Sign Up  /  Login

Ayers Village LbNA #12235

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 19, 2004
Location:
City:Haverhill
County:Essex
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:Pansy
Found by: Searching Salamanders
Last found:Sep 4, 2010
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFa
Last edited:Nov 19, 2004
In 1734 the general court erected the westerly part of town into the West Parish of Haverhill. The first parish meeting was held in May of that year. The West Parish church still stands on the hill.
Ayers Village, named primarly for John Ayer who moved his hat-making business there in 1801, developed during the 19th century as another "village within the town". At its peak, the village had over 50 residences, 4 hat factories, 2 shoe shops, 2 stores, a post office, a fire house, a church, a school, a blacksmith shop, and a community hall. When the hat industry became more mechanized in the 1860's and 1870's the manufacturers moved their concerns to Washington and River Streets.
This west meadowland was generally flat topogaphy and was the first to draw settler's away from the original colonial site. Many of the old farms remain intact even though there is increasing development in the area.

From 495 take exit 50 - Rt. 97 and head toward Salem N.H.

Look for the " BEACON " on the right.
Turn in here by the old brick pump house.
Park on the side of the entrance road and don't proceed to the end of the drive since it is a private business.
You will see a green path to your left.
Enter thru the white gate.
Look for the obelisk of Moses Emery upon a mound.
Walk 35 steps NW and find Mary Downing.
Take 8 steps toward the birches.
Among the rocks under the "y" in the birch branches.
You will find the teasure you seek.
Look for the small rock that is lighter then the others.

You are in the West Parish Cemetery which is a precivil war burial ground located in the Ayer Village section of Haverhill. Many of the descendants of the original John Ayer are buried here. Originally there was a road that traveled up to the old parish church but is lost now due to development.