Guide to Historic Plymouth: Localities and Objects of Interest — John Shaqi
Guide to Historic Plymouth: Localities and Objects of InterestBurbank, A. S. (Alfred Stevens)
History
Guide to Historic Plymouth: Localities and Objects of Interest
Burbank, A. S. (Alfred Stevens)
Plymouth (Mass.) -- Guidebooks
The park nearly surrounds Little Pond, consisting of forty acres, and
borders for a mile on the historic Billington Sea, which has 308 acres.
Roads and paths have been laid out in romantic situations, and some
trees planted, but otherwise the wild woodland cleared of underbrush
remains in its natural state. In 1889 the land was given to the town by
several public-spirited citizens, and the park was named for Nathaniel
Morton, Esq., one of its principal donors, who during his life made it
his special pride, and gave his money generously for its improvement.
Town Brook
“And there is a very sweet brooke runnes under the hillside, and many
delicate springs of as good water as can be drunke.”
GOV. BRADFORD.
[Illustration: Illustrated capital]
At the foot of Burial Hill, on the south side, the Town Brook flows
through the centre of the town, “vexed in all its seaward course by
bridges, dams and mills.” Along the banks the Pilgrims erected their
first dwelling-houses and brought water from “the very sweet brooke”
below, into which the “many delicate springs” still continue to run.
[Illustration: OUTLET OF BILLINGTON SEA.]
It is a favorite resort for artists who delight in sketching the
picturesque scenery and ancient architecture. One of these springs of
deliciously clear cold water, is forced up from near the brook by
electric power, and runs out in a fountain at the corner of Leyden and
Main Streets, on land once owned by Elder Brewster as previously noted.
During the summer many thousands are here refreshed, and while citizens
much enjoy the cooling draughts, visitors highly commend the public
provision which enables them to partake of the waters of a spring, from
which the Pilgrims themselves daily obtained their supply “of as good
water as can be drunke.”
The stream proceeds from Billington Sea about two miles distant from the
town. It furnishes a valuable water power at the present, and in the
days of the Pilgrims, and for nearly two centuries after, it abounded
with alewives almost at their doors, affording an important resource for
the supply of their wants. The tide flowed for some distance up this
stream and formed a convenient basin for the reception and safe shelter
of the shallops and other vessels employed in their earlier enterprises
of fishing and traffic. Under authority of a Legislative act the Town of
Plymouth purchased this estuary in 1909 that the area and surrounding
may be subject to public improvements. From Watson’s Hill, over this
brook, where Market Street crosses it, came the great sachem Massasoit,
with twenty of his braves, on a visit to the Pilgrims, when was
concluded that treaty April 1, 1621, which during nearly fifty-five
years conduced so effectually to the safety and permanence of the
colony.
Old Houses
[Illustration: Illustrated capital]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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