7 Comments
Feb 10Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

I was only 9 at the time of this announcement and issue. The "New Route 28" caught my attention as I remember Route 93 being built. Didn't know it was called by the old route number. In the 1970's the Shattuck family had passed on and left some items to the historical society. As president at the time, I had to go to the old house and meet the lawyer to pick them up.

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Nice work Doug. I do remember this as I was in elementary school at the time. Route 93 was under construction at that time and was referred to as the New Route 28, which runs parallel to our old Route 28 Main St. from Boston to Concord NH.

This plan, I am sure, would not have been a slam dunk for Andover residents who would have to approve the re-zoning. Air raid attack warnings and drills at school were done if we were under a nuclear attack. This was scary stuff to kids in school at that time. We did not duck under our desks but went out in the hall, sat down in front of our locker, knees up, heads down and waited until the siren stopped which was located right behind the West Elem. School. To add to the heighten tension was the plan to locate a missile silo in North Andover.

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Feb 10Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

Fascinating.

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Feb 9Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

I lived most of my young life in this region of New England and had no idea about this story. Truly fascinating. A great read. Thank you.

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Feb 9Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

So interesting! This is quite a story. Hard to take in and hard to imagine the ways it might have changed the town. Thanks for this.

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Feb 9Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

Yikes! I never heard about this before. Andover dodged a bullet with this one. The “new Route 28” has to be Interstate Route 93 which was under construction at that time.

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Feb 9Liked by Elaine Clements, Doug Cooper

What an amazing "almost happened" story!

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