The site of SMITHS YARD in Hanover is about 300 yards below the old North River Bridge, and about 12 miles up-river from the ocean (although the distance was 15 miles until the Portland Gale altered the river in 1898). The cast iron sign that marks the location for this shipyard reads “SMITHS YARD LATER […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Hanover’s Forge Pond Park is large (75 acres), and as you drive up the entrance road, it might be easy to presume from first glance that it is strictly an athletic complex surrounded by pine and oak forest. There are three baseball fields, three softball fields, and three multi-purpose fields, commonly filled with soccer teams on weekend mornings. There […]
December 19, 1919 By: Henry T. Claus Transcribed and edited by Jane Estabrooks A Democracy Afloat Others perhaps had a large share in making history in those history-making days, but in the light of today no vessel reaches quite the picturesque heights attained by the Roanoke, 99 tons, built in 1842 at Barstow’s Lower Yards. […]
December 19, 1919 By: Henry T. Claus Transcribed and edited by Jane Estabrooks Came to Boston’s Tea-Party Another history-making ship that the North River gave to the nation was the brig Beaver, one of the vessels participating in Boston’s famous tea party on Dec. 16, 1773. The Beaver, tonnage unknown, was built by Ichabod Thomas […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent The days are getting shorter, the nights are growing longer, and most mornings there is a chill in the air. It’s a long-held tradition in the fall to acknowledge the change of seasons and celebrate the harvest. Between now and Halloween there are a number of local fests and feasts, […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Have you heard about the bald eagles that are nesting on the North River? Have you seen them? For the past century, to observe a bald eagle in the wild would be a rare occurrence. To see one on the South Shore — inconceivable! But thanks to repopulation efforts, the […]
December 19, 1919 By: Henry T. Claus Transcribed and edited by Jane Estabrooks Rapid Accretion Another interesting shipbuilder of his time was Alden Briggs of the Briggs family which played so important a part in Plymouth County history. Alden Briggs had the peculiar habit of adding, from year to year, by compound interest to the […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Paddling season is here! If you enjoy canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), summer is the perfect time to get out on the water. The weather is warm, the breezes are light, and getting your feet wet – or even your entire body – might actually be welcomed. The North […]
December 19, 1919 By: Henry T. Claus Transcribed and edited by Jane Estabrooks Nature Acted When She Got Ready From the earliest days trouble was experienced in getting the larger ships from the river to the sea, and all sorts of contrivances were rigged up to drag the vessels through the shoals. But the thing […]
NATURE by Kezia Bacon, Correspondent Now is the perfect time of year to visit Norwell’s Cuffee Hill Conservation Area – or more specifically, to visit Black Pond Bog, which is located within the 350-acre parcel. Like many of our local nature preserves, Cuffee Hill is interesting throughout the year, but in May, June and July, […]