6 NORTH 
S H OR E 
BREEZE 
Historical Significance of North Shore Hunting Grounds 
BY MARY TAYLOR FALT 
N THE autumn season, in the inlands of the 
North Shore, there is no more fascinating sight 
upon which to gaze than the Myopia Hunt Club 
members enjoying their meets in the environs of 
Hamilton, Ipswich, Newburyport, Rowley, Byfield and 
ueighboring localities. Their pink hunting coats make 
a vivid dash of color ’gainst the beautiful landscapes of 
these picturesque places as they ride to hounds. 
There is hardly another hunting territory more re- 
plete with historical, educational and religious tradition 
than this one selected by this- exclusive North Shore 
club. Almost every highway or byway is historically 
significant of some famous epoch of our nation’s prog- 
ress historically, educationally and religiously. 
Foremost in interest is Newburyport and her en- 
virons. At the foot of the city Hes the Merrimac River, 
full of traditions of Whittier, one-time resident of New- 
beryport. His birthplace, Haverhill, lies across the 
river bank. Here in these localities the ‘‘Poet of Free- 
dom’? advocated the abolition of slavery, wrote his 
poems of freedom, working in unison with the great 
advocate of Emancipation, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, who 
was born in Newburyport. The editor of the ‘‘Genius 
of Universal Emancipation’’ and of ‘‘The Liberator,’’ 
imprisoned for his views, had an important place in the 
notable traditions of Newburyport. 
In November (1789), Washington made a two days’ 
visit in Newburyport on his Northern tour. He was 
received with great eclat. He was met in Ipswich by 
two companies of cavalry and was escorted into the 
town. There was a procession of all classes of people 
and school children. The drums beat. The cannon 
roared. An ode was sung. John Quincy Adams, then 
a law student, delivered the address of weleome. Wash- 
uigton responded. In the evening there were fireworks 
and a grand demonstration. Washington was delighted 
“ith his reception. He crossed the Merrimac on his de- 
parture at Amesbury ferry and was escorted to the 
New Hampshire line. 
After a great many years history has repeated her- 
self. President W. H. Taft takes great pleasure in 
fouring all these localities in his auto. There is no 
ereater enthusiast or honorary member of the Myopia 
Hunt Club, who appreciates more the traditional charms 
ot this territory than does the Chief Executive, who 
hz his always welcome presence there, is making new 
and important history for the North Shore. 
In 1817, President Munroe visited Newburyport on 
his Northern tour. He was received with civie and 
military honor. It was during the dinner served there 
in his honor, that his best portrait ever taken, was 
sketched by Moses Cole. 
Lafayette was given a publie reception in Newbury- 
port in 1824. He occupied the same room provided for 
Washington seven years previous. 
George Whitefield, the eloquent English preacher 
end founder of the Calvinistic Methodists, intimate 
rriend of John and Charles Wesley, the great Evange- 
lists, died in Newburyport in September 1770 at the 
School street parsonage of Rev. Johnathan Parsons. 
The house and church are today famous points of in- 
terest much visited by tourists. Whitefield was buried 
in a crypt of the School street church in a brick tomb 
under the pulpit. History tells us that a large bone 
from his arm disappeared from his tomb, was carried 
to England, but was returned in September 1849. So — 
stated the Newburyport Herald of Oct. 2, 1849. 
Newburyport is today a beautiful city. Probably 
no city can boast of such an imposing street as its aris- 
tocratic High street with its rows of magnificent colon- 
jal mansions. Many of them are full of fascinating 
memories and relies of colonial splendors. 
Byfield, a former parish of Newburyport, is noted 
for its educational traditions. Here was founded by 
Gov. Dummer of Massachusetts, the descendant of 
Richard Dummer, an early settler of Newburyport, 
Dummer Academy. The date of the foundation was 
1763. Its incorporation was in 1782. In the past as a 
classical school, it took rank second to none in New 
England. Today it does not claim the prosperity or 
large attendance as does Phillips Academy of Andover 
or Exeter of New Hampshire. It does pride itself on 
iis traditional prestige and on the famous men who 
claim it as their Alma Mater. Samuel Phillips, who 
founded both Phillips and Exeter Academies, was grad- 
uited from Dummer. Moses Parsons of Gloucester, 
Mass., law professor at Harvard, father of Chief Jus- 
tice Theophilus Parsons, father of jurisprudence, 
greatly influenced Gov. Dummer in establishing the 
academy. 
Other famous men who were graduated from Dum- 
mer, were Rufus King, statesman and diplomat; Presi- 
dent Webber of Harvard; Professors Smith, Otis, Pear- 
son and Jackson of Harvard; Chief Justice Sewall, 
Com. Preble, U.S. N.;° Maj. Gen. Octherlong, dis- 
tinguished in India; Prof. Cleveland of Bowdoin; Pres. 
ident Benjamin Hale of Geneva College; Chief Justice 
Tenny, Maine Supreme Court and numerous others 
noted in the professions, arts and sciences. Henry Du- 
rant, who opened the school in Oakland, Cal., which 
grew into the University of California, of which he 
was president, was one of Dummer Academy’s presi- 
dents. 
For fifty years the academy had universal acknowl- 
edgment as the first academy of the country in rank 
and the first in fact of time. These valuable assets 
have given it lasting prestige. 
academy’s first president. 
The first female seminary in Massachusetts was like- 
wise established in Byfield in 1806 by Deacon Benja- 
min Coleman in an unfinished church built by seceders 
from a Dr. Parish’s society at Byfield. It was purchased 
and fitted up as a school. Miss Mary Lyon, who has 
a tablet in the New York ‘‘Hall of Fame, consequently 
is an Immortal,’’ was graduated from Byfield Seminary. 
She founded the Ipswich Female Seminary and the now 
famous Mt. Holyoke college. 
Miss Julia A. Eastman, the noted educator, who 
cied in Wellesley, Mass., January 1, 1911, was an 
alumnus of the Ipswich Female Seminary. She founded 
the Dana Hall School for Girls, one of the most fash- 
ionable preparatory schools in Massachusetts, which 
prepares principally for Wellesley college. She was 
credited with having educated more students directly 
(Continued on Page 24) 
Samuel Moody was the. 
