Old Postcard from the Fay Arboretum

"This divided-back postcard was printed in Germany for the Glenmere Co. of Lynn Mass. Although it has no postmark, it can be dated with confidence, between 1907, when the U.S. Postal Service first allowed divided-back postcard, and 1914, with the start of World War I. After the WWI began American postcards were printed either in England or in America.  By the time of this photo, Dudley Fay had sold out the estate to the Boston Interurban Realty Trust.  It documents that the citizens of Lynn, Salem and beyond were enjoying Mr Fay’s arboretum 100+ years ago, as the citizens and children of Lynn and Salem do today (or “did” if woods are developed)." ~ Tom O.  Thank you Tom for sharing.  

Curious, if the image (not the print), is a reprint of an earlier decade, in the late eighteen hundreds?  Here is a map in progress of the remaining Fay Arboretum:  www.springpondwoods.com/p/arboretum.html

Drawn using Vectorworks Designer/Architect/ Landmark/Renderworks, by yours truly.

Map of Fay Arboretum

              Mr. Fay's Arboretum was once a well known place, notable for being one of the earliest arboretums, predating Olmstead and for having trees being sighted here first in the country.  People enjoyed walking the estate, admiring the vast variety of native and exotic foliage.  Below is a map of the inventoried flora in the historic Fay Estate.   There is more area (blank areas) to further inventory, as this is only an initial study.  The love of nature and history of this hidden treasure is one of the biggest reasons why so many wish to preserve the entire area.   In comparing the species of flora with historic research, this drawing reveals the hidden gem we have here in Essex County, in Lynn, Peabody and Salem, MA.  I hope regional planning includes uniting these three cities to preserve this old paradise and beloved area.   Three cities are connected here by the recreational wooded areas around Spring Pond.  

The arboretum map will be updated on occasion, when a new inventory of flora is made.  

To view, click on map, and again to zoom in. Right-click to download. 

peace

Spring Pond Reservoir - Passive Recreation

According to Peabody's Open Space Plan, Spring Pond Reservoir has restricted use:  

• Spring Pond is a wildlife reserve (hunting is prohibited).
• Public access is allowed.  
• Passive recreation associated with the trail systems are for low impact activities: which means walking, hiking, jogging, snowshoeing, birdwatching, and picnicking on a carry-in, carry-out basis.  Some area residents fish here.
• Off-road vehicles are prohibited. The area is environmentally sensitive and needs to avoid erosion. 

The 'No Trespassing'/ 'No All Terrain Vehicles' signage by the entry to Spring Pond Road, are for vehicles.

Source: Peabody Open Space Plan 2006

Opulent History: sketch of Spring Pond and the country home of Fay

A sketch from 1864 of the country residence of Richard S. Fay around Spring Pond in Lynn, Peabody and Salem, shows people retreating under a tree off the beaten path by Spring Pond Road, viewing the residence across the pond and the boats in the water.   The mansion was set back, uphill from the shore and behind the road.  It appears the mansion is drawn out of scale and the water level in this sketch is higher than it actually was (or was it?... since there was fewer development around the pond back then, where natural water flowed down the hill sides, filling the pond instead of going down a street drain).   Regardless which may be the case, an old photograph shows the old mansion set back on the hill side.  

At about the point where the people are resting, behind here in the water is the land marker where the townships of Lynn, Peabody and Salem were divided to 'slake the thirst of the people' by the spring, causing the country estate to be divided in 3 different cities.   The mansion and the service buildings were located on the Lynn side, while the rest of the arable land was in Peabody and Salem.

Further history on the Fay Estate around Spring Pond in Lynn, Peabody and Salem may be found here.

Spring Pond

Spring Pond Woods is one of the '1000 Great Places in Massachusetts'.   This list was created by an Act of the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick. Its mission is to identify and recognize the 1000 most truly special places in the Commonwealth, in order to celebrate pride in our history and culture, increase knowledge of our natural surroundings, and encourage regional interest to the site.

Spring Pond is on the Massachusetts Great Ponds list.  Spring Pond and the waterways abutting it are protected under Chapter 91:  The Massachusetts Waterfront Act.  Basically any project affecting the water or air quality, water levels or wetlands near Spring Pond is under this jurisdiction.

These are a few photos of Spring Pond from Spring till now...

peace

In the News.... from Boston.com on Spring Pond Woods

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/peabody/2010/07/peabody_makes_top_1000_list.html

(click on image to view)

Cotton and Increase Mather

c1670-1723   Cotton Mather with his father Increase Mather (pictured), were frequent visitors of the retreat by Spring Pond and the estate of Casper Van Crowninshield (Kronenscheldt).  Cotton Mather was an influential New England Puritan Minister, Harvard Graduate, Pastor of Boston’s original North Church, author of more than 450 books and pamplets, and his writings were influential in the Salem Witch trials.  One of Cotton's elaborate works of writings extols the virtues of the Spring Pond Area in the Memoirs of Increase Mather under title of Parentator or Remarkables of Dr. Increase Mather.  In it he relates to the healing waters and retreat of the Spring Pond area.    Increase Mather was an early President of Harvard College and Rector, a New England Puritan Minister, Leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay, and was a visitor who took a lodging at the retreat of Mineral Spring Pond, to recover from his illness and drink from the healing waters of the springs.

In 1724, Cotton Mather Published his father’s, Increase Mather’s diaries:  Parentator or Remarkables of Dr. Increase Mather, by Cotton Mather.  In this publication, Cotton Mather shares excerpts from the diary of his father Increase Mather, relating the recovery of his illness to the healing waters of Mineral Spring Pond.

   Quotes from the publication Parentator or Remarkables of Dr. Increase Mather are as follows:

In the Spring of 1670, he returned unto his Beloved Pulpit: And made his first Sermon on those words: PSal XCIV.12. Blessed is the Man thou Chastenest, O Lord, and teachest out of thy Law. But being still under feeble circumstances, and having a strong impression on his mind, that the drinking of the mineral waters might be of use to him, he took a lodging at Lyn, where he might repair every morning, to a spring there, which was then famous through the country. I will transcribe a passage of two from his diary, which he wrote in the time of his being there.

One is this. "At the Waters, retiring myself under the Trees, I poured out my Soul before the Lord, and then met with Him. I did humbly and believingly (through the Lord's Grace towards me) betake myself unto God, and unto Jesus Christ, for the Healing of my Bodily Distempers. I Believed, Because, though Sin had brought these Distempers on me, yet God had accepted the Sacrifice, which Christ has offered for my Sin. Because also God had formerly heard my Prayers. And because Christ has Redeemed my Body as well as my Soul. Christ intends to bestow Eternal Glory on My Body as well as on my Soul: And therefore He will not deny unto me so small a matter as Bodily Health, which is nothing in comparison of Eternal Glory. Finally, Because I desire Health for the Lord's Sake, and not for my own; even that I may do Service for Him. After Prayer, I went away Inwardly Rejoicing, because I have prevailed! I have Prevailed for Mercy!"

Another is this. "At the Waters. There again the Lord enabled me with Tears, and Persuasion of a Gracious Answer to pour out my Desires before Him for both Bodily and Spiritual Healing to be vouchsafed unto me My dear God in Jesus Christ, will certainly accept of some Service from me: Blessed be His Glorius name forever and ever: Amen! Amen! "It was not long before the Lost Jewel was restored onto me. Nevertheless, in the way to it, he met with many grievous Pangs of Overwhelming Melancholy: of which he also says, 'I found the Prayer of Faith to be the best Remedy against it."

But of this also, I will from his diary, only note a couple of passages.

One is this; "As I was returning home from Lyn, at the end of the Town, a poor Godly Woman (whose name is Mansfield) desired those that Rode with me to go forward, for she must needs speak with me. When I stop'd, O Syr, (said she, with much affection, and many Tears) I am troubled at my condition. I am afraid, that I grieve the Good Spirit of God, by not being so cheerful as I ought to be. I am Dejected, and my Soul is Disquieted; And when I meet with afflictions, I lay them too much to Heart; and I doubt, & herein offend, so Gracious a Father, as God has been unto me; a God who has done much for me, and sometimes manifested Himself unto me. I was astonished to hear her speak, and see her come thus to me for some Relief in such Temptation. I concluded that this poor Woman (who little thought so herself) was a Messenger sent from God unto me; For she spoke to my very condition, as if He that knows all things had put Words into her Mouth. Oh! Let the Great Physician of Souls (said I then) Look upon me, and let Him Heal me, and give me Power of Grace to be more than a Conqueror over my Special Infirmities."

Retreat at Spring Pond

In good weather, a stroll around Spring Pond and its trails of old, can be an enchanting experience.

Here is an old image of Spring Pond from the early 1800's