Ernie Mack was a veritable encyclopedia of information about Methuen. Ernie had a commitment to preserving local history and civic involvement. Taking his mother's seat on the Historical Commission in 1969, he was chairman for 27 years, as well as a member for over 40 years. He continually researched and promoted the city's historical collection, writing Bridges from the Past in 1976 and contibuted to the Images of America Methuen book in 1999. This volume is of few modern day works on Methuen history, researchers continue to refer to it as much today as they have since it was published. "He was the leader of preserving Methuen's history at a time when a lot of people weren't interested in it." - Dan Gagnon.