Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 34 SEPTEMBER 2018 PHOTOGRAPH BY ROBERT BOYD (RIGHT) / F A C E S + P L A C E S / discover that he spoke English, says Norm Isler, longtime president of the Topsfield Historical Society. Even as settlers in many regions experienced conflict with the natives they encountered, the residents of Topsfield enjoyed friendly relations with the Agawam tribe. And the note of friendliness and coopera- tion on which the town started has endured. Today, the heart of Topsfield is the town common, a quaint green surrounded by historical buildings, the Congregational church, the public library, and the town hall. e town hall is nearing the end of extensive renovations intended to modernize the building—barely updated since 1873—while maintaining its traditional character and beauty. e work includes the restoration of a large public hall to be used by community groups and events. "It was a really beautiful, large space used for dances and meetings and events that had been broken up into office cubicles," Lyons says. "We're recapturing that space." Residents are engaged in town meetings and civic activities, Isler says, and the historical society's annual strawberry festival celebrated its 50th year this summer. Town volunteers and donations were integral in the restoration of Gould Barn. And over the last 14 years, the society's John Kimball, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program, funded by a bequest from a former town moderator, has awarded more than $270,000 to 78 local students. "It's gratifying and very heartwarming to participate in something like that," Isler says. e sense of community and rich history of C O N T E M P O R A R Y C O L O N I A L 287 High St., 4 bd., 3 ba., 1 half ba., 3,560 sq. ft., 3 acres Price: $875,000. Agent: Coldwell Banker coldwellbankerhomes.com E Q U E S T R I A N E S T A T E 37 East St., 4 bd., 3 ba., 1 half ba., 2,852 sq. ft., 8.94 acres Price: $1,400,000. Agent: J Barrett & Company jbarrettrealty.com REAL ESTATE the town are complemented by the area's abundant natural beauty. Rolling hills, a remnant of the glaciers that once retreated through the region, and vast wooded areas give Topsfield a distinctive natural character. e adjacent properties at Willowdale State Forest and Bradley Palmer State Park offer roughly 50 miles of trails, providing opportunities for hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers to explore extensively. e diverse ecosystem gives visitors a chance to glimpse deer, beavers, owls, and songbirds. e Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary combines natural preservation with education. Twelve miles of trails meander through meadows, wetlands, and forest; the Rockery Trail features a grotto and arches constructed from boulders in 1905. e vacation camps let young people delve even further into the wonders of the local environ- ment. For Lyons, these factors come together to create a place he is happy to call home. "I consider it to be the best decision my wife and I ever made," he says. Parson Capen House dates to the 1600s.