Park Project In Second Phase

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Hampton Seashore Park Beautified

Hampton Union, Thursday, June 8, 1961

[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]

HAMPTON SEASHORE PARK, created under the leadership of the Hampton Garden Club after authority was granted by the town, is located in the area formerly known as the "Fish House area" on Hampton's north beach. A cooperative effort has turned the one-acre plot into a neat public park. [Staff Photo]

The Hampton. Garden club reports that the second phase of the beautification plan has been completed at the new Hampton Seashore Park, the Fish House area, north of the U. S. Coast Guard station.

Twenty-nine rugosa rose bushes, both pink and white, were planted by Mrs. Louise Batchelder, Mrs. Mimi Waters, Mrs. Leslie Partridge, Mrs. Velma Hansen, and Miss Beatrice Barnard. Peat moss and fertilizer were added to improve growing conditions, which varied from beach sand, gravel, to heavy loam in the northern area.

Another work crew raked the complete length of the former driveway, which the town officials had loamed after completing a new approach for the adjacent A. K. Nason estate. Mr. Donald Northway donated his time and pickup truck for removal of rocks to a low spot in the southern area. The raking crew of Mrs. Partridge, Miss Barnard, Mrs. Pauline Stimson, Miss Ruth Stimson, and Mrs. Charles Waters took up four loads of rocks.

Mrs. Ina Campbell donated two three-foot red cedar trees for planting on either side of the park sign. Seven dozen dwarf marigolds of mixed colors were planted at the base of the sign by the project chairman. Mr. Eugene Leavitt donated five yards of loam to the Garden club for improving an area graveled by the town. The Garden club purchased seven more yards of loam, and spread it just south of the new sign.

Thirteen more red cedars were also planted to make a total of twenty-eight set out to date. Boy Scouts of Troop 177 under Scoutmaster Earl Urban reported, moved rocks, and dug the holes needed for the plantings. The Scouts were Robert Croall of the Gater patrol, David Wilbur, Daniel Bailey and Barry McComb of the Apache patrol, Wayne Driscoll and Luther Stutts of the Flying Eagle patrol, Robert Freeman and Bill Blakeslee of the Crockett patrol.

David Wilbur, Robert Croall and Glenn Jarvis of Troop 267 of Salem Depot and his brother, Gregg, helped last Saturday to outline the area planted with red pine seedlings with large rocks in preparation for future leveling with gravel and loam in the area near the road.

Town officials provided the sturdy new granite post and chain link fence along the highway and many loads of beach sand on either side of the two fish houses. The sand was bulldozed to make an attractive beach for sunbathers. The rustic picnic benches owned by the Garden club are located in the center of the area along with two trash barrels. Picnic enthusiasts have already made use of them.

Native plants of beach pea, beach grass and seashore goldenrod were outlined with rocks to protect them from bulldozing operations. They are most valuable in helping hold the soil, according to a Garden club report.

This week the Water Works employees are trying to locate and connect water to facilitate watering operations for the new plantings. Mrs. George Cuddy, Mrs. Quincy Lothrop, and Miss Ruth Stimson have donated water to date.

The purpose of the Hampton Seashore Park, according to the article in the 1960 Town Warrant, is "to maintain as free public property forever that area known as the Fish House area. This scenic and historic area is a recreational, non- commercial, non-parking part of the Hampton Park system." The Garden club members and other citizens hope this new park will be "maintained in a clean condition"' for enjoyment of all. A large free parking lot opposite the U. S. Coast Guard station has been provided by the town.

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