Close to 90 Signs were on display this year for Yankee Homecoming’s annual “If This House Could Talk”. An added delight was the Heritage Tour Scavenger Hunt featuring many of the signs as clues. Great job by Ghlee Woodworth organizing that.
Every year I am simply amazed at the sense of community and dedication to history by Newburyport residents. We had a lot of new signs this year, as well as many of prior year’s favorites. Thanks to everyone that posted a sign for helping make this a special event for Newburyport.
Thanks so much to a core group of volunteers that make this happen. Such as Barb Bailey and her dedication to providing online house history research classes, Chris Edmonds, who diligently manages keeping the house list and map updated, and Sharon Spieldenner and her cast of library volunteers that have to deal with the onslaught of house history help requests at the library.
Special thanks to Ghlee Woodworth for all her support and efforts at publicity, and to the behind the scenes encouragement by photographer extraordinaire Bob Watts; Bob is known for his photography of the signs and homes to create our commemorative books every other year (on the even years), so watch for a new one next year. Finally, I would be remiss in not effusively thanking Mary Baker Eaton and her support, encouragement and advice. You can find much of the content from signs on the map she created “Newburyport – Keeping the Story Alive” .
It’s all encouraged, supported and sponsored by the Newburyport Preservation Trust, with help from the Newburyport Public Library archival center, the Museum of Old Newbury, and the Custom House Maritime Museum.
Well done everyone!
If This House Could Talk - Newburyport 