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The Ancient Order of Essex Weeders is a group of men that take care of the islands at the intersection of Routes 154 and 153 which some consider to be the entrance to Essex. Right now there are eighteen men in the group. They work every Thursday morning, April to October, from 8:00 to 9:00 AM. After working they retire to a local coffee shop for coffee, sweets, and conversation. They start off the season by replacing any shrubs that have died off over the winter. Next, the Essex Garden Club gives them about 150 petunias and 180 geraniums to be planted. Then the beds have to be mulched and the shrubs fertilized and trimmed. And there is aways weeding to be done. In addition to the islands, the group plants and maintains the flowers around the silent policeman at the head of Main Street.

The Town provides the Weeders with traffic cones and safety vests. Private donations and funds from service clubs are used to pay for replacemtn plantings and fertilizer.

Robert Swain started the group in 1981. The islands were originally gravel and Swain had the State Highway Commission make the islands suitable for planting. He approached the town's VFW post to see if the members would be willing to help with the islands upkeep. The group no longer relies on the VFW for its members. Anyone with an interest in helping to make Essex a beautiful town is welcome to join.    
 

 

Carlton Barlow
Peter Bierrie
Roy Black
Ken Carson
Bill Chatman
Tom Crosby
Dave Edwards
Bill Hawke
Bob Johnson
Dan Lapman
Dick Levene
Jim Mcgregor
Peter Nilsen
Erl Nord
MIke Noto
Sam Rogers
Jeff Sund
Paul Thornwall