What it is now and What it was…. Do you know the location of this photo?
Barbara's back with a new playground story
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Perhaps your family has had the opportunity to visit the Ballardvale Playground located at the intersection of Andover Street and Clark Road. This playground was created in 1945 and was redesigned in 2015.
In 1993 a group of mothers and grandmothers decided that the playground needed an upgrade and created the Ballardvale Playground Improvement Committee. They worked hard for 18 months to raise the funds necessary to create an improved playground.
According to the Eagle Tribune July 21, 1994:
They went after big and small donations ----including Jay Leno, George Wendt and Doc Severinson and even NBC. As well as the local community.
Perhaps this is what the playground might have looked like before it was redesigned in 2015. Does anyone remember those hot metal slides and the metal merry go round?
According to the Andover Historic Preservation site:
The current site covers 2.2 acres of land and was acquired in two separate parcels by the Town of Andover. This lot at 164 - 168 Andover St. is the south end of the playground purchased on May 8, 1945, and is 1.2 acres. It contains the parking area and playground equipment for children and an all-purpose court. The north end of the playground, at 160 Andover St., sporting a new baseball diamond, was acquired in 1951 and contains 1 acre.1
An interesting feature of the current playground was identified by Megan Murphy in her article for the Macaroni Kid Newsletter dated June 2021. She had visited the playground and was a bit perplexed by what she saw in part of the playground.
The first time I went to Ballardvale Park I was honestly a little confused by the dozens and dozens of ride-on toys that are scattered around the park. … I didn’t quite understand how they all had gotten there or why they had been left behind but as my kids and I continued to visit this park the presence of these vehicles became more ordinary to us. I decided to do a little digging about how these ride-on toys became a park staple. From what I gathered, Ballardvale Park was rebuilt in 2015 but it seems that the tradition of donating outdoor toys to this park precedes the renovation. Local parents reached out to the larger community via social media or word of mouth requesting outdoor toys and the community has responded by filling up the hard top section. Toys get weeded out as they deteriorate and are either housed or purged when fall turns to winter (this part I haven’t been able to piece together but someone behind the scenes of Ballardvale Park is really making it happen). So, what seemed to confuse me initially is just an example of people coming together to make their park a little more special than it had been before.
On my recent visit to the playground, I also noticed many toys available for kids to use. What a great idea and a big thank you to the citizens that continue to make it happen. There is also a free library located in the playground as well.
But what was on this land before the first playground was created in 1945?
You need to use your imagination to understand what was here. If your back is to the fire station you must imagine a road running through the parcel of land and over the tracks to the MBTA lot. This road was called Mechanics Street and gave access to the Ballard Vale Machine Shop which manufactured locomotives. The location of this shop is now the parking lot of the MBTA.
On the south corner of Mechanics and Andover Street stood the Ballard Vale House, a large hotel and tenement building which ended at Clinton Court. This area is now the location of the original Ballardvale playground. This 1.2 acre was purchased in 1945. On the north side of Mechanics Court was the Abbot Hat Factory building which is now the site of the baseball field.
The Abbot Hat Company was created by Alfred Kittredge of Haverhill in 1863. The Abbot Hat Company was sold in 1865. This sale began a long list of different companies on this parcel of land.
According to the Andover Preservation Website:2
Whipple File and Steel Company owned the property in 1865. This company was the world’s first company to machine cut files. Sadly, this company went bankrupt in 1871. It is not clear what this company used the building for as the factory was on the other side of the railroad tracks.
In1872 Stephen Blaney, a wool buyer from Peabody, purchased the land. He was the owner of the Blaney Shoe Factory. Stephen Blaney also owned most of the property along Andover Street including the Ballard Vale House.
In 1882 the Boston Chair Seating Company was located here for a short time. In 1883 the Rawhide Manufacturing Company was located here. In 1887 The Sutcliff Brothers- Snow Drift Rubber Shoe Company used the building.
In 1945 the Town of Andover purchased the property on the south side of Mechanics Street and in 1951 the town was able to purchase an additional acre of land on the north side of Mechanics Street.
What a journey this property has been on!!
But wait . . . there are additional changes proposed for this playground site according to the town’s Capital Improvement Plan:
The first phase of the Ballardvale playground renovation included playground equipment and walkways. Funds are requested for a second phase which will address the ballfield and basketball court, as well as the fencing and perimeter walking path. This project is included in the town's FY 2022-2026 Capital Improvement Plan.
Put this playground on your list of places to visit.
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~Barbara
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https://preservation.mhl.org/164-168-andover-street
IBID
Now I know why all the ride on toys are there. The playground is very popular. Thanks for the stories, Barbara
Fascinating post, Barbara. In my 28 years in Andover, I've driven by the part dozens of times and wondered how the playground came to be. Now I know...thanks to you're sharing its story.
Hope all's well in Andover. we're still adjusting to our new life in Texas!