The twin lighthouses of Thacher Island have stood off the coast of Rockport since 1771. Providing support to the lighthouses are a complex of keeper’s quarters, trails, oil houses, granite storage buildings and slate roofed oil house and barn. The principal keeper’s quarters have been the focus of the three Thacher Island Association ENHC Partnership Grants.

The 2002 and 2003 Partnership Grants the Association received helped the organization re-side and re-shingle the of roof the keeper’s quarters. In the recently completed 2006 grant project, the interior of the building was rehabilitated to house living quarters and a visitor center space. There is still some work to be finished next year, but so far the project has been very successful. For more information about Thacher Island and the work of the Thacher Island Association, click here.

Prior to “officially” becoming an ENHC Commissioner at October’s semi-annual meeting in Rowley, Bonnie Hurd Smith has been active with the ENHC and its partners for many years. Her extensive experience as a consultant to the nonprofit sector and success in several entrepreneurial ventures has allowed her the opportunity to assume critical leadership roles in several Essex County organizations. As a dynamic team-builder grounded in scholarly and museum practices, she has provided strategic interim guidance to the Salem Partnership, Cape Ann Historical Society and the Ipswich Historical Society.

Bonnie’s contributions have greatly contributed to building community involvement in heritage organizations and initiatives. She is the author and founder of the Salem Women’s Heritage Trail and is currently assisting the ENHC in creating an on-line guide to First Period Architecture in Essex County.

Earlier this year, a briefing was held about MetroFuture's projected outlook for the region through 2030. Nearly 1,000 people participated in discussions which have been integral to shaping a strategy for Metro Boston's growth. We hope you will consider participating in one of two working sessions this December 5 & 6, titled "Which Way to a Greater Boston Region?" Metro Future's work has advanced significantly since the June 2006 working sessions, where more than 400 people explored what the region's future might look like if current trends continue.

At the December working sessions, three alternative options for the region's growth will be unveiled and participants can share which option they like best. Input will be used to develop a recommended strategy for Metro Boston - a strategy with implications for transportation funding, state aid and tax policy, land use, economic development and other areas.

Working sessions will take place December 5 at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort in Danvers, and December 6 at Lombardo's in Randolph. Both events will run from 5-9 PM (registration begins at 4:30 PM) free dinner will be provided. RSVP

ENHC was pleased to have Kathy Abbot, Director of the Campaign for Conservation and Recreation (CRC), as guest speaker at ENHC's annual meeting in October. She and Associate Director, Tom Philbin lead this organization which is dedicated to ensuring that every citizen of the cities, suburbs, and rural towns of Massachusetts has access to affordable, clean, and well-managed public land. The CRC's immediate goal is to increase awareness among the general public, business leaders, and key government officials of the declining quality of our public spaces and to build a consensus of support for increasing our investment in these resources. The Campaign for Conservation and Recreation will be guided by an advisory board of leaders who represent a diverse cross-section of interests including the environment, education, public health and safety, tourism, smart growth, business, local officials, and user groups.

The ENHC is pleased to announce that earlier this month the ENHC was awarded a $2,500 matching grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Eastern Massachusetts Preservation Fund. The grant funds will be used to create a guide to First Period Architecture in the Essex National Heritage Area. ENHC was among several grant recipients selected in a competitive application process from applicants across New England and Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In announcing the grant, National Trust Northeast Regional Office Director Wendy Nicholas said, "With these start-up dollars, the communities of Essex County, Massachusetts, join the hundreds of other communities across the country actively ensuring that America's architectural and cultural heritage is preserved."

The Path of Progress is a 500 mile driving route which winds through the hills and valleys of nine scenic southwestern Pennsylvania counties. Authorized by Congress in 1988, the Path of Progress links key historical sites and diverse points of interest. Many chapters of America's heritage story were written along the Path of Progress as primitive paths became roads, creeks became canals, and the need for speed saw the advent of the steam locomotive and rail system. Battles were waged, floods endured, and the skills and determination of our people transformed the region into a significant American industrial center. Coupled with our history and heritage, vast natural resources, awesome scenery and an array of recreational opportunities, the Path of Progress experience offers countless options to both visitors and residents.