The Back Roads from Sea View, Part 3

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.

That's Summer Street in the center & left side,  the "S" curve. The East Marshfield Railroad Station is on the left, at the tree line. The old wood street sign is just showing on the left foreground

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.

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 south from behind the stone wall towards Marshfield Hills.
The school house behind the tree.

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.

 An early photo of 922 Summer Street -- Lampson's

As we approached Stoddards Corner, on the left was an old wood sign with a hand carved 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.

Looking from Spring Street at Stoddard's Barn on Summer Street

These overlooked the North River. It is now the home of South Shore's Audubon.

Looking north to the North River and Wills Island, Scituate. The railroad runs in front of Wills Island to the right.
The original Main Street is in the foreground, just a few feet east of what is now Main Street.

Across Summer Street, looking south, this is now called Patrick's  Lane.

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.

There was a big colonial home on the left, known as Riverside Rest, and now Mary's Boat Yard.

Looking south from Scituate.

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 clams for a bucket of fill. I have no proof of this rumor.

The present building on the site of Lew's Bait Shop.

The road, 3A, across to Greenbush was under water at most extra-high tides. I once remember my Dad driving back to Seaview through the high water. I was in fear of driving off the road into deep water!

Ray Freden, Seaview/ Marshfield, 70 years.