Maudslay State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maudslay State Park |
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Pinus strobus standing free in a meadow at Maudslay.
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 Maudslay State Park
Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | Newburyport, Essex, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 483 acres (195 ha) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Governing body | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Maudslay State Park |
Maudslay State Park is a beautiful Massachusetts state park located in the town of Newburyport. The park is looked after by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It's a great place for outdoor activities and can even be used for special events like weddings if you get a permit.
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What Makes Maudslay State Park Special?
Maudslay State Park is a lovely, designed park right next to the Merrimack River. It has many different natural areas. You can explore thick bushes, pretty gardens, and wide, open meadows. The park is also home to very tall pine trees. It has one of the biggest natural areas of mountain laurel in Massachusetts. You can also find many other beautiful plants here, like azaleas and rhododendrons.
The park's western side is next to the Artichoke River. This river also marks the border between Newburyport and West Newbury. Some old buildings, like Curzon Mill, are still privately owned near where the Artichoke River flows into the Merrimack. The bridge over the Artichoke River is currently closed.
Tall Pines and Bald Eagles
One of the most amazing parts of the park is its ancient white pine trees. These huge trees grow on the steep slopes and cliffs along the river. They look like they have never been cut down. Below these tall pines, mountain laurel forms a thick, continuous layer on the forest floor. The pines are so tall that you can't even see their tops from below!
These high treetops are a perfect place for bald eagles to build their nests. Sometimes, these eagles even perch on trees hanging over the river outside the park. This can sometimes cause a bit of a stir with traffic. You can also find these impressive pine stands in the small valleys within the park.
The Merrimack River's Importance
Maudslay State Park covers about 450 acres along the right bank of the Merrimack River. This part of the river is an estuary, which means it's where the river meets the ocean and the water is a mix of fresh and salt water. The main part of the river flows right below the park's cliffs. Small boats can travel on this part of the river, and it's marked with buoys.
Because of strong currents and high bacteria levels, swimming in the Merrimack River is not allowed from Maudslay State Park. Seasonal floods can sometimes damage docks and bridges, and even flood homes near the river. Despite these challenges, the lower part of the river is still used by many businesses that store and fix recreational boats.
The return of bald eagles to this area is linked to the river becoming cleaner. In the past, by 1950, the Merrimack River was very polluted. Factories upstream and sewage from towns made it hard for plants and animals to live there. Since then, factories have moved, sewage is treated better, and environmental laws have helped clean up the river. While dams still stop some fish from returning, the lower river is now healthy enough to support a new population of eagles.
Exploring the Upper Woods
Long ago, in colonial times, Newburyport didn't have bridges connecting it to towns like Salisbury and Amesbury. The areas of Newbury, West Newbury, and Newburyport were originally one large piece of land. English settlers arrived here in 1635. Over time, the pine forests on the ridge of the Merrimack River's right bank were cleared for homes. A road called "Country Lane" (now High Street) led from Newbury. The remaining forest between this road and the river was known as the "Upper Woods." A small part of this forest is where the eagles live today.
In 1641, a ferry service started across the Merrimack River. Later, in 1668, a new ferry was created to serve the growing settlement of Amesbury. A road called Ferry Road (which became part of High Street) was built to connect to this ferry. This road ran along the Merrimack River's right bank to a break in the cliffs of the Upper Woods, which is now inside the park. Today, this area is covered by new forest growth. You can't see any signs of the old ferry or houses. However, "Old Ferry Road" still exists as an overgrown path between stone walls. This ferry service stopped in 1792 when the Essex Merrimack Bridge was built.
History of Maudslay State Park
Maudslay State Park was once the large estate of Frederick Strong Moseley. He was a very important person in Newburyport in the early 1900s. The name Moseley comes from an old English name, Maudesley. Frederick's family came to America in 1630. His ancestors were ministers, lawyers, and soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Many of them were also involved in helping others.
Frederick Strong Moseley's great-grandfather, Ebenezer, married Martha Strong. Martha's brother, Caleb, became a Massachusetts governor and one of the first senators for Massachusetts. Frederick's grandfather, Edward, became a successful businessman. He owned parts of many wooden ships built in Newburyport. He was also a trustee for many organizations and a major supporter of the Newburyport Public Library. Edward married Charlotte Chapman, and they had many children. Frederick Strong Moseley, born in 1852, became a stockbroker in Boston. When his father Edward passed away in 1900, Frederick inherited a large estate. He then bought and improved the Newburyport property, hiring the best landscape designers of his time.
The estate was first called Maudesleigh. The famous landscape architect Martha Brookes Hutcheson designed the gardens and main drive between 1904 and 1906. She was one of the first women to join the American Society of Landscape Architects. At its busiest, about 40 staff members worked on the estate. It had three greenhouses, areas for growing plants, fruit trees, and a large formal vegetable and flower garden. There was also a 500-foot long border of perennial flowers, an Italian garden, a rose garden, and many azaleas, rhododendrons, and special trees. The estate also protected the native mountain laurels.
William G. Rantoul was the main architect for the estate. He designed most of the original buildings between 1895 and 1910. This included the huge 72-room main house (which was torn down in 1955) and houses for the coachman, forester, and head gardener. Another large house was built for Helen Moseley, Frederick's younger daughter, between 1939 and 1941.
In the early 1950s, the quiet and private nature of the estate changed. Highways like Route 95 and Route 495 were built nearby. These roads brought a lot of truck noise to the park during the day. After the Moseley family passed away, the main house was torn down. Helen's house was destroyed by fire in 1978. Today, only a few of the original 30 buildings remain.
Becoming a State Park
In 1985, the state of Massachusetts bought the property. It then became Maudslay State Park. Some parts of the old estate are still there, like the main gate, the drives, and the stone bridges. You can also see stands of lilacs, rhododendrons, and some of the old fruit trees. The places where the big houses once stood are now flat lawns. The swimming pool from the main house is empty and covered with thick bushes. Most of the gardens and greenhouses are now in ruins, with their walls barely visible on the overgrown hillsides. The dairy farm on the property was still working until the early 1980s.
The park service has added a parking lot for visitors. A nearby house now serves as the park headquarters. Park rangers and staff take care of the meadows and trails. They also offer guided tours. Visitors are welcome to hike the trails, but some areas are restricted to protect nature. A special running course has been created through the meadows and pines. Restrooms and showers are available near the parking lot. Many people also enjoy horseback riding on the larger trails. They often bring their horses in trailers.
Since 1987, Maudslay State Park has been home to Theater in the Open. This group performs three live outdoor shows in the park each year. They are also famous for their giant puppet parade called "The Rites of Spring" in May. In October, they host a spooky walk called "Maudslay is Haunted."
On April 3, 2010, the Coachman's Barn caught fire. This barn was often used by Theater in the Open. Fire departments from Newburyport, Salisbury, and Amesbury worked together to put out the fire. Only the stone foundation and chimney were left. The chimney has since been removed for safety. A small house next to the barn was mostly unharmed.
Things to Do at Maudslay State Park
Maudslay State Park offers many activities for visitors.
- You can walk, hike, or go horseback riding on the park's trails.
- In winter, you can even go cross-country skiing.
- The park is also the home course for the Newburyport High School Cross Country Running team.
- There are educational programs to learn more about nature.
- You can enjoy a picnic with your family and friends.
- Restrooms are available for visitors.
