Hay.
It was once an important element of the local economy. It was feed for livestock, bedding for humans and animals, and mulch for crops.
For much of Newbury's early history, the haystack was a symbol of the town's agrarian way of life.
Haystacks were once a common sight on the landscape of the Great Marsh, but no more. Technology has made harvesting hay a one-man-and-a-tractor operation, in which the grass goes straight to the bale, skipping the stacking stage.
On Saturday, a group of local men will revive the skills and tools needed to build an old-fashioned salt marsh haystack from scratch.
"It's part of our history here, and it's gone," said Jim Cunningham, who with his father, Dick, will be leading the stack-building effort. "It's a dying art that no one does anymore."
"Making Hay in the Sunshine" is part of the second weekend of Trails and Sails 2009. The event is sponsored by Newbury's 375th Anniversary Committee.
Work will begin at 10 a.m. in the marsh off Plum Island Turnpike. The site is just west of the Wilkinson Bridge to the island. (Some parking is available at a turnoff from the roadway just before the bridge.)
Jim Cunningham said he expects a work party of six people.
Interpreters will give talks at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., explaining the process and detailing some of the historical background.
In preparation for Saturday, about 30 wooden stakes have been driven into the marsh to form what is known as a staddle, a loose platform to keep the hay elevated from the wet ground below.
When the construction gets underway, Cunningham said, workers will rake the cut hay into small piles called haycocks. Two parallel poles will be run through the haycocks and the piles will be lifted and carried to the main stack.
Cunningham said the stack must be built properly so it is balanced and doesn't tumble over.
As the stack gets taller, he said, longer-handled rakes will be needed to lift clumps of hay to the top.
He said the finished stack will be about 8 feet in diameter at the base. It will balloon out slightly to about 10 feet in diameter and will stand approximately 12 to 15 feet in height when it is done.
"It'll look like an egg with the big end down," Dick Cunningham said.
Spectators are invited to bring cameras or paints to capture the process. The Cunninghams are hoping the weather cooperates so the show can go on.
"To be able to pass on a little bit of that history — it's nice," Jim Cunningham said.
Discovery continues with Trails & Sails 2009
Trails & Sails 2009, an annual event spotlighting the land, sea and shore of Essex County, continues this weekend, with numerous free events planned at historic, cultural and natural sites throughout the region.
Hosted by Essex National Heritage Commission, Trails & Sails encourages residents and visitors to hike, bike, paddle, stroll and sail while they discover the region's distinctive history, landscapes and hidden gems.
Here are some of the local events planned:
Town and Country Bus Tour: Jay S. Williamson, curator of the Historical Society of Old Newbury and Cushing House Museum, and Bethany Groff, North Shore regional site manager for Historic New England, lead historic bus tours through Greater Newburyport Saturday at 2 and 3:30 p.m.
The one-hour tours, which are being offered for the first time, will highlight some of the differences in the homes and lifestyles of those living in Newburyport and Newbury at the turn of the 19th century and include a general overview of the history of Old Newbury. The first tour departs at 2 p.m. from the Cushing House Museum at 98 High St. in Newburyport, and the second tour leaves at 3 p.m. from the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm at 5 Little's Lane in Newbury. Each tour is limited to 35 people.
History Tour of Moseley Estate: Tour the house sites, gardens and farm complex of the former Moseley family estate at Maudslay State Park on Curzon Mill Road in Newburyport on Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The park interpreter will highlight the historical significance of the property. Space is limited to 30 people. Ages 8 and up are invited. Kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Call 978-465-7223.
History at every turn: Visitors can connect with rail history at the Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Society in Amesbury and maritime museum at the Custom House Museum in Newburyport and experience the storied past of Old South Church in Newburyport and the Whittier Home and Rocky Hill Meeting House, both in Amesbury. There will be a chance to star-gaze at Groveland's Veasey Memorial Park and to tour Plum Island Aerodrome in Newbury. Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport is also hosting events, as are numerous other local museums, historic homes and other attractions.
For a complete schedule of Trails & Sails activities throughout Essex County and to learn more about the event, visit www.trailsandsails.org or call 978-740-0444.
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