NEWBURYPORT — Ralph Ayers and Jimmy Murphy accommodated 139 guests who took their two-hour narrated tour during Yankee Homecoming week. The guests, in turn, donated $850 to the local Salvation Army.
Ayers has been doing the tours for the past 10 years along with Murphy, who registers the guests. The van travels the streets of Newburyport, pointing out the variety of well-kept historical homes, parks and commons, including Maudslay State Park, Atkinson Common and Hale's Park. They also share local stories of "Lord" Timothy Dexter, former Mayor "Bossy" Gillis and others. The narrated tour also describes the history of the clipper ship industry and the U.S. Coast Guard.
"I am always proud to conduct these tours annually, showing off our beautiful city and its history. This year, as well as in other years, we have had guests from many states, as well as Canada, Italy, Germany, South America and China, who have the opportunity to see, first hand, our history, our people and the area," said Ayers. Some local residents have told him that they bought their homes here after having gone on the tour.
Ayers added, "Jimmy Murphy and I are pleased to donate the money we raised to our local Salvation Army, who helps so many families year after year. We would also like to thank Sheriff Frank Cousins, Kelly's True Value Hardware and Rental firm, and Haley's Ice Cream for underwriting our costs in doing the tours."
The Salvation Army, located at 40 Water St. in Newburyport, provides an array of services including its food pantry, free Wednesday lunch and Thursday dinners, church services and more. For assistance, to make a contribution or get more information, call Lt. Jeff Brunelle at 978-465-0883.
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