Official Site of Danvers Recreation.
Town Hall, One Sylvan Street, Danvers MA 01923
Phone: (978) 777-0001 ext. 3094 Fax: (978) 762-0215
Endicott Park Description
" Kids & Trees Should Grow Up Together"Features:
A combination of developed and natural landscapes, comprised of woodlands, orchards, wetlands and fields; conserved for their beauty and as a habitat for plant and creature life
Buildings and structures that embody an interpretation of a working farm
Open space that affords informal recreational opportunities compatible with the setting and requiring no lasting changes to the site
Convenience, play, recreational, and public safety facilities that enhance the park without detracting from the natural and historic character of the site.
Endicott Park offers unique opportunities to its visitors through:Individual and group educational programs in a living laboratory for the study of science, ecology, conservation, animal husbandry, landscape design, building architecture, archeology, cultural history, etc.
A sense of an early time in historic Danvers when farming was a common lifestyle
An area for gardens of flowers, fruits and vegetables
Open greenspace for unstructured play with family and friends
Peaceful and pastoral settings for walks, picnics and viewing of natural beauty through all seasons
Open space and facilities for both community and private gatherings and celebrations.
Endicott Park, a preserved gentleman's farm of the early 20th century, is enjoyed by Danvers area families and residents of all generations. Endicott Park offers a rich and diversified educational resource. Among its more interesting historical elements are the Frederick Law Olmsted site design, the Glen Magna mansion and the Derby Summers House (aka - Tea House) designed by Samuel McIntire. Some of the historical sites include the formal gardens that have been linked to the Chamberlain family of England and the mansion's collection of art pieces are products of the China Trade era.LAND AND BUILDINGS
LAND
Botanical/Horticulture - Important features of the Endicott Estate are the formal gardens at Glen Magna and the apple orchards at Endicott Park. The gardens and orchards of the Estate contain many of their original and now rare flower and plant species. Efforts have been made over the years to restore planted areas with historically accurate plant materials.Biological Ecosystems - There are several unique and independent environments within Endicott Park. These interdependent communities are called ecosystems. These different areas demonstrate the fragile balance of natural forces. There is a forest, a pond, swamps, fields and animal systems that demonstrate life and/or seasonal cycles, and the interdependence between human kind and nature.
Conversation - Can man and his environment coexist? Should awareness of ecology and sesitivity to nature be elevated? How does a community preserve its natural climate and why? Endicott Park offers the opportunity for conservation study that could demonstrate to students the intrinsic value of open, natural space.
Whipple Hill - An undisturbed forest that offers visitors a peaceful area for quiet walks, exercise or ecological study. The existing nature trail is much in need of such improvements as brush control and the construction of water bars and foot bridges. A forestry management plan with interpretive trails which includes tree identification could be handled by the Town's Open Space Intern Program.
Sliding Hill - This large open hillside on Whipple Hill offers both scenic vistas and an area for informal winter sports such as sleding.
Beaver Brook Swamp and Wetlands - Conversation land offering many educational possibilities. The construction of a boardwald in this area would greatly benefit the visitors appreciation of thie resource. Winter sports use of this area does seem to be compatible with its conservation design.
Lulu's Water Garden - Located just behind the Children's Barn, this area was created by a Mr. Robbins for Louise Thoron Endicott. This garden still possesses some of its original plant materials, (i.e. yellow flag iris). An eventual reconstruction would add to the beauty of the park and be significant to the restoration of the farm site.
Farm Site - This is an area to preserve for its historical significance since it represents life on an early 20th century gentleman's farm. At a minimum, we suggest the use of markers and signs to indicate buildings which once existed. Although we would prefer to see missing buildings visually delineated on the ground, the suggestion to reproduce two gates that one stood at the entrance to the cop pen (yard) would not only give the visitor a sense of scale but would also offer an area to present information in the form of signage detailing original farm development.
Goodno Pond - An open space for informal recreational opportunities such as skating and fishing. In order to keep the pond as a viable fishing area it is restocked an necessary.
Orchards - The orchard areas are maintained and restored. Where possible, replacements are historically accurate. This area is used for large permitted gatherings, as well as for informal passive enjoyment.
Dean Street Pasture - A large open area just of Forest Street that is used and maintained for passive, unstructured recreation.
Kidstown Play Area - Located within the Dean Street pasture, a site with wooden play structures and sand areas designed for unstructured, imaginative play.
Activities Field - An open area for a variety of informal recreational activities. It also offers the visitor unobstructed views of the surroinding landscape.
Fitness Trail - A 1.8 mile exercise trail winding through woods, fields, and along existing roadways, this trail offers something for the athlete, as well as the passive walker.
Beech Tree Trail - A short trail established by an Eagle Scout project to provide a handicapped accessible trail leading to an observation platform on the edge of the swamp.
Ingersoll Street Pasture - An open area reminiscent of pasture or haying fields that offers educational possibilities.
Community Gardens - Formerly part of the Ingersoll pasture, this area is now used by close to two-hundred families for vegetable gardening. This is one of two actibe agricultural ares within the Park. It is also referred to as the "Victory Gardens" commemorating their origin during the second world war. For a nominal fee and on a first-come, first-served basis, members of the community can lay claim to a plot of land for the growing season.
Ingersoll Street Marsh - An area containing a small pond in the latter stages of succession. This site provides excellent opportunities for observing wildlife, particularly waterfowl, and for other ecological studies. The Town's brush storage area adjacent to this pond, is an incompatible use, as there is no protection for the wetlands from the storage and runoff of large poles of loam or other materials.
Dean Street Woodland - A small area of woods bordered by Ingersoll, Dean and Forest Streets containing the headwaters of a small tributory to Crane Brook. This could be an excellent area to show good woodlot management and could be opened for public use and educational opportunities. This area is also a potential site for archeological exploration and interpretation of an 18th century home site.
Highway Corridor - The area of Endicott Park bordering on Route 95 should be managed as a buffer zone with additional plantings to cut down on noise and air and water pollution. Since much of the runoff from Route 95 runs into adjacent wetlands, it is expecially important to monitor this area.
BUILDINGS
Carriage House/Lawrence H. Crowley Visitor CenterBasements - The Basements are used primarily as a storage area for park supplies and for the general storage of the park supervisor that resides in the Carriage House.
Carriage Room - The Carriage Room is the center for most indoor group meetings and for educational programs.
Carriage Way - This area houses the directory for the building and park areas in general. Signs direct visitors to the existing resources within the building such as a telephone, rest rooms, visitor center and posted maps to orient visitors to the outdoor features.
Horse Stalls - The existing stalls provide study spaces for individual investigation of the park's many resources. These stalls are restored to offer visitors visual evidence of life on a working gentleman's farm.
Conference Room - This newly created room offers an area that can be used for several purposes including small meetings, exhibit space, maps, models, photos and information that will give visitors a better understanding of the property and its origins. This might make an excellent starting place for many self-guided walking tours.
Second Floor Residence - This floor is used as a private family residence with an office for the Park Supervisor.
Courtyard - Provides the opportunity for an informal outdoor classroom or temporary exhibit or demonstration area as well as a gathering point to begin or end walking tours.
Children's Barnyard
Also known as the Old Stable, this building is an example of a "jerken head" barn. It offers visitors the opportunity to view domestic farm animals housed in an historic farm building. The possibility also exists for elementary level education in animal husbandry, on both a structured and informal basis.
Hay Barn
Hay Barn Basement - This area is used to house machinery and equipment for multi-use gatherings, temporary shelter for group activities and large scale demonstration or display functions. In addition, it offers another example of the type of architecture necessary to support the farm.
Garage Building
This building was originally used to house motor vehicles for the farm and family. It is now used to house large equipment and vehicles, such as the tractor, used for part maintenance. Because this building is constructed of concrete block, it is also the most logical site for the temporary storage of necessary supplies of gas and oil.
Corn Crib
Located just behind the Hay Barn, this small building's best function is another example of a farm structure necessary to the operation of a farm. Its unique construction should pique the curiosity of visitors.
Tallow House
Another small building located just across from the Carriage House. This building offers a further opportunity for education relating to life on a farm in the early 1900's. Its proximity to the "cow yard" gates (to be reconstructed) provides an opportunity to provide an exhibit locating the former cow barn and general layout of the farm site, much of which has been removed or destroyed over time.
