Woodland & Lime
A Collection of Newburyport’s History
Black Friday 11/27/26 ~ Gallery Opening Reception at:
CHALK Gallery 3 Harris St, Newburyport, MA! Doors open at 5pm!
Music, snacks, cocktails, art ~ Let’s go!
This collection of my sculptures comes from boards from two homes in Newburyport, MA. One on Woodland St, and the other on Lime St. Whales, Mermaids, Shark, Tuna…
Woodland St:
The town records report that this home was built in 1850. Unfortunately that is the default date that was entered into the system when they had no idea when it was actually built. These boards have been painted white for generations! That chippy paint patina gives them this amazing vibe. 14 numbered pieces were sculpted from this cache in whales, mermaids, sharks, tuna.
Lime St:
The Chain of Deed research proves the house dates back to at least 1795; unfortunately the records stop there. We think it is safe to say Benjamin Leigh built the house in the late 1700s. Meaning these boards were living trees in the 1600’s possibly even older!
In the 1700s, Benjamin Leigh (born around 1754) was a notable resident, family patriarch, and merchant. Background and Marriage: He was the son of Benjamin Leigh (an English immigrant who initially arrived in New York in 1752 and married Maersje Bant). The younger Benjamin settled in Newburyport and married Abigail Pierce on May 22, 1775. Abigail was the daughter of Moses Pierce, a prominent Newburyport businessman who established a local cordage (rope-making) manufactory. Benjamin Leigh worked within the maritime merchant sphere of Newburyport. His son, Benjamin Leigh III (born 1790), initially trained at his grandfather's cordage factory before becoming a partner in Leigh & Cross, a prominent local firm dealing in grain and ship supplies.
The ancient dark brown boards have been transformed, into a fantastic collection of 22 whale, mermaid, shark, and tuna sculptures.
Saved From The Dumpster!
These boards from Lime St, Newburyport, MA dating to the 1700’s nearly went to the landfill!
White Chippy Paint!
I also saved these boards from Woodland St. in Newburyport, MA dating from the 1800’s from a dumpster too!
Two Very Distinct Properties !
The Birth Of A Nation!
Settled in 1635 and incorporated as a separate town in 1764, Newburyport grew into a major colonial and federal-era seaport famous for building whaling vessels and fast clipper ships.
The area was originally part of the Newbury Plantation, which was first settled by English colonists along the Parker and Merrimack Rivers.
The riverfront area known as "Waterside" grew rapidly with wharves, shipyards, and mercantile trade, creating a cultural and economic divide from the farming-focused interior of Newbury.
Disagreements between agrarian and maritime interests led residents to petition the Massachusetts General Court. The court set the area apart as the independent town of Newburyport—initially spanning just 647 acres, making it the smallest town in the state at the time. Its first town meeting took place on February 8, 1764.
There are 44 Woodland & Lime sculptures available!