In My Footsteps: Trip 98: Acushnet, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 98:  Acushnet, Massachusetts

December 2, 2010

            Formerly a part of New Bedford and then Fairhaven the town of Acushnet may be small in size but it has a rather large link to the world of sports.  The name Acushnet comes from the Wampanoag word ‘Cushnea’ which means ‘peaceful resting place near water’ which is no coincidence since the town lies along the Acushnet River.

Acushnet Town Hall

            The link to the world of sports that Acushnet has comes from the Acushnet Process Company, now known as the Acushnet Company.  Founded in 1910 the Acushnet Company owns the Titleist brand name which is very well known to any fan of the sport of golf.  The Acushnet Company was founded by Philip E. Young and began creating their own rubber-based products after initially supplying rubber to other companies.

            I began my time in Acushnet by visiting the center of town which as I have stated many times is where my GPS tends to bring me.  I parked next to the Town Hall and took a walk.  Posted on nearly every telephone pole were signs celebrating Acushnet’s Sesquicentennial.  That means 150 years, I had never heard of that particular term before visiting Acushnet.  The Town Hall had a unique style to it with a stone face looking more like an old castle than an official building.

History outside Long Plain Museum

            Being that this trip came during the Christmas season there were decorations and lights everywhere that captured my favorite time of the year.  I really loved the set up in front of the local fire department.  There were nutcrackers, snowmen, white bears, and of course Santa on the front lawn.  I arrived as the winter sun was getting low and the yellow orange hue to the collection really made it a sight to behold.

            After leaving the center of Acushnet I took a drive out to the Long Plain Museum further out on Main Street.  This museum is also the home of the town’s historical society.  The Long Plain Museum was built in 1875 and was originally the Long Plain Schoolhouse until 1972.  Many of the historical photos and exhibits inside depict school life in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.

Long Plain Museum

            What I particularly liked about this museum was the fact that there were several pieces of significance outside lined up along the fence.  There is a horse watering trough from 1840 that formerly resided outside of the Whelden School on Middle Street.  Next to that is the front step of the one room ‘Bog School.’  This tiny schoolhouse was taken over from Fairhaven in 1860 and remained in operation until 1905 when it was closed and the students transferred to the Long Plain School.  To the right is a date stone from the Whelden Mill, one of the earliest cotton mills in the northeast.  It was built in 1814 by Captain Joseph Whelden near where Deep Brook meets the Acushnet River.  Finally there is the keystone of the Deep Brook Bridge built in 1845.  The old bridge crossed Middle Road over Deep Brook before being replaced in 1974 by the current bridge.  The old schoolhouse had a haunting presence in the fading daylight making it an image I will take from my time in Acushnet.

            The final place I was able to visit before winter took the sunlight away was the Long Plain Friends Meeting House and Museum a short drive away on Main Street.  The meeting house was built by the Quakers in 1759, the term ‘friends’ used in many of the titles of these religious halls was just another way of saying Quaker.  It is the oldest such meeting house in southeastern Massachusetts but is no longer actively used. 

Long Plain Friends Meeting House

Set back from the road it was a memorable walk to get to where the solo white building stood in the open field.  As is the case with every other Quaker meeting house I have seen in my travels there is a small cemetery of loyal followers not far from the meeting house.  I stayed on the grounds of the meeting house until there was only milky dusk remaining it was as if I was in the soul of little Acushnet at that time.  That is what I will take from my trip, being able to ‘feel’ what the town was about.

Acushnet is a small town with a big connection to the world of sports with its association with the Titleist company. It also has hands on history with the Long Plain Museum.  It absolutely lived up to its Wamapnoag name of being a peaceful resting place near water and I believe that any visitor will enjoy their time in Acushnet.  Have fun and happy traveling!

For more In My Footsteps items follow my Twitter Feed, view more photos at the In My Footsteps fan page on Facebook, or visit my homepage at ChristopherSetterlund.com.   Thanks for reading! 

Directions:  Long Plain Museum:  From I-195 take Exit 20, take Rt. 105 through Rochester.  Turn right at Cushman Rd., left at Robinson Rd., these are still Rt. 105.  Follow Robinson Rd. to Main St., turn right, Museum is almost immediately on left.  Quaker Meeting House is .7 miles further up on left.  

References:  Long Plain Museum.org

            Acushnet, Ma. - Official Town Site

            Acushnet Comapny.com

In My Footsteps: Trip 97: Dartmouth, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 97:  Dartmouth, Mass.

December 2, 2010

Demarest Lloyd State Park

            One part seaside village and one part college town, Dartmouth has the best of both of those worlds and much more. Dartmouth is primarily known as the home of one of  the University of Massachusetts campuses.  However, the ‘college town’ part of Dartmouth is only a small piece of what makes up this seaside town.  It was first settled in 1652, purchased from the Wampanoag chiefs Massasoit and Wamsutta by Plymouth Colony.  It was subsequently sold to the Quakers because they wanted a place to live outside of the strict Puritan laws of Plymouth Colony.  There are several Quaker Meeting House’s located in Dartmouth’s borders that remind citizens and visitors alike of the town’s roots.

            The first place I stopped at was Demarest Lloyd State Park along Dartmouth’s southern coast on Barney’s Joy Road.  In the offseason the gate is closed and so I had to walk down to the beach which faces Buzzards Bay.  The walk was nice though as the road is paved and the weather was not too cold.  There is a picnic area on the right as you head toward the beach.  Although there aren’t any places to park next to the picnic area they would really only be used when it is warm so that should not stop anybody from partaking in the beautiful picnic area scenery.

Oxford Creamery at the Bucket

            The beach is small and filled with small rocks but it has spectacular views.  To the east there is Mishaum Point and the Slocums River empties into Buzzards Bay here.  To the west the land slopes out toward Horseneck Beach in neighboring Westport.  The river may empty here but there is a much better place to enjoy the sights of Slocums River.  Russell Mills Landing on Horseneck Road was where I stopped to get a good view of the river passing through.  There is a playground for the children and I got to see a huge flock of ducks meandering around in the water.  While I can’t promise you the ducks the scenery at Russells Mills Landing is worth a look.  The name Russells Mills will appear again later in this article.

            Apponagansett Park on Gulf Road is another place filled with great maritime scenery.  The name Apponagansett is also the name of one of the previously mentioned Quaker Meeting House’s located in Dartmouth.  The park is rather small, facing Apponagansett Bay, and connected to South Dartmouth by a long drawbridge.  There were still some boats in the water as well despite it being well past the end of the season.  However despite the boats, a gazebo, and drawbridge, there was something else that caught my eye here above all else.

Looking across Apponagansett Bay to S. Dartmouth.

            It was a twenty-foot tall brown ice cream bucket that fascinated me the moment I pulled into Apponagansett Park.  Oxford Creamery at the Bucket, also known as Gulf Hill Dairy Ice Cream is a unique ice cream shack that must be extremely busy during the summer.  I imagine that there must be lots of people who come from miles away just to see this one of a kind landmark in addition to partaking in the delicious treats it serves.  It was during my time at places like this where I had to remind myself that this was a college town you’d be hard pressed to find evidence of that fact once you get out of sight of the UMass campus.

            The Apponagansett Friends Meeting House, located on Russell Mills Road was originally built in 1689 with the current structure having been erected in 1790.  As I previously said it is one of several Quaker Meeting Houses in Dartmouth and this one sits stoically on a hill overlooking the road and hiding an old cemetery behind it.  I am not one for wandering through cemeteries but it felt like I was taking a walk through the history of the town as I did.  Granted it is not for everyone, but those who don’t get creeped out easily might enjoy it.

            The village of Russells Mills is a large part of the history of Dartmouth.  I have already mentioned it when speaking of the landing which sits next to Solcums River.  However, there is an historic district in the western part of the town that houses some neat old buildings.

Russells Mills Schoolhouse-Library c. 1871

            I stopped at the Russells Mills Library-Schoolhouse built in 1871.  Doubling as both in the past it is now used solely as a library.  Try as I might I have had trouble finding out the importance of the Russells Mills name so much of the history of this area is unknown to me.  There was a donkey hitched up behind the building which was a bit surprising to me and was one of the little moments I tend to run into which make each trip unique.  I hope that maybe someone reading this might have some much needed information about the Russells Mills name for me.

            Dartmouth is definitely a mixture of many places.  One part college town and one part seaside village it is all together a great spot to visit.  I would imagine that it would be even more fun to visit Demarest Lloyd State Park and Oxford Creamery at the Bucket at Appongansett Park during the summer.  Still I enjoyed my time in Dartmouth and think any potential traveler will as well.  Have fun and happy traveling!

For more In My Footsteps items follow my Twitter Feed, view more photos at the In My Footsteps fan page on Facebook, or visit my homepage at ChristopherSetterlund.com.   Thanks for reading! 

Directions:  Demarest Lloyd State Park:  From I-195 take Exit 12, turn right at Faunce Corner Dr., continue onto Old Westport Rd.  Turn left at Chase Rd., follow it 3.5 miles, turn right at Russells Mills Rd.  Continue onto Horseneck Rd., continue onto Barney’s Joy Rd.  Park entrance is 1 mile up on left.

            Apponagansett Park:  From I-195 take Exit 12, turn right at Faunce Corner Dr., turn left at State Rd., turn right at Tucker Rd.  Follow it 3 miles, continue onto Russells Mills Rd.  Continue onto Bakerville Rd.  Turn left at Gulf Rd., Park is on left 1.3 miles.

References:  New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce

            Demarest Lloyd State Park - Mass. DCR

            Oxford Creamery.com

Buzzards Bay on Dwellable