Don Pollard is a true Newburyport native, born and raised in the city where to this day he works on its behalf. He’s just been here his whole life.
Descended from a First Settler of Newbury on his mother’s side, he notes in that way that children of descendants do that the Pollards have “been here only since 1850.”
Pollard, who grew up in the South End, “is invested in waterfront issues” he was one of the original Friends of the Newburyport Waterfront, was on the committee that established the Firehouse Center for the Arts and was on the Kent’s Island Preservation Committee, which fought to save native author John Marquand’s final home in the area. The house was in Newbury.
As he points out, the effort failed but it also was a victory because, he says, “now the state has changed its ideas about buildings they own.”
He can point you down there, over there or across the street and tell you all about it, whatever “it” might be.
Pollard, like all of the subjects of this column, has a whole lot of love for the city.
“I know there’s always going to be change, but I think we can control change,” he says. “The problem is, now there is no control.”
That may be a subjective analysis, but he also notes that newcomers to the city can often maintain the status quo. In the 1960s, he points out, it was because of the newcomers that many of the fine Colonial, Federal and Victorian-era houses are still standing as the jewels in the city’s crown.
As do other natives, Pollard recalls fondly the corner stores. But he has put a new meaning to this, as he is part of the “Save the Hen” campaign to keep the White Hen Pantry convenience store right where it is, on Pond Street.
“The White Hen was a First National (market),” he notes. “And even if it is a franchise, the store evokes memories of the corner stores, where everyone knew your name, your mother’s name and your father’s name.”
He now lives on Fruit Street, but his father “Spud” Pollard grew up on Bromfield Street. So it’s only natural that he can recount the history of Bromfield Street, spinning off names and history as if he were telling you yesterday’s box scores.
He is the great-nephew (by marriage) of the infamous Mayor “Bossy” Gillis and says that everyone knew his (Don’s) father because he was in the Twilight Baseball League. Spud was a silver spinner at Towle Silversmiths and once made a punch bowl that was presented to England’s Queen Elizabeth.
Don can even count among his ancestors an accused witch or two or three, who resided in Andover.
“Funny how you find out who your relatives are,” he says, but not referring to any witch.
He refers to his involvement in waterfront issues when a man named Roger Foster wanted to build a hotel on the river.
“The biggest laugh I’ve had was when it turned out me and Roger Foster had the same ancestors,” he says.
Foster, he says, was not as amused. And the slight family connection certainly did not turn Donn Pollard away from fighting tooth and nail to do what he thought was best for the waterfront of his native city.
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Townie Tuesday is contributed to weekly by local journalist Gillian Swart. Gillian can be reached for comment at gillian.swart@comcast.net
