Another Saturday trip from Seaview was out the length of Summer Street. We are now going to Scituate to shop.
If you recall in my last blog, we got to Prospect Street. and through the Hills.
Half way up Prospect St. looking easterly, to Summer St. East Marshfield Railroad Station ,far L. Note the wood street sign in the island,L. side.
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So around the ”S” curve at the bottom of Prospect Street and up the long hill. On the right was a marsh fed by the Hannah Eames brook and high tide water. This became become Murdocks Pond in 1958. It had nothing to do with supplying water for the trains. A huge colonial home stands looking over the now pond.
The 1918 N. Phillips house Summer St.
As we climb the hill, houses are stacked side by each on the west side, while the east side is bordered by a long, well-built stone wall.
Looking SW. from behind the stone wall, toward Marshfield Hills.
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Near the top of the hill on the right is a huge mansion with a masonry stone wall. The lawn was neatly groomed and there were many red cedar trees around the buildings. In the spring, there were flowering trees everywhere. This was known as the Lampson estate. It is now owned by a member of the Aerosmith band.
The Lamson Estate. 922 Summer St. c.1930.
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As we approached Stoddards Corner, on the left was an old wood sign with a finger pointing toward Boston. “To Boston” was painted on the sign, a collectors item of today.
Next on the left was a half cape house in complete disrepair and falling in, a former Ewell home. At the very end of Summer Street was another mansion, with a huge barn across Summer Street.
Stoddard’s Barn on Summer St., looking from Spring St.
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This is overlooking the North River., across from the home of South Shore’s Audubon.
Looking NE. over the North River to Wills Island, Scituate. The Old Colony Railroad tracks run across the marsh in front of the Island.
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| The original road, Bridge St., in foreground, Replaced by now Main St in 1927.. This Street ran across Summer St. and is now Patricks Ln.Patricks Ln. looking S. |
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We then would merge onto Route 3A, and go down the hill to cross the North River. As we approached Little’s Bridge, there was the Toll House on the right — long gone in my time.
The Little’s Bridge Toll House.
Now, looking back, S., Little’s Bridge, The Toll House on L., & a car coming down Bridge St
Lew’s Bait Shack Rte 3-A Scituate.
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Painting by W Ray Freden. |
Over the bridge on the right was a shack sitting on some fill that was flooded at most high tides. A clammer from out of town established a bait shop called Lew’s to sell bait, clams, lobsters and fish bought from local fishermen. Clams and lobsters were kept in the pools out in the marsh to keep them fresh.
When Lew ran out of inventory, he wandered out to a pot hole and retrieved a fresh supply. Lobsters could be bought fresh, or cooked on weekends.Route 3A was the main route to Humarock Beach for the summer residents. Lew’s provided the tourists fresh seafood for the weekend.
I was once told that Lew would bring a few buckets of fill to dump on his claim every time he arrived. Also, certain customers would receive a few extra clams for a bucket of fill. I have no proof of this rumor.
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”There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place”
J. K. Rowling |
Ray Freden, Seaview/ Marshfield, 70 years.