Town Talk
Steven Fletcher
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The Wyck Estate at 1 Smith's Point Road is in different hands after Lanse Robb of LandVest brokered the sale of the Manchester property for $9.2 million this week.
Eleanor Trust and NT Services Trust bought the property from Reeve Realty Trust and J. Stanley Reeve.
Built in 1912, the main residence is a replica of a French chateau created using bricks imported from France. The 7.85 acre compound also includes tennis courts, a private beach, boat house, children's playhouse and a filtered saltwater pool. The home includes marble fireplaces, plenty of carved wood and ornate stonework.
The Wyck Estate, both the home and the carriage house, went on the market for $23.5 million in 2004. It had been in the hands of one person since 1944.
In 2007, Robb said while several offers near the original asking price had come in, the Wyck homeowners choose not to sell. The estate was then offered as two separate properties, the main estate at $14.75 million and a carriage house on 2 acres listed at $2.75 million.
The estate carriage house sold for $2.5 million earlier this year, according to LandVest.
This sale of the main house stands as the only one above the $5 million mark in the state this year, according to a LandVest announcement.
Summer concerts
The Manchester Parks and Recreation Department begins its annual summer concert series at Masconomo Park on Tuesday.
The series includes music for all tastes from classic rock to swing. On Tuesday, Uncle Sam's Patriotic Band preforms in the park, led by Mickey Bones, a native of New Orleans. The band plays old patriotic tunes in Dixieland style.
The concerts begin every Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Essex dock
Essex officials are pursuing a physical audit for Centennial Grove in preparation for the town summer program.
The town Department of Public Works has also assembled a new swim dock for the summer program staff.
River explorers
The Massachusetts Audubon Society holds an Essex River explorers day camp this summer for children ages 7 to 10.
The camp takes place at the Essex County Greenbelt Association's Cox Reservation, where campers will explore the river, salt marsh and upland habitats and participate in games and search for life in these areas.
The campers will also visit the Choate Island refuge during the week. The camp lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will two sessions: August 9 to 13 and Aug. 16 to 20. Fees per session are $225 for members and $283 for nonmembers.
For details, call 978-887-9264 or e-mail: ipswichrivercamp@massaudubon.org
Playground program
Manchester's Junior Playground Program starts July 12.
The playground program offers weekly sports and games for 3- to 5-year-olds. Manchester Elementary School teacher Chris Lamothe runs the program with assistance from Manchester Essex Regional High School students.
Harbor panel leaders
The Manchester Harbor Advisory Committee named Karen Smith Crawley as its chairman and Ron Morin as vice chairman at Thursday night's harbor committee meeting.
Steven Fletcher compiles information about events, services and programs in Manchester and Essex. If you have a news tip or submission for the weekly Town Talk column, you can reach him at 978-283-7000, x3447 or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
