The Greenway Approach To
Historic Preservation
- Connecting Recreational Trails in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
- Bay Circuit Trail
- Historic Matfield & Satucket Rivers
- Sachem Rock Farm
- Leland Farm
- Captain Washburn Pond
Project Overview… Connecting Greenways:
Today there is a Vision …and a huge effort across the state to link hundreds of local open spaces – ribbons of green laced together through parks, natural resource areas, and important community features – to satisfy a diverse set of environmental, economical, educational, and social needs.
Greenways are corridors of land and water and the natural, cultural, and recreational resources they link together. A walking trail connecting to historical sites and neighborhood parks, a wildlife migration corridor, and a series of open spaces joined by trails are all examples of Greenways.
Bay Circuit Trail
Forerunner of today’s national Greenways movement, the Bay Circuit Trail was started as an outer “emerald necklace,” linking parks, open spaces and waterways from Plum Island to Kingston. Focused on a 200- mile corridor of 50 cities and towns, BCT connects the “jewels” of the “emerald necklace.” Community by community, the dream of connecting a protected Greenway around Boston is now becoming a reality.
We need your Help and Support! Participation is an investment in the FUTURE of East Bridgewater.
For information or to volunteer, please contact:
The Friends of East Bridgewater Trails
P.O. Box 59, East Bridgewater, MA 02333
Howard Wilbur at 508-378-3473
hawilbur@Juno.com
eastbridgewatertrails.org
or
East Bridgewater Conservation Commission
508-378-1623
Leland Farm
The former Leland Dairy Farm is a 160-acre town-owned parcel of diverse habitat with fields, streams, and hedgerows. It is bisected by Beaver Brook, a native trout stream. The southern portion of the property has been cleared of all buildings and presently is leased by a local farmer who raises seasonal vegetable crops. The Friends of East Bridgewater Trails seeks to develop a perimeter walking trail around this property.
Captain Washburn Pond
This industrial site was first developed in the mid-1820’s with the building of a house and barn on the property. During Captain Washburn’s ownership a dam was built and a vertical saw mill was constructed to cut lumber for box making. Capt. Washburn installed the first power generation in town, running lights by his own water power. The water was diverted from Beaver Brook and after passing through the dam was reconnected back to the brook. Today this historical property is popular for fishing, and in the winter, skaters and hockey players are often observed. The property needs upgrading and the Trails Group is developing a perimeter Trails Group is developing a perimeter.
Matfield River Quickwater
Matfield and Satucket Rivers
Historically, the Matfield and Satucket Rivers once supported a thriving and diverse population of anadromous and freshwater fish. American Shad and blueback herring are river spawning species; alewives lay their eggs in connecting ponds. They require unobstructed clean, well-oxygenated water free of excessive chlorine and other pollutants. Evidence of the importance of these fish to the native Wampanoag Nation can be found at low water when one of the surviving stone fish weirs is visible in the Satucket, upstream from the Carver Cotton Gin. These rivers still provide recreational canoeing and kayaking, with the bay Circuit Trail running close by along the Satucket River. These rivers were part of the Taunton River Wild & Scenic Study Area.
Sachem Rock Farm
The 32- acre Sachem Rock Farm property is the most historic parcel within the area, the first inland property purchased by the Pilgrim Fathers. On the bedrock outcropping at the rear of this site Miles Standish, Samuel Nash and Constant Southworth purchased the land, then called Satucket and now including the three Bridgewaters and Brockton. The seller was the Pokanoket Sachem Ousamequin, and the purchase was to include all land in a square 7 miles north, east, south and west measured from a figs weir in the neighboring Satucket River. This picturesque town-owned property is now the site of a new Senior / Community Center, on which the Friends of East Bridgewater Trails group plan to improve a perimeter foot trail.
Greenways are Pathways — Connecting people and place