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The Shawsheen River flows 25 miles from its headwaters in Bedford to its confluence with the Merrimack River in Lawrence.  The river loses 70 feet in elevation along the way.   
The Shawsheen River flows 25 miles from its headwaters in Bedford to its confluence with the Merrimack River in Lawrence.  The river loses 70 feet in elevation along the way.   
According to legend, the name "Shawsheen" is a Native American word meaning "serpent" or "serpentine", while other sources interpret the name to mean "Great Spring" and "Beauty's Pathway".
According to legend, the name "Shawsheen" is a Native American word meaning "serpent" or "serpentine", while other sources interpret the name to mean "Great Spring" and "Beauty's Pathway". The Shawsheen was the site of grist, saw and textile mills in Andover from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century.
[[File:Shawsheen,-Shawshin-1692-2017-96.png|400x300px|thumb|right|Shawsheen-Shawshin, Gene & Sue Flores, Memorial Hall Library Collections, https://mhl.org/shawsheen-shawshin-1692-2017]]
 
 
== Industry ==
19th and 20th century businesses operating on the Shawsheen in the Town of Andover included The Ballardvale Mills on Andover Street and the American Woolen Company's Shawsheen Mills on Haverhill Street. Both companies went out of business in the 1950s.  


See
'''Flooding''' <br>
Rising waters in the Shawsheen have created havoc for the Town of Andover over the years. Most notably, the Shawsheen River flooded in March 1936. (See [[Flood_-_March_1936|Flood - March 1936]]) In October 1996, Andover experienced more than 8 inches of rain in a 36 hour period and the Shawsheen River flooded. (see [[Flood_-_October_1996|Flood - October 1996]] ) In March 2010, the Spicket and the Shawsheen Rivers flooded. ( See [[Flood_-_March_2010|Flood - March 2010]] ) The Shawsheen River flooded on Mother's Day weekend in 2006 (See [[Flood_-_May_2006|Flood 2006]] ) when the water levels were 8.6 feet above normal.


*[http://www.shawsheen.org/recmap/InfoPage.htm Shawsheen River Recreational Map]
'''Metropolitan Boston Water Supply Politics''' <br>
In the 1880s The Committee on the Public Health of Massachusetts Legislature launched an effort to supply Cambridge and Boston with water from the Shawsheen.  Ultimately the effort was defeated.<ref>*"Boston's attempt to divert the Shawsheen" Andover ''Historical Society Newsletter'' Volume 34, issue 3, Fall 2009.</ref>


*[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Air%2C+Water+%26+Climate+Change&L2=Preserving+Water+Resources&L3=Massachusetts+Watersheds&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent&f=eea_water_shawsheen&csid=Eoeea Shawsheen River Watershed]
'''Dam Removals''' <br>
Because mill dams that supplied water power in the 19th century are no longer used, the Town of Andover has worked with the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration and other organizations to remove them. Dam removal can improve and restore river ecosystems for spawning fish.
 
'''Recreation'''<br>
The Shawsheen River offers recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Anglers are advised to consult freshwater fish consumption advisory information from state and local authorities. <br>
 
'''Environmental Monitoring'''
In the 1970's an environmental group called the Shawsheen River Stream Team formed to address contaminent flowing from Hanscomb Airforce Base. In the 1980s, the Shawsheen River Environmental Action Team formed to clean debris from the river. In 2001, a 501c3 non-profit, [https://shawsheenriver.net The Shawsheen River Watershed Association] was formed. See below for 2000 Shawsheen River Watershed Report.<br> 
 
'''Photographs''' <br>
Historical photos of the Shawsheen River can be found on [https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/ Digital Commonwealth], a Massachusetts collaborative repository for special collections. [https://andoverhistoryandculture.org/ The Andover Center for History and Culture] also has photographs of the river in their collection. <br>
 
[[Image:Shawsheen.jpg|thumb|...''Regarding the name "Shawsheen"''.... click to enlarge|right]] <br>
 
'''Maps, River Guides and Recreational and Safety Links'''
*[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/580eb684197aeace22c1a895/t/581baec9cd0f681d5da0ee51/1478209230654/ShawsheenRiver.pdf Shawsheen River Trail, Friends of North Andover Trails]
*Shawsheen Greenway, [http://www.andovertrails.org/uploads/1/0/4/0/104021774/shawsheengreenwayballardvalecentral_map_hires_20171003__front___back_.pdf Shawsheen River Paddle Trip]
 
*[http://bostonkayaker.com/shawsheentewksbury/Brochure_LQ.pdf Shawsheen River Recreational Map]


*[http://www.avisandover.org/shawsheenriver.html AVIS Shawsheen River Reservation]
*[http://www.avisandover.org/shawsheenriver.html AVIS Shawsheen River Reservation]
*[https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/01100600/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D USGS, Shawsheen River Guage ]
<br style="clear:both;" />
'''References'''
*Town of Andover, [https://andoverma.gov/655/Shawsheen-River-Dam-Removals#:~:text=Restoring%20a%20Free%2DFlowing%20River,the%20communities%20of%20its%20watershed. Shawsheen Dam Removal ]
*Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs [https://www.mass.gov/doc/wapshawsheen2003pdf/download Shawsheen River Five Year Watershed Action Plan], 2003.
*[https://archive.org/details/shawsheenriverwa00kira Shawsheen River Watershed 2000 water quality assessment report]
*[https://mvlc.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/andover/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:857259/one A Reconnaissance report on the feasibility of constructing a dam and channel in the vicinity of the Shawsheen River and Pomps Pond, Andover, Mass. for recreational improvement purposes / by the U. S. Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with the Essex Conservation District.]
*[https://mvlc.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/andover/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:589463/one Evidence and arguments on petition of the City of Boston for leave to take water from Shawsheen River / Committee on Water Supply of Massachusetts Legislature, of 1886.] (MHL catalog and digital access link)
*[https://mvlc.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/andover/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:580467/one Shawsheen water supply : hearing before committee on water supply and drainage, Massachusetts Legislature,] 1883  (MHL catalog and digital access link)
*"For Powder Mill Square Residents flood hearing," ''Andover Townsman'', June 24, 1999, p. 1.
*"Footbridge over Shawsheen begins to take shape," ''Eagle Tribune'', February 14, 2005, p. 1.
*"Removing Shawsheen River dams under study," ''Andover Townsman'', December 18, 2008, p. 1.
*"Fishing for an answer: Andover eyes removing dams to promote fish, use of Shawsheen," ''Eagle Tribune'', March 30, 2008, p. C1.
*"State aims to recover vanishing wetlands: Shawsheen River project may help control flooding" ''Boston Globe'' May 19, 2002 p.21
*"Dams due to tumble, Andover gains aid to remove two of three, restore Shawsheen River flow" ''Boston Globe'' September 13, 2012
*"Trip down the Shawsheen becomes a messy labor of love" ''Boston Globe'' September 21, 2006
*"Crews determining the extent of jet fuel spill in Shawsheen River" ''Boston Globe''  June 2, 2014
*"As dams come down, herrings return to Shawsheen" ''Boston Globe'' June 25, 2017 (Globe Northwest p. 1)
*"What lies beneath? Trash" ''Boston Globe'' October 27, 2005, page 149
*"Builder promises better water access" ''Boston Globe'' June 17, 2004 (Globe Northwest p. 1)
*"Hopes raised for a clean Shawsheen" ''Boston Globe'' April 20, 1997 (Northwest Weekly p. 64)
*"Canoe racers dared undertow  lost" ''Boston Globe'' May 14, 1984 p. 16
*"More money announced for Shawsheen River dam removal,"  ''Eagle Tribune'' December 23, 2015.
*"Boston's attempt to divert the Shawsheen" Andover ''Historical Society Newsletter'' Volume 34, issue 3, Fall 2009.
== Footnotes ==
‎<references />






<br style="clear:both;" />
<br style="clear:both;" />
--[[User:Glenda|Glenda]] 16:27, January 12, 2007 (EST)<!-- insert signature here, if desired -->
<br>
--[[User:Stephanie|Stephanie]] ([[User talk:Stephanie|talk]]) 15:50, 22 April 2022 (EDT)  <br>
--[[User:Glenda|Glenda]] 16:27, January 12, 2007 (EST)<!-- insert signature here, if desired --><br>
--[[User:Kim|Kim]] 16:54, August 28, 2013 (EDT)


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Latest revision as of 12:13, 28 April 2022

The Shawsheen River flows 25 miles from its headwaters in Bedford to its confluence with the Merrimack River in Lawrence. The river loses 70 feet in elevation along the way. According to legend, the name "Shawsheen" is a Native American word meaning "serpent" or "serpentine", while other sources interpret the name to mean "Great Spring" and "Beauty's Pathway". The Shawsheen was the site of grist, saw and textile mills in Andover from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century.

Shawsheen-Shawshin, Gene & Sue Flores, Memorial Hall Library Collections, https://mhl.org/shawsheen-shawshin-1692-2017


Industry

19th and 20th century businesses operating on the Shawsheen in the Town of Andover included The Ballardvale Mills on Andover Street and the American Woolen Company's Shawsheen Mills on Haverhill Street. Both companies went out of business in the 1950s.

Flooding
Rising waters in the Shawsheen have created havoc for the Town of Andover over the years. Most notably, the Shawsheen River flooded in March 1936. (See Flood - March 1936) In October 1996, Andover experienced more than 8 inches of rain in a 36 hour period and the Shawsheen River flooded. (see Flood - October 1996 ) In March 2010, the Spicket and the Shawsheen Rivers flooded. ( See Flood - March 2010 ) The Shawsheen River flooded on Mother's Day weekend in 2006 (See Flood 2006 ) when the water levels were 8.6 feet above normal.

Metropolitan Boston Water Supply Politics
In the 1880s The Committee on the Public Health of Massachusetts Legislature launched an effort to supply Cambridge and Boston with water from the Shawsheen. Ultimately the effort was defeated.[1]

Dam Removals
Because mill dams that supplied water power in the 19th century are no longer used, the Town of Andover has worked with the Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration and other organizations to remove them. Dam removal can improve and restore river ecosystems for spawning fish.

Recreation
The Shawsheen River offers recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Anglers are advised to consult freshwater fish consumption advisory information from state and local authorities.

Environmental Monitoring In the 1970's an environmental group called the Shawsheen River Stream Team formed to address contaminent flowing from Hanscomb Airforce Base. In the 1980s, the Shawsheen River Environmental Action Team formed to clean debris from the river. In 2001, a 501c3 non-profit, The Shawsheen River Watershed Association was formed. See below for 2000 Shawsheen River Watershed Report.

Photographs
Historical photos of the Shawsheen River can be found on Digital Commonwealth, a Massachusetts collaborative repository for special collections. The Andover Center for History and Culture also has photographs of the river in their collection.

...Regarding the name "Shawsheen".... click to enlarge


Maps, River Guides and Recreational and Safety Links


References

Footnotes

  1. *"Boston's attempt to divert the Shawsheen" Andover Historical Society Newsletter Volume 34, issue 3, Fall 2009.




--Stephanie (talk) 15:50, 22 April 2022 (EDT)
--Glenda 16:27, January 12, 2007 (EST)
--Kim 16:54, August 28, 2013 (EDT)

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