In 1792, the Essex-Merrimac Bridge was built across the Merrimac River from Newburyport to Salisbury (today Amesbury) using Deer Island as the central point of the bridge. The Newburyport side of the bridge was replaced in 1810 with a chain bridge. Whenever I travel across the chain bridge from Newburyport to Amesbury (whether by bike or vehicle) - I notice the remains of a large stone wall on the southeastern side of the island; I've always wondered what its purpose was. I've always wondered why it was there. It's always been my belief that the wall was used for a ferry system in the seventeenth and eighteenth-centuries. However, I cannot find any records of such a ferry existing even though there are records of similar ferries on other parts of the Merrimac River with similar rock walls remaining today. All of those ferries are further downriver closer to where the mouth of the Merrimac River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Newburyport and Salisbury.
Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
This is the View from Newburyport's (Mass.) Chain Bridge
Notice the Early Rock Wall
A Closer Look at the Rock Wall
My nephew, Jason and myself stopped at Deer Island today while on a bike ride. He pointed out to me the remains of a stone structure directly above the wall that a tree had grown around. I don't believe this is related to any sort of foundation. I feel it has to be related to the stone wall below.
My Nephew, Jason Next to a Stone Structure that an Old Tree has Grown Around
The Structure May Be Related to the Stone Wall that is Directly Below It
As we climbed down to see the rock wall - it really stood out to me that there was a large amount of bricks for no real apparent reason. I am not aware of any brick structures that were ever erected on Deer Island - so you can probably understand my confusion. As I looked closer, I noticed that bricks could be seen in almost every crack or gap in the rock wall. Out of curiosity, I carefully pulled a few of the bricks out; surprisingly, many of them appeared like over-fired bricks. Some even looked like wasters. I really have no explanation for this, but it is certainly fascinating considering this stone wall (if like the other stone walls associated with a ferry system on the Merrimac River) could date to the seventeenth-century. Could that mean these bricks are from a seventeenth-century brick maker?
The Early Stone Wall that is Built on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
The Early Stone Wall that is Built on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
The Early Stone Wall that is Built on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
The Early Stone Wall that is Built on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
Bricks are Seen All Around the Wall and Inside the Cracks and Gaps in the Wall
Bricks are Seen All Around the Wall and Inside the Cracks and Gaps in the Wall
Bricks are Seen All Around the Wall and Inside the Cracks and Gaps in the Wall
I really don't have any explanation for the bricks; although they must be related to a local brick maker (the big question being - When were they made?). All of the bricks also feel dry and brittle; many feel like they have been exposed to very high temperatures. This may be the result of a kiln, but there could be other explanations, as well.
There are a few questions that came to my mind after seeing these bricks; Are these bricks original to the wall? Why do most appear over-fired? There are obviously a number of questions that surround them. Below are pictures of a few sample bricks that my nephew is holding. We put the bricks back where we removed them from after we took the photos. I find this discovery very interesting! I really don't have any sort of explanation for it; regardless, the story is definitely worth sharing. Anyone have any ideas?
My Nephew, Jason with a Burned Brick from the Rock Wall on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
A Closer Look at the Burned Brick
My Nephew, Jason with Two Bricks from the Rock Wall on Deer Island in Amesbury, Ma
A Closer Look at the Two Bricks
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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