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.

Local artist draws Spring Pond, scene iii

Local artwork by Brian Joyce, bjoyceart.blogspot.com

Snow and Ice Covered Outcropping At Spring Pond Woods.

Thank you Brian, for sharing.

Not all the Lions

An anonymous commentator on a local newspaper article regarding the Lynn Lions/ Camp Lion, offers this reminder:

"As a clarification to "Lions", there are 3 separate Lions Clubs in Lynn... (and one in Salem)...  This action only involves the Lynn Lions Club and Camp Lion.  The other two clubs:  Wyoma and Shoe City Lions Clubs have nothing to do with this and have no influence over the Lynn Lions Club or Camp Lion Directors!"

News: Big Boxes are shrinking

Thank you to a Salem friend for sharing this article.
Will it be a matter of time, before big box stores return to mom & pops, and Walmart rethinks before expanding into Spring Pond Woods?

The Wall Street Journal | Business
As Big Boxes Shrink, They Also Rethink

by Miguel Bustillo, March 3, 2011

Major big-box retailers have been shifting to smaller stores—and scratching around for more profitable ways to fill under-used spaces as they go about reinventing themselves......

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. also said last week that it was accelerating the rollout of smaller locations—40,000 square feet or less—after it reported a seventh straight quarterly decline in sales at U.S. stores open at least a year. (!... )

Read more here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704728004576176601936377760.html

Land subject to flooding

Why do the FEMA flood maps for the Cities of Peabody and Lynn, indicate flood hazard zones just over the boundary lines from Salem... but over the line in Salem, there is no adjacent land subject to flooding declared?   Highland Ave does flood, from the streams up hill...  (see photos).   What are the limitations if the land is subject to flooding?  Like the setbacks and protection of (potential/) vernal pools, etc?


I've raise this question before to the Salem Planning Board, about the designation of flood hazard areas, but never received an answer.  Hopefully someone out there has one.

Map from OLIVER, the Mass GIS online data viewer.

News: Peabody leaders have concern for big-box project near Spring Pond

Peabody Patch
Peabody keeps a Close Eye on Salem Walmart Expansion
by Dan Baer, March 3, 2011
Link to article:  http://peabody.patch.com/articles/city-keeps-a-close-eye-on-salem-walmart-expansion


In this article, Karen Sawyer of Peabody Community Development, is the only person heard to instantly defend the project in the article.  At the ad-hoc meeting, she mentioned she is "talking with Dunkin", planner of the City of Salem, who is saying everything will be alright.  Karen, may believe everything she hears but others may have a mind of their own.


"If you do not ask the right question, you will not receive the right answer."  As an example:  My first question in the Salem Planning Board Public Hearing on April 1st of last year was:  "Have you contacted the City of Peabody, since this project is close to their drinking supply?"   The reply received:  "Yes, Peabody is aware, and the reservoir is miles away from the site" (making signs with the hands that the project is far away, north somewhere.)"   
(Did I not ask the right question?  Because I did not receive the correct answer.  Turns out the City of Peabody was not aware of the project until a few months later in August.  And this project is on the hills, on or near water surface protection areas (watershed) that surround Spring Pond.)