What our ancestors did for summer fun

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This Andover Historical Society photo shows a group of 1890s picnic-goers at Haggetts Pond.

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July 29, 2010

Andover Stories Joan Patrakis Andover Historical Society Andover Historical Society

Some of Andover's earlier residents bathed in Haggett's Pond and cruised its waters by steamer. They danced on the banks of the Shawsheen River and picnicked in local shady groves. Adventurers traveled by trolley to popular resort areas or explored local and regional landscapes by "wheel." Movies and sports captured their interest in the 1900s. At now-forgotten Andover places, residents enjoyed summer fun - except on Sunday.

Haggett's Pond (now referred to by the town as Haggetts Pond) was a popular destination for residents and out-of-towners in the 19th century. Shady Side Grove advertised a saloon, a cook house, and an expanded dance hall in 1870. A bowling alley was added later. The steamer Spitfire, with a capacity of 35 passengers, provided tours around the pond during the 1880s. Fishing, boating and picnicking were enjoyed and, although bathing was common, it was prohibited when the pond became the town water supply in 1889. Even then, cows and trespassers regularly ignored the law.

Ballardvale's Shawsheen River Grove, near Pole Hill, was a popular attraction in the early 1900s. Two swimming holes, a cook house and a dance pavilion provided daylong enjoyment for visitors. For the convenience of Boston visitors, the Boston and Maine Railroad scheduled a special stop at the Grove and provided service until midnight. An annual festive event in the 1890s was "the colored picnic," featuring the Cakewalk. The winning couple was awarded a 20-pound cake filled with 10 silver pieces.

Indian Ridge Grove offered a historic backdrop, as well as a shady retreat from summer heat. The nation's 100th anniversary was observed at the grove in 1876 with patriotic music, speeches and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Approximately 2,000 people enjoyed baseball and croquet matches, as well as tub races and a greased pole contest. An abundance of food and iced lemonade were served.

At the turn of the 20th century, open trolley cars carried residents to Canobie Lake Park and Salisbury Beach, unless the weather decided otherwise. Families and church groups packed picnic baskets and headed off for a day of fun. The Townsman noted it seemed like "one of the principal objects of the occasion was to carry baskets full of food into another state in order to eat it!" Organized outings to the popular resorts generally attracted groups of 200 to 300 despite the fact most of the day was spent traveling to and from the area.

Bicycling was popular by the 1880s, but not with carriage drivers and pedestrians who complained cyclists "hogged" roadways and sidewalks. In 1888 a velocipedes race through downtown streets was held at the Fourth celebration. The Andover Wheelmen, a group organized in 1893, promoted local bicycle trips and "runs" throughout New England. Club runs were not allowed on the Sabbath.

Movies made the Andover scene in 1909 and within months the Wonderland Theatre on Elm Street was expanded to accommodate overflowing crowds.

Cricket, baseball and soccer drew large followings to the Playstead and Shawsheen's Balmoral Park.

In 1919 moviegoers and sports fans began a long battle with traditionalists over the question of Sunday amusements. In early 1920, 22 women's organizations opposed an article allowing Sunday movies. They publicly appealed to their husbands and fathers to defeat it, since "being women we have no vote in the affairs of town meeting." The article was defeated. Women gained the vote later that year.

In 1932, Sunday movies and sports were finally approved by Town Meeting. When the sale of beer passed a year later, the Townsman noted "this old rock-ribbed New England town had finally caught up to the outside world."

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"Andover Stories" is a weekly column about interesting local people and events, told in anticipation of the Andover Historical Society's 100 anniversary in 2011.