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Memorial* " Marbleliead was a component of Salem. The 

 earliest settlement is supposed to have been made in the 

 neighborhood of Salem harbor, near what is still called the 

 Ferry, and where, for many years, was the only communica- 

 tion between the two places, by means of the ferry boat. 

 There were probably settlers on this side nearly as soon as 

 on the other." As early as 1635 it was voted by the General 

 Court " that there should be a plantation at Marbleliead." 

 So it would appear that the name was affixed to this spot be- 

 fore the town was incorporated. 



It were worth any one's while to spend an hour or so in 

 exploring the streets, bye-ways and lanes of this picturesque 

 town. The visitor would find himself scaling giddy heights 

 in quest of some access to a street above him, or wondering 

 how the houses clung so pertinaciously to the rocks, or how 

 the "gardens grow" amid the crevices of the stones ; or how 

 he shall be able to thread his way through some narrowing 

 avenue. To the honor of the inhabitants, every civil ques- 

 tion receives a polite and civil answer, and places of local 

 interest are readily pointed out. The ocean view from " the 

 Fort" is fine at any season of the year, and for a summer's 

 afternoon we scarcely know of a better place for beauty 

 and quiet. The finny tribes seem to be familiar with these 

 properties and delight to frequent the waters, which wash 

 against the rocks, and by the manner in which they are 

 hourly captured, seem equally delighted to be taken by wily 

 angler armed with rod and line and hook. Here also are 

 many beautiful seaweeds growing in the cold tide water, 

 corallines spreading their rosy branches in little pools, and 

 crimson stains of the Hildenhi-andtia relieved by inky patch- 

 es of Verrucaria maura painting the smooth surfaces of the 

 rocks and helping with the veins of felspar and quartz and 

 other mineral matters to make the "marble" of Marbleliead. 



The approach to the Neck is by a short beach of sand and 

 rounded pebbles dividing a part of the harbour from the 

 ocean, or else by taking boat or some such small craft and 



*Ihe Esses Memorial for 1836, by James R. Newhall, 1 vol. 16 mo. Salem 1836. 



