Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
F - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments
East Bridgewater’s visual character is a result of its rich history, its abundance of rivers, and its significant early industrial development. The recent designation of a historic district fosters the preservation of older, historic and architecturally significant buildings and existing neighborhood character. Although the values of these areas often in intangible and difficult to measure, they benefit the public through aesthetic, recreational, educational and other heritage values. The following are most of the significant Scenic Resources and Unique Environments in East Bridgewater.
Archaeological Sites
1.Robins Pond Campsite - former Indian campground.
2.Indian Burial Ground - off Pond Street, on a piece of high ground on the south side of the road, 50 rods west of the bridge over the Satucket River (on private property).
3.Osceola Island - in Robins Pond.
Mill and Factory Sites
1.Latham’s Mill Site - ruins are in the Satucket River. Site of the first sawmill located near the fish weir. It was run by Robert Latham one of the first settlers in the town.
2.Rogers and Sheldon Mill Site - on West Union Street on the Matfield River. Site of the first slitting mill build in the area by David and George Keith in 1760 (thought to be the first in America). This mill manufactured arms for the Revolutionary War. In 1837 it was known as the Keith Iron Company and in 1843 the East Bridgewater Iron Company. Rogers and Sheldon were the last to run a factory at this site until it burned in 1887. This site was studied in an archaeological dig in the 1970’s by Roland Robbins, but it is now over-run due to the lack of financial ability by the Town to care for the site.
3.Joppa Tannery - located on Bedford Street at West Street. The tannery started in 1700 by Experience Mitchell who tanned with oak bark. Through fathers and sons the trade was carried on for 170 years. Show manufacturing began in this area in 1819. The site is now a Common area marked by the Tan Bark Millstone.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
F - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments (continued)
Mill and Factory Sites (continued)
4.Captain Abram Washburn Saw and Box Mill - on Elm Street on the edge of Jones’ Pond. This mill was built in 1829 and was an important 19th century industrial site in the northern (Beaver) section of town.
5.Byram Mill Site - in the back of 156 Union Street. The remains of a mill foundation built by Nicholas Byram dating before 1829 can be found. This site is located on a Town hiking trail.
6.Squire Alden’s Mill Site - on Winter Street on Beaver Brook. Issac Alden built the first up and down saw mill in the northern part of Town. Later a tack factory was at this site.
7.Captain Jonathan Bass Forge Site - at the end of Willow Avenue. The dam was built in 1726. Two forges were built at this site, the first being lost to a fire. This site continued in operation to about 1890. Blooms were made from scrap iron. It is now the site of the Town Highway Department barn, where the dam can still be seen.
8.Ice House Site - at Washington and Crescent Streets. This foundation still stands.
9.Carver Cotton Gin Company - on Plymouth Street at the Satucket River. Established in 1842, the Carver Company began the manufacture of cotton gins. The manufacturing of the cotton gins continued at this site until the early 1990’s when the company moved to Savannah, Georgia.
10.Hugh Orr’s Trip Hammer - Vinton’s Corner, Pleasant and North Central Streets. In 1740, Hugh Orr erected a trip-hammer shop on the Matfield River just below the bridge at Vinton’s Corners. He manufactured edge tools and muskets, but was most famous for furnishing cannons to the Continental Armies.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
F - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments (continued)
Other Sites and Structures
1.First Parish Church - 234 Central Street. Built in 1794, it is the third meeting house at this location. It is now the Grace Bible Church.
2.The Common - opposite the First Parish Church. It was set aside in 1721. The first school house was built on the northwest corner. It was used as a training field for the Revolutionary War soldiers. It was later used for musters, memorials, church lawn parties and band concerts. The monument to the Civil War Soldiers is in the middle of the area, at the northern end is the memorial to World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veterans.
3.Stone walls edge both sides of Central Street from the Town Offices to the center of Town; Bedford Street heading north; both sides of the hill on Plymouth Street from #49 to #80 and on the cemetery side of Church Street.
4.Old Graveyard - on Central Street. The earliest dated gravestones are those of Robert and Susanna Latham in 1688. There are 579 documented graves, and many that are unmarked. Three veterans of the French and Indian War, 72 Revolutionary War soldiers, 13 veterans of the War of 1812 and 1 Civil War veteran are buried here.
5.Fish Weir Ruins - on the Satucket River at Plymouth Street. This was used as a herring run in the 17th century before the first white settlement. There is a stone fording place located slightly downstream. Both sites are marked with historical boulders.
6.Sachem’s Rock - on the Satucket River on Plymouth Street. This was the site of a meeting between the Indian Sachem Massasoit and Miles Standish in 1649. During this meeting Standish and others bought the original Bridgewater lands for about $30 worth of materials. This site is in private ownership.
7.Minister’s Rock - off Cottage Street and East Street behind the Elmwood Cemetery. Reverend Timothy Otis Paine, minister of the Swedenborgian Church in Elmwood inscribed the poem in 1862 after the Battle of Bull Run.
8.Stone cart bridge on Meadow Brook
9.Meadow Brook Wading place in Meadow Brook, by 1739.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
F - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments (continued)
Cemeteries
1.Whitman Family Cemetery - on Harvard Street. The earliest death recorded here is 1816. It is located near the home of Eleazar Whitman, in whose home the first Congregational church of Whitman was formed.
2.Hershey Family Burial Ground - off William Hershey Lane off Washington Street. Buried here are eight members of the Hershey Family in a burial mound.
3.Hudson Family Tomb - at the junction of Hudson and Pond Streets. It was built in 1819 by John and Nathan Hudson with 14 or more bodies entombed there.
4.East Bridgewater Cemetery Corp - off Central Street. Started in 1845, this cemetery is located near the center of town. The original property was sold to the railroad when it came through and the bodies were brought to the new site off Central Street in back of the First Parish Church. There are many older graves that have been moved to this site from the “Old Graveyard” when Central Street was widened in 1887.
5.Elmwood Cemetery - off East Street. Established in 1847, there are two Medal of Honor Veterans buried in this Cemetery.
6.Beaver Cemetery at the corner of Belmont and Summer St. was established in 1809
7.Union Cemetery on Pleasant Street in the back of the Union Congregational Church was established in 1842.
8.Northville Cemetery off Oak Street was established in 1855.
Railroad Stations
1.Brown’s Crossing Railroad Station - on Pine Street. This is the site of the station built in 1846 and used until 1925 by the Bridgewater - Whitman line of the Old Colony Railroad.
2.Matfield Railroad Station on Matfield Street stood at the crossing of the railroad tracks.
3.Elmwood Railroad Station on West Street just east of Spring Street. The train went from Bridgewater to Whitman.
Section 4 - Environmental Inventory and Analysis
F - Scenic Resources and Unique Environments (continued)
Railroads (continued)
4.Westdale Railroad Station on West Street at the West Bridgewater Town Line. Sometimes known as the East and West Station, the train went to Boston through Brockton.
5.East Bridgewater Center Railroad Station is on North Central Street just north of the Union and Central Street junction. It was in use from 1846 to 1925.
Historic District
The Historical Commission has submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission for its consideration, an Historic District covering the First Parish, the Common, the Old Graveyard and several neighboring houses. The Commission has identified more than 200 houses and other buildings of historical and/or architectural significance in the Town.
Scenic Roads
Parts of the following roads are considering scenic roads; Winter, Elm, Summer, Belmont, Harvard, Washington, Central, Cedar, West, Bridge, Pond, Pine, Union, Pleasant, Church, North Central and South Streets.
Bike Routes
The Claire Saltonstall Bike Route passes through East Bridgewater on its way from Boston to Cape Cod.
Hiking Trails
There are 33 areas of scenic sites and trails in East Bridgewater that bring about an increased awareness of natural land, water and historic areas still in existence in Town.