Save the dates for these 6 free events in North Andover this September. If you love the outdoors, learning about North Andover’s history, exploring, poetry and more, these Trails & Sails events are for you.
Trails & Sails is coordinated by the Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage), the nonprofit management organization for the Area that rallies our community around saving its unique character. Their mission is “to preserve and enhance the historic, cultural and natural resources of Essex County.”
Trails & Sails raises regional awareness of Essex County’s resources, encourages visitation, and fosters stewardship and preservation of its heritage sites. Explore the many cultural, historic, and natural sites during two weekends of FREE events featuring a variety of walks, guided hikes, sails, historical tours, and adventures on September 18-20 and 25-27!
Here are the 6 Trails & Sails free events that are happening right here in North Andover:
September 19, 2015 – Everyone’s Poetry on TV?
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Arrive between 9:45 AM and 10:00 AM
Event Telephone: 978-687-6570
Location: 430 Osgood Street, North Andover, MA, 01845
Hosted By: Poet Gayle C. Heney & North Andover CAM
Producer Gayle C. Heney invites everyone to the North Andover CAM studio to participate in or witness the making of a poetry TV program featuring YOU! Bring two original poems and be ready to read/perform.
Special Instructions: Don’t forget your two original poems, and if you like, a brief biography.
September 20, 2015 – Explore Harold Parker State Forest
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Event Telephone: 508-369-1000
Location: 700 Middleton Road, North Andover, MA, 01845
Hosted By: Friends of North Andover Trails
Come explore a small portion of Harold Parker State Forest with the Friends of North Andover Trails. Harold Parker is a hidden gem of 3500 acres, half in North Andover, with a wide variety of trails accessible for hiking and biking. We will walk past beaver dams and ponds, traveling on a well-maintained forest trail, making our way first to the old soapstone quarry site and finally to the historic Jenkins Mill site. Some ups and downs, some rocky sections, even parts of the Bay Circuit Trail. A wonderfully diverse 2-hour walk.
Special Instructions: Find Gate 15 on Middleton Road between Jenkins and Harold Parker Roads; there are multiple parking areas all reasonably near the starting point of the hike. We will hike for about 2 hours over moderately hilly terrain. As always with our walks, children are very welcome. Dogs can come along, but they must be group friendly and leashed.
September 20, 2015 – Messages from the Past: Symbolism in the Old Burying Ground
Time: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Tour will start at noon; Check in will be available at 11:45 am at the Burial Ground entrance.
Event Telephone: 978-686-4035
Location: Academy Road at Court Street, North Andover, MA, 01845
Hosted By: North Andover Historical Society
What can we learn from the iconography of these early gravestones? Local graver, John Glassford will lead us on a noon-time tour of this circa 1650 burying ground, located in the heart of the original 17th Century compact village of “Andover.” Become enchanted as you meander through this captivating and beautiful place and discover the rich symbolism carved onto a selection of gravestones in this wonderful first period survival.
Special Instructions:
In the event of inclement weather, please call the Historical Society by 11:45 for instructions. We plan to have a back up indoor virtual tour at the Society Headquarters (153 Academy Road).
September 27, 2015 – Stevens to Stevens Walk
Time: 9:15 AM to 12:15 PM
Location: 139 Andover Street, Stevens-Coolidge Place, North Andover, MA, 01845
Learn the history of the Stevens family, their importance, and their influence in the town of North Andover while viewing the meticulously kept gardens and grounds of several historic properties on a walk from the parking area of Stevens-Coolidge Place to The Stevens Estate and Conference Center. The walk will pass by some 18th century homes and sites of 19th century industries.
Special Instructions: The tour will gather on Stevens-Coolidge porch across Andover Street from the parking area. The walk is approximately 2-3 hilly miles and will travel along the Common, Nan’s Trail, and roads. Please dress according to the weather and wear sturdy comfortable walking shoes. No dogs please.
September 26, 2015 – The Bay Circuit Trail
Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Event Telephone: 508-369-1000
Location: 744 Sharpners Pond Rd, North Andover, MA, 01845
Hosted By: Friends of North Andover Trails
Help us open a new section of the Bay Circuit Trail! The Bay Circuit is a 230-mile “semi-urban” greenway, starting at Plum Island and extending through some 40 towns. This section joins the existing trail in the vicinity of Sharpner’s Pond Road in North Andover and connects the Bay Circuit Trail for the first time through the town of Middleton. We will hike along the wooded trails of Boxford State Forest, making stops at an abandoned cellar hole and cider press stones. The hike is sponsored jointly by the Friends of North Andover Trails and the Middleton Stream Team.
Special Instructions: We will hike for about two hours over moderately hilly terrain. As always with our walks, children are very welcome. Dogs are also welcome, but they must be group friendly and leashed.
September 27, 2015 – The Stevens-Coolidge Place: Endless Summer Garden Party
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Garden Tours will begin at 11 am and 1 pm on the back patio. The house will be open to explore from 10-2.
Event Telephone: 978-689-9105 X 1
Location: 137 Andover St, North Andover, MA, 01845
Hosted By: The Trustees of Reservations
Come and enjoy an open house and garden tours at The Stevens-Coolidge Place. We will even have croquet set up to enjoy in the formal lawn. Come explore the Stevens Coolidge Place country estate and the simple c1800 farmhouse that was transformed into an elegant estate with garden “rooms,” murals, bowed windows, and many Colonial Revival architectural details. Come step back into the 1920’s as you roam through the neo-Georgian Colonial house taking in the house’s collection of Chinese porcelain and artifacts from the Steven’s travels through Asia and Europe in the early 1900’s. The house will be open free of charge from 10-2 with docents on hand to answer any questions you might have about The Stevens-Coolidge Place. The beautiful gardens behind the estate will also be open to explore and garden tours will begin at 11 and 1 in the Perennial Garden. The Superintendent will be guiding these tours that will focus on the past and present of the Perennial Garden, French Garden, Rose Garden, and cutting garden, as well as looking at harvesting and putting your garden to bed for the winter. Bring your own picnic or indulge in festive harvest snacks such as apple cider donuts, apples, and other harvest goodies. Refreshments will also be provided.
Special Instructions: Come enjoy a special day in the gardens. Bring the family and a picnic. Or come to explore the 1920’s Colonial Revival homestead. It will be a day to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
These events above are in North Andover only, click to view more events in other towns here!
