This fire ax weathervane is located above the Ould Newbury Fire Museum on Morgan Avenue in Newbury, Massachusetts. It is across the street from the Newbury Fire Department at 3 Morgan Avenue. The city of Newburyport has experienced many devastating conflagrations over the centuries (including 1811 and 1934), so this must be a very interesting museum. Unfortunately, the museum is temporarily closed to the public. The fire of 1811 destroyed about 250 wooden buildings, but resulted in a new law for only brick or stone structures downtown. This resulted in the charming brick neighborhoods around Market Square that draw so many tourists today.
This unusual weathervane features a bright red axe, which identifies it as a firefighting tool. The axe head and cardinal points are brightly gilded. The weathervane appears to be in excellent condition, and newly painted and gilded. It is installed over a cupola with a fire bell.
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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Fire Axe! Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 25, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-fire-axe-weathervane-wednesday.html: accessed [access date]).
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