In My Footsteps: Trip 62: Cohasset, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 62:  Cohasset, Mass.

July 8, 2010

            Before visiting the seaside town of Cohasset I had one idea of what it would be like, and after leaving I had a totally different opinion.  I originally had thought that Cohasset was a town centered around a top attraction which sat a mile offshore in Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse.  As amazing as the story and, albeit limited, view of the lighthouse is I came to discover that there is so much more to Cohasset than just Minot’s Ledge Light. 

The third lens from Minot's Ledge Light.

            I began my trip with a visit to the Cohasset Sailing Club which during this time of year was sprinkled with many vessels.  There is a major connection to Minot’s Ledge Light on the grounds as well.  It is here that the third lens from Minot’s Ledge Light is kept, unfortunately without a boat it was the closest that I will get to the lighthouse itself.  The area around the Sailing Club was one that I stopped and enjoyed for a while.  From kids jumping off of the bridge on Border Street, to people going in and out on their boats, and even a few dogs enjoying a swim, it was a great scene. 

            The next area I went to is not necessarily one place, but the views are something that must be taken in.  Taking a drive along Atlantic Avenue will really give you a sense of what makes Cohasset special.  I had to stop my car and get out at one particular place where Atlantic Avenue turns into Jerusalem Road.  It was here on a corner that there is a magnificent view to the north of the Boston skyline and Boston Harbor from a height of probably fifty-feet.  When I turned to the south there was the small grey finger-like image of Minot’s Ledge Light.  I would have stayed there longer but I had many other places to see.

The view of Boston from Atlantic Avenue.

            I went into the center of Cohasset next to see the amazing Town Common and some of what Main Street had to offer.  The Town Common comes complete with a man-made pond filled with fish, it has several benches and shade-giving trees surrounding it.  As I was taking in the beauty of the Common I heard the ringing of the bells at the neighboring St. Stephen’s Parish.  Normally this would not be a big deal but it became a big deal when I heard the church’s choice in music.  The songs on the list included ‘Rubber Ducky,’ and ‘Sing A Song’ from Sesame Street.  Little things like that make a trip like this stay with me long after I return home.

French Memories

            A short walk from the Common is a place known all across Southeastern Massachusetts: French Memories.  The small bakery on South Main Street is filled with homemade pastries, cakes, and cheeses.  This is topped only by the fact that they serve lunch as well, freshly made sandwiches and soups.  Anne and Jean-Jacques Gabanelle are the owners and they have a fantastic place.  I drove an hour to partake in some of their delicious treats, I think that it was not that far for something that good. 

            Only a short drive up the street from French Memories and the Town Common is a beautiful section of conservation land known as Wheelwright Park.  This is a great area, not too large, the main loop trail takes less than an hour to complete.  There are several places of interest along the route including several boulders with unique names like Big Tippling, Little Tippling, and the Moraine Boulder.  The spot that drew my interest the most was the Devil’s Chair.  This particular rock does not look much different from the others in Wheelwright Park but for the fact that there is a large chunk missing out of the side which gives it the appearance of being a seat.  Of course I had to take a minute to sit down in it, throwing my superstitions out the window.

Minot's Ledge Lighthouse as seen from Sandy Beach.

            The attraction that Cohasset might be best known for is Minot’s Ledge Light.  As I said earlier it sits more than a mile off shore so it is not accessible but by boat.  For the best views of it I recommend the end of Glades Road, North Scituate Beach, or Sandy Beach on Atlantic Avenue.  Although they are not great views and it can be easily obstructed by some large offshore rocks.    

The current Minot’s Ledge Light which stands 114 feet tall is actually the second built on the spot.  The first Minot Light was lit for the first time on New Year’s Day in 1850.  It is reported that the original keeper lived in constant fear of the lighthouse being taken down by the vicious sea.  This man retired after ten short months.  Sadly for the next keeper and his two assistants the fears became reality as the original Minot’s Ledge Light came crashing down during a huge storm in April 1851.  The lighthouse keeper was away at the time trying to procure a new boat but his assistants were killed.  The iron lighthouse littered two miles of beach in the days after the storm. 

The second lighthouse lens from Minot Light was destroyed by vandals before it could be given to the Boston Museum of Science.  The third lens is the one that can be found on the grounds of the Cohasset Sailing Club.  One of the fog bells used at Minot’s Ledge Light is also on display there as well.

Despite possibly being most well known for an attraction more than a mile off shore Cohasset has no shortage of great places to visit.  Make sure to take the time to try a pastry or sandwich at French Memories before taking a walk on the Town Common or a drive on Atlantic Avenue or Glades Road.  Take a seat in the Devil’s Chair or walk the beach to look for Minot’s Ledge Light, you can’t go wrong on a trip through Cohasset.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions:  Cohasset Sailing Club: From Rt. 3A north turn right onto Henry Turner Bailey Rd., turn left at County Way this becomes S. Main St., turn right onto Summer St. after 1.3 miles.  Follow with a slight right onto Border St., turn left at Government Island Rd. after a half mile.  The club is on the left.  From the Sailing Club, follow Border St., turn right onto Margin Street, turn left onto Atlantic Avenue for a great drive.

            French Memories:  From Rt. 3A north turn right onto Henry Turner Bailey Rd., turn left at County Way this becomes S. Main St., turn right onto Summer St. after 1.3 miles.  Follow with a slight right onto Border St.  Left onto Summer St., quick left onto Elm Street.  Left onto Brook Street and right onto South Main Street.  French Memories is on right side.   The Town Common is a short walk up on the right side.

            Wheelwright Park:  From French Memories take S. Main Street which becomes N. Main Street.  The entrance is 1 mile up on the right.

           

References:   Minot's Ledge Lighthouse

            French Memories Cohasset

            Cohasset, MA - Town Site

In My Footsteps: Trip 18: Scituate, Cohasset, & Hull, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 18: Scituate, Mass.; Cohasset, Mass.; Hull, Mass.

February 3, 2010

            The coastal towns from the Cape Cod Canal up to Boston make up what is called the ‘South Shore.’  Of all of these towns Plymouth is the most well known being that it is the original landing spot of the Mayflower in 1620.  However there are many other towns with just as much history as Plymouth.  A drive along some of the coastal roads will bring you past some amazing waterfront views and some incredible homes.

            My trip began by taking Route 3 north to Exit 12.  I headed east toward the beautiful town of Scituate.  Incorporated in 1636 with a name that comes from the Wampanoag Indian term for ‘cold brook,’ Scituate was primarily a fishing community from the onset.  Route 3A is the main road through Scituate and gives you a great view of the harbor along North River.  On this snowy morning an old fishing house located out in the river near Damons Point Rd. had the look of a 19^th Century painting.  It reminded me of how New England must have looked in winter back then.

            The main attraction in Scituate is the historic Old Scituate Lighthouse(left).  Built in 1811 and located on Cedar Point in Scituate this lighthouse played an important role in the War of 1812.  It was on this spot that Rebecca and Abigail Bates, the ‘Lighthouse Army of Two,’ scared off the British troops by playing their drum and fife loudly.  The British feared the sounds were of the approaching Scituate Militia and retreated.  After being out of service for over 130 years the lighthouse was once again made visible from sea to aid passing vessels.  Cedar Point is a magnificent area, close to Museum Beach, with several houses more than a hundred years in age close by.  It retains the feel of a small fishing village and would be perfect to walk on a warmer day.

            A few miles north of Old Scituate Light, and two and a half miles offshore, sits another historic lighthouse: Minot’s Ledge Light.  Located off the coast of Cohasset the best view of this light is from the end of Glades Road, or North Scituate Beach, although they are not great views and it can be easily obstructed by some large offshore rocks.  Cohasset was originally part of Hingham but became its own town in 1670. 

The current Minot’s Ledge Light which stands 97 feet tall is actually the second built on the spot.  The first Minot Light was built in 1850 and was subsequently destroyed in a storm a few months later.  The third lighthouse lens(left) from Minot Light can be found on the grounds of the Cohasset Sailing Club.  The club is located along Cohasset Cove in the Government Island Historic District.  The Cohasset Yacht Club is across the cove with the historic 17^th Century Bellarmine House located high on a hill at the end of White Head Road.  It is visible from the Sailing Club as well. 

            Following the coastal roads north next brought me to the little town of Hull.  This peninsula of land, sticking more than two miles out into the water is bordered on the east by Massachusetts Bay and on the west by Hull Bay.  The fourth smallest town in land area in the state, Hull is a thickly settled beach front town.  It is filled with tightly packed houses that all seem right out of early-20^th Century postcards.  The main attraction of Hull, besides its tremendous view of the Boston skyline, is Nantasket Beach.  Considered to be one of the finest in New England, the beach is more than a mile in length along the eastern coast of Hull and the Nantasket Beach Reservation is twenty-six acres and includes the fantastic Paragon Carousel.  The sight of this eighty-two year old wonder will surely bring out the child in every adult.  It is open to be ridden beginning in April.

            A hidden gem can be found in an unlikely place.  In a quest to gain a higher vantage point to snap a few photos of Hull I came to Hull Cemetery which sits on Telegraph Hill.  I wanted an even higher shot and after climbing a concrete wall found myself face to face with the awe-inspiring Fort Revere.  Complete with a clear view of the Brewster Islands dotting Massachusetts Bay, this piece of American history can be passed by easily. 

            Fort Revere was built in 1776 and has a clear view from Boston Harbor south to Cohasset Harbor.  Straight out to the east sits the amazing Boston Lighthouse(above).  Located on Little Brewster Island, this current lighthouse was built in 1783 although the station itself was begun in 1716.  Even more amazing is the fact that the island station is shared by the lighthouse with five other houses each more than a hundred years old.  On a clear day the ‘younger’ Graves Lighthouse can be seen behind Boston Light.  Built in 1905, it is grey in color and is best seen by boat.

            Fort Revere(left) is only a maze of concrete tunnels and steps, much like my New Bedford trip this piece of history has been desecrated with graffiti by thoughtless people.  If you can get past that fact it is a great walk.  On the other side of Telegraph Hill sits an octagon-shaped water tower that doubles as an observation tower.  The observation deck is only accessible for a few hours on the first Saturday of the month, best to plan ahead for that.

            There is much more to the South Shore of Massachusetts than Plymouth.  The drive from Scituate up through Hull was one amazing sight after another.  There were some areas that felt like small Midwestern towns with the cozy shops lining the streets.  Then there were endless amounts of incredibly lavish homes each one worthy of a second and third look.  In the end the lighthouses and the walk around Fort Revere will be my lasting memories of this trip.  What will yours be?  Have fun and happy traveling!  

Directions: Old Scituate Light: From Rt. 3 north take Exit 12, merge onto Church Street heading toward Marshfield.  Turn left onto Old Oak St., and continue onto Union St for 3.3 miles.  Union St. becomes Bridge St., turn right onto Rt. 123 for 1.8 miles. Turn onto New Driftway at the rotary, this road becomes New Kent St., Kent St., and Front St. in that order.  Turn right at Jericho Rd. and continue onto light.

            Cohasset Sailing Club: From Rt. 3A north turn right onto Henry Turner Bailey Rd., turn left at County Way this becomes S. Main St., turn right onto Summer St. after 1.3 miles.  Follow with a slight right onto Border St., turn left at Government Island Rd. after a half mile.  The club is on the left. 

            Nantasket Beach: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  There are several beach parking lots on the right.

            Fort Revere: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  Take a left at Fitzpatrick Way which becomes Nantasket Ave. again.  After a mile take a sharp left at Farina Rd., continue onto Ft. Revere Park.

References:  Scituate Historical Society

                     Minot's Ledge Lighthouse

                     Paragon Carousel

                     Boston Light