BEVERLY MA

BEVERLY MA

Beverly Common

Built - 1998

Beverly had originally been part of Salem but in 1668 became an independent town which offered its new settlers a combination of farmland and a wonderful port for seafaring vessels to enter. The "Old Planters," including Roger Conant and John Balch, established their homes in Beverly and the 1636 Balch House is still standing and is the oldest frame house in the United States. Also the witchcraft delusion of 1692 began and ended in Beverly and the Hale House still stands where the first owner, the Reverend John Hale, was an active member of the witchcraft trials.

During the American Revolution, General George Washington established a naval and army post in Beverly and of which would be the only Massachusetts Bay town outside of the Boston area which would have one housed within its town limits. Private merchant ships were converted into armed vessels at the naval post since Beverly Harbor was located in a prime area. Today, Beverly Harbor is a favorite spot for pleasure boats of all sizes and continues its importance to the area.

Beverly also became an important part of America's industrialization when a well-known and successful family, the Cabots, built the first cottom mill. Along with industry entering into the town, in the 1890s Beverly was named the "Garden City" of the North Shore since many wealthy Boston families built large and beautiful summe estates inland and along the shoreline.

Beverly was also the summer home to the White House for President William Howard Taft and his family in the area now known as Lynch Park which has a beautiful Italian classical garden and is a favorite wedding location in the summer months. The David S. Lynch Memorial Shell is also located in the park. The city is still known as the "Garden City." with garden tours, public gardens area and many other beautifully landscaped areas in the city.

In keeping with its image, the Beverly Rotary Club raised money to build a bandstand in conjunction with the city's plans to improve the Beverly Common which had been neglected for a long time. In 1997 the construction began with an expected total cost of $100,000 with the Rotary Club coming up with the first $25,000 and Simsbury Associates, who was the developer of the neaarby former Briscoe School Building, financing the rest.

Since the completion of the bandstand in 1998, a scrolled archway, brick walkway, park benches, historic-looking black lampposts and flower gardens have been added which has turned the Beverly Common as a must-see by all interested in visiting the Garden City of Beverly.

The Beverly Common has thus once again been extensively used for concerts and is a favorite spot for wedding ceremonies and pictures and other community affairs.

BEVERLY MA

BEVERLY MA

David S. Lynch Memorial Shell

David S. Lynch Park

Built - 1968

The David S. Lynch Park was named after the owner of a leather manufacturing plant in Beverly who never lived in the 16-acre park itself but wished that his neighbors be able to enjoy this lush and beautiful private park that was owned by the Evans family who were quite wealthy and transformed their estate into one of the finest on the Northshore. This particular tract of land, originally called Woodberry's Point, was used during the Revolutionary War to disrupt British supply lines by means of its seven gun barreries to protect Beverly's important port. Once the Evans family transformed this stronghold into beautiful gardens, they renamed the estate Burgess Point.

During 1909 and 1910 President Taft leased the Stetson cottage from the family and the city then basked in the world's spotlight as important leaders from around the world stayed at the estate. The city soon became known as "The Garden City' and Summer Capital of the United States." Taft signed the Treaty of Beverly here which laid the foundation for future U. S. tariff policies.

After 1910, the Evans family decided against the continuance of leasing the property to President Taft since the Secret Service constantly stopped and questioned the family's guests and intruders started ransacking the property.

Mr. Lynch bequeathed $400,000 to the Lynch Park Board of Trustees to buy and maintain a garden at his death in 1942 with the city naming the park after him in the early forties.

The David S. Lynch Memorial Shell was built in 1968 to serve the public as a place for social gatherings and concerts and is located at the easten edge of the open lawn area which allows its venue goers plenty of space to sit in front of the structure and face the ocean beyond.

The bandshell consists of an angular steel-framed structure which is secured at one end only. The walls are of concrete masonry. The roof is covered with asphalt shingles and the underside metal is painted white as well as the walls on the three sides. The stage is made of concrete and is 1/4 circular and 5 inches above the lawn lined by a series of short shrubs. A small equipment room is attached to the structure where instruments and other items can be easily stored. The bandshell is outfitted with a sound amplifying system and has power and tracking lights for night concerts and performances.

The negatives of the bandshell, however, is that it is poorly situated on the site with the location of it disrupting the general potential opennes of the area with the sound unfortunately directed to the adjacent neighborhood.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:

Nancy & Thomas Clark

BEVERLY MA

BEVERLY MA

David S. Lynch Park

Built - c. 1910

The Rose Garden at David S. Lynch Park was formerly part of the Evans Family estate and is almost 90 years old as of this writing. The garden was also known as the Stetson Cottage property where former President William Taft had his summer home in 1909 and 1910. The garden was modeled after those in Italy and blooms in brilliant colors in the spring with its lush rose gardens overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and has been a wonderful setting for countless weddings and other picture opportunities.

After the death of the Evans, the land was purchased from an Elizabeth Sohier who remodeled the gardens as a replica of an Italian villa and added a prehistoric Chinese temple from the Orient which can be considered as a bandstand since weddings take place in it and undoubtably, music and other entertainment emit from the structure and the gardens.