Big State Roofers
286 Newbury St Lot 7 #2, Peabody, MA 01960
(978) 819-8801
Cities We Service In The Areas
Central Peabody, Downtown, Needham Corner, North Salem, Peabody Civic Center Historic District, South Peabody, Washington Street Historic District, West Peabody
Zip Codes Of Cities
01960, 01961
Things To Do In Peabody, MA
The George Peabody House Museum: The man known as the father of modern philanthropy was born at this residence on February 18, 1795. George Peabody (1795-1865) made his fortune as the foremost American banker in London, and is remembered to this day for his many charitable initiatives, from the Peabody Trust housing association in England to Baltimore’s Peabody Institute conservatory and George Peabody Library. Built in 1790, this Early Republic-style house was purchased by the City of Peabody in 1989, and has an assortment of artifacts relating to Peabody’s life, from letters to newspaper clippings and portraits. This property is also home to the Peabody Leatherworkers Museum, preserving machines and tools from the city’s tanning industry.
Peabody Square: As a community, Peabody was born around the busy intersection of Central St, Lowell St, Main St and Foster St. In the 1750s what is now called Peabody Square was the site of a church, the source of Peabody’s early name, the South Parish. In the last few years, work has been done to make Peabody Square more welcoming for pedestrians, and the small plaza here has been reworked as a community hub, able to host live performances and events like the International Festival in September. If you’re here to hang out, there’s a batch of local restaurants, bars and coffee shops to the east along Main St, while the candlepin alley Metro Bowl is a couple of blocks south on Foster St.
Peabody Historical Society: The local historical society was established in 1896 and has extensive collections chronicling more than three centuries of regional history. The Peabody Historical Society owns eight different properties around the city, and is headquartered at the 1852 General Gideon Foster House (35 Washington St). You can arrange tours at several properties, including Peabody’s oldest house, the Nathaniel Felton Senior House (1644), which has ties to the Salem witch trials. Nathaniel Felton Sr. was the first signer on a petition in support of two accused, John and Elizabeth Proctor (more later). Across the road from here, the quaint Smith Barn is a frequent venue for the society’s lectures and workshops, and can be rented for private events.
International Festival: Every September, the city’s biggest annual event brings tens of thousands of people downtown to celebrate Peabody’s diversity. The International Festival has been Peabody’s signature event for close to 40 years, with a slew of civic organizations, live performers, artisans, crafters, nonprofits, local businesses and cultural groups taking part. On three different stages, there’s a schedule of live music and dance performances for grownups to enjoy, along with a program made especially for kids, featuring character shows, egg tossing and a hula hoop contest. Food is also at the core of the International Festival, with a mouthwatering selection spanning Greek, Brazilian, Portuguese and much more.
Brooksby Farm: In an historic location close to some of Peabody’s oldest houses there’s a working fruit and vegetable farm that welcomes the public spring through fall. Brooksby Farm grows everything from apples to zucchini, and you can come to pick your own fruit and cut your own flowers in season. This is all a great time for kids, as the farm has a play yard and barnyard animals, as well as hayrides and a fairytale trail in fall. Homegrown fruits, flowers and vegetables are not all that is for sale here. The farm store teams up with local businesses, selling jams, sauces, dairy, beverages and a ton of baked goods, including Brooksby Farm’s own apple cider donuts in fall.