by Middleton Stream Team | Jan 7, 2014 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike, in view of our recent storms, appropriately republishes his essay of February, 11, 2011revisiting John Greenleaf Whittier’s famous poem “Snowbound”. Whittier grew up two centuries ago on a Haverhill farm. Pike also grew up on a saltmarsh farm in Salsbury. Although more than a century separates them in time, their childhood experiences growing up on farms where horses still pulled wagons and plows are very similar. Pike can thus relate to Whittier and his poem “Snowbound” in a very personal way that most of us who grew up in urban areas cannot. I think that makes for some interesting reading.
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 31, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about his recent visit to the Pond Meadow Pond beaver impoundment and heron rookery in north Middleton where early season December ice was 4 to 6 inches thick before the after Christmas thaw. Pike observes how three beaver lodges loom high above the surface of the ice as a result of the low water level from the draught of last summer and fall. Pike reminisces about dead trees that he has cut down in that area in the past to count the rings and the history that can be gleaned from those rings.
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 25, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks water Closet, Pike writes about the Friday morning hike after the seasons first significant snow fall. The snow turned to rain in the later stage of the storm leaving a frozen crust on the surface that crunches under the hiker’s footsteps. it is the type of condition that makes good tracking for hunters and sure enough, the hikers hear the distant shots of hunters. The hikers traverse the summit of Bald Hill in Boxford State Forest and on the way down Pike opines on: the half mile high glacier that once overlaid this area, the stone walls that now crisscross this area, the pastures that were once rimmed by these stone walls and the trees that have since overgrown these pastures. Again another example of the continuing evolution of our natural surround.
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 18, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about the life and passing of Nelson Mandela. Although so much has already been written and said in the media about Nelson Mandela, Pike offers one more insight into the character and wisdom of the man by reminding us of how he championed education and science in South Africa which ultimately will be the determining factor in the ability of the country to raise the standard of living and the quality of life for the people.
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 10, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
Contributor to the Water Closet Art McKee from the other side of the continent has sent us another good story about how to raise kids as well as viewing wildlife from a vantage point that doesn’t intimidate. Alas, our Ipswich doesn’t tumble as clearly to the sea. Its sluggish somewhat turbid water drops on an average one-foot in 2000.
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 7, 2013 | News
Click below for slideshow of the MST Awards Presentation
by Middleton Stream Team | Dec 3, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this week’s Water Closet, Pike writes about his memories as an eight year old boy of that fateful day on Dec 7, 1941 when the United States was attacked by the Empire of Japan and of the ensuing war which was fought and won by the Greatest Generation. Those that have a living memory of that time are fast dying so it is important to chronicle their memories and particularly interesting to see how an eight year old boy viewed those momentous events.
A very appropriate Water Closet to print on the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
by Middleton Stream Team | Nov 30, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about the Atlantic White Cedars which are fast disappearing from the Middleton landscape. Their demise has been primarily the result of drowning from the rising water behind man made dams and beaver impoundments. Readers might be interested to learn that these cedars are the exclusive home to the Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly. Also, the decay resistant cedars once fallen can be preserved by the acidic peaty swamp water in which they lie and have in some cases been mined decades later for their timber. Its an interesting story that reflects the cycle of life in ways that we don’t ordinarily think of.
by Middleton Stream Team | Nov 19, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike reminisces about his time in the Philippines while serving in the Navy. The massive destruction that Typhoon Haiyan wreaked on the Philippines affects Pike in a personal way having been there and having seen the people and villages that would have suffered at the hands of this storm. Pike reminds us that there is a warning here for us also to prepare for storms of greater intensity as the Atlantic warms.
by Middleton Stream Team | Nov 14, 2013 | Water Closet Blog
In this weeks Water Closet, Pike writes about one of the newer beaver dams that can be seen from the Middleton Stream Team’s Park at Logbridge Road. as well as other beaver dams in Middleton, including one impressive structure that is 250 feet long and six feet high in places that backs up water for one half mile.. Not only are these industrious creatures builders, but also engineers in that the Logbridge Rd. dam has been bowed upstream for strength.
