John Greenleaf Whittier in Amesbury, Massachusetts: Literary New England #1

After visiting the Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier's birthplace and early home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, it seemed only logical to visit his second home (this time in Amesbury, also in Massachusetts). Pity it's only open on Saturdays, though.

'WHITTIER'S HOME

1836 - 1892'

'HOME OF

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER

HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A

REGISTERED NATIONAL

HISTORIC MONUMENT

UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE

THE HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935

THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE

IN COMMEMORATING AND ILLUSTRATING

THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

1963'

Although Union Cemetery in Amesbury is quite large, it's not difficult to find Whittier's grave: just drive around for at the most a few minutes, and you're bound to find 'The Whittier Path'.

There, a tall sign announces 'HERE LIES WHITTIER'.

And this is a repetition of the words on his grave.

At the side of the grave, someone had placed a bottle of beer named 'Whittier White' from a brewery in Haverhill, the label of which bears a quotation from the poet.

On Main Street is a memorial both to Whittier and to Captain Valentine Bagley. Bagley was shipwrecked off Arabia and nearly died of thirst. He swore to God that if he ever returned safely home he would build a well so that no one passing would suffer thirst as he had. The well here has the same foundations that Bagley built when he returned home.

Whittier was impressed by the story so much that he wrote a poem about it entitled 'The Captain's Well'. The monument shows a representation of Bagley with a quotation from the poem at both sides.

Captain Valentine Bagley.

'AND IF EVER I REACH

       MY HOME AGAIN

WHERE EARTH HAS SPRINGS,

       AND THE SKY HAS RAIN

I WILL DIG A WELL

       FOR THE PASSERS-BY.

AND NONE SHALL SUFFER

       FROM THIRST AS I.'

 

'NOW THE LORD BE THANKED

I AM BACK AGAIN

WHERE EARTH HAS SPRINGS

       AND THE SKIES HAVE RAIN

AND THE WELL I PROMISED

       BY OMAN'S SEA,

I AM DIGGING FOR HIM

       IN AMESBURY.'

Leonard Craske executed the monument, which has two seats and a wall.

Plus a modern drinking water fountain.

Another monument to Whittier is the John Greenleaf Whittier Bridge between Amesbury and Newburyport over the Merrimack River. By this stands a commemoration of the occasion:

'THIS BRIDGE

ERECTED BY THE

COMMONWEALTH

OF MASSACHUSETTS

1954

IS DEDICATED TO HONOR

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER

1807 - 1892

POET AND ABOLITIONIST

WHOSE HOME WAS FOR FIFTY-SIX YEARS

IN AMESBURY

Our Lord and Master of us all

What e'er our name of sign

We own Thy sway, we fear Thy call

We test our lives by Thine.

* * * * *

CHRISTIAN A. HERTER

GOVERNOR

JOHN A. VOLPE

COMMISSIONER

OF

PUBLIC WORKS'