Did you know that the water levels in the marsh used to be drawn much higher for the winter, and drawn much lower in the summer, sometimes to a meandering stream? Listen and find out why! A conversation with Mr. John Falla, February 12, 2016. (3:28 minutes)

Can you identify the house that was over the creek, and an “ice house” that stored ice cut from the Marsh? What other questions do these pictures make you wonder about?
These two photos were sent to us from Mr. John Falla, courtesy of the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum collection. Here is what he describes: “Attached is a scan of a picture of this area taken about 1953-1955. You can see where there was a house over the creek area (hence the pillar foundation), plus a house next to it (the “Gray Garage”) and an old garage next to that. And no school in the field!!” Then: “Attached is the companion picture to the one I sent earlier. On Main Street, starting from the first house on the left (that house is the one that was removed for the new entrance to the school), you go three (3) buildings over and there is a building hiding behind a tree. This is the old ice house where ice from the Marsh was stored.

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Some student replies:
Is it worth bringing (alewives) back to the marsh? Just so people can come in and take them all? Or so the birds and other fish can eat them?

How long after the pictures were taken was the school built where it is now?

What year was the school built and how many houses were torn down in order for it to be built?

Who knew that a single picture one person could look at “just for fun” could tell us so much information! I’ve learned a TON just from two images… About the ice house…and some things that’s are just straight up interesting. I’m so glad I had this chance (again lol) to learn about the town my ancestors and myself grew up [growing up] in. Thank you for this opportunity once more!!

“The class went down to the marsh and took a look at the culvert. Then we went back to the room.”

“It was a very cool place, and it was cold.”

“My foot is wet.”

“Very, very cold.”

“It was a very cool experience.”

“How do the separate sectors of the culvert work?”

“When we went down it was fun, cold, dangerous, and exciting.”

“How do the fish like the cold water?”

“It was cool to see something that we’ll be working with.”

“I have never seen the culvert before and I thought it was really cool.”

“It was cool to see the cement culvert with the grooves, and to see how the fish have to go up.”

“The culvert looks like it needs more water in it for fish to pass.”

“The water and snow was really cold.”

“I thought it was fun walking down and looking at the location of where we will be.”

“It’s going to be a cold project. I want to find out what that granite thing was.”

“Today was really cold, but it was beautiful…I saw two minnows.”

“I loved going down. It was cool to see the new culvert.”

February 10th, 2016

 Students stocking the Marsh, 2009

Welcome to The Alewife Project blog. The 8th grade class is taking science into the field and history into the community to find out if alewives have “fish passage” into the marsh, why alewives are important, and why our community cares if alewives return.  To follow our efforts this Spring 2016, view our blog!  Also click on the “About” page for a few more details.