On December 7, 2007 I wrote on the Newburyport Blog, wondering if Newburyport was headed for “high-end.”
And seeing where Newburyport has come since then, even in a short amount of time, now in July 2015, the answer is definitely, “Yes.” And I’m guessing it’s going to get more and more “high end.”
Market Square, downtown Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum.
Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum, press image to enlarge.
Downtown Newburyport, Water Street, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum.
Newburyport, from the film”A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum, press image to enlarge.
And this is where we as a city were back in 1970. Yes, Newburyport was a slum, it is really different now (vast understatement).
The film “A Measure of Change” was made in 1975 by Lawrence Rosenblum (it was uploaded with permission by Jerry Mullins over at Brick and Tree). It is a film that chronicles the pivotal time (Urban Renewal) when the city transformed itself from a worn-out mill town (a slum) to a vibrant destination city by using historic preservation (first in the nation to use restoration rather than demolition for urban renewal). And Newburyport is now a prototype for other municipalities across the United States.
The photos in this post are still photos from the film. The link to the film “A Measure of Change” on YouTube can be found here.
Link to a Measure of Change
Downtown Newburyport, Water Street, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum.
Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum, press image to enlarge.
The Waterfront, downtown Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum.
Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum, press image to enlarge.
The Waterfront, downtown Newburyport, from the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum.
From the film “A Measure of Change” by Lawrence Rosenblum, press image to enlarge