"This survey was made at the request of the Ipswich School Committee. Its purpose was to determine what the schools might do to meet the recreation needs of the community, with special reference to the school children."
Author: Gordon Harris
Gordon Harris is a local historian living in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and publisher of the Historic Ipswich site. Follow him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonrharris/
Nuclear Ipswich, 1967-1970
In 1967, Ipswich was proposed as a site for an anti-ballistic missile base, and in 1970 opponents prevented construction of a nuclear power plant on Town Farm Road that eventually was built in Seabrook.
Industrial History of the Ipswich River
The Industrial History of the Ipswich River was produced for the Ipswich 375th Anniversary by John Stump, , and Alan Pearsall.Historic photos are by Ipswich photographer George Dexter.
Harvard Graduate School of Design Study for Downtown Ipswich
The Harvard graduate students divided into two groups, each developing a vision of how to revitalize downtown Ipswich and provide additional housing, business space, green space and parking.
Destination Ipswich: Turkey Hill & Kamon Farm
In this episode, we took a 3 mile walk that started at the Turkey Hill Conservation area trailhead on Pineswamp Rd., and followed a connector trail to Essex County Greenbelt's new property, Kamon Farm. From there we enjoyed a scenic return on Pineswamp Rd. to the small parking lot for Turkey Hill.
Asbury Grove Methodist Camp Meeting, Hamilton MA
The Asbury Grove Methodist Camp Meeting on Asbury St. in Hamilton is listed in the National Register of Historic Districts, and has a collection of historic buildings that were built between 1870 and 1960. 12,000 people, most from Boston, attended the first camp meeting in 1859.
The Hanging of Elizabeth Attwood, who Murdered Her “Bastard Child”
In June, 1720, Elizabeth Attwood was convicted in the Ipswich Court on the charge that she "delivered of a male bastard and that she concealed the death."
Destination Ipswich: A Walk up Spring Street
Join us or a walk up Spring Street where we visit the Dow Memorial, Baker's Pond, the brand new water tank, the Immigrants Cemetery, and we try to find "Second Sands."
The Jewel Mill and Stone Arch Bridge
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.
Norm Abram and Matt Diana Go Inside Two Old Houses
The 1677 Whipple House and the 1694 Paine house at Greenwood Farm are two well-preserved First Period houses in Ipswich that are occasionally open to the public.
Unrequited Love and a Murder-Suicide
The 1941 Ipswich Town Report included a tribute to the late Water and Light Commissioner Walter G. Brown without mentioning that he murdered his former girlfriend Phyllis Chisholm and committed suicide.
Four Old Houses That Stood on High St.
The Jacob Manning house, the Caleb Lord house, the Nathaniel Lord house at the corner of High and Manning Streets, and the thatched roof William Baker house at the corner with Mineral Street.
Destination Ipswich: A Walk in the Dunes
Gordon Harris kicks off the first episode of Ipswich ICAM'S "Destination Ipswich" series with a walk in the sand dunes at Castle Neck.
Mark Quilter, Upon Complaint Against Him for Striking Rebeckah Shatswell
Mark Quilter was a cow-keeper on the north side of town with a reputation for drinking. When Goodwife Shatswell visited Goodwife Quilter and insulted both of them, Quilter lost his temper.
Ipswich Arts Association
The Ipswich Arts Association held its organizational meeting on February 26th at 2pm at the Ebsco Hall (5 Peatfield Street, We hope you'll join us in becoming a founding member! Join at https://www.ipswichartassociation.org/shop
“Dalliance and Too much Familiarity”
William Row v. John Leigh, Mar. 28, 1673: “For insinuating dalliance and too much familiarity with his wife and drawing away her affections from her husband, to the great detriment both in his estate and the comfort of his life.”
