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39-504: First Church Congregational is a historic church at Pleasant and Stevens Streets in Methuen, Massachusetts . The stone Gothic Revival structure was built in 1855 for Methuen's first congregation, established in 1729. Its first meeting house was on Daddy Frye's Hill , but moved to the present location in 1832. The present building features granite walls, a slate roof, and a tower with crenellated top and typical Gothic lancet windows . In 1895

78-566: A National Register of Historic Places listing in Essex County , Massachusetts , is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a church or other Christian place of worship in Massachusetts is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Methuen, Massachusetts Methuen ( / m ə ˈ θ uː ə n / ) is a 23-square-mile (60 km ) city in Essex County, Massachusetts , United States. The population

117-493: A copper bolt set in granite at the tripoint between Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The Old Boundary Pine was located 57.8 miles (93.0 km) east of this point. The "curved" segments roughly following the course of the Merrimack at a distance 3 miles north of it are not true curves, but rather a series of line segments approximating the curved course of the river. Another granite marker, also placed in 1890, stands on

156-484: A form of government that had historically and legally been exclusive to cities, the community, in a gesture of traditionalism, retained the name Town of Methuen in its charter. However, because Massachusetts cities have self-governing powers not available to towns, it became known for legal purposes as "The City Known as the Town of Methuen". A subsequent charter, which adopted a strong mayor form of government, officially changed

195-629: Is administered by the Methuen Historic District Commission, which protects the district from alterations that might compromise its historic integrity. Property owners within the historic district must obey the Rules and Regulations of the Historic District Commission. The rules and regulations specify general criteria for materials used, size and proportions of the buildings, colors, as well as other features. Any violation of

234-452: Is also crossed by Route 28 , Route 110 , and Route 113 , the latter two meeting at I-93 Exit 43 (old exit 46). I-93 provides the town's only bridge across the Merrimack; there are several crossings in Lawrence, and several in neighboring Haverhill, but none for 7 miles (11 km) upstream from I-93 all the way to the eastern end of Lowell and also comes down from New Hampshire , providing

273-499: Is the Ranger, named after Rogers' Rangers , the precursor of the U.S. Army Rangers , which was founded by town resident Robert Rogers . The Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District, established by the city in 1992 to preserve the "distinctive architecture and rich character of one of Massachusetts' most unique neighborhoods", is named after the three Methuen city fathers: David C. Nevins , Edward F. Searles and Charles H. Tenney . From

312-577: Is water. Methuen lies alongside the northern banks of the Merrimack River and is bisected by the Spicket (originally " Spigot ") River, as well as many brooks and streams. There are several ponds dotting the area as well, and the town is home to a town forest, a bird sanctuary, and a small state park (Tenney State Park). Pine Island, near the southern end of town in the Merrimack River, is also part of

351-604: The General Court to grant them permission to form a new town above Hawke's Meadow Brook. Although opposed by their fellow townsmen, the petition was approved the following year (December 8, 1725), and the General Court gave them an act of incorporation under the name of Methuen. The town was named for Sir Paul Methuen , a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer . The first town meeting

390-675: The Haverhill/Reading Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail , providing service into Boston's North Station . Small plane service can be found at Lawrence Municipal Airport and the Merrimack Valley Seaplane Base , with the nearest national service being at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport , and the nearest international service being at Logan International Airport . As of the census of 2000, there were 43,789 people, 16,532 households, and 11,539 families residing in

429-567: The Massachusetts Bay Colony gave the colony the land between the Merrimack River and Charles River . Specifically, the southern border was to be the line of latitude either 3 miles (5 km) south of Massachusetts Bay or 3 miles south of the southernmost bend of the Charles River, whichever was farther south. The northern border was to be 3 miles north of the northernmost bend of the Merrimack River. Between these lines of latitude

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468-816: The Merrimack Valley Conference . Their big rivals are the Andover Golden Warriors, the Central Catholic Raiders of Lawrence , and the Haverhill Hillies. On Thanksgiving Day , the football team plays fellow Merrimack Valley foe the Dracut Middies. The teams first met in a non-Thanksgiving Day game in 1935 and did not play again until the Thanksgiving series started in 1963. The school colors are blue and white, and their mascot

507-537: The ordinary low-water line on the west bank of the Connecticut River to be the border, but the territory between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain – which had been sold off by New Hampshire – declared independence in 1777 as the Vermont Republic . New Hampshire gave up its claim to Vermont with a boundary agreement in 1782, and New York gave up its claim to Vermont, contingent upon Vermont's admission to

546-587: The 1800s influenced Methuen's development. Construction of the Methuen Cotton Mills at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s and the increased manufacture of hats and shoes in small factories along the Spicket spurred the centralization of Methuen's economic, residential and cultural activities within the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy and prominent families—the Nevins,

585-536: The City of Methuen: Today, the trio's collective vision can be seen in mills, housing, schools, mansions, churches, monuments, playgrounds, the library, and the architectural fantasies that resulted from their artistic rivalry. The historic district boundaries were established to include properties and buildings constructed or used by the Searles, Tenney and Nevins families and the people who worked for them. The historic district

624-704: The Tenneys and the Searles—played a significant role in Methuen's history and development. These families were instrumental in the founding of many of Methuen's landmarks, including the Nevins Memorial Library, the Searles building, Tenney Gatehouse, Nevins Home, Spicket Falls, and the Civil War monument between Pleasant and Charles streets. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down

663-420: The age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under

702-458: The age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 49,627, and the median income for a family was $ 59,831. Males had a median income of $ 41,693 versus $ 31,864 for females. The per capita income for

741-634: The beach between Salisbury, Massachusetts and Seabrook, New Hampshire at 80 feet from the high tide line, marking the end of the surveyed border, with the border taken to extend into the Atlantic Ocean to the " limit of State jurisdiction ." New Hampshire claimed all the land west to roughly the present western boundary of Vermont , while New York claimed east to the Connecticut River , Vermont's present eastern boundary; thus both states claimed all of Vermont. A ruling by King George III established

780-539: The boundary to run along a curved line three miles from the river between the ocean and a point three miles north of Pawtucket Falls (Lowell), where the river begins to turn north. From there a line was to be drawn due west to meet the western boundary of Massachusetts (fixed in 1773 with the Province of New York ). The line actually runs slightly northwest to southeast, so it follows no line of latitude. This gave New Hampshire even more than it had claimed, as Pawtucket Falls

819-715: The church installed a stained glass representation of Christ's Resurrection designed by John LaFarge . The church was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and included in the Pleasant-High Historic District in 1984. The current congregation is active in the United Church of Christ . The Rev. William D. Ingraham is its current Senior Pastor. [REDACTED] Media related to First Church Congregational (Methuen, Massachusetts) at Wikimedia Commons This article about

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858-399: The city was $ 22,305. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those aged 65 or over. Historically, Methuen had a town meeting-selectmen form of government and was known as the Town of Methuen until it adopted a charter replacing its traditional town meeting and selectmen with a council and manager. Even with

897-430: The city. The population density was 1,954.7 persons per square mile (754.8/km ). There were 16,885 housing units, at an average density of 753.7 per square mile (291.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 89.35% White , 1.35% African American , 0.22% Native American , 2.38% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 4.87% from other races , and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos , of any race, were 9.64% of

936-506: The community name to the "City of Methuen". Methuen's city government consists of a mayor, three Councilors-at-Large, two East District councilors, two Central District councilors, two West District councilors, and six School Committee members. The following are the current members of Methuen's municipal government: Methuen is part of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex district . Methuen High School's athletic teams play in

975-597: The fastest route to both 25 minutes north to Manchester, New Hampshire , and 25-30 minutes south to Boston. Methuen is served by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority 's bus service. Daily intercity bus service to Worcester and New York City is provided by OurBus from the Methuen Park and Ride. The nearest rail stations are in South Lawrence and Haverhill, which are both part of

1014-571: The grant extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In 1629 the rivers had not been fully explored and the actual borders of the colony were uncertain. It turned out that the southernmost bend of the Charles is south of the southern curve of Massachusetts Bay. The line of latitude three miles south of the river's southernmost bend, approximately 42°2′ north, forms the basis of the southern border of Massachusetts to

1053-515: The location where the lines met. The pine tree is long gone, but the point (officially at 42°41′50.25″N 71°19′22.02″W  /  42.6972917°N 71.3227833°W  / 42.6972917; -71.3227833 ) is today marked by a granite monument known as the Boundary Pine Monument, the current form of which was placed in 1890. Elsewhere, the boundary are made by 50 large granite markers, along with several other markers, including

1092-496: The mills in the city over an attempted wage cut. Methuen is located at 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W  /  42.73000°N 71.17944°W  / 42.73000; -71.17944 (42.730040, −71.179352). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 23.1 square miles (59.7 km ), of which 22.2 square miles (57.6 km ) is land and 0.77 square miles (2.0 km ), or 3.42%,

1131-420: The north. Methuen is located 17 miles (27 km) southwest from Newburyport , 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of Boston and 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast of Manchester, New Hampshire . Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill, Massachusetts . In 1724 Stephen Barker and others in the western part of that town petitioned

1170-513: The population (8.4% Dominican , 5.7% Puerto Rican , 0.6% Guatemalan , 0.3% Ecuadorian , 0.3% Mexican , 0.3% Cuban ). Methuen has a very diverse population and it has gotten more diverse over the years. For a very long time, Methuen and its neighboring city, Lawrence have always been, and still are home to a large number of Lebanese, French, and Italian communities. Methuen is also a major Hispanic/Latino community, including Dominicans. There were 16,532 households, of which 33.1% had children under

1209-411: The present day. The Merrimack River turned out to originate farther north than expected, flowing south for most of its course and only turning eastward in its last several miles. Thus the 1629 grant gave the colony most of what is today New Hampshire and all of the original 1629 grant that formed the basis of colonial New Hampshire, but it took many decades before this was fully understood. A new charter

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1248-585: The rules and regulations can result in fines and other possible legal action. Bounded within the Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District are the Spicket Falls Historic District and the Pleasant-High Historic District . Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places , as are many of the other buildings within the area. Notable Court Cases: Northern boundary of Massachusetts The 1629 charter of

1287-412: The town's land. Methuen lies at the northern end of Interstate 93 in Massachusetts, with three exits providing access. A portion of Interstate 495 crosses through the eastern side of town from Lawrence to Haverhill. Massachusetts Route 213 , the "Loop Connector", provides highway access between the two, having three intermediate exits of its own, in addition to the exits for I-93 and I-495. The town

1326-422: The two provinces disagreed on the meaning of "three miles northward of the Merrimack River, or any part thereof". New Hampshire drew a line from three miles north of the mouth of the river, while Massachusetts claimed a line three miles north of the northernmost part of the river, taking its territory far north past what is now Concord, New Hampshire . New Hampshire appealed to King George II , who in 1740 decreed

1365-464: Was 53,059 at the 2020 census . Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Middlesex County and just south of Rockingham County, New Hampshire . The city is bordered by Haverhill to the northeast, North Andover to the southeast, Lawrence and Andover to the south, Dracut (Middlesex County) to the west, Pelham, New Hampshire ( Hillsborough County ) to the northwest, and Salem, New Hampshire ( Rockingham County ) to

1404-595: Was donated by descendants of the original proprietors of Haverhill, and in 1738 the second Methuen meetinghouse was raised. The structure survives to this day, as the Salem N.H. Historical Society building. In 1741, with the fixing of the Northern boundary of Massachusetts , most of this new north parish was removed from Methuen and placed in New Hampshire. It was incorporated as Salem, New Hampshire in 1750. Industrial growth in

1443-528: Was granted to the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691, which merged the Colony with the Colony of New Plymouth , as well as present-day Maine and New Brunswick . The northern boundary of what was now the southern piece remained as defined in 1629. The Province of New Hampshire and Province of Massachusetts Bay had disagreements over their mutual boundaries. With respect to the southern boundary of New Hampshire,

1482-401: Was held on March 9, 1726, in the home of a resident. The land was set aside for a meetinghouse, which was erected later in 1726 on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery . The residents in the northern part of the new town of Methuen soon petitioned to have their own meetinghouse (a combination of town hall and puritan church), and in 1736 the north parish was set off. Land for a meetinghouse

1521-461: Was south of the mouth of the Merrimack. At this time, the present northern boundary of Massachusetts was established. The location where these two surveyed lines met (the straight westward line and the curved line following the Merrimack River) was marked by a pine tree called the "Old Boundary Pine". The tree was marked by George Mitchell, one of the surveyors, on March 21, 1741 to indicate

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