Enjoy the cool refreshing water until this Sunday. The pool closes for the season then.
Save the Date! Saturday, Sept. 7th for birdwatching and foraging at Magazine Beach–led by Janet Crystal and David Craft. (See previous post for further information.)
The powder magazine from the river. Photo courtesy of Craig Kelley.
Cedar Waxwing
Magazine Beach is a relatively unknown treasure and destination spot for local birding. No, it’s not Costa Rica and you won’t find any Lyrebirds here. You will find lots of familiar faces and wonderful breeding activity during the spring and summer, if you’re patient.
With the addition of small wetland features (aka water storm basins), butterflies and dragonflies abound. Swallowtails and Azures have been seen flitting about.
Beginning at the intersection of Pleasant Street Extension and Memorial, I walked along the edge toward the BU Bridge, watching and listening. Mallards, (especially when they’re in eclipse, in the late summer/early fall) and Double-crested Cormorants often alight on the booms on the other side of the river. House sparrows are everywhere.
On a recent foray in June, I saw or heard thirteen species including Cedar waxwings, Northern Rough‑winged Swallows, and Robins. The Roughies appear to be breeding along the river because I saw feeding activity high in the Cottonwood tree. I found American Robins and the juveniles in abundance this year. The young show the telltale signs of their thrush heritage in the prominent black cheek patches that are visible before they grow adult plumage.
Rough-winged Swallow
Because this area provides diverse environments, it encourages a variety of birds to settle in. The water’s edge encourages waterfowl; the high shrubs on the river between the MWRA building and the Magazine, itself, offer protection and food for Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows, and the elusive, but chatty, Gray Catbird. The tall trees near the river offer nesting sites for Black-capped Chickadees, European Starlings, and Song Sparrows. I heard and saw many cheerful Yellow Warbler high in the trees. Old tree snags encourage Eastern Kingbirds who like to sit at the top of the tallest branch to observe their territory.
Gray Catbird
Even though I didn’t see any Black-crown Night Herons on this walk, they do spend time along the muddy edge of the river or in the overhanging branches during the day. If you’re vigilant, you can discern the difference between the flight of Gulls and that of the Herons when they fly back to the Harbor Islands in the evening. Canada Geese and their crèches of babies are visible in large fields all along the river until they grow up. Occasionally, I have seen banded birds.
I will be leading a Magazine Beach Bird Walk on Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m Meet at the traffic light at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Pleasant Street Extension (at the Courtyard Marriott). Bring binoculars, scopes, and cameras, if you have them. All levels are welcome.
Janet Crystal
Update: David Craft will join Janet for the tour and share foraging tips. See his description below:
The birds are the real foragers out there, but we’ll do our best to find some plants good for human consumption. We’ll have our eyes out for lamb’s quarters, lady’s thumb, milkweed, burdock root, curly dock, wild black cherries, acorns, and maybe even some mushrooms if the rain gods are pleased.
On Sunday, July 21st , 2013, Riverside Boat Club held the annual Cromwell Cup regatta, hosting athletes of all ages from 33 clubs and 7 states. The Cromwell Cup honors Seymour Cromwell, (1934-1977), a 1964 Olympian and Riverside Boat Club member, and has been run by Riverside members on the Powerhouse Stretch of the Charles River for over 20 years.
Though the Charles River is home to numerous collegiate sprint races, as well as the famous Head of the Charles Regatta (held annually the third weekend in October), the Cromwell Cup is the only sprint-length regatta held on the Charles River for youth, club, and adult athletes. The start of the race is near the Weeks Footbridge, and the finish line is 1000m downstream, across from Magazine Beach.
Cambridge Boat Club Junior Women win Jr. Women’s 8+, Photo Credit: Igor Belakovskiy
In 2013 over 270 boats were entered to win the coveted Cromwell Cup medals—awarded to the first place finisher in each event only. Riverside Boat Club entered 54 boats, and reported victories in the Women’s Open 8+, the Men’s Open 2x, the Junior Men’s 1x, the Men’s Masters 8+, the Men’s Masters 4+, the Men’s Masters 2x, and the Men’s Masters 1x. The final notable victory was Riverside’s Kelly Woodacre, who won the inaugural Cutler Cup in the Open Women’s 1x, named in honor of long-time Riverside Member Bob Cutler (1913-2010).
Kelly Woodacre being presented with the Cutler Cup, Photo Credit: Igor Belakovskiy
Kelly won in a time of 4:10.50, and was presented with her medal by Chris Cutler and Nat Coolidge, Bob’s son and son-in-law, respectively. Bob Cutler rowed at Harvard (class of ’35) before joining Riverside and qualifying for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Bob returned to Riverside where he continued to row well in to his eighties.
Riverside is the host to numerous rowing programs including men’s and women’s club teams, men’s and women’s pre-elite teams, junior competitive and learn-to-row programs, as well as adult recreational and competitive programs. In addition to Riverside’s regular club members, the building hosts the Brookline High School rowing team and the Simmons College rowing team.
Link to Cromwell Cup Results: https://www.regattacentral.com/regatta/results/3255_5877.pdf
Riverside Boat Club, 769 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA
Eliza van Lennep, Regatta Director
Cromwell Cup 2012. Photo by Mason D. Cox.
The Cromwell Cup Regatta, named after Riverside Boat Club [RBC] member and 1964 Olympian Seymour Cromwell, is the largest summer regatta held on the Charles River. Attracting rowers of all ages and skill levels, this regatta is run entirely by RBC volunteers. In 2010, rowers from 39 clubs and representing eight states participated. This year Riverside expects over 600 men and women, ages 16-70+, from all over New England and the Mid Atlantic. This is a 1,000-meter race from the Weeks Bridge to the banks for the Riverside Boat Club.
History: The Riverside Boat Club was founded in 1869 by printers, many of them Irish and employed at The Riverside Press. Throughout it’s 140-year history, Riverside has emerged as the most successful rowing club in New England. Despite the shift of rowing’s role in the American and worldwide sporting scene, Riverside Boat Club has retained its commitment to making rowing available to working people. Today, even as Riverside maintains it’s tradition as a member-run non-profit organization for oarsmen and women of all economic backgrounds, it has once again emerged as an energetic rowing community and a competitive force in American rowing. (From www.riversideboatclub.com.)
RBC Membership: 275, National Team Athletes: 49
Left: Thanks to the Community Action Project Girls who cleaned up Magazine Beach July 11th! Photo by Danielle Stehlik.
Right: Marilyn Wellons shares the story of Captain’s Island during Discovery Days 2013. Photo by Nina Cohen.
Join historians Nina Cohen and Marilyn Wellons for a tour of “Captain’s Island, now known as Magazine Beach,” this Sunday, July 14 from 10:30-11:30am. Meet on the terrace of the powder magazine. For information about this and other Cambridge Discovery Day events, go to: www2.cambridgema.gov/historic/walks.html.
Publication Out About Magazine Beach: History on the Charles
At our June 15th Celebration we debuted History on the Charles: The Story of Captain’s Island and its Powder Magazine, by Nina S. Cohen and Marilyn Wellons. This fascinating history is the result of over a year of primary research and study. A limited number of paper copies are available for $5 by contacting me at cathzusy@gmail.com. The 14-page booklet is also available on-line at http://www.magazinebeach.wordpress.com. Click on History. Thanks to Nina and Marilyn for their scholarship and to Michael Schaffer, Brian Conway and Sarah Morris for their design work and editing.
If you want to feel good about the American family, don’t walk but run to Magazine Beach where you’ll find the Greenes, of course, and the Smiths, Jarvis, Mitchell, Simonis and Curtis Families—all old Cambridge families—celebrating the 4th with a picnic and barbecue.
Nannette Simonis has come to Magazine Beach for over 40 years. Her daughter Shandra, age 33, has come all her life. Shandra, now of Malden, said “the 4th is the one time everybody comes and I see the entire family—that’s why I like to be here.”
Nannette has organized the S/J/M/S & C reunion for the past 12 years. A family member was on site to mark off their spot, under the trees, at 5:30 am this morning. While the 4th is the main day the families gather, they’re often there other summer weekends to celebrate birthdays. Everyone brings some food. Nannette cooked her specialty, Buffalo Blasts, inspired by a Cheesecake Factory dish. Just imagine: bread crumb and egg white covered wontons filled with chicken, cream cheese and blue cheese, topped off with Frank’s Hot Sauce. Delicious!
Families and students from Boston and all over the world were also at Magazine Beach. Next year, the picnickers asked for porta potties, since there was a long line to get into the bathhouse, and an hour on/off swim rotation at the pool so that everyone has a chance to cool off. Other requests were more trash cans, an open wading pool and mowed grass. (DCR tried to have the wading pool open for today but couldn’t get the chemicals balanced in time.)
Any other suggestions, picnickers? If so, contact me, Cathie, at cathzusy@gmail.com. (I’m the Chair of the Magazine Beach Committee of the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association. We’re working with DCR to make Magazine Beach a nicer park.)
Happy 4th of July!
Cool off at Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool (719 Memorial Dr.)! It is FREE and open daily, 11am – 7pm, through August 25.
Also, you can sign up for swim lessons for children ages 6 and up at the pool NOW. Classes will start this Monday, July 8th, with one set at 10am and another at 10:30am. Sessions will be 3 or 4 weeks long; a second set of classes will start at the end of July or early August.
The water is exceptionally refreshing and what could be better than swimming outdoors on a hot, sunny day? Tip: go early or late for a quieter swim, as the local summer camps bring happy campers between 1 & 5pm each day. There is a designated lap lane, though, open at all times.
For more information about DCR swimming pools and spray decks, click here: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/recreational-activities/swimming-pools-wading-pools-and-spray-deck.html
Right: DCR has moved most of the graffiti from the Powder Magazine. Thank you!
Left: Updated: The wading pool was cleaned out but DCR couldn’t get the wading pool to drain properly, so it remained closed.
BIG NEWS that hasn’t hatched quite yet: DCR has proposed that if the City of Cambridge is willing to allocate $100,000 of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to stabilize the Powder Magazine, that they would be willing to pay for the balance of the cost to fix the roof, re-point the masonry and restore the windows and doors. DCR would also bring electrical service to the building to power much needed security lighting there. The CPA Committee will meet this summer to consider funding proposals and will present recommendations to the City Council for approval in September. Cross your fingers! (In the meantime, we should hear if DCR will match the funds we’ve raised so far any day.)
Young girl swings with her dad, Ron Phelan.
Community at the park.
Enjoying the day. White figures cleansing the magazine in background.
A gentleman from 1812 with Kit Rawlins of the Cambridge Historical Commission.
Researchers and writers Marilyn Wellons and Nina Cohen debuted their “History on the Charles.”
Learn-to-row at the Riverside Boat Club!
One of several If this park could talk… signs. This one tells how popular Magazine Beach was as a swimming destination.
Food trucks AND our soon-to-be State Rep. Jay Livingstone, both at Magazine Beach for the first time ever. History!
Danielle Suave’s “Light, No Light”
Looking through the magazine and installation to the river.
Community performance orchestrated by Nancy Adams. (See video below.)
Children’s procession
Happy to be outside and painted!
Festive procession of children
What could be more fun than riding through puddles!
A gorgeous day at the Beach. The flags mark the shoreline of Captain’s Island.
Artforming installation in 1818 magazine
Over 200 turned out for the 2013 Celebration of Magazine Beach on Saturday, June 15, many of whom had never spent a day in the park. Highlights were:
Thanks to the many who made this event happen, including out partners: the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, Charles River Conservancy, Riverside Boat Club, the Cambridge Historical Commission, the Cambridge Historical Society, Gallery 263, UMass Boston and Artforming, and to our funders: the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund, Charles River Conservancy, Forest City and Anonymous.
Cathie Zusy, Chair Magazine Beach Committee, Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Blue flags will mark the shoreline of Captain’s Island–yes, until 1894 there was an island there–and white paint will mark Magazine Street as it extended, long ago, to the powder magazine. Magazine Street was, in fact, a State-maintained road on which gun powder was transported to the 1818 magazine: a secure granite-block building surrounded by a foot-wide brick wall that stored powder for the militia and private use. In the 1890s the marsh land was filled in to create the current footprint of Magazine Beach Park.
Magazine Beach park as it once was. Detail from a Plan of Cambridgeport Parish, by Peter Tufts, Jr., Surveyor and Powder Magazine Keeper, 1824. Courtesy of the Cambridge Historical Commission.
Come to our Celebration on Saturday, June 15, 12-5pm, for a picnic to the bluegrass tunes of Best Ever Chicken; a festive procession of children and activities for them, too; learn-to-row at the Riverside Boat Club; and lots of ART. There will be a sound and light installation about memory in the magazine, a community performance that may include as many as 50 participants around the structure, and If this park could talk… signs all over the place. Food trucks, too!
Join us: It’s all free. Organized by the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association, Inc., DCR, Charles River Conservancy, Riverside Boat Club, Cambridge Historical Commission, Cambridge Historical Society, Gallery 263, and UMassBoston.
Funded by: New England Grassroots Environmental Fund, Charles River Conservancy, Forest City and Anonymous
See our gorgeous poster! Mag Bach poster.final, small. pdf
Magazine Beach 