Lodge Park in Nahant, occupies land once used by Native Americans and later became the site of the Nahant Hotel, considered America’s first seaside resort, built in 1823 and destroyed by fire in 1861. After the hotel burned, the property was acquired by the family of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who built his summer “cottage” there in 1868, making it a prominent family estate. The site’s strategic location led to its use for coastal defense during the Spanish-American War, both World Wars, and the Cold War, including as a Nike missile base. The U.S. government purchased the estate in 1941, and after the military base was decommissioned, the Town of Nahant acquired the land. In 1988, it was officially designated Lodge Park, honoring the Lodge family, and is now a public park known for its scenic views and layered history. I made a brief visit after some consulting work in Billerica and a visit to the Arc’tyrex store in Lynnfield where I returned a 12-year old shell jacket with delaminating seams for a generous store credit that I used to purchase a down jacket.

In the evening, we hosted a small “dinner” party consisting of potluck appetizers with an Indiana theme. Our guests included old friends, neighbors, and new acquaintances.