Beauty
Depicted in this New England town…
Two towns that
I resided in, walked around and viewed nature while not employed. I enjoyed the
daily jaunts of Methuen, MA;
and now I continue them in Sterling,
MA.
Torn between
two lovers; at times feeling like a fool…—
Methuen, MA
"Whoever has learned how to listen to trees
no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is. That is
home. That is happiness."—Herman Hesse
Methuen has a rich and varied past. Its
history includes millionaires, factory workers, heroes and scoundrels. Its
people have come from all corners of the earth. Its sons and daughters have
traveled the world and been involved with world shaping events. This website is
designed to introduce you to these people, and the community’s past, and
hopefully inspires you to look for the history of our community that is around
us.
CITY
OF METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS
PROFILE
The Town of Methuen was originally
organized as a town in
1725 when Lt.
Stephen Barker petitioned to divide the Town of
Haverhill. Governor Dummer signed the act establishing
the
Town of Methuen, naming the town
in
Historical Society
In the last
half of the 19th century there was a major influx of people from other
countries. In Methuen
it began with the Irish, then French Canadians, Italian and Armenians. In the
stores and on the street any number of languages could be heard. The original
families felt that as more and more immigrants came to Methuen the Yankee culture that they were so
proud of would be overshadowed by this mix of cultures. Out of fear and concern
that their Yankee culture would be lost a group of about 50 people met in April
of 1895 and established a historical society. Its mission was to preserve the
colonial heritage of Methuen.
--------------------------------
Wintry
activity is their Festival of Trees:
Mission Statement:
The Festival
of Trees began in 1994 to fund the restoration of the Tenney Gatehouse. It is a
magical Holiday event held annually by the
Festival of Trees, Inc., a private non-profit organization. The Festival is
dedicated to the richness and history of our community by developing
partnerships with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the communities of the Merrimack Valley. The proceeds from the Festival
of Trees provide funding to preserve the heritage and the monuments that make Methuen and the communities of the Merrimack Valley
unique.
The
Festival of Trees is a Celebration, Appreciation and Community…this year’s days are from November 23, 2013 until December 7, 2013. I was fortunate to be a
volunteer at the festival for two days; that is how I have photos from last
year.
-----------------------
Library:
Nevins
Memorial Library at 305 Broadway in Methuen,
Massachusetts was built in 1883
to honor David Nevins, Sr. as a memorial gift from his wife Eliza Nevins (née
Eliza Cotton), his elder son David Nevins, Jr., and his younger son Henry
Cotton Nevins. The library is located at 305 Broadway in Methuen and was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Nevins
Memorial Library offers resources including free Wi-Fi internet access, book
clubs, an outreach program to deliver books and media for homebound individuals,
and so on. The library is also the custodian of the Nevins Memorial Library
Historic Collection, much of which is in storage and for which viewing
appointments should be made. The collection includes manuscripts and printed
materials, genealogical resources, vital records, assorted objet d'art and
collectables, and the stained glass windows of the library itself.
----------------------------
Raymond’s Turkey Farm; Methuen, MA
|
Owned by the
Rischer Family
Family owned
and operated, Raymond's Turkey Farm was started in 1950 by Claire and Raymond
Rischer with only 24 turkeys. After years of hard work and long days, we are
now raising approximately 20,000 turkeys per year.
|
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Webster Greene Antiques and Interiors
Design, Methuen, MA
Their obvious
love and appreciation of antiques combined with a creative artistic flair has
earned them a reputation for creating distinctive displays on the show circuit.
This flair comes to the team of Webster Greene honestly. Greene has a musical
theatre background and Webster has a background in art. Both have extensive
experience in window display and interior design. The combined efforts and
diverse expertise of Webster Greene has contributed to the success that
everyone can enjoy!
------------------------------
Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720
and was officially incorporated in 1781.
Previous to
its incorporation it was "the Second Parish of Lancaster," and was
commonly called by a portion of its Indian name, Chocksett. The original Indian
name of the area being Woonsechocksett. The land encompassing the Chocksett
region was not originally included in the first land sold by the great Indian
Chief Sholan to the settlers of the Lancaster
grant. However, Sholan's nephew Tahanto would eventually sell the Chocksett
land to inhabitants of Lancaster
in 1713.
The first
white settlers arrived in Chocksett seven years later in 1720, formerly
inhabitants of Lancaster
proper. Among these first settlers were families such as Beman, Sawyer,
Houghton, and Osgood; names reflected to this day in the names of Sterling's oldest roads.
A short time
after settlement, in 1733, the residents of the Chocksett area requested its
own incorporation, separate from Lancaster, due
to the "great inconvenience" of a long distance to the church in Lancaster's center. This
request was denied. However, by 1780 the population of Chocksett was so
numerous as to constitute a majority, and so the voters of the area voted out
the existing Lancaster
town officers and began to conduct town business and meetings in Chocksett.
This was enough to convince the rest of Lancaster
that it was now time for Chocksett, the Second Parish of Lancaster, to go its
own way.
Today, Sterling, MA is a small,
mainly residential community set in the foothills of Mount
Wachusett in central Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1781,
the town is named for the Earl of Stirling, a Scottish lord. At various
times in our history, clocks, hats, cider, pottery and other goods have been
manufactured in Sterling, but until recently we
have been mostly a farming community of rolling hills, pastures and some
spectacular views of Mount
Wachusett.
---------------------------------------
The Conant Library, Sterling, MA
The library
provides for the information needs of the community, self-directed education,
and recreation. Available free to the public are: best-selling
books, books on CD, DVD's and music CD's, magazines and newspapers, high-speed
cable and wireless internet access
------------------------
The Sterling
Historical Society
Sterling, MA
Sterling
Historical Society celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The society was
founded in 1963 when four residents of the town felt that a group should be
formed for the preservation of Sterling’s
historical and cultural heritage. Invited were other members of similar society
for their input and guidance on how to organize a historical society.
Resulting was
what became the Sterling Historical Society organized and incorporated
to study the history of the town of Sterling,
its societies, families, individuals, and events; such as the collection and
preservation of its antiquities, the establishment and maintenance of an
historic library and the publication of materials relating to the society’s preservation.
--------------------------------
Farms in Sterling, MA:
117 Chace Hill
Rd, Sterling ·
(978) 365-9710
Fresh
Vegetables and Fruits in their Farm Store
If you like Family Fun and Home Made Ice Cream...
Take a Mini Vacation at Rota-Spring Farm in Sterling, Massachusetts!
Rota offers: the Freshest and Most
Delicious Seasonal Fruits, Vegetables! Homemade Breads, Jams and Specialty
Items! They sell their own Grass-Fed Beef too!
I have many
photos of Rota Spring Farm because I have frequented it on more than one occasion. I hope to do so again and again.
-----------------------------
Crystal Brook Farm
Welcome to
CRYSTAL BROOK FARM – A pristine, award-winning New England Farmstead located in
Sterling, Massachusetts.
Pineo Family Farm
Pineo Family
Farm and Farmstand is a small grower in Sterling,
MA offering fresh quality produce
to the local community
Davis Dairy Farm, Inc. in Sterling
Davis
Dairy Farm, Inc. in Sterling,
MA. Founded in 1846, Davis Dairy
Farm, Inc. is run by Laurence Davis. 145 Redstone Hill Sterling, MA map | farms
nearby. 3 ...
Clearview Farm, Apple picking, Pumpkin Picking,
www.clearviewfarmstand.com/contactus.htm
Sweetgrass Herbals
Located by the
beautiful Stillwater River in Sterling,
Massachusetts, Sweetgrass Herbals
is dedicated to renewing the sacred, life-giving connection between plants and
people and facilitating the opportunities for healing that are all around us.
--------------------------
Sterling has many farms serving the community
and nearby counties. The town itself has many fine establishments that I have
been fortunate to frequent from time to time.
M.T. Pockets; consignment shop for men and women.
Old Sterling Candle Co. selling candles, aromatherapy soaps
and scents for your home and body.
Oh My Gosh Antiques at Cider Mill is dearest to all on a
budget and can break your budget as well. If an item is not at Oh My Gosh, than
it does not exist.
-------------------------------------
Cookshire Cemetery, Sterling, MA
A tear where was once sameness
In
life one comes to a fork in the road…
A
choice must be made—
As
to which way
Which
road to take.
A
question must be decided upon…
Do
I go left or right—
Or
Do
I turn around.
The
choice is there—
To
be decided
With
a yeah or neh.
Choice
by way of selection
To
ponder, then to choose
This
or that
Yes
or no
I
want / I need or simply not
None,
nothing.
Deciding
upon which
Is
the painful question
That
must render a plea
For
yes or no...
Once
decided, it must be carried out
Living
with the choice made.
---------------
I
am reminded of what has been said to me, more than once, by a college professor
and that is: “You can always say no.” And I say: No forgoes choice!
**-------------------------------------------------------------------**
Thank you
for reading and the viewing of the photos!
Websites:
