Originally Published on April 25th 2024
“Traveler, as you labor on your journey along the swift Powwow, with the summer sun beating down upon your brow, take a moment to heed the tranquility that surrounds you, to the gentle stream flowing from the hill.”
This opening stanza from John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem “The Fountain’’ paints a portrait.
If I offered you the chance to travel the landscape that inspired this renowned poet, would you seize it? Perhaps Whittier himself traversed this path countless times, from his home in Amesbury to the sands of Salisbury Beach. With each step, he intimately knew the routes, where to take a rest, which paths to avoid, and where to find a refreshing drink from a natural spring. As you journey through these fields, you too can uncover the essence of your own voyage.
I first crossed paths with Spike Fortin during a phone call when I was seeking a reference for a friend of his. Have you ever experienced an instant connection with someone, as if they were destined to become one of your best friends? That’s how it felt with Spike.
After chatting on the phone for a while, we decided to meet up at the Amesbury Golf and Country Club for a round of golf. It was a significant moment for me, as I was less than a year out from a heart transplant and eager to get back into the swing of things. Spike, Salisbury royalty, great grandson of Lena, the namesake of the classic seafood spot. He holds the secret recipe of her chowder between his ears. He is also an avid golfer and local inventor, and has created a product to help with high handicap golfers like myself called the T-Grip. It helps to give a golfer a consistent grip every time you use it.
Earlier that spring, I had walked the course with my son Max, who was participating in the junior league. The following week, I extended the invitation to my friends, George Burtch and Mike Gravalese. Before we knew it, our casual outings had evolved into a regular Sunday morning tradition, with a rotating group of 25 friends joining us for scrambles. This group of golfers connected guys from the beach, with guys from other parts of town. We have had golfers from teenagers all the way up to their 70s play. A rotation in players every week gives the opportunity to meet, and golf with new friends. We call ourselves the Salisbury Golf Association (SGA).
Our gatherings didn’t just revolve around golf; they became opportunities to support meaningful causes, including The Sean Perkins Foundation. Sean, a beloved member of the Newburyport community, was a standout athlete and dedicated businessman whose memory we honor when we golf in his tournament every fall.
The Men of Amesbury have a golf tournament also in the fall that the SGA sent four teams to compete in last year. We have also participated in The Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, The Greek-American Golf Tournament, The Hunter Copeland Memorial Tournament, A year ago we were able to start our own golf tournament at Amesbury Country Club for Salisbury Santa’s Helpers, Greg and the old club was very generous in helping us put together a first class tournament.
As we tee off and navigate the fairways of the Club, we’re not just enjoying a game; we’re immersed in history. The beautiful course that starts and ends on a hill that falls to the first green then rises to the ninth, it is where the town line in Salisbury converges with Amesbury, this club holds a special place in our hearts. Its origins trace back to 1922 when a group of businessmen, led by Bill Gowen, transformed the 120-acre Smith Farm into a track for golf enthusiasts.
Wayne Stiles sculpted the natural terrain into a nine-hole course, which initially operated as the Powder House Hill Country Club. Over the years, it evolved from a private retreat for members to a welcoming space for all golfers. The Mellon family’s stewardship since 1960 has ensured that the club remains available to the public. The club house is loaded with history, you feel as though you are walking into a museum as you grab a fried bologna sandwich, and a beer after a round of golf. They have a full menu, but Maria has my favorite special available a few times a week.
For me, one of the most poignant aspects of the club’s history is its connection to John Greenleaf Whittier. Long before the land became a golf course, it is believed that the area around the current sixth hole provided Whittier the inspiration for his poem “The Fountain.”
His words not only connect us to him, but we are also connected to the Indian in his poem. The fountain also links us to the generations of the past, and the generations to follow. The character of the story was identified as a visitor, as mortals are we not all just visitors?
My friend Spike instilled in me the tradition of pausing to sip from the fountain as we descended the hill from the sixth tee, custom passed down from the native people to Whittier, now embraced by all newcomers as a rite of passage into the club’s heritage. I taught my sons Joe, and Max the tradition, as well as Gavin Marengi, and Brady Coburn with the hopes they will continue to pass this tradition on. Gavin believes it gives you eternal life. In Whittier’s verses, he pondered those who walked these paths before him. Each Sunday morning, we honor The Indian, and Whittier’s legacy. I will leave you with the final three stanzas of this classic.
“Sadly, as twilight shadows descend-Upon the hill,- While the western sky still blushes- With the remnants of sunset- The Indian, weary- turned away,-From the mossy seat by the fountain. Year after year has passed,-But he never returned-To the riverside hill-Where he once tread.-Yet the villagers remember-The enigmatic visitor well. And the joyful children, carrying-Their harvest of fruits and flowers,-Young boys and girls,-In their school-day adventures,-Delight in recounting-The tale of the Indian and his well.”
If you’d like to sign up for the second annual Swinging Fore Santa tournament on May 24, email me at cfitzwater@ymail.com or give me a ring at 781-953-5596.
Salisbury resident C.J. Fitzwater is a curious traveler, perpetually on the lookout for fresh frontiers. With each journey, he blends historical threads into his stories. Email him at:cfitzwater@ymail.com
Curious Traveler 
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