[Illustration: {Illustrated capital}]
The Town of Plymouth, made famous as the permanent settlement of the
Pilgrims, is the county seat of Plymouth County in southeastern
Massachusetts. It is 37 miles southeast of Boston and is reached by
rail, and by Routes north via the Old Colony Division of the N. Y., N.
H. & H. R. R., and by automobile over routes No. 3 and No. 3A. It
overlooks Cape Cod Bay and a well protected harbor. Its year ’round
population is approximately 14,000. It has an area of 108 square miles,
the largest in the State.
In addition to its historical association and its old records, among
which one may browse at pleasure, the town has a fine public school
system, public library, many churches, an excellent water system,
several banks and theatres, an adequate fire and police department, a
modernized hospital and high quality of public service. There are fine
bathing beaches and recreational centers, hotels and accommodation for
tourists.
Fraternal organizations are numerous. The Old Colony Club, organized
1769, the oldest social organization in America, is located on Court
Street, opposite the Court House. Other active societies are the
Plymouth Woman’s Club, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, the Cordage
Men’s Club, the Plymouth Country Club, the Girls’ Club, the Boys’ Club,
the New Century Club, and the Manomet Village Club.
The Plymouth County Court House occupies a commanding position facing
Court Street with the Registry of Deeds near at hand on North Russell
Street and easily accessible to visitors. A new Federal Post Office
Building stands at the historic corner of Leyden and Main Streets. A
commodious armory on Court Street accommodates the National Guard. At
one time this building was the headquarters of the Standish Guards, the
local militia company organized and chartered in 1818.
Opposite the armory is Plymouth’s Memorial Building, dedicated in 1926
to the men of Plymouth who served in all the wars in which the country
has been engaged. It has a large hall with a seating capacity of 2000
and was built at a cost of $300,000. This building is a few steps north
of Pilgrim Hall, that sacred depository of Pilgrimiana, a mecca for
modern day Pilgrims, visited every year by thousands from the world
over.
The town has diversified industries. Its mills and factories are devoted
principally to the production of high grade woolens, cordage, tacks and
rivets, and zinc products.
[Illustration: AN ISLAND IN ONE OF PLYMOUTH’S MANY PONDS]
Over 300 ponds of sparkling clear water lie within the town’s
boundaries, and these together with its woodlands offer almost unlimited
facilities for hunting and fishing, while salt water fishing is equally
available.
Yes, Plymouth has much to offer as a place for permanent residence and
as a summer resort.
The door is open and the word is _Welcome_.
Approaching Plymouth from the north and passing through Kingston, it is
both convenient and of interest to visit the Major John Bradford House.
This house stands on a knoll on Landing Road overlooking Jones River and
the marshes. It was built in 1674 by Major John Bradford, son of Major
William Bradford, Deputy Governor and Grandson of Governor William
Bradford.
_Legend:_
During the King Philip War this house was partially burned while Major
Bradford was moving his family to a place of safety. Upon his return
Indians were seen surrounding the house, one of whom the Major shot
while he was in the act of warning his comrades of the approach of the
whites. This Indian, while wounded, crawled behind a fallen tree and
some years later told Major Bradford of the circumstances of his escape,
showing at the same time the bullet wound in his side received at the
time.
Another fact of interest is that this house gave shelter for something
like twenty-five years to the now famous “History of Plimouth
Plantation,” sometimes spoken of as the “Bradford History” written by
Governor Bradford and preserved in the State House in Boston.
Entering Plymouth through Court Street and passing the plant of the
Plymouth Cordage Company, one comes to another old house. This house is
known as the William Crowe House. It is located on the east side of the
highway and was probably built in 1664 as in that year William Crowe
married Hannah, daughter of the first Josiah Winslow. A deed dated 1665
from Francis Billington to William Crowe refers to the estate “on which
Mr. Crowe now lives.” This undoubtedly establishes the house as one of
the very oldest of Plymouth’s old houses.
Mr. Crowe’s widow married John Sturtevant. Her daughter Hannah
Sturtevant married Josiah Cotton, a grandson of Rev. John Cotton. In
1709 Mr. Cotton became the owner, and in 1723 built the two-story
addition.
Proceeding south through Court Street and turning west at Allerton or
Cushman Street brings one to the National Monument of the Forefathers.
... This monument, towering high in its massive splendor, occupies a
commanding position overlooking the town and harbor, with Duxbury,
Clark’s Island, the Saquish and the Gurnet in the background.
The central figure is _Faith_, which stands on the main pedestal, one
foot resting on a replica of Plymouth Rock. In the left hand is a Bible,
while the right hand points heavenward. The whole attitude is symbolic
of faith in a divine power, as the smaller statues below are
representative of the principles enunciated by the Pilgrims themselves.
The plan of the base is octagonal. There are four protruding wings, on
each of which is a figure seated. One representing Morality holding the
decalogue in the left hand and the scroll of Revelation in the right. On
the one side is a Prophet and on the other the Evangelists.
On the next pedestal is the figure representing Law with Justice on one
side and Mercy on the other, symbolizing justice tempered with mercy.
Education has on the one hand the wisdom of maturity and on the other
Youth following experience. The fourth figure represents Freedom, a
consequence of which is peace, represented on the one hand, while on the
other is represented the overthrow of tyranny.
The main pedestal has four polished faces, on two of which are inscribed
the names of the Mayflower Pilgrims, while another bears the inscription
“National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in
remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of
civil and religious liberty.” There is one panel left for future use.