Lucky to Live in Scituate

Geography? What is it?
Geography is the study of the earth, the influence of the earth on humans and the influence of humans on it.

Question: How does the earth influence us and how do we influence it? To help us answer these questions we will introduce and apply the ...

5 Themes of Geography.
1. Location: Absolute & Relative
2. Human and Environmental Interactions
3. Place
4. Region
5. *MOVEMENT

Class Example: REGION

1. What does it mean? A region is an area that has common features, features that are both natural and artificial. Regions, large or small, are the basic units of greography.

2. Give two examples? Within the United States of America there are many different regions. Can you name some? Within our town of Scituate even though they are very small, there are also regions. Take a look at a regional map of the United States of America. Also take a look at the names for Scituate's regions below. Which region of Scituate do you live? What region of Scituate is Gates?

3. Why is it important? The geographic theme region allows us to know many facts about an area which make it unique and seperate from other locations or places. What are those facts? Region can allow us to know the language, ethnic or racial backgrounds, government or religion of an area as well as the natural characteristics such as forests, oceans, rivers, wildlife and the climate.

Regions of the United States of America

Scituate's Regions

Miadfskj;l;MMinot Sand Hills The Cliffs Egypt Harbor Greenbush Humarock North Scituate West End Avenues

St. Patrick's Day Parade. Straight Up: We are lucky to live in Scituate.

Off the beaten path. Easy to stay here, once you get here. Click on Scituate please.

Scituate is as pretty as a picture.

United States Military: All Scituate can say is, "Thank You." We have had a number of former players serve with distinction in our armed services.

Sergeant Michael Jason Kelley Memorial Bridge over the North River connecting Scituate and Marshfield. Sergeant Kelley gave his life for our country in 2005 while serving in Afghanistan and his bridge was named in his honor in 2006. Sergeant Kelley's sister Colleen Kelley while attending SHS was our program statistician and record keeper from 2000-2002. Please click on photo to read about our current program manager Brendan Barry's service project to honor Sergeant Kelley.

From the Scituate Mariner: Joe Kelley, center, with daughter, Colleen, at the memorial garden honoring Sgt. Michael J. Kelley. The garden is located on the Scituate side of the bridge, named for Sgt. Kelley, going over the North River. Also pictured are members of the Barry family.

Scituate Fire Department: Thank you.

Scituate Police Department: Thank You.

Police Chief Steward retired in 2013 after 38 years of service to Scituate. Thank you Chief Stewart.

DARE Officer Dom D'Archangelo receiving deserved recognition for 25 years of dedicated service to Scituate's youth. Thank you Officer Dom.

Scituate's history is all around, just read the books & plaques. Scituate is a study of Continuity and Change.

Old Scituate is a Scituate history book written by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1923. If you are interested in early Scituate colonial history, its role in the American Revolution and Civil War eras this is a must read. Information on Scituate's soldiers and sailors in the American Revolution is amazingly detailed. This is not an easy read, but if you want to know your town history, this is the book for you. Go the Scituate library and take it out.

Native Americans were right: Scituate's waters are cold, but they always warm-up in the summer. Scituate's first settlers found a location between the Plymouth Colony (Pilgrims) and Massachusetts Bay Colony (Puritans). Scituate's geographic isolation from these feuding and competing colonies may have been the reason for their choice. Conihasset Partners worked out Scituate's boundaries overtime. Many early families were from Kent England are buried in The Men of Kent Cemetery on one of Scituate's oldest streets: Meeting House Lane. Scituate students should take the time to read plaques around town.

3rd Cliff. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cliffs are beautiful and historically important. The Men of Kent were in Scituate as early as 1628 as this historic plaque mentions.

Scituate Harbor was an excellent choice by Scituate's first English settlers to build their new town around and not chosen by accident or expediency.

Scituate Harbor is big enough and at the same time not too small. Do you know of a more scenic harbor?

Scituate Harbor is deep enough too to allow ships of varying sizes close to it's shore. Scituate's first settlers knew what they were looking for in a harbor.

Scituate was on the border between two very different and sometimes feuding colonies: Massachusetts Bay Colony & Plymouth Colony. Distancing themselves from these two colonies and being difficult to "get to" was a conscious decision. Scituate's forests, river front, clearable land and its excellent harbor made it an ideal location to build a town.

The Men of Kent Cemetery on Meeting House Lane.

Bound Rock: Marking the official boundary between the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony. Plymouth and Mass Bay Colonies did not always get along and needed to mark their own territories. This boundary line later became the boundary between Scituate and our neighbor Cohasset.

Plaque within Men of Kent Cemetery marking site of Scituate's first Meeting House or Church and the first reverends and pastor of the community.

Scituate's churches play a huge part in Scituate's history.

The Mann House. One Scituate family lived in this house generation after generation for 3 centuries. Now that is what you call a real TOWNIE.

Historical Plaques are an amazing gift to the community.

King Phillip's War 1675 - 1678: The evidence is all around us.

Take a look of the picture of Metacomet or Metacom shown below, he is known better by his English name King Phillip. This picture was drawn by Paul Revere almost 100 years after the end of this little known war between the Native Americans and the English. Despite the fact that the English placed his head on a stake at the entrance into Plymouth after the conclusion of King Phillip's War for all to see for the next 20 years, the American colonists were inspired by his fight against oppression in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain. Metacomet's life and his history reads like an Ancient Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus. Forced into this terribly unfair war baring his name King Phillip's War (1675-1678) and not having complete control of the warriors from the many various tribes allied to his cause, he proved to be a very poor military leader. King Phillip's War was an absolute disaster for both sides. Metacomet was the second son of the Massasoit whose real name was Quasamegin "Yellow Flower or Feather." Yes, this is the same Massasoit who made it possible for the English Pilgrims to survive their first years in Plymouth. The Harvest Home feast enjoyed by the Plymouth colony Pilgrims and their 90 or so Native American guests including Quasamegin himself in 1621 that evolved over time into our Thanksgiving tradition is no myth. It did happen. Native American and English relations prior to the outbreak of this war were amazingly complex and complicated. Scituate is part of this history. Real cooperation and mutual trust did exist in the early stages of the Plymouth colony. Tensions mounted slowly over the decades after 1620, but increased dramatically however after the deaths of Governor Winslow 1655 and the Massasoit's death in 1661. After their deaths, Plymouth colony slowly began to demand much from their Native American neighbors. One particularly controversial demand made by the Plymouth authorities was for the disarming of all Native American warriors within all the Plymouth colony territories. This simply was not going to happen without a fight. Adding to this was the trial of the Harvard graduate and "Praying Indian" John Sassamon, subsequent executions of Native Americans found guilty of his murder as well as the the death of the next Wampanoag chief Wamsutta (Alexander) in Marshfield. Many Native Americans thought Wamsutta, Metacomet's older brother, had been poisoned by the English. He probably died of heat stroke. All of these factors had much to do with the outbreak of this terrible war which started with a Native American raid of Swansea, Massachusetts in 1675. Ultimately the real reason for the war was the Great Migration during the 1630's where thousands of English arrived displacing Native Americans from their ancestral lands. These new arrivals mostly Puritan no longer needed the assistance of the tribes like the original English Pilgrims did in Plymouth and they cared little for the declining fortunes of the same people, the same tribes that were so crucial to the English survival in New England a generation earlier. As the numbers of the English grew so did their need for land, access to water, wood and grazing land for their livestock. Believe it or not, the English livestock introduced to eastern Massachusetts starting in the 1620's became a major problem between the English and Native American peoples. The English routinely allowed their livestock to wander off their farms to graze and in many cases these animals wandered onto Native American lands eating and destroying their crops so vital for their survival. English colonial courts ignored the Native American pleas to stop allowing this practice. The Native American attack on Swansea on June 20, 1675 which started the war targeted English livestock, not people. As you can tell the situation leading up to King Phillip's War was complex and complicated. Scituate suffered a terrible day on May 20, 1676 when Native Americans burnt over 20 houses and killed a number of Scituate men. Coronet Stetson (Rt. 123 is named for him) led the defense of the town at the Stockbridge Garrison or blockhouse. Earlier during the war Captain Michael Pierce (Captain Pierce Road) along with a number of Scituate militia were killed in what is now known as Pierce's Fight in Rhode Island against the Narraganset led by Chief Canonchet who were allied with Metacomet's Wampanoag. Scituate survived the war, the Native Americans regardless of what side they fought on, barely did. The study of history is not boring and this includes your Scituate history. Take the time to know it.

Stockbridge Common photos from the late 1970's.

Stockbridge Common during 17th century was used for grazing of animals & preparing for war.

Common used for grazing of animals & training of Scituate's militia. Many men from Scituate died in King Phillip's War.

Metacomet or King Phillip. English refused to use names not referenced in the bible. That is the reason why Native Americans can be referred to by two names.

Pierce's Fight: Site in Rhode Island were Scituate Captain Michael Pierce and a large number of Scituate militia were killed in King Phillip's War.

Nine Men's Misery: Memorial in Rhode Island dedicated to Captain Pierce (Captain Pierce Road) & the soldiers serving under him, many from Scituate, who died in King Phillip's War. Ambushed and routed, nine of the captured English militia were tortured terribly.

More evidence of the King Phillip's War, Scituate's defense of the Mill and the need for Garrison Houses.

Old Stockbridge Grist Mill: A reason why Scituate was attacked during King Phillip's War on May 20, 1676. Click on this photo to watch how grain was made into flour.

The Barker Tavern was originally one of Scituate "Garrison" Houses in case of an attack on the town.

Go and see the Grist Mill. You will be impressed.

Scituate exodus. During Scituate's early history for many reasons, people packed their bags to seek their fortunes elsewhere. In 1710 a number of families left town, eventually settling in Rhode Island and later named their new town for their old town - Scituate.

1816 was known as "The Year Without A Summer" and many New Englanders including families from Scituate moved to the western United States.

CHIEF JUSTICE CUSHING (1732 - 1810)

Associate Justice William Cushing actually was given the honor to swear President Washington into office for 2nd inaugural & would have been promoted to Chief Justice but due to poor health declined the offer. Well before his time in understanding the evil of slavery, was a main reason why Massachusetts outlawed slavery early in its history. Both he and his wife Hannah were inoculated for small pox during an epidemic so that the public would feel safe allowing themselves and their children to receive the same inoculation. This simple act saved thousands of lives particularly children. Scituate should always honor his memory. You can visit his grave site. He passed away on September 17, 1810. Read more about his life.

Cushing Memorial Park off Neal Gate Street. Visit it and learn more. George Washington routinely asked much of Justice Cushing before and after the American Revolutionary War. From what I have read General / President Washington could be very convincing when he wanted you to do something. Knowing your town history will make you appreciate your community that much more.

Cudworth House: Like Walking Back into Time

Cudworth House was originally built in 1797. Please click on photo for more information from the Scituate Historical Society.

Main fireplace inside the Cudworth House.

Cudworth Cattle Pound: Horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.

Spinning wheel inside the Cudworth House.

Cudworth Barn: Amazing artifacts inside including carriage ridden by Marquis De Lafayette.

SCITUATE'S ARMY OF TWO - Not a Scituate Myth

Abigail and Rebecca Bates house is located right in Scituate Harbor. All Scituate's folks should know their Scituate history. Rebecca and Abigail Gates must have been quick thinking and brave young ladies. The playing of Yankee Doodle with borrowed fife and drum forced the British warship, the HMS La Hogue out of Scituate's harbor. Scituate during the War of 1812 refused to provision the British navy. The decision to not provision the Royal Navy was made by the town selectman. This decision put Scituate in great danger. The British Royal Marines rowing to Scituate's shores from the HMS La Hogue did not have peaceful intentions and the site of them rowing to closer and closer to Scituate's shore must have been indeed frightening. Royal Marines were no boy-scouts and had a formidable reputation, but hearing the playing of Yankee Doodle and believing the local Scituate militia were ready to pick them off as they departed from their barges, forced them to rethink their plans to set Scituate ablaze. The British during the War of 1812 and Revolutionary War routinely set examples of American towns and cities which refused to cooperate with them. Rebecca and Abigail Bates saved our town from being burnt to the ground. This is not just an opinion from an amateur historian or a Scituate myth, this is a Scituate historical fact. Thank you Rebecca and Abigail Bates from your service to our town and country. More academic research needs to be done about their lives and contribution.

Abigail and Rebecca Bates: Their contribution to Scituate during the War of 1812 is a true story and not just a Scituate myth. A congressional record was found with their names listed granting them a pension for their military service.

Congress appropriated $4000 to build lighthouse in 1810. The lighthouse fell out of use by 1860 & was re-lit in 1994. This Scituate landmark is known all over. Click on photo for more information.

China from 1905 showing what the lighthouse looked like prior to its restoration.

The Old Oaken Bucket

The Old Oaken Bucket by Samuel Woodsworth (1784 - 1842.) Please click on the photo to read this famous poem.

John Northey is also worth researching.

SCITUATE: CONTINUITY & CHANGE

The Grand Army of the Republic building was constructed in 1825 as meeting house for local Baptists, but due to their growing congregation and needing a bigger church sold the building and property in 1866. After renovations to the building a number of local Civil War veteran's bought the building in 1875. Please go and visit our local and famous landmarks such as the GAR building. Click on the photo for more information from the Scituate Historical Society.

Scituate's Civil War veteran's parade past Lawson Common sometime in the early 20th century.

Lawson Common is a beautiful site and pays deserved tribute to all of Scituate's veterans.

Civil War veteran's in front of the G.A.R. building in the late 19th century.

The Portland Gale separated Scituate from Humarock & took the lives of many people.

THE LAWSON LEGACY

Thomas Lawson born in 1857 in Charlestown, Massachusetts and passed away in 1925. His legacy is still felt all over Scituate. The most important legacy to the town was his decision to plant trees. Scituate was basically treeless by the late 19th century due to the continuing need for open farm land, pastures for grazing, wood for houses, barns, ships and firewood. Look at Scituate today with its beautiful commons, gardens and trees. It was not always this way. Mr. Lawson is a big reason why Scituate is the Scituate we enjoy today. Go up his tower and take a good luck at Scituate. As impressive as the tower is, his legacy of garden and tree planting is his most important gift to the town. Click on Mr. Lawson's photo to discover more interesting facts about his life.

Photo from 1902 the year Lawson Tower was constructed.

Mr. Lawson believed elephants were good luck.

Lawson Tower: Once was nothing more than an old crumbling water tower which Mrs. Lawson thought was an eye sore. Hiring a German wood working firm, moving its employees to Scituate and paying a lot of money for its creation, Mr. Lawson created what is now the most recognizable Scituate landmark. Isn't the fall beautiful around here or what?

Dreamwold: The Thomas Lawson Estate from an advertisement for paint.

Entrance to "Dreamwold"

Mr. Lawson: Thank You.

Egypt Country Store has been a fixture in the Egypt section of Scituate for over 100 years. Click on photo to read why this section of town has its name: Egypt. This Boston Journal 1870 article will help you understand.

THE LURE OF THE SEA

Captain Ezra Vinal died at sea in 1821. Scituate depended on the sea, ship building, fishing and farming for its economic survival.

Map of the numerous ship yards on the North River. The letter H denotes Scituate's location.

Scituate fisherman have proudly fished its waters for almost 400 years. As did Native American fisherman for thousands of years before them. Native American fishing artifacts can still be found.

Located at the town pier this memorial pays tribute to those from Scituate who lost their lives at sea. Many folks including me, do not pay attention to the history and the lives of people from town who came before them. Scituate is the product of all of the work and dreams of those who came before us.

The Italian ship The Etrusco washed aground in 1956 and stayed put for 8 months. Scituate residents took care of the crew. After returning to sea it was renamed the S.S. Scituate.

Etrusco Memorial plaque at Cedar Point.

Etrusco Association on Common Lane.

The Maritime and Irish Mossing Museum is well worth visiting and is located right off the Driftway. Go to the museum and find out more about Scituate's maritime history. Click on this photo for more information.

Irish Sea Mossing. Please click on photo to read about a retired Scituate Irish Mosser who as a Scituate High School student started sea mossing in 1959.

SCITUATE SEA MONSTER OR JUST A BIG FISH?

A Scituate Mystery from 1970.

Some of the folks that saw this "Basking Shark" have told me, "That was no Basking Shark." Something fishy was going on in Scituate in 1970.

Cliff Hotel on Minot Beach tragically burnt down in 1974. People still talk about it.

Scituate's West End has its own identity too. All of Scituate's "villages" do. This is the High Street School which educated Scituate's students from 1874 to 1918. Known today as the Mount Hope Improvement Society. Scituate is a balance and a study of continuity and change.

The Little Red School House. Scituate's first High School was built in 1893 and graduated its first class of 6 students. Times have changed, but the Little Red School House is still with us despite being moved from its original site on First Parrish Road.

Continuity & Change - One of the C's of History. As much as Scituate does change, so much of it has remained the same. This is a photo from the early 20th century.

Scituate 8th & 9th graders in 1916 in the Little Red School House. This is my favorite Scituate photo. I have no doubt that these kids are the great grandparents of current Scituate residents.

Jenkins 1 in 1901.

Jenkins 1 in the late 1940's.

Jenkins Elementary 1st Graders in 1939

Scituate High School opened its doors in September 1960. On the first day of school high school students were required to carry books from the old high school now Gates Intermediate, to the current high school. This saved Scituate thousands of dollars in moving costs. They did this all day long, back and forth all day. Can you imagine the lawsuits and whining on social media sites today if Scituate students were asked to do this again in our time? What a shame. Were our Scituate predecessors tougher than us or were they just more ready and willing to lend a hand to support each other and the community? You tell me, but do you know what? We too can rise to the occasion.

Gates Intermediate Junior High School. This was Scituate's High School until 1960. Look under the sign over the front door and read what it says underneath.

Scituate's Elementary Schools

Hatherly Elementary School

Wampatuck Elementary School

Jenkins 3 Elementary School

Cushing Elementary School

Scituate Town Library

Scituate Library: One of the best around. People have no idea how hard our librarians work for our kids.

Scituate Light House: Amazing Photo

Minot Light

Great photo.

Joshua's Run is a great annual Scituate road race and an even better Scituate success story.

Scituate warns hurricanes to keep their distance, not the other way around.

Shop at Scituate stores and support Scituate business.

Scituate Harbor: Pronounced "Haw-Baa" is these parts.

Scituate Harbor in the 1930's: Corner of Brook Street & Front Street.

Construction during the 1930's of Scituate's movie theater in Scituate Harbor.

UPI story & photo from 1959 detailing a fire in Scituate Harbor.

Scituate deals with winter storms the best it can.

Great Photo taken during the 2013 Sectional Final at UMass-Boston. I love this photo.

The Glades

Fireworks photo taken from TKO'Malleys' deck.

Scituate has beautiful beaches.

Peggotty Beach postcard. Look at 2nd Cliff. No trees in sight.

Great read about Scituate's many fascinating and spooky ghost stories. Ghost stories regardless if you believe them or not, pass on the culture and the history of the people who lived their lives right where we live our lives today. Scituate has a lot of great ghost stories.

Support local authors and read about your home town.

Scituate's colonial past is directly tied into the the Mayflower's and Plymouth Colony's history.

Know your Scituate History. Thank you Scituate Historical Society.

The Spit

Minot Beach Postcard

Scituate Sunset

The photos below were taken during and after the Blizzard of '78.

Scituate winter's are tough, but nothing has ever compared to the winter of 1978. The Blizzard of '78 made headlines around the world. Where you living in Scituate?

Sometimes in the winter it snows and it does get cold. Handle it. You are in New England. Wear a coat!

Scituate during a winter storm in 2014.

You got to take the good with the bad. It all works out.

The old Quarter Deck during before it became the Lucky Finn.

Winter: It is cold and sometimes it snows - a lot.

Scituate Fans: Scituate teams need YOU.

2013 NBA first round draft choice of the Philadelphia 76'ers, Nerlins Noel knew where to go for a Sunday morning workout - Scituate.

Heritage Days are a blast.

The famous Itchy's Corner. Why is this corner called Itchy's?

Downtown Scituate Harbor

No Lettuce? Great subs.

A gift from Mr. Lawson

North Scituate is unique.

One of North Scituate's Historical Plaques

Harvest Festival in North Scituate is a lot of fun.

The annual Scituate Carnival

Ronnie Shone's General Store

Boats. If you have one, you are obliged to use it.

Town Hall

Thank You Scituate Selectman !

Sandhill's SBA (Scituate Beach Association) Labor Day Parade. Sandhills is its own country and a state of mind.

Lucky dunking over at Cushing Elementary

Memorial Day Parade

Scituate Basketball: Always Be on the Attack.

Scituate's Olympians.

The Train is Back.

Be true to your school. This is the 3rd Jenkins school located on the plot of land donated over a century ago by Emiline and Charles Jenkins to the town of Scituate.

The storm of the century: The Blizzard of '78.

Scituate's students can achieve anything and everything.

There is always something exciting going on in Scituate.

Humarock is a very unique Scituate community.

Kazlousky Park: A very special place.

Minot Beach

The Jetty off the Scituate Light House. A jetty is any of a variety of structures used in river, dock, and maritime works that are generally carried out in pairs from river banks, or in continuation of river channels at their outlets into deep water; or out into docks, and outside their entrances; or for forming basins along the coast for ports in tideless seas.

Scituate Harbor: Sure is a pretty.

Vote Often & Early. The Scituate Mayor plays a pivotal role in determining the political direction as well as the military and economic policies set forth for our town. Choose Wisely when casting your vote.

You're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy. You are in Scituate, Mass.

We live in a very beautiful place. Be proud of your Scituate community. Just move somewhere else if you don't believe me. You'll see and you will be back.