Historical Commission’s Monthly Tales of Our Town

Historical Commission’s Monthly Tales of Our Town

The Steamer Merrimac: Stern Wheeler Excursions in Sunshine or Moonlight

February’s story revisits delightful summer days on the steamer Merrimac. In the warm seasons between June 6, 1892 and September 13, 1910, West Newbury’s townspeople boarded the 200-ton stern wheeler, exchanging daily chores and cares for glorious adventures on the river and at the seaside. The Merrimac sailed between Haverhill and Black Rocks in Salisbury, stopping in Newburyport and sometimes other river towns along the way. Although moonlight rides set to band music were themselves worth the 25¢ fare, the Merrimac’s principal destination was Salisbury Beach, then a wildly popular resort. For many years, townsfolk embarked on the Merrimac for August’s “West Newbury day.” The Merrimac survived a shipwreck in West Newbury in 1899, but succumbed to competition from electric trollies in 1910. 

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