Today we welcome a new History Buzz writer! Jim Batchelder shares his memories of skating on ponds around Andover, and the "carnage" of hockey, snap-the-whip, and barrel jumping.
What a lovely story. Thank you. I also have wonderful memories of skating on Baker's Meadow (some with your sister Faith!) and also at the small pond in the West Parish Cemetery behind the chapel.
Hello Kay, Faith and I have had lots to talk about the past week about skating the neighborhood. I also did the cemetery pond with the youth group a few times, but the big one with the stone bridge. Once out on Haggett's Pond too!
What a delightful and fond memory of the pond. Your story and pictures were so well presented and brought back my childhood skating experiences on the pond behind the barn where I lived in Stow Massachusetts. Thank you.
I would love to see a photo of you in that skirt Karen? I did not know there was a fashion wardrobe for skating. My leather pants would not have worked!
Thanks, Jim, for a beautifully rendered memoir of skating. I grew up in Wellesley Hills and in the depths of winter we kids would bring our skates to the Brown School to put them on after school once we got up the hill to a tiny pond on our way home. Oh, the aching arches of my flat feet, the numb toes and nose. But what unfettered fun, showing off a twirl or a half figure eight. Yes, those cracks got us too, but we never showed our black and blues.
Although I didn't grow up in this part of the country, your memories of skating on pond ice ring true, Jim. I remember the experience fondly, especially those unexpected chunks and dips in the ice. I still have the skating skirt my mother made for me when I finally started skating at an indoor rink. Thanks for the memories!
I too spent many years skating on Bakers Meadow, first with Jim and his sisters when I lived on Argilla Road and later when I moved uptown I would walk over which was quite a hike from Essex Street. Jim’s parents, Abbo and Nel were best friends of my parents. 🥰
Jim, awesome!! I too remember skating on our very little pond on Bailey Rd. Lots of walking to get to the pond and there was always the danger that the pond was not completely frozen.
You are right Barbara, and I did fall through the ice at Bakers once. Thank goodness it was shallow were I went through. Only up to my waist but it took my sister Terry some time to pull me out without joining me.
Yikes! So cold! I'm.glad Terry was there to pull you out. How did she do it? Lying on her stomach or with a branch? I remember reading about both ways and wondering which would work best.
Jim, Thank you for that. Your description reminds me of my youth in Rockport in the 1940s. We came to Andover in 1960, so most of what you describe was before our time here. But it was so similar to those days of kids skating on the ice on the Mill Pond in Rockport. We got in on the tail end of the skating in Andover, but we enjoyed it nevertheless! Thank you for happy memories.
What a lovely story. Thank you. I also have wonderful memories of skating on Baker's Meadow (some with your sister Faith!) and also at the small pond in the West Parish Cemetery behind the chapel.
Hello Kay, Faith and I have had lots to talk about the past week about skating the neighborhood. I also did the cemetery pond with the youth group a few times, but the big one with the stone bridge. Once out on Haggett's Pond too!
What a delightful and fond memory of the pond. Your story and pictures were so well presented and brought back my childhood skating experiences on the pond behind the barn where I lived in Stow Massachusetts. Thank you.
Thanks for your comment Jack. From all the comments it seems most folks have had similar experiences when learning to skate.
I would love to see a photo of you in that skirt Karen? I did not know there was a fashion wardrobe for skating. My leather pants would not have worked!
Thanks, Jim, for a beautifully rendered memoir of skating. I grew up in Wellesley Hills and in the depths of winter we kids would bring our skates to the Brown School to put them on after school once we got up the hill to a tiny pond on our way home. Oh, the aching arches of my flat feet, the numb toes and nose. But what unfettered fun, showing off a twirl or a half figure eight. Yes, those cracks got us too, but we never showed our black and blues.
Susan Dennett
You know Susan, We never told our parents about our injuries' when out playing. Only a few times did I end up a the Doctor's office. LOL
Although I didn't grow up in this part of the country, your memories of skating on pond ice ring true, Jim. I remember the experience fondly, especially those unexpected chunks and dips in the ice. I still have the skating skirt my mother made for me when I finally started skating at an indoor rink. Thanks for the memories!
I too spent many years skating on Bakers Meadow, first with Jim and his sisters when I lived on Argilla Road and later when I moved uptown I would walk over which was quite a hike from Essex Street. Jim’s parents, Abbo and Nel were best friends of my parents. 🥰
They were great times Marion!
Jim, awesome!! I too remember skating on our very little pond on Bailey Rd. Lots of walking to get to the pond and there was always the danger that the pond was not completely frozen.
You are right Barbara, and I did fall through the ice at Bakers once. Thank goodness it was shallow were I went through. Only up to my waist but it took my sister Terry some time to pull me out without joining me.
Yikes! So cold! I'm.glad Terry was there to pull you out. How did she do it? Lying on her stomach or with a branch? I remember reading about both ways and wondering which would work best.
Jim, Thank you for that. Your description reminds me of my youth in Rockport in the 1940s. We came to Andover in 1960, so most of what you describe was before our time here. But it was so similar to those days of kids skating on the ice on the Mill Pond in Rockport. We got in on the tail end of the skating in Andover, but we enjoyed it nevertheless! Thank you for happy memories.
Paul Dow
Thanks Paul, I was a great time to grow up even if we didn't know it at the time!