Guide To Historic Plymouth - free ebook by A. S. (Alfred Stevens) Burbank

GUIDE TO Historical Plymouth

Localities and Objects of Interest ILLUSTRATED PLYMOUTH, MASS. Copyrighted, and Published By A. S. BURBANK Copyright, 1920, by A. S. Burbank. Printed by the Memorial Press. NATIONAL MONUMENT TO THE FOREFATHERS....

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Historic Plymouth

“The Pilgrim Fathers—where are they? The waves that brought them o’er Still roll in the bay, and throw their spray, As they break along the shore.” The introduction of visitors to Plymouth as they come by rail, is at Seaside, a station in the extreme north part of the town, at the dividing line between Kingston and Plymouth. As the cars slow up passengers see the beautiful panorama of Plymouth Harbor spread out before their eyes. At the near left, across the bay appears Captain’s Hill, so called

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The National Monument to the Forefathers

The corner stone of the National Monument was laid Aug. 2, 1859, and the work entrusted to Hammatt Billings who drew the design for the Monument in all its details. The main pedestal was put in position in 1876, and in the following summer the statue of Faith was erected. The monument was completed in October, 1888, and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies August 1, 1889. It is built entirely of granite, the statues all coming from the quarries of the Hallowell Granite Company of Maine. (See fr

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Pilgrim Hall

PILGRIM HALL, BUILT IN 1824. Returning to Court street (the main street) from the Monument grounds, and passing the head of Old Colony park, we soon see on our left a building with a Doric portico, standing a little way from the street. This is Pilgrim Hall, erected in 1824 by the Pilgrim Society as a monumental hall to the memory of the Pilgrims. In 1880, without taking down the walls, it was re-roofed and refloored with steel beams and terra cotta blocks at a cost of over $15,000 by Joseph Hen

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The Court House

“Though justice be thy plea, consider this,— That in the course of justice none of us should see salvation.” At our right hand, soon after leaving Pilgrim Hall, we see a large building with a handsome brick facade, standing a little back from the street, and fronted by a small park. This is the County Court House, erected in 1820, and remodeled in 1857. It is one of the finest buildings of the kind in the State, and the judges of the different courts give it precedence in point of beauty, conven

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The New Registry Building

Opposite the Court House, on Russell street, in 1904, the County erected a very fine and conveniently appointed fireproof building for the Probate Court and Registry of Deeds. The latter is on the lower floor, with a large hall for the records and necessary desks and tables to facilitate the examination of the books. There are also commodious rooms for the Register and his assistants and the corps of recorders. THE NEW REGISTRY BUILDING. In the Registry of Deeds are the earliest records of Plymo

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The Prison

“I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs— A palace and a prison on each hand.” In the rear of the Court House stands the former County Prison, a substantial brick building, with granite trimmings. It is now used for temporary detention of prisoners at trial, and by agreement with the Commissioners the town of Plymouth leases a portion of the building for a police station. COUNTY PRISON. In May, 1908, the County purchased a large farm at the south part of the town, and erected suitable building

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The Rock

“A rock in the wilderness welcomed our sires From bondage far over the dark rolling sea; On that holy altar they kindled the fires, Jehovah, which glow in our bosoms for thee.” Continuing our way along Court Street a little farther, we come to North Street, at which point the name of the main thoroughfare changes to Main Street, the business section of the town. Turning down North Street, leading to the water, in a little distance we come to the brow of the hill. On the left, Winslow Street wind

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The Landing

Let us picture to ourselves the scene on that Monday morning, when, after the rest on Clark’s Island they came in their shallop to inspect the new country that they had providentially found. The wharves and buildings and every trace of civilization vanish. All is wild and unknown. Across the harbor comes the boat and every eye anxiously and keenly scanning the strange shore to discover the presence of human beings, who will be sure to be enemies. They coast along the shore by cliff and lowland,

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Cole’s Hill

“Not Winter’s sullen face, Not the fierce, tawny race In arms arrayed, Not hunger shook their faith; Not sickness’ baleful breath, Not Carver’s early death, Their souls dismayed.” Ascending the broad flight of steps leading to the brow of the hill, and turning to the left, we tread upon sacred, hallowed ground. Here were buried, in that dark, sad winter in which they landed, half of their little band. The terrible tale is told concisely by the narrator already quoted. “This month (March) thirtee

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Leyden Street

(Originally named First Street, afterwards in the Records called Great and Broad Street; named Leyden Street in 1823.) “There first was heard the welcome strain Of axe and hammer, saw and plane.” Walking around the brow of the hill through Carver Street, we pass the handsome vestry of the Baptist church, built in 1915, and next the Universalist church, erected in 1826 on the spot where stood the ancient Allyne House, one of the last of its architecture to disappear in the colony. Standing on thi

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Plymouth in 1627

In 1627, Isaac DeRaiseres, an officer from the Dutch Colony of New Netherland, now New York, visited Plymouth, and in a letter to Holland sends the following description of appearance of the place:— “New Plymouth lies on the slope of a hill stretching east toward the sea coast, with a broad street about a cannon shot of eight hundred (yards) long, leading down the hill, with a (street) crossing in the middle northwards to the rivulet and southwards to the land. [1] The houses are constructed of

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Town Square

Above Main and Market streets we enter Town Square, shaded by its noble elms, planted in 1784. On the corner of Main Street, a large building was built in 1875 by Mayflower Lodge I. O. O. F., covering the spot on which stood the house of William Bradford, so many years, the Pilgrim governor. It was burned January 10, 1904, and the “Governor Bradford Building,” a handsome brick structure with stores and offices took its place. A bronze tablet calls attention to the locality. GOV. BRADFORD’S HOUSE

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Burial Hill

“The Pilgrim Fathers are at rest; When Summer’s throned on high, And the world’s warm breast is in verdure dressed, Go, stand on the hill where they lie.” Beyond and above Town Square stretches the verdant slope consecrated from the earliest years of the colony as a place of sepulture. Here repose the ashes of those who survived the first winter. “In one field a great hill, on which we point to make a platform and plant our ordnance, which will command all round about. From thence we may see int

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Watson’s Hill

Above the Green is Watson’s Hill, now covered with houses. This was the “ Cantauganteest ” of the Indians, one of their favorite resorts where they had their summer camps, and on the level below planted their corn. It is famous as the opening scene of the treaty with Massasoit, made April 1, 1621. Gov. Bradford had a tract of land assigned him here on which to raise corn, and to this day portions of the hill remain in the Bradford name and others of direct descent from him. WATSON’S HILL....

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The Watch Tower

A little to the north of the site of the old fort another tablet marks the place of the brick watch tower erected in 1643. The locality of this tower is indicated by four stone posts set in the ground to mark its corners. The brick foundations are still there, about a foot below the surface, and the old hearthstone on which the Pilgrims built their watch fires still lies where they placed it, on the southerly side of the enclosure. The location of the tower was discovered many years ago in diggi

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The Harbor

OFF BEACH POINT. We have, from the easterly brow of Burial Hill, a beautiful picture of the harbor and its surroundings. Below us the ground slopes to the water, cut into terrace below terrace, with the buildings upon them. At its foot are the wharves and harbor, and below it the Beach near which the “Mayflower” swung at her anchors. Manomet is the range of misty blue hills stretching into the bay on the right. Kingston and Duxbury, with Captain’s Hill are on the left, and far out Clark’s Island

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Voyage of the Mayflower Shallop

From Burial Hill we can overlook the whole course of that boat expedition which started on its voyage of discovery from the “Mayflower” in Provincetown Harbor, directly opposite us across the bay. Coasting along the inside of Cape Cod at the right, its sandy shore hidden by distance from our sight, some of the exploring party on foot, forcing their way through the tangled wilderness, sometimes wading in half frozen water through the surf or across brooks, they slowly make their way. Constantly o

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Morton Park

One of the most attractive spots in old Plymouth and one that the casual visitor does not always see, is Morton Park. Lying a little more than a mile from the town centre it makes a convenient pleasure-ground for Plymouth people, and the beauty of the place is such as to attract all lovers of woodland scenery. Nature has done her most to make the park charming, and man has very wisely made little attempt to improve it. Nearly 200 acres there are, consisting of deep woods and open country, hills

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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. 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. OUTLET OF BILLINGTO

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Old Houses

Plymouth contains many old buildings antedating the Revolution, but they have been repaired and modernized so that they do not have that appearance at present, and visitors are often disappointed in not finding the antique structures which they expected. Old people, now living, can remember when several of these buildings had “Dutch ovens” and chimneys built on the outside. Old houses still remaining are the Kendall Holmes house on Winter street, built in 1666; the Leach house, on Summer Street,

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The Town

By the State census of 1920 the population of Plymouth was 13,032. The total valuation in 1920 was $20,854,025, of which $15,573,175 was real estate, and $5,280,850 personal. The number of polls assessed was 3,523 and the acres of land assessed 50,269. Tax rate, $22.80 on $1,000. The funded debt January 1, 1920, was $188,533 of which amount $42,933 was water debt, leaving but $145,600 funded for other purposes. This is extremely moderate in comparison with the value of the town’s municipal prope

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Its Industries

The character of Plymouth’s industrial life has entirely changed within a half century. Within the memory of men now living, the time was when the town boasted a fleet of seventy-five fishermen, and enjoyed prestige as a fishing port. In common with other seaport towns of New England, this industry has departed, but thriving manufactories have risen in its place and coal barges and steamships are doing business at the port, superseding the old fishing schooners which once crowded the wharves or

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As a Summer Resort

Viewed simply as the landing-place of the Pilgrims, Plymouth has an interest which attaches to no other spot in America. The number of visitors from all parts of the country increases with each year, as historic sentiment becomes more widespread and facilities for travel are multiplied. It is estimated that over 125,000 strangers visit the town in a year. It is not alone on account of its history that Plymouth is attractive to the visitor. The beauty of its scenery, the unusual healthfulness of

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A. S. Burbank Pilgrim Book and Art Shop Plymouth POST CARDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, SLIDES

Photographs, 6×8, 35c each, $3.50 dozen. Post Cards, 2 for 5c, 30c dozen. Lantern Slides, 50c, $6.00 dozen....

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PILGRIM LITERATURE

THE PILGRIM REPUBLIC, By John A. Goodwin. This is a new edition of a book first published in 1888 and long recognized as the standard history of the Pilgrims. By mail, $7.65. THE PILGRIMS AND THEIR HISTORY, By Roland G. Usher, Ph. D. The three hundred ten pages of this book contain all of the really pertinent information about the Pilgrims and their history. Illustrated, by mail, $2.65. THE PILGRIMS IN THEIR THREE HOMES, England, Holland and America, by W. E. Griffis, illustrated. By mail, $1.85

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PILGRIM BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS

THE STORY OF THE PILGRIMS, FOR CHILDREN. By Roland G. Usher—a dramatic, accurate and patriotic story which should leave in the child’s mind correct impressions about the fundamental factors in Pilgrim history. Illustrated, by mail, $1.35. THE PILOT OF THE MAYFLOWER. A Tale of the Children of the Pilgrim Republic. By Hezekiah Butterworth. Illustrated by H. Winthrop Peirce and others. 12mo, cloth. By mail, $2.15. THE STORY OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS, Retold for Young Folks by H. B. Tunnicliff. Illustr

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PILGRIM GIFTS

of artistic excellence prized for historic and sentimental value. STERLING SILVER PILGRIM SPOONS. Your selection from seven artistic designs—the ship Mayflower—Priscilla—Myles Standish—Pilgrim Monument—Plymouth Rock—Landing of the Pilgrims—Standish Monument. Tea size $4.50, coffee size $2.25, postpaid, tax included. PILGRIM CHAIR. Hand made models of Gov. Carver’s chair, brought in the Mayflower and now in Pilgrim Hall. Height 7 inches. By mail, $2.00 each. COATS OF ARMS OF MAYFLOWER FAMILIES, B

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PLYMOUTH ROCK HOUSE Cole’s Hill

DINNER ON ARRIVAL OF BOAT Summer Board at Reasonable Prices HOUSE OPEN THE YEAR ROUND Electric Lights Steam Heat CLARK &amp; SAMPSON, Proprietors Long Distance Telephone Connection SAMOSET HOUSE PLYMOUTH, MASS. First-class in every respect. Large parlors and piazzas, electric light, steam heat. Open fireplaces and private baths. Convenient to all points of historical interest. Quiet and comfortable. PRINCIPAL STREETS OF PLYMOUTH AND LOCALITIES OF INTEREST High-resolution Map A. S. Burbank, P

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