vl15 - ravenswood - wilderness to special place finding aid€¦ · collection should be addressed...

RAVENSWOOD:WILDERNESSTOSPECIALPLACE

LECTUREFINDINGAID&TRANSCRIPT

Speaker: ElectaKaneTritsch

Date: 11/15/2008

Runtime: 1:16:24

CameraOperator:BobQuinn

Identification: VL15;VideoLecture#15

Citation: Tritsch,ElectaKane.“Ravenswood:WildernesstoSpecialPlace.”CAMVideoLectureSeries,11/15/2008.VL15,CapeAnnMuseumLibrary&Archives,Gloucester,MA.

Copyright: RequestsforpermissiontopublishmaterialfromthiscollectionshouldbeaddressedtotheLibrarian/Archivist.

Language: English

FindingAid: Description:KarlaKaneb,3/21/2020.Transcript:MonicaLawton,5/6/2020.

VideoDescription

LearnabouttheearlyhistoryoftheCapeAnnareawiththisvideothatfeaturesalectureofferedattheCapeAnnMuseumincollaborationwithTheTrusteesofReservations.HistorianandarchaeologistElectaKaneTritschbeginsbytrackingtheinhabitationoftheGloucesterpeninsulafromearlyNativeAmericanactivitytosubsequentEuropeancolonization.Drawinguponoldmapsandlegaldocuments,shethenextendsthistimelinefortheFreshwaterCoveareathrough

Ravenswood:WildernesstoSpecialPlace–VL15–page2

tothepresent,includingGloucesternativeandphilanthropistSamuelElwellSawyer,whoacquiredandthendonatedthe205acresthatformedthebasisofRavenswoodParkuponhisdeathin1889.Sincethattime,TheTrusteeshaveexpandedandmaintainedthisnaturalist’shavenforthestudyandenjoymentofvisitorsfrombothnearandfar.

Subjectlist

WilliamChamplain FreshwaterCove

RichardVarrell OldSalemRoad

SamuelElwellSawyer RavenswoodPark

MasonWalton TheTrusteesofReservations

ElectaKaneTritsch

Transcript0:11LindaMarshall:Hi,mynameisLindaMarshallandI'mthedirectorofprogramsatthemuseum,andIwanttowelcomeyouallthisafternoon.Thankyousomuchforjoiningus.Beforewebegin,Ijustwantedtomentionacoupleofupcomingprograms.NextSaturdayat3pm,whichisNovember22,WewillbehavingaconcertofclassicalguitarbyRobertSquiresintheDavisGallery,whichisthefirstgallerythatyouwalkthroughasyouenterthemuseum.Andthatprogramisfreeandopentothepublic.AndalsoonSaturday,December6,at3pm,LisaPeters,whoisthedirectorofresearchandpublicationsattheSpaniermanGalleryinNewYork,willbegivingalectureonGershonBenjaminandthatlectureisinconjunctionwithournewexhibition,whichiscurrentlyonviewonthethirdfloor,GershonBenjaminandHisContemporaries,soIhopeyoucanjoinusforoneofthoseprograms.1:10TodayweareveryfortunatetohavehistorianandarchaeologistElectaKaneTritschwithuspresentingalectureentitled,“Ravenswood-WildernesstoSpecialPlace.”Andwe'reverypleasedtohavebeenabletocollaboratewiththeTrusteesofReservationsonthisprogram.ItismypleasuretointroducetoyouRamonaLatham.RamonaistheCapeAnneducatorandinterpreterfortheTrustees,andshe'sgoingtotellusalittlebitmoreabouttheprogramtoday


andalsomoreaboutourguestspeaker.Andonequicknote,pleasedojoinusattheconclusionoftheprogramforsomerefreshmentsoutintheatrium.Thankyousomuch,Ramona.2:00Thankyouverymuch,LindaMarshall.MynameisRamonaLathamandIamtheeducatorandinterpreterfortheCapeAnnpropertiesoftheTrusteesofReservations.TheTrusteesissopleasedtobeabletopartnerwiththeCapeAnnMuseumtobringthisgreatpresentationon“Ravenswood—WildernesstoSpecialPlace,”byElectaKaneTritsch.TheTrustees,asyoumayormaynotknow,isa117year-oldlandtrust.We'vebeenconservingspecialplacesforhistoric,ecologicandscenicsignificanceforalongtime,mostimportantly,forpublicenjoyment.Irecentlyheardastatisticthat70%ofourconservedlandisclosedtothepublic.TheTrusteesiswellknownforahighstandardofexcellenceinmaintainingspecialplaces.Althoughwe'veprovidedincidentaleducationoveralltheyears,wearenowmakingaconcertedeffortineducation.Ourneweducationandoutreachinitiativeallowsustotellthestoriesofourvaluableplacesinourcommunity.TheTrusteeshasseven—Yes,seven—propertiesrighthereinCapeAnn.Cananyonenamethem?BesidesRavenswoodPark…3:35HalibutPoint,AgassiRock,StavrosReservationinEssex,CoolidgePointinManchesterbytheSea,MiseryIslandandonemore—MountAnn,oneofthefirstpropertiestheTrusteeshaseverreceived.OureducationandoutreachinitiativeallowstheTrusteestoinviteyoutojoinusatthesevaluablecommunityplaces.Wehave100specialplacesacrossthestateofMassachusetts.Wehavemountaintopsandwaterfallsandfarmsandbeaches.Andwewanttohelppeopleunderstandthattheyareintrinsicallyconnectedtotheland.Wewantyoutoseemoredeeplywhathashappened,whatishappening,andwhatmighthappeninthesespecialplaces.Itseemsstatic,butit'salwayschanging.Wewanttogetyououtdoors.Wewantyoutobreathefresh,fragrant,life-givingair.Wewanttocelebratethebeautyandinterestinwoodlands,wetlands,andplacesthataddvaluetoourcommunityandourlife.4:53OureducationprogramsincludeasummercampatCraneBeachandatCraneEstate;aCSA,whichisacommunitysupportedagricultureprogram,andadairyoperationatAppletonFarms,providinghands-onprogramsforallages.


Wehavevolunteerandexpert-ledwalksandtalks,focusingonsignificantculturalandnaturalaspectsoftheplace.Wehaveservicelearningopportunitiesforhigh-schoolers,conservationcrewhands,mapandquestproduction,trailsstewards.Wehaveafterschoolprogramsfor9to11yearolds,neighborhoodnaturalists,juniorconservationists.Understandingecologyisimportanttohealthfulliving.Opportunitiestoconnecttocurrentconservationeffortsthroughourwebsite,ConservationCommon,isavailabletoall,andcommunityconservationprojects,suchastheClarkPondrestorationinManchesterbytheSeaatourCoolidgePointproperty;andsweetbaymagnoliarestorationandpreservationatRavenswoodPark.Youcanlearnmoreaboutthesebytalkingtome,orcontactingourofficeorthroughourwebsite.6:14RavenswoodPark,longknownasthePeople'sPark—(is)600woodlandacresrightupthehillfromdowntownGloucester.Agifttoourcity,anditprovidesusarefugeingreenspace,awinterwonderland,recreation,andaculturallandscapethathasmany,manystories—ofNativeAmericanburialgrounds,rockwallsandcellarholes,oldSalemRoad;andofthepeoplewhohaveinteractedwiththisspecialplace.Youarethecurrentcharacterswho,together,astrustees,enjoy,exploreandarethestewardsofRavenswoodPark.Andforthat,wethankyou.7:00We'llhearmoreaboutthecharactersofthepastinElecta’spresentation.ElectaKaneTritsch—(is)nostrangertotheTrusteesofReservations.Wecouldn'tdoalotofwhatwedowithoutherresearchandherreports.She'shighlyregardedwiththeTrustees.SheiswellknowntothoseinvolvedwithMassachusettshistory,preservationandconservation.Shehasbeenapracticingarchaeologistandhistorianfor25years.Duringhercareer,shehasworkedasateacher,archaeologicalsurveydirector,museumcuratorandresearchhistorian,writingaboutthepeoplewhoused,developed,treasured,exploitedandpreservedthelandofMassachusetts.7:55Electawaseditorandco-authorofBuildingDedham,astudyofcommunitydevelopmentandchange.Heressayshaveappearedinawiderangeofpublications.Morerecently,hernovel,OldWivesTales,exploredthepastofasmalltownNewEnglandwhiletestingthelinebetweenfactandfiction.Formanyyears,shehasworkedwithMassachusettscommunities,stateagencies,andtheTrusteesinvestigatingthevariedwaysinwhichmenintheirenvironmentsinteractintheCommonwealth.8:32ShehasdoneawonderfulculturalhistoryreportonChoate,alsoknownasHog,IslandintheCraneWildlifeRefuge.IhavejustlearnedthatshehasalsohelpedresearchCopicutWoods


downina14,000bio-reservebetweenFallRiverandNewBedford,andofcourse,mostrecently,RavenswoodPark.ShewasalongtimeresidentofMedfield,andin2004movedtoConcordwithherhusbandJeff,who'sheretoday,towatchtheSudburyRiverflowbyinhersparetime.Theirsons,JohnandBen,arebothinCaliforniapursuingcareersinfilmandmusic.PleasejointogetherinawarmwelcometoElectaKaneTritsch.9:31ElectaKaneTritschspeaking:Ihavetomakethis(microphone)goawayfirst.SoIcanseeyou.Canyoustillhearme?No?Oh,isitturnedon?Itisturnedon.Okay.We'lltrythisagain.Isthatbetter?Okay,goodafternoon.Thankyouforcoming.Ithinkprobablythisisasgoodaplaceasanytobe,despiteRamona’ssayingthatwewanttogetyoualloutdoorstobreathethefreshair.Givenwhatit'slikeoutdoorsinGloucesterthisafternoon,youpickedagoodplace.NowImayhavetoaskyoutobearwithmealittlebecauseI'mdealingwithstateofthearttechnologyhere,andI'mnotexactlyastateofthearttechnologyperson.SoIhavelotsofbuttonstopush—whichcouldgowronganymoment,whichishalfthereasonmyhusbandisherethisafternoon.Butlet'smoveon.Welcome.Let’sseeifIcanstartthisright.Oh,Ican.Okay.10:35See,thisisGloucester,right?Gloucester.Gloucesteristheplacewheremenfish.It'stheplacewherewomenandfamilieslooktothesea.Ifthey'renotfishing,thenperhapsthey'recuttingthegranitefromtheground.Thiswonderfulpanoramicphotograph,whichisintheCapeAnnHistoricalAssociationcollection,isofthePigeonHillQuarrybackin1906.Ijustfindthatamind-bogglingpicture.Now,vaguelywealsoknowthatinGloucester'spastsomebodymusthavefarmedsomewhere,butthelandwasn'texactlyencouraging.Andlookhowitturnedout.ThisisapaintingbyLouiseBrumback.I'mguessingitwasaroundthefirstdecadeofthe20thcentury,andthisistheoreticallyofDogtown.It'snotthewaywethinkofDogtown;it'snotthewayDogtownlookstoday.ButtheglacialerraticsandthestonespushedtothesidetomakestonewallsareanindicationofsomeoftheproblemsthatanyonewantingtofarminGloucesterraninto.SowhatwasleftofDogtownwereromanticcellarholesandstoriesofwidows,andwitchesandadog'stown.12:05


Nowletmestopforaminute.CanwehaveashowofhandshereastohowmanyofyouareactualGloucesterresidents?Who…yeah,that'sgreat.Okay,wellyouknowthatthereareotherhistoricpartsofGloucester.Thereismorethanoneoldroadwindingthroughtown–likeWesternAvenue,forinstance,whichwendsitsway(nowcomesthenextmagic…magicherewego)wendsitswayfromManchesteralongheretotheport,andeventually,withothernamesattachedtoit,circlesCapeAnn.12:48OnWesternAvenue,thereare18thcenturyhousesaplenty—someofthemfacingstubbornlysouthdespitethefactthattheroadWesternAvenue(wait,seeIpushedthewrongbutton)...theroadWesternAvenueisoverhere.EventhehouseattributedtoJamesSawyer,Jr.,circa1795,asitsplaquesays,isyetanother18thcenturyhouseandagain,Ibelieveoriginallyitfacedsouth.(I'mgoingtohavetroublewiththispointer.)Ithinkthisside,thisfacadewastheoriginalfrontofthehouse,butdon'tquotemeonthat.13:41So,setamongalloftheseantiquitiesistheentrancetoRavenswoodPark,havenofdogwalkersandstrollerpushersfromalloverCapeAnn.Butbeforewetalkdogwalkersorevencolonistsandmerchantsandpublicbenefactors,let'sputGloucesterintoalittlelongerperspective,sayabout10,000yearsagowhenthefirstevidenceofNativeAmericanuseofthisarea(noteIdon'tsayoccupation),useofthisareashowsupinthearchaeologicalrecord.But,don'tyoulovethismap?Ikeepcomingbacktoit.It'smyfavorite.It'sanold…it'san1895-1917USGSmapofCapeAnn,andit'sjustwonderfullydetailed,sobearwithit.14:39ButbacktotheNativeAmericans.Fromatleastthelatearchaicperiodofabout6,000yearsago,recenthistoryrelativelyspeaking,NativeAmericangroupsexploredandtraveledaroundCapeAnn,cominginthesummermonths,whenthebreezewascool,theshellfishwereplentiful,andfewstormshinderedtravel.Thiswasparticularlyimportantbecausemostofthemprobablycamebyboat,takingadvantageoftheeasyaccessuptheAnnisquam,theMillandtheLittleRiversandtheshelteredlandings(I'lldothisrightbeforewe'refinished)inGloucesterHarbor,andEssexBay.15:30Thereareshellmiddens,especiallyalongtheIpswichsideuphere,aswellasotherartifacts,whichwerefoundonthenearbyuplands,thattellusthatthereweresomefoodcollectionsites(foodcollection,meaningshellfish,forinstance),andcampsiteshere,butnotmany,apparently,asearlyNativeAmericans,likelaterAnglosettlers,preferredthericherresourcesandthe


easierlandscapeoftheGreatMarsh,startinghere,butgoingallthewayuptotheMerrimack.(They)preferredthatoverGloucester'srockypeninsula.16:19ButbytheWoodlandPeriod,whichisabout1000yearsago—justyesterdayinmeasuredtimeordocumentedtime,ifanarchaeologicalsitecanbeadocument—thepopulationofEasternMassachusettshadexpandedtosuchanextentthatsmallvillages—reallysmallvillages—couldbefoundalmostanywhere.Therewasfreshwater,workablesoil,andotherwiseabundantresources.16:55Takethiswonderfulpieceofmapforinstance,drawnbySamuelChamplainin1606,onthesecondofhistwovoyagesofexploration,wherehehitGloucester.Here,ofcourse,iswhatChamplainconsideredtobeLeBeauport,thebeautifulharborofGloucester.Butmoretothepointofwhatwe'retalkingabout,arethesewonderfullittlehumpshereofvarioussorts,whicharewigwamswithsmokecomingoutofthetop,thecenterofthem,andsurroundedbyplantingfields,andnoticehowtheseareallrepresentedasbeingfairlyclosetotheharbor.AlsonoticethattherearenowigwamsonEasternPointnow.Nosurprise,right.17:52ButitwasanoccupiedlocationbythetimethefishermenandlaterthecolonistsfromEuropecamehere.Now,therewasanothergeographicalfeaturethatChamplainthoughtparticularlyadmirable,whichunfortunatelyisjustoffhismapoverthataway.(Therewegoagain,rightthere.)Andofcourseit'sfreshwater.Thatwastheresourcehewaslookingfor.Andthat'sFreshwaterCove.ChamplainandhisfellowseamenfilledtheirbarrelsinFreshwaterCove.18:32ButtherewassomethingelseinFreshwaterCovebesideswater.Andthatwassaltmarshhay:wonderful,natural,doesn't-have-to-be-planted,hay,whichwasoneoftheessentialresourcestoanycolonistandispartofhisfarmmakeup.AndwehavetosaythatsalthaywasdefinitelyoneoftheperhapsfewagrariantreasuresofCapeAnn.ThereisalotofsaltmarsharoundCapeAnn.19:09Sowehavetimberandwehavehay,goodcommoditiesforsettlers.Buttherewasoneobviousdrawbackforcolonists.AllofCapeAnniscutofffromthewestbymarsh—tidalmarsh.Andonthesouthwestcoastdownhere,ifyoucangetaglimpsefromwhereyou'resittingofthecontourlines,youwillgetasenseofhowincrediblyrockyandhowdeeptheravinesarealong


thesouthwestcoastaboveFreshwaterCove.ThisparticularlocationispartofMass.Audubon’sNorman'sWoeWildlifeSanctuary,rightalongWesternAvenue.Itwouldbeachallengeonfoottowalkthroughtheseravines;basicallyalmostimpassableifyouhadaloadedhay-wain(haywagon)oratimbersledgeinthewinter.20:21Now,inthecourseofnormalcolonialsettlementinMassachusettsBay,theseareas,WestGloucester,thewholeofCapeAnn,(Whyisitdoingthat?Ididn'ttellittodothat.Okay…)andallofCapeAnnwere“outlands.”Thisisaphrasethatisfoundfrequentlyindeeds—incolonialdeeds.They’reoutlandsbecausethelandwasterribleforcultivation.Itwasshortonwater,anditwasterriblefortransportation,exceptbysea,ofcourse,butasanyofyouwhoisaboatmanknows,thathasdefinitelimitationstoit.21:05Sothisisnotaplacenormallywhereonewouldwanttosettle.Thisiswhereyougotogetaresource,andthenyougobacktothegoodstuff.There'soneexceptiontothisandthedifficultyofgettingtoit,whichisrighthere.YouarecomingfromSalem,originally,throughManchesterandalong—notalongWesternAvenuebecausethatwasreallysteep—butupoverasgentleaslopeaspossible,andthenfinallyworkingyourwaydowntotheonepieceofsolidland.Iknowyoudon'tthinkit'ssolidland—itwassolidland—whichgetsyouacrosstothepeninsulaofCapeAnn.21:53Now,theironyofthatisthat,thatonepieceofsolidlandwascutthroughtoallowforfasterboattrafficin1660.Sotheykindofdidawaywiththeironeeasyroutebydoingthat.Butthatroad,thoughttohavebeenanIndianfootpathbeforethecolonistsgothere,improvedovertheyears,andoffandonknownastheSalemRoad,theroadtoSalem,theOldSalemRoad,theSalemPath,isnotabadwalk,asyousee;oraride,especiallyifyouwereonahorse.22:37Someofitslimitationsareprettyobvious.Thisisexposedbedrockledge.AndIhatetoimagineridingoverthatonastagecoachforinstance—thiswasthecoachrouteforawhile.Butstill,itmanagedtowendacircuitouswaythroughthetransportationminefieldsofglacialerraticboulders.ItavoidedtheworstoftheuplandswampsthatdotwhatisnowRavenswoodtodipfinally,fairlyprecipitouslydowntomeetupwithtoday'sWesternAvenue,andallofasudden,anexplanationforthisstubbornhousefacingsouthawayfromtheroad.It'snotawayfromtheroadatall—it'sfacingontheOldSalemRoad.Bythetimethisextremelycrudemapwasdrawnin1795,thiswastheroadtoSalem.


23:42What'snotshownonthismap—whichdoesn'tshowalotofthings—isthatbythistimeinitshistory,Gloucesterhadalreadysettledandunsettledtwoentireresidentialneighborhoods:DogtownCommon,certainlythebestknownofthem,wasonitslastlegs,inhabitedbywidows,AfricanAmericans,socialoutcastsofvarioussorts;whilearoadsidecommunitythathadoncebrieflyflourishedalongtheOldSalemRoad,hadlargelybeenabandoned.24:22Here'stheearliestdeedthatIfoundtolandalongtheOldSalemRoad.Thereareearlierdocuments;Ijusthaven'tfoundadeed.Let'slookatthisforjustaminute,becauseitgivesyousomeideaofwhatsomeoftheproblemswere.Itdoesn'tmatter“who”asmuchas“what.”A“parcelofuplandandfreshmeadow”—well,freshmeadowisswamp,basically.Imean,todaywecallitwetlands—that'snicetoo.Butitprovidedfreshhaythesamewaysaltmarshprovidedsaltpay,sofreshmeadowisgoodstuffbutit'swet.Allwe'retalkingaboutisalittle,tinypieceoflandthreequartersofanacrehere.AndinGloucesteronthenorthsideofSalemPath,socalled,asitleadsthroughthecapital“Woods.”The“Woods”—that'sthewilderness.25:20Andthenwetalkabouttheboundariesonthispieceofproperty.Oneboundarygoesalongsomemoreupland,uplandmeaning,notswamp.Itisthereforeuseful,possiblyforbuildingahouse,possiblyforpasture;inrareoccasionsforcultivation.Andthenwehavemoremeadow,orswamp.Andthenwehaveareallycrookedboundarythatisverycarefullydescribed,andnotethatwehaveafastrockwithstonesonit.Thatmeansit'sheldfastintheearth.It'sapieceofbedrock.Thenwemovealongalittlebittoanotherrockwithstonesonit,andthenthehighway.Andthenwegotoaheapofstones.Andthenaprettylargelongrockbythemeadowtothewestendofsaidrockandthenwegooverthemeadowtoanotherlargerock.Andthenfinallywegobacktothefirstrock.Okay,thatgivesyousomeideaofwhatthelandwaslike.26:35Thequestionthenis,whyonearthdidRichardVarrellwanttobuythispieceofproperty?Allright,we'regoingtogooffnowonalittlebitofgenealogy,oratleastgenealogically-relatedhistory.AndIhavenowonderfulillustrationsforthispiece.Sojustsortofsitbackandletyourimaginationdoitsownillustratingforamoment.RichardVarrell—theonewho'soverthere—wasfromIpswich.HemarriedaGloucestergirl.AndsohemovedtoGloucestertoletherbenearherfamilyorsomething.Imean,that'sas


goodareasonasany,right?Thiswasin1728.By1742,hehadmadetheacquaintanceofJamesParsons,whowasablacksmithfromafamilywhoownedextensivelandsinthevicinityofFreshwaterCove.VarrelltalkedParsonsintosellinghimthesmallbeginningthatwejustsawthedeedfor.27:43Overthenext25years,Varrell,whocalledhimselfafarmer—remember,hestartedwiththreequartersofanacreofland—slowlyenlargedhishomesteadontheSalemRoad.In1751,heboughtfourmoreacresofuplandandswamp.In1766,heboughtanotherfouracres.Theseeightacreswererightnexttohishomelotsohenowhadeightandthreequartersacresonwhichtofarm—well,thatheownedtofarm.Remember,hecouldbeleasingsomebodyelse'slandandthatdoesn'tshowupinthedeeds.28:23Meanwhile,Varrell’sson,RichardJr.,rightthere,marriedHannahMillet,daughterofaneighboringlandowner,andtheybuiltahouseacrosstheroad—OldSalemRoad.Houseswerebuilt,fieldsandpastureswerefenced.RichardSr.builtthebarnandallowedhisson-in-law,GeorgeFrancis,rightthere,whomarriedHepzibah,tostartagardenononecornerofhisland.Believeitornot,GeorgeFrancishadadeedtousethisgardenspot.Itmakesmethinkhedidn'ttotallytrusthisson-in-law.Butthat'sanotherstory,Iguess.SomeoneuptheroadwasnamedJohnDonahue,andIcan'tfindoutanythingmoreabouthim,buthehadahousenexttotheVarrellcompound.29:16Andtheninthelate1760s,somethingwentwrong.Matteroffact,itmaysoundlikeechoesofwhatwe'vebeengoingthroughinthepastmonthorso.RichardJr.,afisherman,borrowedmoneyfromaneighboringwidow.Apparentlyhisfatheralsoborrowedmoney,fromSolomonParsons.Neitherfathernorsoncouldrepaytheirdebts.Andby1776,the15andthreequartersacresoflandthatwastheirentirecombinedestateontheOldSalemRoadwasbackinthehandsofFreshwaterCovefamilies.ThosewhoownedmostofthelandthatwouldbecomeRavenswoodlivedelsewhereinGloucester.Theydidn'tliveontheOldSalemRoad.TheParsonsfamily,forinstance,towhomVarrellsoldhisstrugglingfarm.WhenParsonsdied,hisinventorylistedapieceoflandboughtofVarrell,threequartersofanacre.ThishadbeenRichardVarrell’shomelot.Thehousewasalreadygonein1808.30:33


Apparently,theneighborhoodsstrungoutalongtheOldSalemRoadwasabriefepisodeinthehistoryofGloucesteranddidnotlongsurvivetheRevolution.ItmayhavestartedsomewhatlaterthanDogtown,butitdiedatasimilartimeperiod.Gloucester,likeotherEasternMass.andNewEnglandcommunities,sufferedamajoreconomicupsetasaresultofthewar.ManyCapeAnnvesselsweredestroyedbytheBritish,whileotherswererefittedforprivateering.Fishingandtrade,Gloucester'stwomajorindustries,cametoavirtualstandstillandwhatcommerceremainedrelocatedtoAnnisquam’sbetterprotectedharbor.Foodwasscarce.Duringthewar,someofitactuallyhadtobeimportedtoGloucesterfromasfarawayasVirginia.31:35TheSalemRoadcommunity,alreadyontheeconomicfringe,apparentlywasoneofGloucester'swartimecasualties.Thislatermapshowsaglimpseofthesettlementarea.ThebigblacklinethroughthecenterrepresentstheOldSalemRoad,andwritteninillegiblewritingherearelittlelabelssayingoldcellar,oldcellar.Thisdoublesquarenexttoit,IbelieveisastoneoutlineofahomelotsuchasVarrell’s.Ithinkitprobablywasnothis.Butthereareotherlinessortofwanderingoffintonowherethatinfactarestonewalllinesthatyoucantracetodayifyouwanderthroughthisarea.32:31So,in50or60years,aneighborhoodgrew,diedandwaserased.Butyoucanseesomeofitifyouknowhowtolooktoday.ThisisRichardVarrell,Sr.’scellarhole.ThisistherockyhillsidewhereRichardVarrell,Jr.builthishouse.33:01There'sastonewallwanderingamongtheerraticsuphere,andifyougoupfarenoughontothehillsideyou'llfindhiscellarholeaswell.Thisnicelytrimmed,topped-offfoundationisactuallyhiddenofftheroad.It'sadoublecellarholewithahugeboulderinthemiddleofit.Ihavenoideahowthey,whytheybuiltwhatevertheybuiltthere.Itmighthavebeenabarn;itmighthavebeenstorage,becausenexttothisdoublefoundationonalatermapisalabelsaying,Solomon'sorchard.Andinfact,ifyouwanderalongthatpartofOldSalemRoad,you'llstillseesomewispsofappletreesalongtheside.33:57


Therearewoodlotwalls,butyoumightnotseethem,whichiswhyIaskedthesetwogentlementostandononeofthewallsforme.Soyoucanseethere'salineofstonesundertheirfeet.Wedon'tnormallyencouragepeopletostandonstonewallsbecause,infact,itmoreoftenthannotmakesthestonesfalloff,andyou'rethendestroyingaculturalresource.Inthiscase,wegavethemspecialdispensation.34:28Andfinally,oneoftheculturalresourcesofRavenswoodisthisdeadtree,olddeadtreesurroundedbyawall.Infact,thetreewastherebeforethewallandwasprobablyoneoftheoriginalboundarymarkersofsomeone'swoodlot.Youreadthedeedyouwillfind,“andaBlackOakmarked…”andfromthereyougoonsomewhereelse.Andthatstonewallfollowedinlineofwherethetreewastoconfirmtheownershipofthisparticularwoodlot.35:08TheAmericanRevolutionmarkedtheendoftheVarrellcommunityonOldSalemRoad.Itwassufficientlydepopulatedatthatpointthatapesthouse,otherwiseknownasaplaguehouse,wasactuallybuiltinthevicinityin1777.Despiteanassortmentofmapsforthisarea,thatindicatewherethemapmakerthinksthepesthouseis,orwas,Idon'tbelievetheyyethavefiguredoutwhereitis.Idisagreewithmostofthemapsonthatpoint.35:50Whatisthepesthouse,though?It'saplacewherepeople…It'sanabandonedhouse,forinstance,anunoccupiedhouseawayfrompopulation,awayfromwherepeoplego.Inthiscase,therewasonethatwasactuallyconstructedinGloucester,anditwasdesignedtohousethevictimsofthecurrentsmallpoxplaguethatwasgoingthroughthecommunity,toisolatethemfromtherestofthecommunity.Theywentthereandeithersurvivedbecausetheywerestubborn,ordied.Therewasrarelyanykindofmedicalattention,oranykindofnursingforthepeoplewhowenttoorweretakentothepesthouse.Wedon'tknowwherethepesthousewas,ithadtohavebeenoffOldSalemRoadbecausethiswasstillatrafficked,i.e.,awell-usedmainroadintotown.Sothat'soneofthemysteriesyettoberesolved.Staytuned.36:55Andhere,thisisamodernculturalresourcesmapforRavenswoodandalong(I'mgoingtopushtherightbutton,yeah)alongtheOldSalemRoad,youseeawholeseriesofsites—Varrell,anunidentifiedhousewithasmallboulderinthemiddleofthefoundation.Anotherhouse,afarm,VarrellJr.ThisisSolomon'sorchardupherewiththefunnydoublecellarholebehindit.WenoticedthattherewasaplacecalledFlatRockpasture.It'swoodland,now—youwon't


identifyitunlessyou'rereallygoodatidentifyingdifferentagetrees.And,ofcourse,thequarryroadaswell.37:45There'salotgoingoninRavenswoodatonepointinitslifetime,atleastsixbuildingsitesrightalongtheroad,notawayfromit.Whydidthisneighborhooddisintegrate?Obviously,weheardtheVarrellswentbankrupt,basically.Thepesthousechasedpeopleaway.But,mostsignificantwaslikelythefactthatthemainstageroutein1791,95—Iforgottolookupthedate,sorry—themainstageroutecomingupfromSalemandManchesterwasre-routedalonganimprovedandmuchflatterWesternAvenue.So,itbypassed…itslikeoldRouteOne.Youknow,whentheybuildthenewTurnpike,youloseallthecommerceonoldRouteOnebecauseeverybodydrivesonthenewTurnpikeinstead.38:51By1830—acloseuphere—wefindthattheOldSalemRoadiscalledtheOldPestHouseRoadonaprintedmapofthearea.AndinfactthismapmakerdecidedthattheoldpathtoSalemwasalongHesperusAvenue.WehavetheroadtoManchester.Hedidnoticethemagnoliasinthere—inthatblackspacesaysmagnoliaswamp.Butnoticewhatelseheputonthismap.Themapmaker,bytheway,wastoldtoidentifywhichpartsofthetownwereclearedlandandwhichpartswerewoodedorswampyland.Sowhatdowehavehere,uphere,woodlandandswamps,woodlandandswamps.Andthendownherebythecoastwehavehighlandandpitchpineandshrubs.Thisdoesn'tsoundpromising.Younoticethough,thatthereissomeclearedspaceoverhere,nearStageFort.(Arewelosingthebattery,amIrunningoutofbattery…couldbe,we'llsee.)40:06Andyounoticethattheotherthingthat'skindofinterestingis(Hello,there...Ikeeplosingit)Sawyer’sHill.YoucanseeSawyer’sHill-it'srightthere.Okay,rememberSawyer’sHill.Inthefinalanalysis,therenaissanceoftheRavenswoodareacanbeattributedtotwofactors,theriseofGloucesterasasummerresort,andthefamilyhistoryofSamuelElwellSawyer.40:40By1872,thismap,(I'mgoingtowalkoverherebecauseIdon'ttrustthispointeranymore)youseetheFreshwaterCovevillagedownhere.YouseeroadsandhouselotslaidoutforanewsummercolonyovernearStageFortPark.Youseetheopenspacesthatindicateclearedland.Andupthere...isBond’sHill,andontheBond’sHillareaitsays,“Bond’sHill,siteofproposedreservoir.”


AndhereisSamuelElwellSawyerinthiswonderfulevocativeportraitbyC.X.Zedgian(orsomethinglikethat—I'veneverheardhisnamepronounced)whichisfound–youcangoandstudyitupclose–intheSawyerFreeLibrary—whichMr.Sawyer,theBostonmerchant,hadsupportedsince1850.Buthegaveitahomein1884.42:00ThishouseisaremnantofthattimebeforetheRevolution,thattimewhenDogtownCommonstillhadresidentsandtheOldSalemRoadwasstillacommunity.Thiswasahousebuiltin1764byamerchant(ThomasSanders)indowntownGloucester.Sawyerhadbeenbroughtup,hadgrownupinGloucesterandlovedthetownandfeltveryproudofhisrootsinthetown.Infact,asanadult,hespenthiswintersinBoston,asmostmerchantsdidatthatpoint,andthencametoGloucesterinthesummer,stayingattheoldfamilyplaceinFreshwaterCove.After120years,Sawyer’sfindofThomasSander’shousewasprobablyagoodbuy.Chancesareitwasrundownbythen.Andhehadabunchofextramoneytoputintorehabbingitandupgradingitforthetownlibrary,whichhedid,supervisingeverylastnailandpaintingthatwentintoit.43:00We'veheardthatmanyofhispetchoiceofpaintingswouldnothavemadethe“A”listthesedays.ButhebasicallyprovidedanentirecollectionofartfortheLibraryandLyceum,aswellasmanyofthebooksforitsshelves.Butthosebargainbuysgothimthinking,andtwoyearsafterhehadboughtthishouse,hetookadvantageofotherbargainbuystobeginanotherhometownproject.Hebeganacquiringpropertyinthesteeplywooded—that'sthedotsarea—hillsideaboveFreshwaterCove.43:58Bythe1880s,thesewoodshadlostmostoftheirusefulness.Newgrowthwhitepineandotherweedtreeswerestillimportantmaterialtobuildthecountlesscratesandboxesusedbythefishingandshoeindustriesinthecapearea.Theroadthroughthewoods,though,wasnormallyempty,andtherewereveryfew,I'mguessing,full-growntreesallowedtoremainontheland.ButSawyer,whohadvisitedmanyoftheparklandsinEurope,andthepicturesquecountryestatesinthenortheast;whohadstudiedareportonCentralParkandknewtohischagrin,theelaborateplansforBoston'sEmeraldNecklace(hislandtherewastakenbyeminentdomaintobepartoftheEmeraldNecklace)—Sawyersawthewoodlandspotentialasanaturalizedpark.


Hehadexploredthemsincehewasyoung.Heknewwherethepondswere,thevistas,thestandsofmagnolia.45:06HedecidedtobringtogetherthewoodlotsofFreshwaterCoveWoods,ashecalledit—FreshwaterCoveWoods—foranewparkinGloucester.Atfirst,itwasveryeasy.Peoplehadinheritedthesewoodlotsfromtheirparentsandtheirgrandparentsandtheirgreatgrandparents.Therewasnothingyoucoulddowiththem.Theydidn'tneedthem.Nobodyusedwoodforfireanymore.Theyusedcoal.SoSawyerboughtalotoflandforverylittlemoney.ButthenthewordgotaroundthatrichmanSawyerwasbuying,andthepriceswentup,andifyoutrackthedeeds,theover100deedsthathehad,forthelotsthathebought,thepricegoesupconsistentlyoneaftertheother.Someofthemherefusedtobuybecauseheknewhewasbeinggypped.46:03Butwhenhediedin1889,Sawyerhadacquired205acresforatotalof$2,969,whichisn'tbadintoday'smoneyanyway.Hestatedhisintentionsveryclearly.“ThenumerouswoodlotsnowownedbymearetoberetainedfortheprotectionandbeautyoftheCovevillage.Sometimeinthenearfuture,theyaretobelaidouthandsomely(rememberthis,“laidouthandsomely”),withdrivewaysandpleasantruralwalks,andthendedicatedinthenameofRavenswoodPark.”Thisisthekindofcountingeverynailthathedidwiththelibrary.Hemadesurethateverythingwastakencareofforhisparkaswell.46:58AndtherewereotherstewardsofthelandthatSawyersocarefullyaccumulated,certainlythemostfamousofthembeingMasonWalton.MasonwasaMainenative,ateacher,whosedreamofafamilyfarmdiedwithhiswifeinchildbirth.Waltonwanderedthroughaseriesofjobs,theworstofwhich,accordingtohim,wasworkingatabarkpeelingcamp,whichdoessoundprettyawful.Eventually,hecametoBoston.Hehaddyspepsia,heisdiagnosedwithhayfeverandahostofotherailments,andthedoctorshadnoideawhattodowithhim.So,hesaid,“Iwasadvisedtogointothewoodsandtrylifeinapinegrove.”Probablyhisdoctorsdidn'tanticipatehe’dtakethemquitesoliterally.47:53Inthesummerof1884,hecametoGloucesterandintheend,hesaid,“IselectedBond’sHillbecauseitwassurroundedbypinegroves,andthehillwascoveredwithblueberryandhuckleberrybushes.”Well,onewinteronBond’sHillconvincedhimthatwasnotthebestchoiceforalocation,sohemoveddownoffthehillontotheOldSalemRoad,andgotpermissionfromMr.Bondtobuildacabinrightnexttohisproperty.


Andoverhis33-yeartenureatRavenswood,Waltonestablishedhimselfasanatureguruofsorts.Hewasverymuchamanofhisgeneration,hegrewupclosetonature.Hereadthetranscendentalists,especiallyThoreau,andlistenedtothelecturesofhispost-transcendentalistpeers.Hesharedwiththemafascinationwiththedirectobservationofthenaturalworld,aswellasanewlygrowingconcernforitspreservation.49:03Atthesametime,thelate19thcenturysummerresortmovement,coupledwithitsnewemphasisonfreshairandexerciseasthewaytoahealthylife,providedacriticalmassofpeoplewhowantedtolearnwhatWaltonandotherswantedtoteach.Therewasnomoneyinit,andtherewasnomethodologyinit.NaturalHistorywasastudyforamateurs.Myfatherwasanaturalist,ashewascalled.Hewasanamateur.MasonWaltonwasanamateur,buthespentalotoftimeatit,andhewasintelligent.Itwasastudywithinreachofanyonewhocaredtolearnfromtheworldaroundthem.ThusWalton’sacclaimedmemoir,AHermit’sWildFriends—acopyofitisondisplayoutinthehall—openedwiththisacknowledgementofhispeers:“Hededicatesittotheloversofnatureeverywhere.Thisvolumeisfraternallydedicated.”50:12Waltondiedin1917.Whywashesoadmired?Whywasherevered,even?Well,hewasamysterioushermit.Hewasamanofnature.Buthewasalsoavailabletothecuriouspassers-by,asSamuelSawyerneverhadbeen.Waltonstudiedwildlife;Sawyerjustmademoney.Waltonwasanentertainingstoryteller;Sawyercomesacrossashavingbeensomethingofanopinionatedcurmudgeon.So,Waltonistheoneweremember,oftentothedetriment—well,ifnotdetriment,atleastloss—ofSamuelSawyerinthisprocess.51:00DuringWalton’slastyearsatRavenswood,thetrusteesofSamuelSawyer'swillbegantocarryouthisinstructionstodevelopandbeautifyGloucester'snewpark.TheyusedSawyer’sbequestmoneytoexpandtheparkandtofillintheblanksofRavenswood,buyingadjacentparcelslikethisquarry—certainlynotonthesamescaleasPigeonHill.Infact,itprobablybeganasrockfacequarrying.Thisisapieceofsurfaceledgerightnexttothequarry,whatyouseenow,wherethevernalpoolistoday.Ifyoulookclosely,youwillseethattherearedrillmarksonthispiecehereandhere.Andhere.That'showthispieceofgranitewasfracturedfromtheledgethatwasthere.52:10


Theseone-manpitswerefoundalloverCapeAnn,especiallyinthelate19thcentury.Workedmostoftenbyasmallcrewonprivately-ownedland,theyweremakingthemostofthehardresourcesthatexisted—I'msorrythatcameoffasapun,Ididn'tmeanittobe—andtheywereridingonthecoattailsofthebuildingindustrythatneededgraniteforvirtuallyeverybuilding,everywharf,everystatueandretainingwallthatwasbuiltontheeasternseaboard.Thisparticulargranitequarrywasbigenoughtowarrantabuildingofsomesort—anofficemaybe?Atoolstorehouse?YoucanseethesquareoutlineofitinthegroundacrossthecurrentRidgeTrailfromthequarryitself.53:08TheTrusteescontinuedtheirprogramoflandacquisitionuntil1915.Inall,theybuiltRavenswoodfromSawyer’soriginal200-acregifttohishometowntoitspresent600-acresize.53:28This(slide)nevergotmoved.It'sstillinthewrongplace.Let'smoveaheadforjustamoment;we'llcomebacktothispicture.Okay,600-acresize.Oneofthethings...Wewillcomebacktothatpicturenow.53:46OneofthethingsSawyerwantedbesidesaparkforGloucesterwasachapelforthevillageofFreshwaterCove.Andin1900,thetrusteeslookedintothepossibilityofbuildingachapel.TheygotabidfromJayPickeringPutnam.Andthisishisdrawingofwhathethoughtachapelmightlooklike,attheedgeofRavenswoodPark.Itwouldseat204people.Itwouldcost$3,138tobuild.54:23Apparentlythetrusteesdecidedthatwassignificantlymorethantheywerewillingtospend.Sonothingmorewasheardofachapeluntilthe1950s,whenduetosectarianschismontheCape,someone’smemorywaskindofitchedandheremembered—whoeveritwas—rememberedthattherewasthisplanforachapelinSawyer’swill.Sotheybuild,in1957,thisdeckhousedesign.Itwascalledinthenewspaper,“thenewchurchforCapeAnn.”Andthenewspapergoesontosay,“Thestructureofonestoryisdesignedtoblendintothewoodlandsurroundingsofthepark.Itwillbeinterdenominationalinitsappointments,whichexplainswhythere'saspirebutnocrossonit(andneverwas),sothatanyreligiousgroupwillbeabletoworshipthere.”


55:24Itdidn'thaveaverylong-standingcongregation.Itmorphedintoacommunitycenterandagainwasunderutilized,Ithinkisthepolitephrase.WhentheTrusteesofReservationstookoverRavenswoodParkin1993,itwasredesigned,intheinterior,asstaffhousing,sothatthereisnowaParksuperintendentwholivesthereandkeepsaneyeonthings.55:57Now,it’saboutthisdesign.ThisisadesignthatwasdrawnbyArthurShurtleff—sometimesbetterknownasArthurShurcliff,becausehechangedhisname,afterhedrewthisdesign—in1915,withanumberofadditionsandcorrectionstoit.Shurcliff—excuseme,I'llrefertohimashewasthen—ShurtleffhadjustcomeoffdesigningmostofCastleHillforRichardCrane,inIpswich.Hewasalocaldesigner,verywellrespected,andthetrusteesofRavenswoodParkhiredhimtodesignthosepleasantdrivewaysandruralwalksthatSawyerhadspecifiedeveninhiswill.ThisisaclassicShurtleffdrawingwiththosewonderfulscroll-ytreesindicatinggreeneryandflourishingnature.57:06AsawayofhelpingtounderstandShurtleff’splan,I'vedoneareallyroughsketch,oroverlay,ofwhatistodayandwhatwasthen.Hestartedwithtwocoredrivingroads,theredroads—RidgeRoadandtheOldSalemRoad.Andheconnectedthemacrossthemiddle,theredlineacrossthemiddle,onwhatisnowtheEvergreentrail.Hedidn'tcallitthat.Butweavingbetweenandamongthesedrivingroads—andyouhavetounderstandthisisliteral.Imean,thoseofyouwhoareoldenough,probablyrememberdrivingthroughRavenswoodPark.Matteroffact,thatwasoneofitsproblemsinthemid-20thcentury—apparentlytheautosweredrivingtooquicklyandweredangerousgoingthroughthepark.57:59ButShurtleff’swayofdealingwiththecarriagesthatheenvisioned—orthehorselesscarriages—wastodoawholeseriesoftrailsthatparalleledandcrossedthedrivingroutes,sothattherewerefootpathsandthenseparatefromthemweretheautoroutes.Onewouldnotinterferewiththeotherorinterruptone'sappreciationofthenaturalworld.58:28Hischoicesforthetraillocationsreflecthissenseofthepicturesque.HeputstrailsallaroundtheMagnoliaSwamp.Heputstrailsthroughthehemlockgrove,aswellasanavoidanceforextremelyrockyterrain.HekindofignoredLedgeHillinhisplansforthepark.Hehadintendedtobuildthreesheltersintheparktoeithershelterfromthesunortherain.It'snotclearwhatbecausetheywereneverbuilt,buthisenduringcontributiontoRavenswoodtoday—to


Ravenswoodasaspecialplace—isthisnetworklayoutofdrivingroadsandwalkingtrailsthattransformedautilitarianoverlandpathandabandonedwoodlotsintoaromanticlandscapedesignedforrecreationandleisure.59:29Now,letShurtleffgetallthecreditforromantictrails.WehavetomentiontheLedgeHilltrail.Thiswasnotoneofhisdesigns.Itiscertainlyadesignedlandscapefeature,anditwasprobablydesigned—orlaidout,isperhapsabetterword—andbuiltbyParkcaretakerBenjaminWynn,betweensometimeduringhiscaretakercaretakingera,1937to1969.Thepathismoreerratic,it'smorechallengingthanalmostanyotherpathinthepark.Butitalsoshowsthegreatestattentiontodetail.Lookattheselectededgingstonesthatdefinetheroute.Notinthispicture,butthoseofyouwhohavewalkedonthetrailknowthattherearecarefully,evenlylaidstepsonthesteepestareasofit.Itsmeandersextendthetrailexperience.Hecouldhavegonestraightaheadinalotofplaces,buthedidn'twantto.Hemeandered,andsoyouwanderwiththetrailandthatmakessurethat……thevisitordoesnotmisseitherthenearorthedistantvistas.1:00:59I’mgoingtotakeyouonalastbriefride.Sotoday,Ravenswoodisaculturalaswellasanaturallandscape.It'sanaccumulationoffeaturesfromatleast500years,likelymuchlonger,ofhumanstakingadvantageofwhattheyfoundontheland.ItlieswithinacontextofprotectedopenspaceinGloucester.ButdespitealltheeffortsofSamuelSawyerandtheRavenswoodParktrustees,andtheTrusteesofReservationsforoveracentury—thechallengeofprotectingthehistoricOldSalemRoaddoesn'tend,itkeepsongoing.Someofthechallengesarenatural,suchaserosionortrailflooding,winddamagefromstorms,orthewoollyadelgidthatiswipingoutoneofthehemlockgroves.Otherchallengescomedirectlyfromoureconomyandfromourculture.TherearelandsforsalearoundtheperipheryofRavenswoodPark,withintheparkitself.ThisisanillegalbonfireontheOldSalemRoad.ThankheavensitgotputoutbeforeitwentdowninthehistoryofGloucesterasyetanotherofthefiresthatsweptthroughRavenswoodinitshistory.1:02:33Thecharmingcasuallittlerocksculptureoverhere.No,nooverhere,sorry,isactuallydestroyingthestoneworkthatdefinesanarchaeologicalsite.Andthenofcourse,there'sTurtleRock.Now,IloveTurtleRock.IamsortofembarrassedtoadmitthatandprobablyasaconservationistIshouldn'tadmitthat.Because,well,let'sputitthisway.Ifitwereoldenough,itwouldqualifyasrockart,right?Prehistoricsomething.Butinfact,it'sgraffiti.You'relookingatgraffiti,defacingthenaturallandscape.SomuchforTurtleRock.


1:03:27Unknownspeaker:WhereisTurtleRock?Tritsch:TurtleRockisononeofthetrailsinRavenswood.It'snearthequarry.CanIshowyou?1:03:38UnknownSpeaker:It’soffOldSalemRoadjustbelowtheHermit’srock.1:03:40Tritsch.Really?IthoughtitwasontheRidgetrailnearthequarry.1:03:47Let'scomebacktothat.Holdon.Letmejustfinish.I'vegottwomoreslides,thenyoucanbedonewithmeandwe'llstraightenoutthisquestion.SincetheTrusteesofReservationshavetakenonstewardshipofthepropertyin1993,oneoftheirmissionsthere,Iguessistheword,istopassthewordforpreservationandconservationofnaturalandculturalresourcesthroughtheexampleofthewaytheymanagethePark;throughassistancetootherpeoplewhowanttoconservelandsarounditandelsewhereinGloucesterandCapeAnn;throughacertainamountofregulation;througheducation;andfinally,throughabroadeningandextensionofthevisionthatmadeRavenswoodParkaspecialplace,insteadofawilderness,thatcameoutofwhatwasreallySamuelSawyer’sgift.There,nowwecantalkaboutTurtleRock.1:04:55So,that'sit.We'llleaveSamueluptheretogivehimhisdueforalittlewhile.1:05:13NowweneedtodealwiththisTurtleRockissue.Oh,I'mfacingthewrongwayornot—sorry.Let'sbackupandfindoneofthosemaps.Notthatone.Thatone.Okay,who'sgoingtoshowusonthemapwhereTurtleRockis?I'mnotgoingtobecauseI'mnotsure.Ramona,yougoingtodothat?1:05:38Latham:It’soffQuarryRoadjustnorthoftheStillingtonarea.BondHillistothenorth.


1:05:59Tritsch:Okay.Doesthathelp?Areyouallset?UnknownSpeaker:WhatyearwasRavenswoodgatedfromautomobiles?1:06:20Tritsch:That'sagoodquestion.LetmeseeifIcananswerit.AndI'mnotsureIcan.Thequestionwas,atwhatyearwastheparkclosed—gatedtoautomobilessothattheyweren'tallowedtobedriventhroughitanymore?Idon'tthinkIhavetheanswertothat.ButdoessomeonefromGloucesterrememberwhenthathappened,approximately?The1950sorthe60swouldbemyguess.No?Staytuned.I'mnotsure.Anyotherquestions?Yes,1:07:01UnknownSpeaker:Canyoushowmewherethatvantagepointwas?Tritsch:Yes,let'sseeifIcandothat.It’sbasicallyrighthere,whereLedgeHillis.IfyoufollowtheLedgeHillTrail,orno,it’shere…whichofthetwotrails?Goouttothehall,andinthehallisamap,atrailmapofRavenswood,notaculturalresourcesmap,Igetconfusedsometimes.Andthatwillshowyou.It'sshownasavistapointandit'sfabulousalltimesoftheyear.1:07:35Tritsch:(inresponsetoaquestion):Ithadbeencleared.Itbecameovergrown,andithasbeenre-clearedrecently.Yes.Soitisagain,avantagepoint.Andtherearebenchesupthereyoucansiton,too.Sir?1:07:49Unknownspeaker:Myquestionis,whereonthemapisBalancingRock?Tritsch:Ididn'tshowitbecausewewentandlookedatit.Andwe'renotconvinceditwasaverybalancingrock.UnknownSpeaker:Well,youusedtotouchit,anditwouldgotwoorthreeincheseachway.Tritsch:Itdoesn'tanymore.UnlessIwentinthewrongplace.Iwastakenthere…1:08:23


UnknownSpeaker:WerethereanyNativeAmericanburialsinRavenswood?Tritsch:No,thatwaselsewhereonCapeAnn.AsfarasIknowtherearenoNativeAmericanburialsanywhere.Matteroffact,it'sthewronglandscapeforNativeAmericanburials.It'snotwheretheywouldchoosetoburypeople.Theonlypossibleburialsthatareprobablywelloffanytrailwouldhavebeenfromsmallpoxvictims,andtheywouldneverbemarkedbecausetheydidn'twantthemtobedugup,needlesstosay,sincetheyweren'tsurehowthesmallpoxgotspread,amongotherthings.AsfarasIknow,therearenohumanburialsinRavenswood—documented.Ma’am?1:09:15UnknownSpeaker:Doyouknowanythingaboutthecircularholes?Tritsch:Thecircularholes,yes.Someonementionedthose.UnknownSpeaker:They’renotterriblylarge,butthey’realwayslocatednearwater.Tritsch:Right.AndIthinkwhattheymaybeormayhavebeenwasholesthat…couldevenhavestartedoutasatreefall.Whentherootsgetpulledupinatree,youendupwithahollowandIthinktheyweredugoutfromthatandsurroundedwithstonesmostlikelyasfireponds.Imean,that'sabignameforthem.ButIdonotbelievetheyhaveanypre-historicsignificance.Iknowthat'sbeenasuggestion.Ithinkit'smuchmoreutilitarianthanthat.1:10:06YouwillfindallthroughwoodlandsinallpartsoftheCommonwealth,includingtheCopicutWoodsthatRamonamentionedearlierdowninFallRiver,therearetheseplaceswhichpartoftheyeararejustdry,andtheylooklikestrangeroundholesinthegroundorhollowsintheground.Buttheyweredugasfirepondsforatleastpartoftheyear,tocollectwhatraincouldbecollectedinareasthatwerenototherwiseparticularlywet.Ma’am?1:10:48UnknownSpeaker:FreshwaterCove–canyougiveussomemoreinformationaboutthat?I’mfromtheareaandhaveneverheardofit.Whereisit?


Tritsch:FreshwaterCovewasavillagethatshowed...it'sright...Holdon...Let’sfindthemap.We’vegottogobacktooneofthoseearliermaps.Sorry.It'saloteasiertodoitthisway(clickingthroughslides).Comein.There.Okay.StageFortParkisoverhere(pointingonthemap).ThisisWesternAvenuecomingdownhere.Andwhereallofthesehouselotsareindicated,andtherearehousestheretoday,wasthecoreofthefishingcommunityofFreshwaterCove.1:11:37UnknownSpeaker:Soifyou'reonWesternAvenuegoingtowardStageFortPark,it'sjustbeforethereontheright?Tritsch:No,it'sonbothsidesoftheroad.TheentrancetoRavenswoodParkisbasicallyhere(pointingonmap).AndsoifyouareatRavenswood,andyou'redrivingtowardsGloucesterit'sprettymuchallofthehousesalong(WesternAvenue).ThisisHesperusAvenue…HesperusistheintersectionofFreshwaterCove.ButIthinkitalsoincludesDolliver’sNeck,whichisuphere.Andinfact,ifyoutakethisroaddown,itgoesuptothewater.1:12:24UnknownSpeaker:Isthereanactualcovebythatname,orisitjustthenameofthecommunity.Tritsch:Oh,yeah...Ishowedthatearlyonastheareawithalotofsaltmarshhay,that'sthecove.Anditshowsonallofthemaps,oftenunlikeotherfeatures.Okay,maybeacouplemorequestions.Andthentherearerefreshments,andwecancontinuetheconversationoutthere.1:13:04UnknownSpeaker:YousaidtheywentintoFreshwaterCoveforfreshwater.Isthereisasourceoffreshwaterthere?Aspring?Tritsch:Well,thereis.IsitBuswellPond?DoIhavethatnameright?Okay.Thereareseepsthatcomeoutofthehillside,includingthebrookthatleadsdowntothecovefromBuswellPond.Sotheremighthavebeenanumberofdifferentplaceswheretheycouldgetfreshwaterrightthere.Intheback…UnknownSpeaker:Wheredidyouget/wherecanIfindallthesemaps?


Tritsch:Lotsofdifferentplaces.ButagoodplacetostartwouldbetheGloucesterarchives...atthetownhall.ButIcanalsotellyouthatthemapsthatIshowedyouareallinmyreportthatIwrotefortheTrustees,acopyofwhichisattheGloucesterarchives,andanothercopyishereinthelibrary.So,thereareversionsofthemthere.IfyouwanttoknowinmoredetailI'lltellyouwhereIgotthemall.Yes,Peg.1:14:20UnknownSpeaker:DidyoumentionwherethenameRavenswoodcamefrom?Tritsch:No,Ididn't.ThatwasawholesidetrackthatIcutouttomakethistalknomorelongthanitwasanyway.Ravenswoodisactuallythenameofafictionalplace,afictionalmanorinScotland,inthebookbySirWalterScott.Therewego.Okay.Ihaven'tthoughtaboutthatforawhile.Sorry.Andit'snotclearwhySamuelSawyerlikedthisnamesomuch.ExcepthehadwantedtonamehisparkinBoston(theparkthatwasgoingtobepartofhisdevelopmentinBoston)Ravenswood.IthinkchancesarehehadbeentotheScottishHighlandsandreallywasenamoredofthelandscapethere.AndIalsosuspect,giventhedescriptionsofLammermoor,whichiswhereRavenswoodwaslocated,thatthedescriptionfitstheareaoftheFreshwaterCoveWoodsreallywonderfully.Soit'sallspeculationistheanswer,Peg.Helikedit.1:15:41UnknownSpeaker:CanyoupointoutBondHillonthemap?Tritsch:Ican.Yes,it'srighthere,BondHill(pointingonthemap).Siteofproposedreservoir,in1872.Here'stheOldSalemRoadcomingdown.Thisisthepartthatisstillpaveddownhere.Okay,it'stimetogetupandgetsomefreshair.Thankyousomuch.

vl15 - ravenswood - wilderness to special place finding aid€¦ · collection should be addressed...

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