98 



by several of the citizens, and proceeded to the new 

 building recently erected through the efforts of the ven- 

 erable Dr. Jeremiah Spofford, on the site of the Merrimac 

 Academy which was destroyed by fire some two or three 

 years since, where a preliminary meeting was organized. 

 The President, after briefly alluding to the nature of the 

 gathering, and expressing the hope that the day's excur- 

 sion might be pleasant and instructive to every participant, 

 introduced Dr. Spofford who extended a cordial welcome 

 and described the location of the groves, streams, paths, 

 hills and other objects of interest that were accessible 

 during the forenoon's ramble ; when he closed, the party 

 adjourned and went in groups to the various localities 

 pointed out, as inclination dictated. 



This building is arranged for a lecture room on the 

 second floor, and on the first, several smaller rooms for a 

 public library, reading room, and other purposes. May 

 the praiseworthy efforts of this venerated friend be fully 

 and speedily carried out, and may he long live to 

 witness the benefits of a good educational institution, 

 ably sustained by the liberality of the friends of true 

 progress and tending largely to promote the culture of 

 the citizens of his native town. 



THE NEW IRON BRIDGE. 



The great bend in the Merrimac river between Grove- 

 land and Haverhill has made the crossing, at this place, 

 from the early days of the settlement highly desirable. 

 Before the construction of the bridges, the ferry at this 

 point received always its fair proportion of travel. It is 

 only recently that the residents in this section of the 

 county have been favored with this great accommodation. 

 This bridge was an object of great interest ; it was built 

 by authority of the Legislature (Acts 1870 chap. 219) , and 



