In My Footsteps: Trip 66: Rochester, Mass.

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In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 66:  Rochester, Mass.

July 22, 2010

            Rochester is a town so close to Cape Cod yet with such a different atmosphere to it.  Perhaps it is the rural setting, or the beautiful farmland spotted all over.  When doing these trips sometimes it is best not to ask why a place has a feel to it, but rather to just enjoy that feeling while you are there.

Statue in front of the Town Library

            Once including the neighboring towns of Mattapoisett and Marion, Rochester was a thriving shipbuilding and whaling community using Mattapoisett Harbor as a base.  However once Mattapoisett and Marion became their own separate towns in the early 1850’s Rochester became the rural and residential area that it is today.

Distance marker at Town Common

            A perfect place to start in Rochester is the Town Common where I began by taking a look at where I was in relation to the rest of the state.  At the town common is a really neat looking town and distance sign standing over an old well pump and trough.  The sign has markings for towns as far away as Providence and Boston and gives a cool perspective on where Rochester sits.  The pump was neat as well until I tried using it and was greeted with a couple of bees.  I am assuming that the abandoned pump is used as a hive now but did not feel like sticking around to find out for certain.

            Located on the Town Common is the Town Hall, built in 1892, and the Public Library.  The library I enjoyed because of an adorable bronze statue outside.  It depicted a pair of children reading a book with the little girl showing the boy the letter B in the alphabet.  Not far from where the bronze children sat was a marker shadowed by some bushes.  This marker tells of the site nearby where the first Rochester Meeting House was erected in 1699. 

Remains of Hartley Mill Dam

            Rochester has many small ponds for swimming which I made sure to stop by to enjoy the summer breezes.  Mary’s Pond on Perry’s Lane was one such place.  The parking area was deserted which allowed me to park front and center and make my way to the water’s edge for some beautiful sightseeing.  The Sippican River marks its beginning as an outflow from this pond.  Leonard’s Pond and Snipatuit Pond also have many great sights to take in but one pond I searched for gave me something totally different.

            I searched for Hartley Mill Pond but instead came upon an overgrown field with scattered wood or so I thought.  What this spot on Hartley Road ended up being was the old Hartley Mill Dam.  It was difficult to make out how this dam actually worked back when it was operational but finding it was a cool little sidetrack.  It turned out, at least from the Google Maps, that the Hartley Mill Pond was near the dam’s location but really not large enough to be anything worth making a stop for.      

Barns at Eastover Farm

            Fittingly the last place I stopped in Rochester was a farm.  Eastover Farm is located on Mary’s Pond Road and is a perfect spot to get a glimpse of the feeling that Rochester has.  The seventy-five acres of land are dotted with a few beautiful looking houses and barns, they all share the same golden color.  The land on which the current farm stands was once owned and built up by New York businessman Charles H. Leonard in the mid-19^th century.  The pond which lies to the north of the farmland is named for Mr. Leonard.

            Eastover Farm has a wonderful farm stand that is full of home made items to purchase.  In addition to the fresh grown vegetables and fruits the farm stand also has homemade jams and jellies, fudge, pies, breads, and other delicious temptations.  If the farm stand does not lure you in there are also hay rides and parties can be booked on the vast fields.

            The peaceful feeling I got during my time in Rochester was what I will take away from my trip.  The beautiful ponds and the smell of the pine trees made me want to stop and sit for a while to enjoy them.  It is a perfect place to bring a picnic lunch when it is warm enough.  Take a walk around the Town Common and gaze at the distance marker along the road.  Don’t forget to make time to take in all of what Eastover Farm has to offer and take something sweet home with you.  No matter how you slice it, Rochester is a great little town with a lot of great sights, smells, and tastes to offer.  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:  Town Common:  From I-195 west take Exit 20, turn left at Rt. 105, follow Rt. 105 2.5 miles.  Town common is on the left.

            Eastover Farm:  From I-195 heading west take Exit 21 for Rt. 28.  Turn right at Rt. 28, take left at Tobey Rd., turn right at Main Street.  Take a slight left at Fearing Hill Road, continue onto Mary’s Pond Rd.  Turn right at Hiller Road, Eastover Farm is on the right.

References:  Eastover Farm.com

            Rochester, Ma. - Official Town Site

           

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