Ipswich, MA - Enjoy a Wet Basement Sandwich at the Fallen Tower of Pisa

 Welcome to Ipswich, Massachusetts, the "Birthplace of American Independence!"  The area was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony that was settled in 1630 by the Puritans.  Ipswich was established in an area that the local Native Americans called Agawam.  The town is 30 miles North of Boston on the Atlantic coast, and 11 miles South of Newburyport (our Disney Trash Water episode in season 1).   Early settlers were predominantly farmers, fishermen, and shipbuilders.  In 1684 the governor of the colony, Edmund Andros, imposed a tax on the colonists.  The citizens of Ipswich, led by Reverend John Wise, revolted and refused to pay the taxes.  The town leaders were arrested and taken to Boston.  The tax proved to be unpopular across the colony and was ultimately rescinded.  Andros was sent back to England.  This uprising led to the town's nickname,"The Birthplace of American Independence."  Ipswich is located about 15 miles from Salem, home of the Salem Witchcraft Trials.  Many of the accused witches were housed in the jail at Ipswich.  One resident of Ipswich, Elizabeth How, was hanged for witchcraft in 1692.  John Proctor, who was also hanged for witchcraft in Salem, was raised in Ipswich.  The oldest part of town has remained substantially intact with more "First Period" houses than any other community in America.  The town has four contiguous historic districts in the oldest part of town dating back to the 17th century.  Ipswich's history includes stories from nearly every major event in American history, a few ghost stories, and other local legends to sweeten the pot.  We hope you enjoy our trip to Ipswich! Small Town News--whose headline is it, anyway? @SmallTownNewsImprov