Town of Merrimac Seeking Volunteers to Assist with Old Sawyer House Trail Work on May 31

MERRIMAC – Residents and visitors are invited to join members of the Town Improvement Society as it cleans a quarter-mile, in-and-out trail located behind the Old Sawyer House on Saturday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A local example of early Colonial architecture, the Old Sawyer House is located at 20 East Main St. (adjacent to the Merrimac Fire Station). Refreshments and an opportunity to view the Old Sawyer House will be available to volunteers and other visitors.

The trail provides visitors with an opportunity to explore some of the woodland and vegetated areas that belong to the Town Improvement Society.

To assist with clearing leaves and small branches from the trail, volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves and rakes.

A charitable organization with a Section 501 (c) (3) status, the Town Improvement Society is additionally seeking funds to repair and restore five of the windows located on the west side of the Old Sawyer House. The front door pediment also requires restoration. Information on the restoration project will be available on the day of the trail work.

The Old Sawyer House, a classic New England saltbox, was built by John Kendrick and sold to Aaron Sawyer in 1758. It remained in the Sawyer family until 1908, when it was sold, along with 14 acres of woodland, to the Merrimac Town Improvement Society.

The house retains much of its original paneling, original upstairs windows and one original fireplace on the second floor. The two downstairs fireplaces were renovated in the mid-19th century. Furnishings and artifacts located in the home reflect the house’s First Period Colonial status.