Newburyport: A Measure of Change
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2024
- An incredible video that chronicles the pivotal span of time when the city transformed itself from a worn-out mill town to a vibrant destination city by using historic preservation (First in the nation to use restoration rather than demolition for urban renewal) and in which municipalities across the United States have since modeled themselves in the same way.
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I was born in newburyport in 1978, and lived there as a kid for about 4 years. a piece of my heart and spirit still live there. It was the only time in my life as a young kid that I can say I had a childhood. I am so grateful to have called it my home!!!
Growing up near Portsmouth, I gained appreciation for these small, dense, and walkable New England towns. Modern Newburyport is not perfect, but nowhere is and at least they saved it. I made a video talking about urban planning in the town, if anyone is interested, feel free to check it out. 😂
I lived in Newburyport as a child from 1969-1979. Seeing this video brought back so many memories. It was a great place to live then. Jabberwocky!
I've watched this several times. Its just the right thing to have on whenever I feel like I'm missing home.
I recently found out through Ancestry that Rev James Noyes os my 8th time great grandfather. I cant wait to visit Newburyport. Thank you for restoring this historical city. See you there
Great video. I’ve watched it many times. My family grew up there, grandma, grandpa, dad, uncle etc. so different now but it even was in the early 90s when I was a kid playing downtown. Thanks for the memories and video. Shared with my family.
I remember the "old" Newburyport, and must say that it some respects, it conveyed more of a sense of history of the place than does the manicured, "ye old colonial" version. When my family moved to the city, the old docks were still in place and people who fished for a living still used them. Buildings, empty and run down, nevertheless exuded a kind of genteel decrepitude and spoke of times long past. Renovations and renewal, while good and necessary no doubt, eliminated much of what was "real". The 19th century carriage shed at the Unitarian Church was torn down, as were old docks on the river. Houses near the square and all over the city were often stripped of beautiful period accretions - an ornate iron fence in once instance, a Greek revival porticio in another, and a wonderful Victorian porch in yet another - in an effort to make them look as they "originally" did.
Granite bollards - meant to be used for tying ships to docks - were plopped all over Market Square to give it "atmosphere". The old square - with its practical shops and Yankee shop owners, where one could buy chicken feed, hardware, or an inexpensive beer, became a pretty theme park where one can buy tourist T shirts, scented candles, and designer dinners du jour. Sadly, despite a focus on "preservation", ancient houses are still being demolished every now and then so that new owners can have swimming pools, or cram condos onto once open farm land. I don't hate the "new" Newburyport - I just lament that the "soul" of the old one never quite made it into the refurbished "body" of the new. Still, there are places here and there where centuries old memories, faces, voices, and experiences are made manifest. Look past the glitz and hype. Listen to the water and the wind and moments of silence. Touch old gravestones, see traces of painted signs on brick, smell salt air, and watch gulls overhead. Those who founded this place, they whose blood and sweat christened it, who experienced sorrow and joy in it, and who came into the world and left the world in it - still speak, in spite of the "new", but not because of it.
In all due respect, Gunnar, you miss the point that the "old" Newburyport would not and could not for very long remain an empty, run down ruin - conveying a greater sense of history. Urban renewal was imagined to be the answer to the problems inherent in the "empty and run down" condition of things. Instead, it spawned undesired and unimagined changes after the wrecking ball turned vast acreages of our nation's cities into "ground zeros" reminiscent of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after being nuked, from which many have yet to recover. I understand your point that the custodians of the Newburyport history that was sought to be peserved have not always performed well. Have you considered getting seated on the board of the preservation authority?
“Genteel decrepitude” - maybe the greatest term I have ever heard. Ha!
Just a place for yuppies now such a shame
Newburyport and Haverhill were given the same choice, whether to preserve historic architecture or replace it. Which chose wisely?
@@kubeckjay1137 This is a great post. Adding to this is that the buildings in old northeast cities can no longer be used for their original purpose. The industries they once housed have been modernized so they cannot use the same structures. The choices were to let them fall down eventually, knock them down or repurpose them.
This is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
looooooove NBPT!!!!!
Though born in Amesbury 1956, much of my youth was spent in Newburyport and Plum Island. I was trying to recall how the city looked in the late sixties before its spectacular turnaround. I came upon this film and found myself reliving - not simply remembering Newburyport of old. This is a brilliant work of documentary filmmaking. "Bossy" Gillis would have been quite amazed could he envision the future of this city..
I grew up on Plum Island and left to join the Navy in. 1975. My father's demolition business " knocked down the Bossy Gillis gas station and the old Route 1 Bridge. I went to Triton do we know each other. My sister was born 1956 and left 1974.... I wonder?? Peter Seeley
@@peterseeley1815 I (born 1956) lived on Plum Island during the summers at 24th St. & Northern Blvd., but I attended school in Connecticut. My younger brother Mark, however, did attend Triton I believe.
Great video, thanks for sharing it with us. That was about the time Doug was on the City council.
I was born at Anna Jacques hospital in 1984. My great great uncle Cornelius Doyle has a memorial stone and plaque at three roads. Next to Atkinson Common. My family has lived in Newburyport since the early 1900’s. My mother still lives on Plum Island, and my younger brother owns a house with his wife and two kid’s, only a few blocks behind our uncles memorial.
I'm from Tennessee,and I lived on Plum Island , worked with Doug Sheehan at Long Hill Orchard ,and I was a member at North end boat club
My mom still lives on Plum Island right across from. PITA hall or across from Moe's Package store. Peter Seeley
I was born in Nbpt and schooled as well as worked until I went in the Army. I came "home" and it felt comfortable then. Now I have no desire as it is a different town with a different kind of people. It sorry to say is like a family. We grow old and start getting where we don't look the same rather run down but still recognized , I don't recognize my old home town.And it saddens me.
I remember the old NBPT and then the new starting in the 1970s to 1980s and lived there until 1985'
Now it's so expensive to live there !!! And it wasn't cheap in the Mid-80s either !!
But it's a great and Beautiful town, and I still visit to go to dinner and walk around and then you just have to drive to Plum Island and walk in the sand in the summer or the winter to watch a storm ! : D
Restored houses on Merrill and Prospect St. In the 70's when it started.
I moved to Rowley 6 years ago and when I went to Newburyport for the first time, it was to me the perfect, historical, American city. I am so glad that the original plans for redevelopment were halted. So much would have been lost, mostly the charm.
I am so impressed that anyone had such forsight in the 1970s. Usually I cities today trying to fight for what was lost and struggling. If you are interested in topics like this and why Newburyprt works, you should checkout the Strong Towns video series by Not Just Bikes.
I used to live in Newburyport in the early 80s and worked for Paul Deronde in Rowley ,I'm from Tennessee
Grew up in Ipswich spent a lot of time in Newburyport on the weekends with my father, cherish those memories great place to grow up and live nothing like it anywhere else
Great Video, I'm from Gloucester, but I do remember the olde NBPT. It has turned out to be wonderful town for sure!
This video is so fantastic! My ancester Nathaniel Merrill was one of the original settlers in the area in the 17th century. I lived in Newburyport in the late 90's and visit once or twice a year. So glad the preservationists prevailed and the shopping malls didn't take over. Would love to see a version of this video updated with footage and photos of how it looks today interspersed with the original footage.
A wonderful presentation, Thanks for showing this greatness of NBPT!
My Home Town Grew up there :)
What a fantastic video! Thank you!
By the mid-1960's, the single greatest resource of Newburyport was the writer Truman Nelson. By the time of his death in 1987, none of the city's bookstores was selling any of his books. Look no further for a feeling of strenuous decline. (Truman is the bearded man who speaks during the first part of this documentary.)
Remember when he 'held fort' at his table at the Grog!
@@jasalkovitz9325 Truman "held fort" better than most, whether for 3, 10, or 300! Did you know his girlfriend ca 1981-'82, Kate Raley? Have you read any of his books?
Great Video!
Love this
A city that actually capitalized on the urban renewal programs of the 60’s to turn out a good product.
Lookin for a video about the original settlers
I used to say, Newburyport looked like war-torn Vietnam...Well, still do if anybody asks! ;)
I'm glad I never saw Newburyport looking wounded like that. :(
Innsmouth anyone?
Thorsten Benecke lol yes the fish people
I was born in Gloucester but I truly love old Newburyport. Some of the changes are ok but I hate the modern soulessness .
Now it's all overpriced and full of yuppies such a shame
I would rely love to live there.but yes i think it is expensive to live there. My grandmothet widowed took her three daughters and moved to New York Mt Vernon.
I’m sure it is but I think it’s just because it’s a pleasant place & there’s not enough of them in the USA. Now that people are starting to appreciate them, demand went up and supply didn’t, so the price went up
Innsmouth anyone?
Hah! Nice reference. I believe Newburyport helped inspire Innsmouth, but that Lovecraft positioned it down nearer to Ipswich and Essex.