Peter and Claire Macy

Peter and Claire Macy came to Groton in 1972 and moved into their home at 716 Martin Pond Road in 1973.

Since Peter retired from military service in 1960, he has been an owner of a travel business agency, a trail leader on Appalachian trails for kids, a columnist for several local newspapers, and an author of several children’s books.

Claire was a licensed pediatric nurse practitioner, a past staff at the preschool at First Parish, which is now the Groton Community School at 110 Boston Road, Groton, a founding member of Groton Center of Arts and Groton Neighbors, and a member of the League of Women Voters.

They raised two daughters, Jem and Caitlin, in Groton and had many great memories of building a sailboat, horseback riding, hiking, and skating on Baddacook Pond.

In this interview, Peter and Claire talked about many significant changes in town, including population growth from 5,000 to almost 12,000 today, changes in town government, the family’s donation of 14 acres of wetlands and an upland knoll to the Groton Conservation Trust, the old Groton Inn, the shift of political party compositions, the Squannacook River Runners club, etc.

In addition, they shared their thoughts about future changes like diversity, affordable housing, and increasing voting participation.