere to make peoples lives a living hell. Hello.

On the Study Committee there are some very reasonable and knowledeable folks. Doug Locy who was the chair of the Newburyport Planning Board for years. Ed Ramsdsell, who has been the chair of the Newburyport Zoning Board of Appeals for years (both terrific men with a great deal of integrity). Sarah White, who was president of the Newburyport Preservation Trust, a very impressive gal. And how about Doug Bolick? long time and highly respected Newburyport attorney (a very reasonable fellow-not an “histeric”). Margaret Whelch, who has done an incredible amount for our historic city over the years.

These folks are not crazy Nazis that suddenly sprung up out of thin air, unbeknownst to anyone in particular. And they are not “Histericals.” And the folks who come up with these wild, misinformed ideas and misinformation on the Newburyport Daily News are the ones in my mind who are sounding hysterical, not the well thought out process (whether you agree with it or not) by the City of Newburyport. Good grief.

(And BTW, the folks on the Newburyport LHD Study Committee really are “historic home advocates,” the real deal. I hate to see anyone call themselves an “historic home advocate” without some very solid credentials.)

The Proposed Newburyport Local Historic District Commission

I have heard so much about the Nazi like quality of what the proposed Newburyport Local Historic District Commission, the commission that would help regulate the proposed Local Historic District (LHD), and I gotta tell you, a lot of misinformation out there, good grief.

Q: ( Me) What do you think the LHD Commission would be like?

A: (A lot of people) People who don’t live in Newburyport, a bunch of controlling zealots who would make the lives of the people living in Newburyport a living hell. (No exaggeration here, I hear this all the time, no kidding.)

The proposed commission would be like any other of the Newburyport commissions (and boards), it would be made up of people who live in Newburyport, not controlling Nazi outsiders who care nothing about the people who live here. Hello.

In the draft of the LHD Ordinance (and it’s a draft, so that means lots of public input from public hearings, good grief) it proposes that the LHD Commission be made up of 7 members. And just like other boards and commissions, those members would be appointed by the mayor (often members are recommended to the mayor by citizens of Newburyport, no different here), and confirmed by the Newburyport City Council (just like ever other city board and commission). So if the people of Newburyport, don’t like a proposed member, they can call the Newburyport City Council and the Mayor and register their complaint, which often happens in our Newburyport democratic process (and often the person is not appointed or approved!).

The draft proposes that there be (again everyone lives in Newburyport) a realtor, an architect, a member of the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, people from entities like the Newburyport Preservation Trust and the Historic Society of Old Newbury, 2 members who are residents of the proposed district, and in the beginning 2 members of the Local Historic District Study Committee, to help with any initial confusion, and get things off to a good start.

The draft of the ordinance proposes that in the beginning, 2 members get appointed for one year, 2 members for two years, and three members for three years. And then after the initial go through, each member would be appointed for 3 years, just like other Newburyport boards and commissions.

So now, hysterics out there, and there are a lot of hysterics out there, who are just so upset that they can’t hear what someone who may be for the Newburyport Local Historic District (LHD) may be saying, this is not a proposed Nazi commission to control and destroy your lives (good grief!!).

Demolition of Downtown Newburyport

The buildings next to the Five Cents Savings Bank in downtown Newburport that were demolished in 1972 to make way for a drive though addition.

The buildings next to the Five Cents Savings Bank in downtown Newburport that were demolished by the bank in 1972 to make way for a drive-in addition. (Courtesy of the Archives at the Newburyport Public Library)

The photo from July 1972 from the Archives of the Newburyport Public Library shows old, historic buildings next to The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank. The archive also says that those old, historic buildings next to the bank on State Street were purchased by the The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, and that the bank planned to demolish the buildings and construct a drive-in addition, with the entrances and exits from Temple Street and Charter Street.

And in 1984 The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank put up a very contemporary addition in place of those historic, old buildings.

In 1972 Newburyport had “turned the corner” and the brakes were put on the demolition of downtown Newburyport. But, one of our most beloved institutions, that has done so much for this community, and that has so many wonderful folks working there, tore down part of historic downtown in 1972.

The thinking had not completely changed. Old buildings, still in so many minds, meant economic stagnation, and the new contemporary architecture implied economic vitality and a bright new future.

The contemporary addition by the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank that replace the old, historic buildings in downtown Newburyport (see above photo).

And part of it was the times. The aesthetic back then was to combine the old architecture with new modern architecture. The Inn Street fountain, its modern sculpture (which I happen to love) in an historic setting, is an example of combining the old with the new.

But I look at the buildings in the photograph from the Newburyport Public Library and I ache when I see those old buildings now gone forever.

And as I said in an earlier post, the trend to demolish old buildings continued for The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, which demolished One Temple Street in 2006, a few years ago, and put up a contemporary addition in its place.

And, it’s just a guess, but one wonders if such a fuss wasn’t made by the community over the demolition of One Temple Street, whether there would be a reminder of what once stood there, a replica of the old facade of the historic building.

So, to sound like one heck of a squeaky record, don’t think that downtown Newburyport is safe from demolition or unwanted alterations. We need that insurance policy, a Local Historic District (LHD) in the worst way.

(If you download the top image, would you please give the Archival Center at the Newburyport Public Library and the Newburyport Blog credit. Thank you.)

Protecting Downtown Newburyport

Downtown Newburyport being destroyed in 1968. (Photo courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library)

On The Newburyport Blog’s Facebook page I put up an album of the photos I took from the Archival Center at the Newburyport LIbrary of Newburyport from 1967-1974, the time of Newburyport’s Urban Renewal.

The photos are so shocking to me, what we lost back then and what we almost lost.

People think it couldn’t possibly happen again, no need to protect our historic assets.

But tastes change. In 1967, and it wasn’t just Newburyport, people felt that old buildings, historic old buildings, were a symbol of economic stagnation and economic collapse. The favored architecture of the time was minimalist, low to the ground, “modern.” It symbolized economic rebirth, economic vitality.

Right now we appreciate our historic buildings, but taste in what makes small cities vibrant change. We need to protect downtown Newburyport. It was almost destroyed once, it can happen again. We’ve come too far not to have an “insurance policy” on all that we have accomplished. The greatest protection for downtown Newburyport for us and for future generations is a Local Historic District (LHD).

Modern architecture favored in the 1960's

The kind of modern architecture favored at the time of Newburyport's Urban Renewal

I love really good modern architecture. It’s actually one of my passions. I just don’t happen to think that it’s right for this place, for Newburyport. And it’s almost what the entire downtown of Newburyport would have looked like (we came so close).

(If you download the image at the top would you please give The Archival Center at The Newburyport Public Library and The Newburyport Blog credit. Thank you.)

Video on Newburyport’s Urban Renewal-a “Must See”

I hope that this video by Lawrence Rosenblum on what the city looked like before Urban Renewal and after, made in 1975, goes viral. Tom Salemi over at Newburyport Posts put it up on his blog and it’s beginning to show up on places on Facebook.

One of the cool things is that because it is on video, you can jump around the film and go back and look at the parts that interest you.

It makes what happened to us “visceral.”

Here’s a quote from the Newburyport Daily News, November 26, 2007, “A city’s ‘character’ changed for good.”

“In late 1975, Newburyporters gathered to see themselves on the big screen. Filmmaker Larry Rosenblum had finished his three-year-long project, “A Measure of Change,” a half-hour documentary that explored the city’s battle to stop the federal bulldozer.

“The film may be a catalyst as well as a piece of Yankee advice, ‘look before you leap,'” The Daily News stated in a film critique.

Within a few months, the film was getting international attention. It won several awards and was selected as the U.S. entry at urban planning conferences in Stockholm and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

Suddenly, the little old seaport was exporting to the world again. This time it wasn’t goods, it was a concept: historic preservation and revitalization.”

Yes, people come here because of Newburyport’s “historic preservation and revitalization.”

Urban Renewal

Newburyport, We’ve Come a Long Way!

This is a film that about Newburyport made in 1975 that’s been around for a long time, but it’s the first time that I’ve seen it in video for the Web. It’s about the story of Newburyport’s Urban Renewal (and we have come a long, long way). The film was made by Lawrence Rosenblum (Vision, Inc. and Urbanimage Corp.) and is called, “Newburyport: A Measure of Change” and the video runs about 30 minutes.

You’ll see lots of friends, Sue Little (Jabberwocky Bookstore), Tom Kolterjahn, John (Hacky) Pramberg (former president of the Institution for Savings) and others (all much younger)! It’s very cool!

Link to Newburyport: A Measure of Change-video about Newburyport’s Urban Renewal

The link to Newburyport: A Measure of Change.

Archival Center at the Newburyport Public Library

Demolition on Inn Street courtesy of the Newburyport Public Library

Today, with a tip from Jerry Mullins, I visited the Archival Center at the Newburyport Public Library where I found the archives from 1967-1974, HUD, the NRA and Newburyport’s Urban Renewal. (All the photos are courtesy of the Archival Center at the Newburyport Public Library.)

I took a ton of photos and I often included the captions and some of the text.

You can find the entire album of photos on (the new) Newburyport Blog’s Facebook page. You can see the entire album here.

Now one can comment on posts on The Newburyport Blog. I am not good with comments, hence no comments on The Newburyport Blog, but I am looking for help from my fellow bloggers Tom Salemi over at the Newburyport Posts and Newburyport City Councilor Ari Herzog who are masters of the whole comment thing.

(If you download the image would you please give The Archival Center at The Newburyport Public Library and The Newburyport Blog credit. Thank you.)

Newburyport, Stuff Disappears, One Temple Street

One Temple Street, courtesy of the City of Newburyport, with the clapboard building next door, also demolished.

When I talk to folks about buildings disappearing in Newburyport, what I often hear is that doesn’t happen anymore.

Well, actually it does.

And it disappears these days. (Our buildings need to be protected-hence a Local Historic District, LHD.)

To start with one of the most wild ones, at least to me, would be downtown Newburyport, One Temple Street. Doesn’t exist today. Torn down by one of our most beloved institutions. An institution inhabited-run by great folks. An institution that has done unbelievably wonderful things for our community, demolished an historic building in downtown Newburyport (I believe it was 2006, maybe 2007). Our very own Five Cents Savings Bank.

If these good folks can tear down an historic building (yes, I went to all the hearings), one would think just about anybody could. And we don’t need protection in the form of a Local Historic District in downtown Newburyport? Oh, good grief.

One Temple Street, courtesy of the City of Newburyport, later photo, without the clapboard building next door.

One Temple Street dated to the early 19th century and was erected as an addition to Wolfe Tavern. The building wasn’t just left to rot. According to the City of Newburyport, in 1972 (Newburyport’s Urban Renwal) the building was rehabilitated, and was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Puriington of Byfield (this is on the historic surveys).

The City of Newburyport has two photographs of One Temple Street that I could find. An earlier photo that contains another clapboard building that was also demolished. And a photograph of One Temple Street later on without that building.

The replica of the facade of One Temple Street that exists as part of the Five Cents Savings Bank today, in my mind, just ain’t the same. Good try, but nope, doesn’t cut it.

And if the Five Cents Savings Bank can take down such an important building, folks, in my mind, nothin’s safe.

Save Newburyport – Support a Local Historic District

The “Save Newburyport – Support a Local Historic District” website is up.

Although Gus Harrington and I are listed as the folks heading the endeavor, there are lots of people helping the effort.

Bumper stickers are due to arrive on Wednesday.

On the “Action” page, it gives information and links on how to write to a Letter to the Editor at the Newburyport Daily News and the Newburyport Current.

It appears that there is some confusion out there about how to access information about Newburyport’s Local Historic District (LHD). On the Action page there are links to the proposed map of the LHD, the overview of Newburyport’s proposed LHD, a link to the clarification of some of the confusion about the proposed LHD, etc.

On the Action page there is also a suggestion to call your Newburyport City Councilor, with information on who the Newburyport City Councilors are, and how to get in touch with them.

There is a reminder to vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, where to vote, and which Newburyport City Councilors are on record as being in favor of the proposed Newburyport LHD.

There is a recommendation to go to public meetings, to keep an open mind, whether you support Newburyport’s LHD, are against the LHD or simply aren’t sure how you feel yet.

Save Newburyport supports the process of creating a Local Historic District. That process includes public meetings where the citizens of Newburyport take part in deciding what the guidelines would be for the anticipated LHD.

Newburyport, Why High Street is Important

High Street at the corner of State and High

This morning I got a call from one of the Massachusetts’ newspapers about the upcoming election. And one of the questions regarding the importance of the Newburyport’s Local Historic District (LHD), was, “Why is High Street important?”

I guess I have always assumed that people know the answer to that question, but I guess not.

In 1999 High Street was named an Endangered Resource by Preservation Massachusetts. It was the first roadway ever to be nominated.

These are some excerpts from the Endangered Resource Nomination, which was written by Bill Steelman and Jane Carolan of the Newburyport Historical Commission. The full text us up on the High Street website.

“In an important and meaningful way, High Street not only links, but virtually embodies, all periods of Newburyport’s considerable history.

Beyond its historical significance is its cultural and economic value to the community. High Street is Newburyport’s premier street and one of its major character-defining elements. As the principal gateway to Newburyport, it helps establish the city as an historic, attractive and welcoming place whose citizens appreciate and care for their community’s appearance.

High Street is historically significant. The entire street, its curvilinear course, landscape features and connection to structures, side streets and neighborhoods, contributes greatly to the Newburyport Historic District. Acknowledging its high level of significance and intact nature, the city’s 1991 preservation plan recommends High Street as a local historic district.

It is these images of Newburyport, old and new, which draw several hundred thousand visitors to the city each year, contributing significantly to the city’s burgeoning tourism economy.”

Written in 1999 by William Steelman and Jane Carolan of the Newburyport Historical Commission for the Endangered Resource Nomination.

*The above photograph is of the corner of State and High Streets, circa 1900. It is on the High Street website. It was obtained courtesy of the Historical Society of Old Newbury, at the Cushing House Museum, 98 High Street, Newburyport, MA.

There is No Protection for Downtown Newburyport

The Dodge Building, Pleasant Street, Newburyport

There is no longer any protection for downtown Newburyport except for 4 buildings, the E.P. Dodge Building (21 Pleasant Street), the Eaton Drug Building (58 State Street, across from Richdales on the corner of State Street and Pleasant Street), Fowle’s News on State Street and Newburyport City Hall, which are protected through preservation restrictions.

It used to be that the buildings downtown that received federal money from the Urban Renewal Plan, when downtown Newburyport was restored to its present wonderfulness, were protected from any inappropriate changes or demolition.

But the Urban Renewal Plan has expired, so downtown is vulnerable once more. (It was partially and almost totally destroyed in 1968.) I think almost everyone would agree that downtown Newburyport is vital to our economic wellbeing. It is one of the major reasons that people want to live, work, visit and play in Newburyport. And a Local Historic District (LHD) is the only thing that will protect downtown Newburyport.

Eventually, after a great deal of public process, where there will be give and take about the actual guidelines of the proposed Local Historic District, it will come in front of the Newburyport City Council (where there will be lots more discussion on the LHD) for a vote.

So who you vote for on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 matters if you care about whether or not Newburyport is protected for those of us who live here now, and those who come after us.

So again, the At Large candidates running for Newburyport City Council who are on record for supporting the process of a Local Historic District, i.e. the economic future of Newburyport are:

Ed Cameron

Barry Connell

Mike Early

Ari Herzog

Steve Hutcheson

Katy O’Connor Ives

(There are 6 candidates listed here who are on record as being in support of the LHD process, but you will be voting for 5.)

Vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

Newburyport’s Urban Renewal Plan has Expired

Newburyport’s Urban Renewal Plan for downtown Newburyport has expired.

Eaton's Drug Building on State Street

I went to Newburyport’s Planning Office today and asked what that meant, or if it meant what I thought it meant. And, yup, unfortunately I got it right.

What it means is that there is now NO protection for downtown Newburyport. Anybody can do anything to the buildings downtown except for the E.P. Dodge Building (21 Pleasant Street), the Eaton Drug Building (58 State Street, across from Richdales on the corner of State Street and Pleasant Street), Fowle’s News on State Street and Newburyport City Hall. These buildings are protected through preservation restrictions. But that’s it folks.

The Urban Renewal Plan protected the properties downtown that had received Federal money. But now that the Urban Renewal Plan has come to an end, no more protection.

Almost everyone, I think, would agree that downtown Newburyport is vital to Newburyport’s economic health. And downtown Newburyport is vulnerable once again (being partially destroyed and almost completely destroyed in 1968.)

The only thing that will protect downtown Newburyport is a Local Historic District (LHD).

In the upcoming Newburyport Election on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, the At Large candidates running for Newburyport City Council who are on record for supporting the process of a Local Historic District, i.e. the economic future of Newburyport are:

Ed Cameron

Barry Connell

Mike Early

Ari Herzog

Steve Hutcheson

Katy O’Connor Ives

Make sure you vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

Newburyport, High Street, Almost Destroyed in 1999

Readers of The Newburyport Blog have asked me what happened to High Street in 1999 that caused such alarm.

: What was once High Street between Summer Street and Winter Street ,  Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center  at the Newburyport Public Library

The City of Newburyport got a grant to fix up High Street. And in 1998 the Massachusetts Highway Department (MassHighway) came back with plans for High Street that met the “robotic” federal regulations for the roadway. It took a year to get people’s attention to the threat to the historic roadway. Finally in January 1999 people started to pay attention. “Citizens to Save High Street” was created (by yours truly), and on February 4, 1999 there was a huge meeting in Newburyport City Hall, standing room only, and the citizens of Newburyport demanded that the plan not take place.

These are the “Highlights” of the proposed plan in 1998 by MassHighway.

The Massachusetts Highway Department considered trees to be a “safety hazard” because they were too close to the road, consequently, the future of many of High Street’s trees were in question. (i.e. they were going to remove almost all of the trees.)

Close off of Ferry Road.

Completely reconfigure the “Three Road” area up at Atkinson Commons and put in a traffic light there.

Put a traffic light at Toppans Lane, by the Newburyport High School.

Remove 10 feet of land along the side of the Bartlett Mall facing High Street, that belonged to the City of Newburyport, to widen the roadway.

Remove land from private property owners, from the area between Fruit and State Streets along the “Ridge” side of the roadway, and put in retaining walls to make the street wider.

Make High Street as straight, narrow and uniform as possible from one end of the street to the other.

Remove plantings and all historical elements.

Remove the statue of George Washington by Pond Street and the Bartlett Mall. There was no plan to relocate the statue of George Washington. Pond Street was completely reconfigured to be one way.

A Local Historic District (LHD) would protect against destructive changes that could take place to our historic roadway. We would never want to go through this experience again.

Newburyport, Local Historic District is a Process

Creating a Local Historic District (LHD) for Newburyport (the ultimate protection of our historic assets, the economic engine for our city) is a process.

The map of the proposed LHD has changed! It now consists of downtown Newburyport, extended on one side to Rt 1 and on the other side to Federal Street, and historic High Street. (It’s a whole lot smaller than it originally started out being—part of the process.)

If we get Newburyport City Councilors elected who are in favor of the process of creating a LHD there will be a long process.

What the LHD Study Committee (LHDSC) has proposed is a list of “guidelines.” “Guidelines,” not “set in stone this is what you have to have-lines.”

Then there is a huge public process, public hearings, where everyone gets to say their piece. (My hope, and part of it I think, could already be a hollow hope, is that we could actually have a constructive public dialogue, instead of two sides digging in their heals and screaming over each other. What I saw at the one public information hearing that I went to, was very vocal anti-LHD doing a whole lot of loud talking, and not a lot of constructive listening. It’s much easier to come up with negative suggestions, “NO,” than constructive solutions – and constructive solutions are a major component of any sort of activism.)

And then it goes to the Newburyport City Council, where it goes into “committee,” and everything gets hashed out by our public officials. (That’s why it is very necessary that on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 you go out and vote!).

Will the LHD as it is proposed now look the same? My pretty good guess is “no,” it will look different. And that’s because we have a democracy. A wonderful, messy, process-oriented democracy.

So those of you out there who are really scared by the whole idea of a LHD, this is only the beginning. And those of you who are determined that the proposed LHD as it stands is going to happen, relax, it’s going to change.

So again, I’m going to say this until election day, vote on Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

The At Large candidates running for Newburyport City Council who are on record for supporting the process of a Local Historic District, i.e. the economic future of Newburyport are:

Ed Cameron

Barry Connell

Mike Early

Ari Herzog

Steve Hutcheson

Katy O’Connor Ives

Central Church, Newburyport

I came across this wonderful picture of Brown Square and Central Church on the online Newburyport Archives.

Central Church
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
The Newburyport Public Library

What is now the Garrison Inn, can be seen on the left next to the church. It looks as if there could be a glimpse of City Hall to the right (I’m not sure). And then there is the beautiful archway of trees with what is now Central Congregational Church at the end. In the Newburyport Archives it is listed as “Central Church (North).”

I thought that this image, along with all the rest of the remarkable historic photographs and prints that are now available to the public, in the public domain, through the Library of Congress and the Newburyport Archival Center, that have recently been up on the Newburyport Blog, would be a good way to wish the readers of the Newburyport Blog (who I am most grateful to), a very Happy Holiday.

Newburyport, Historic Assets Lost

I had seen these photographs before, but had never been able to find them again. And they were right under my nose, online, on the website of the City of Newburyport, under the Newburyport Public Library, photo archives.

The pictures I was looking for were those of Newburyport’s historic High Street that were taken right before Route 1 went in and all those houses on High Street were destroyed in (I believe) 1934.

Summer-HS-Winter .dest.jpg
High Street between Summer Street and Winter Street
Area destroyed for Route 1
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

This next photograph I believe was taken a little later. It is also the area of High Street between Winter and Summer Streets, historic assets that were lost and that can never be replaced.

SumWintHS.destroyed.jpg
High Street between Summer Street and Winter Street
Area destroyed for Route 1
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

And I also found this photograph in the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center of that neighborhood after the destruction. The photograph is of the bridge being build between Winter and Summer Street.

Summer.St.Bridge_n-LB.jpg
Bridge being built between Summer and Winter Street
For Route 1
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

For me that is a devastating photograph, especially knowing now what would have been there. And when one looks at the automobiles in the photograph above (although, yes, I know things have slightly changed, for goodness sakes) one wonders if the loss of all those neighborhoods, family homes, historic assets was worth it. It feels like part of the soul of Newburyport, MA was slashed away.

We are still losing our historic assets in Newburyport’s Historic District. It’s just not quite as obvious, dramatic or shocking.

And as a community, not just the 15% (maybe) ( and if you are reading the Newburyport Political Blog, you are probably part of that 15%) that pay attention, do we care? And how do we get the other 85% to look around and think about what is happening now in Newburyport, MA?

Unless something is happening in someone’s backyard, most people in Newburyport, MA are “asleep at the wheel,” so to speak. How do we wake up the rest of the residents of Newburyport, MA from their vapid stupor?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Demolition, Restoration

On the Library of Congress’ website I found another one of these fantastic photographs. This one is of 8 Summer Street.

8 Summer Street, Newburyport, MA
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Historic American Buildings Survey, Arthur C. Haskell, Photographer. June, 1934.

Yup, you guessed it, 8 Summer Street no longer exists. This beautiful home was another house in that neighborhood that was demolished to make way for Route 1.

And I also found this accompanying document from the Library of Congress.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Historic American Buildings Survey

The document (obviously from the survey) says:

“8 Summer Street, Thibault House, History-Built c. 1815, Demolished June 1934 for Cut Off”

Ah, the price of “progress.”

Chilling.

At least for this blogger.

Ok, I don’t know the back story of this demolition extravaganza, whole Newburyport neighborhoods demolished and destroyed. Restoration did not appear to be on the radar screen.

But, this sorry tale, certainly applies to Newburyport, MA in the year 2007. Do we as a city have regard for the retention and restoration of our historic assets, the “intangibles” that make this town so economically vibrant. Or, are we going to throw our historic and economic assets in the dumpster for today’s quick buck?

And in my mind, our historic assets include things like the acres and acres of land behind (or beside) the stately homes on High Street. Yes, I am thinking of the land that once belonged to the Wheelwright property that abuts the historic Oak Hill Cemetery. Been out of the press for a while.

And apparently there are projects in the works for 30 High Street and 321-323 High Street.

In yesterday’s Newburyport Daily News, January 17, 2007, John and Sandra Welch are requesting a division of their very large lot, 39 High Street (that is the house on historic High Street with the tennis court up by March’s Hill.)

The plan according to the Newburyport Daily News, is that John and Sandra Welch, who are retired, will sell the existing house and then build a new house “within the year” on the remaining 12,078 square feet, which would become 30 High Street. Plenty of room legally for a new dwelling.

Sigh.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport