In My Footsteps: Trip 65: Marion, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 65:  Marion, Mass.

July 22, 2010

            The tiny town of Marion is rich in history with the Native American Wampanoag tribe and Revolutionary War heroes having a huge stake in how the town is known today.  Marion was originally known as Sippican, the name for both the river which passes through the town as well as the Wampanoag name for the tribe of Native Americans who lived in the area. 

Marion Music Hall

            Marion became a town of its own in 1852 as a result of neighboring Mattapoisett attempting to redraw town lines so they would be able to take over the village of Sippican.  With help from a powerful ally in Boston Sippican became its own town but chose to change its name from Sippican to Marion in honor of Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion.

            Though the town’s name may be Marion the connection to the Sippican Native American tribe of the past is evident everywhere.  The Sippican River runs through the eastern section of the town, dividing it from Wareham.  The Sippican Elementary School is located next door to the Marion Natural History Museum and has a very nice little area on the left with a few benches to sit on in the shade and a pair of gazing balls which usher you inside.  The Sippican Historical Society as well as the popular Sippican Café also help to keep the Native American name fresh in today’s world.  The Historical Society building was the home of the village doctor, Walton Nye Ellis, and was built in 1834.

Next to the Sippican Elementary School

            Diagonally across from the Sippican Historical Society building is the Marion General Store.  It has all of the looks of a piece of old America in the 21^st century and that could not be truer.  The building itself was built in 1794 and originally served as a Congregational Meeting House.

            Spring Street in Marion, where the Sippican School is located, is a great area for the town’s history and some beautiful scenery as well.  The Marion Town Hall, called the Town House, sits on the corner of Spring and Main Street.  It was built in 1876 and is decorated on one side with a pair of American flags which look like they are straight out of the time when the Town House was built. 

Marion General Store

            Directly across the street from the Town House is a beautiful little park which faces the Marion Art Center.  It was originally a Universalist Church built in 1830 and became the non-profit Art Center in 1957.  I got a great view of the Art Center looking through the opening of a nice gazebo on the park grounds.  On this warm, sunny day there were a few people seated on benches in the shade enjoying the park as well.  The smell of sweet flowers was a perfect final touch to a great little spot in Marion.

            Another spot to take in is the Town Music Hall located on Front Street across from the water.  The deep red brick building was a gift to the town from Elizabeth Taber a teacher born in Marion.  Ms. Taber’s name also adorns the town library and Museum of Natural History.  She also established Tabor Academy in 1876.  The Music Hall is still in use today and definitely stands out among the more classical-style homes located all around it.

            Out in the inner harbor of Marion is the tiny Ram Island which can be seen along Water Street.   It is only slightly larger than Meadow Island which from the shore appears no bigger than a large boat.  There is also Planting Island but it is technically connected to the mainland by a small land bridge.  Ram Island is a popular shellfishing location with many locals and folks from neighboring towns applying for licenses to allow them to capture their own bounty from the salty sea.

Washburn Park

            The final spot I visited in the pleasant little town of Marion was Washburn Park.  I missed the entrance a few times as it sits very close to I-195, but it was worth it once I found my way inside.  The road in is divided in the middle by a row of trees much like the Savery Road in Carver, Massachusetts from an earlier trip.  The park is a nice peaceful area complete with baseball fields and horse riding facilities as well.  There was nary a soul to be found here as I drove through but I am sure that is not the case on most days.  Washburn Park was a great way to end my stay in Marion.

            Marion is one of the smallest towns people-wise that I have visited.  I believe that is part of what made it such a nice trip.  The rural setting made for plenty of scenic views and the smell of fresh pine lingered in the air almost everywhere I went.  Anybody who enjoys peaceful drives and beautiful scenery needs to take the time to explore Marion.  Stop into the General Store, walk along historic Spring Street, and check out the Music Hall as well, it will all add up to a wonderful day.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions:  Washburn Park:  From I-195 take Exit 20 for Rt. 105.  Take Front St. south to Washburn Park Lane which is only ¼ mile from the interstate.

            Music Hall:  From I-195 take Exit 20 for Rt. 105.  Take Front St. south for a mile and a half, the Music Hall is on the right with a parking area across the street.

            General Store:  From I-195 take Exit 20 for Rt. 105.  Take Front St. south for 1.7 miles, the General Store will be on the right shortly after the Music Hall.

References:  Marion, Ma. - Official Town Site

            Sippican Historical Society.org

           

Marion on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 34: Carver, Mass.

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In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 34: Carver, Mass.

March 18, 2010

            Carver is a small town with some big attractions.  Although it is synonymous with Edaville USA, and rightfully so, there is so much more to Carver that needs to be seen.  If Middleboro has small town charm, Carver is closer to a rural area, with the population spread out more which gives way to some incredible stretches of wooded scenery perfect for a drive on a summer day. 

            Carver became its own town in 1790 mostly thanks to the fact the many residents of Plympton, Massachusetts lived too far away to attend church.  Named for John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony, the town became known for its iron ore found in its swamps and became further established thanks to a rail line which connected the small town to Boston and New York City.

            I paid a visit to Carver’s Town Hall(left) first off and noticed that the building fits right in with the rest of the town’s rural appeal.  Whereas Middleboro has a very large Hall, Carver’s is much more understated.  It faces a nicely maintained wooded area which contains a farmers market and has what can only be described as a vintage war gun on the front lawn.  The gun is from the World War II-era or earlier and I found it a little humorous that it is pointed eerily close to the farmers market.

            Up the road a ways, close to the ground of another famous attraction, the seasonal King Richard’s Faire, is a historic spot that can only be described as the first in America.  The Savery Historic District is home to a short stretch of road that is the first divided highway ever built in America(right).  Built in 1861 by William Savery the road is two lanes with a beautiful row of trees in between them.  The trees were left to be used as ‘shade and ornament for man and beast.’  A drive on this road is only a little over a minute but it is so unique that I had to circle back several times to get a feel of what it must have been like when this stretch of ‘highway’ was brand new.

            Located at the next right turn after the Savery Road sits the grounds of King Richard’s Faire which runs on weekends in September and October.  This fair is an authentic recreation of a 16^th Century English marketplace at festival time.  It is a great way to experience history firsthand and its popularity as a family tourist destination is equaled only by the next place I visited in Carver: Edaville Railroad, now known as Edaville USA.

            Edaville(right) is a cherished childhood memory of mine and I am sure of many thousands of others from New England.  Edaville was built in 1947 using the remains of most of Maine’s once thriving two-foot gauge rails.  The name Edaville comes from the man responsible for building the five and a half mile long track around his 1500 acre cranberry bogs, Ellis D. Atwood.  His initials (E.D.A.) make up part of the name.  Although it has undergone many changes since I first visited the park in the mid-1980’s, Edaville still maintains its charm and appeal for kids and adults alike.  There is nothing quite like taking the train ride around the vast cranberry bog during the Christmas season, even twenty-five years later I can picture that trip in my mind.  The park has many rides and a vintage carousel, it is easy to find and as previously stated is synonymous with the small town of Carver.

            Located a little further east in Carver, as well as in the neighboring town of Plymouth sits a place that is worthy of its own article.  Myles Standish State Forest is the largest publicly owned recreation area in the state and is home to many beautiful kettle ponds.  Covering approximately 15,000 acres of land this amazing landscape is home to the endangered Plymouth Red-bellied turtle which populates several of the kettle ponds.

            Although it is filled with incredible scenery no matter the time of day it is highly recommended that you visit Myles Standish State Forest at either sunrise or sunset.  I went close to sunset which gives a beautiful orange glow to the pine trees and colors the water of the ponds a blue gray.  With daylight fading I had to pick and choose which ponds I visited, first up was College Pond.  This pond is very popular and has areas for swimming, picnicking, and fishing.  I visited the other side of the pond which was dotted with several small cabins, the facilities on the main side of College Pond were still visible despite the sunlight fading. 

            Furnace Pond is on the western side of the forest and I ran into a flock of turkeys heading out of New Long Pond on the way there.  Down a dirt road which needed to be walked I found a pair of swans quietly swimming across Furnace Pond(left) and it made for a fitting end to my trip. 

            Carver maybe a small and rural town but it has a lot to be seen.  Give some time to visit the country’s first divided highway, take a tour around Edaville USA, and then enjoy the quiet majesty of Myles Standish State Forest.  Bring the whole family and feel the spirit of this little town all around you.  Have fun and happy traveling!





     My first book, In My Footsteps: A Cape Cod Travel Guide, is now available at SchifferBooks.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Amazon.com, soon to be in stores everywhere!  Follow me on Twitter!

Directions:  Savery Road:  From I-495, take the exit for Rt. 58 N.  Turn left after 2.5 miles to stay on Rt. 58.  Follow Rt. 58 for 3 more miles, the Savery divided highway is on the left.

            Edaville USA:  From I-495, take the exit for Rt. 58 N.  Turn left after 2.5 miles to stay on Rt. 58.  Follow Rt. 58 for another mile and turn left onto Dump Rd.  Continue onto Rochester Rd., turn right at Eda Ave. 

            Myles Standish State Forest:  From Rt. 3 take Exit 5, turn right onto Long Pond Rd.  Continue on for 3 miles, the park entrance is on the right.

References:  Edaville USA

            DCR - Myles Standish State Forest

            King Richard's Faire

            Town of Carver Homepage