Newburyport, Historic Heritage, Historic Assets

When perusing through the Newburyport Public Library photo archives online, I found these wonderful photographs of downtown Newburyport, MA.

This first one is taken from the Customs House and is looking down at Market Square and then the skyline, I believe, is towards the West. There are 5 Church steeples. I know what 3 of the steeples are, but I don’t know the other 2. I also do not know the date of this photograph.

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Downtown Newburyport from the Customs House
Market Square
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

This second photograph is looking (I believe) up the Merrimac River towards Amesbury. It does give an idea of how much of downtown Newburyport was lost during the demolition of downtown Newburyport, MA in the late 60’s, 1970 (I’m not sure of the exact dates.) My guess would be that this photograph was taken sometime during the 1930’s, but I do not know for sure.

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Downtown Newburyport, MA
Looking up the Merrimac River
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

And this third photograph is of Newburyport’s waterfront harbor. The Old South Church is at the very right of the skyline, so I would imagine that this photograph is looking across the South End towards Plum Island. I have no idea what date this might be, with the ships and all, but I think the picture gives a fascinating look into our historic heritage.

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Newburyport Waterfront Harbor
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
at the Newburyport Public Library

And we have an historic heritage. Please, let us not squander what little we have left of it now.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport