In My Footsteps
Christopher Setterlund
Trip 112: Georgetown, Massachusetts
March 9, 2011
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| Sign marking site of Goodrich Massacre. |
Originally settled as the West Parish of Rowley by a group of farmers looking for fertile meadowlands the small town of Georgetown has a long history. Georgetown 
was called New Rowley until it was large enough to be incorporated on its own in 1838. It is now considered a distant suburb of the amazing North Shore.
was called New Rowley until it was large enough to be incorporated on its own in 1838. It is now considered a distant suburb of the amazing North Shore. |
| Brocklebank House |
Though the colony was not directly involved in King Philip’s War, from 1675-76, it was the recipient of Native American raids. This tied in directly to the first place I visited once I entered Georgetown. On North Street sits an unassuming sign, what it says is very important though. It marks the site of the Goodrich Massacre which happened in 1692. The story is that Benjamin Goodrich, his wife, and two daughters were killed by a group of Native Americans during their evening prayer. There is no known reason for the slaughter but it is an anomaly as there are so few Native American massacre sites on the North Shore. Besides the sign there is not much to see. There is a regular home on the grounds and I was not okay with walking the ten ‘rods,’ or about 165 feet, to the proper site of the massacre.
While stopping periodically to photograph various historic homes I ended up having a pretty odd experience. The spot I was supposed to shoot was the Samuel Brocklebank House. I parked across the street from it at the end of Elm Street in front of a very eerie dark green antiques 
shop building. The name said Auntie Lil’s and I cannot find much information about it. The reason it was an odd experience was the banging on the windows when I stepped out of my car. I made a point to stop and look around for any people moving around in a neighboring house but there was nothing as far as I saw.
shop building. The name said Auntie Lil’s and I cannot find much information about it. The reason it was an odd experience was the banging on the windows when I stepped out of my car. I made a point to stop and look around for any people moving around in a neighboring house but there was nothing as far as I saw. |
| Auntie Lil's antiques, haunted? |
I went and shot the Brocklebank House and returned to my car only to hear the same banging on the windows of the old antiques shop. It intrigued me so much that I took a few photos of the building hoping to maybe see something in one of the windows. There was nothing but I would love to hear if anybody else ever heard or saw something around that building or if it was just my imagination.
The Brocklebank House was built in the late 1600’s with the land the house stands on being deeded to surveyor Samuel Brocklebank in 1661. Brocklebank was killed in 1676 during King Philip’s War but the house remained in his family until 1754 when it was sold and turned into a tavern
. There is a sign depicting a redcoat soldier with the year 1754 on it which I figure represents the time the home became a tavern. It was under repair while I was there which made visiting inside impossible.
. There is a sign depicting a redcoat soldier with the year 1754 on it which I figure represents the time the home became a tavern. It was under repair while I was there which made visiting inside impossible. |
| Georgetown Town Offices, home of 'Old Nancy.' |
Something I found interesting about Georgetown was the fact that their town hall was not always used as such. The yellow building where the town offices reside was formerly a school, the Central School built in 1905. Inside the historic old school sits ‘Old Nancy.’ Old Nancy is a Revolutionary War
cannon supposedly taken from the British warship ‘Nancy’ which was captured off of Gloucester. The best part of the story is that the cannon was left by major Eben Boynton to his two sons, one from New Rowley(Georgetown) and the other from Rowley. The cannon has spent time in both towns and they both lay claim to it as their own.
cannon supposedly taken from the British warship ‘Nancy’ which was captured off of Gloucester. The best part of the story is that the cannon was left by major Eben Boynton to his two sons, one from New Rowley(Georgetown) and the other from Rowley. The cannon has spent time in both towns and they both lay claim to it as their own. A small town with a rich history Georgetown is a spot that everyone will enjoy. Take the time to visit the historical society at the Brocklebank House and gaze upon ‘Old Nancy’ the Revolutionary War cannon. Also if anybody knows whether Auntie Lil’s antiques shop is haunted let me know. Have fun and happy traveling!
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Directions: Brocklebank House: From I-95 N take exit 54B for Rt. 133/E. Main St. Follow 2 miles, house will be on the right. Auntie Lil’s antiques is across the street.
Georgetown Town Hall: From I-95 N take exit 53B for Rt. 97 N. Follow 3.5 mi., turn right at Library St., town hall is on right.
began with a bang and never let up.
which brought to mind the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, was dedicated to all of the soldiers who died during the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781. 
this lighthouse has a very distinct look now but it took a lot of work to make it so. Avery Point is named for James Avery who was one of the first settlers of New London from which Groton came later.
. I was blown away by the appearance and the colors of it especially due to the fact that I arrived as the sun had begun to set. You have to maneuver your way through a bit of a maze on the UConn campus to find it but this lighthouse is near the top of my list of favorites I have seen thus far.
. Stark was a Revolutionary War hero and was known as the ‘Hero of Bennington’ for his service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. Stark was born is what is today known as Derry, New Hampshire and moved at age eight to modern-day Manchester. His grave, as well as that of three generations of Starks, is located in the back of the park surrounded by an iron fence. These graves show you that General Stark was a real person and not just some name engraved on a statue.
Bridge. I enjoyed Elm Street because while it was in many ways the typical city street with high rise buildings and hotels it was pretty much the only street that looked that way to me. Much like I mentioned about Newport, New Hampshire and a few other towns I have seen there were many brick buildings with names located up near the roof level.
ad on the side of a building.
, Paul Newman, Al Gore, and Guy Fieri. The seats where famous people have eaten are marked by small red plaques which make each visit special in its own right. 
and his Standard Oil Company, and then later joining forces with him. Henry H. Rogers’ philanthropic contributions to Fairhaven later in his life account for many of the incredible buildings in the downtown area. 
bare a striking resemblance to a few of the buildings in Fairhaven. It is especially apparent when I looked at the Town Hall and Millicent Library. The reason for this resemblance is that Richardson drew some of his style from noted 19th century architect Charles Brigham. It was Brigham who designed the incredible Town Hall and Millicent Library in 1892 and 1893 respectively.
in 1775. The first naval battle of the Revolution was fought within sight of Fort Phoenix on May 14, 1775 and was led by Captains Nathaniel Pope and Daniel Egery. It was destroyed by British troops in 1778 but was rebuilt so quickly that it was given the name Fort Phoenix after the mythical bird. 
. Getting to see this little known lighthouse after standing where Revolutionary War battles took place was a perfect end to a great trip to Fairhaven.
designates town halls as the ‘center’ of any town and that is where it leads me. The first inhabitants of Revere were Native Americans of the Pawtucket Tribe, known as the Rumney Marsh Indians. Originally known as North Chelsea, the town took its current name from the legendary Patriot Paul Revere in 1871. Though definitely not as large as Boston when I walked along the sidewalks of Revere I could feel the city just waiting to bust out. It was a feeling that is hard to describe, you would have to be there and you would understand.
horse track to build a casino on the site. I did not stop in to gamble but I did notice quite a few who did during the time I was in the area. However, this spot was only a temporary stop on my way to the main attraction of this town.
.
, can be found with relative ease. These people seemed like only myths when reading about them in school, standing before the markers of their graves brought the human element out of what used to be just stories growing up. It is easy to lose track of time here but there is so much more to see.
. On March 5, 1770 British soldiers fired into an angry crowd in front of the State House, killing five civilians. The event was called a ‘massacre’ by Samuel Adams. Standing on this spot is enough to give you chills imagining that it was the events that took place there that set in motion the Revolution and subsequently our independence.
to see it would be a sea approach by the soldiers and off her went on his ride through present day Somerville, Medford, and Arlington. During his ride he shouted warnings to nearly every house he passed though the historical phrase ‘the British are coming!’ most likely did not happen since most Colonists still thought of themselves as British. The church itself is quite small but the sense of what occurred just overhead is still palpable.
