Town Common  

Manchester's charming village green, or "Town Common," was originally the front yard of the Meeting House. Unlike Beverly or Boston, Manchester was never large enough to support a common or shared livestock grazing area. Indigenous people regarded this parcel as sacred land. In the early 1800s, a raised burial mound—an important Native American cultural feature used for ceremonial and burial purposes—remained visible just southeast of the church, near the library.

The early Common bordered the harbor's first public landing and wharf near the end of Chapel Lane. According to Frank L. Floyd, the author of the 1945 book Manchester-by-the-Sea, "The area now used for parking autos (behind Town Hall) is filled land and was the water area in front of this landing and wharf."

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Today, the Common has undergone significant changes, with the current Town Hall, built in 1969, now serving as the main focal point. It replaced a three-story Town Hall constructed in 1868, which was the community's heart. The municipal building housed offices, social organizations, and an auditorium that united people through plays, minstrel shows, dances, and movies.

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The Towne family water fountain, located across from Town Hall, was donated to Manchester in 1892 to celebrate the installation of the city's first municipal water system. Before this, households depended on individual water wells, which may explain the frequent outbreaks of dysentery and other waterborne diseases.

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The black granite wall in front of the Police Station honors our armed services by listing the names of all Manchester veterans who enlisted from World War I through 2019. It serves as a reminder of their sacrifice and the community's gratitude.

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Another war memorial is located on the church side of the Common. A bronze plaque commemorates the 190 Manchester men who answered the call to serve during the Civil War. Recently, a new flagpole was erected in this area to display additional flags, including the Pride and Progress flags.

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For further reading:

- Brodeur, David B. "Evolution of the New England Town Common: 1630-1966," The Professional Geographer, (1967), 19:6, 313-318. 

- Floyd, Frank L., "Manchester-by-the-Sea," 1945. 

- Huss, John J. "A Walking Tour of Historic Manchester-by-the-Sea: The West Walk." Manchester Historical Society.

- Lamson, Rev. D.F. History of the Town of Manchester, 1645-1895, 1895.

- "A Walking Tour of Historic Manchester-by-the-Sea: The West Walk." Manchester Historical Society.

- Sullivan, Paul, and Bruce Heisey, (personal communications, March 2021). Provided details of the Veterans Memorial.