Since the mid-19th century, wealthy Bostonians have migrated each summer to the fabled North Shore, drawn by cool sea breezes and the elemental splendor of the rugged coastline. Some settled in prestigious shore communities like Prides Crossing, Beverly Farms, and Manchester-by-the-Sea, constructing waterfront mansions that became progressively more elaborate as the Age of Elegance progressed. Gentleman farmers and equestrians were drawn to inland towns like Hamilton, Wenham, and Topsfield, where they assembled hundreds of acres and built grand country houses with views across the gently rolling hills of Essex County
