USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 20
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Later, in 1659, it was enacted by the court, "That wher high- waies are wanting in any towne ship of this Jurisdiction that there the next Magistrate unto such Towneshipp shall Impannell' a Jury for the laying out of such wayes as shall bee found by them convenient."
In 1669, it was enacted by the court, "That all the King's high- ways within this government shall be forty feet in breadth at the least."
In the Plymouth Colony Court Records we find the following :
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
"June, 1684. This Court, taking into consideration ye incon- veniency likely to ensue by persons erecting fences, gates or bars on thwart country high wayes to ye annoyance of travellers, doe therefore enact and be it hereby enacted that all necessary country ways within this colony shall, between this time and ye next October Court, be laid out by a jury where it is not already so done at ye charge of ye respective townes through whose lands or townships such wayes may lead and that an account thereof with ye several bounds of each such way in every of said towns shall be presented or brought to ye clarke of that town on penalty of five pounds to be forfeited and paid by such town as shall neglect ye performance thereof."
Some time previous to 1695, towns were given jurisdiction over the subject of laying out highways, the selectmen, on petition, making such lay-out, which, when ratified by the town, became effective. This system prevailed for more than a century.
In 1828 the office of county commissioner was established, since which date nearly all of the highways in Hanover have been laid out by that board. For a few years, however, previous to 1826, petitions for highways were presented to the court of ses- sions and a committee was appointed to make the lay out. Not more than two or three of the highways in Hanover were laid out under the jury system.
Washington street from North River bridge to Scituate line and beyond was laid out in 1653 by a jury of which Cornet Robert Stetson was foreman; and in 1656 William Barstow was authorized "to build a bridge across North river and to clear and mark a way to Hughes' Cross and to open and clear and make a way along beyond Hughes' Cross toward the Bay so as to avoid a certain rocky hill and swamp, he to have 12£ county pay for so doing." This work was doubtless done upon the line that the aforesaid jury agreed upon.
Under the early system, private ways were laid out for the use of the public, the owners of the land being permitted to erect gates at the boundary lines of their premises. The only reference we find in Hanover records indicating such an obstruc- tion is the reference in old deeds and the laying out of highways "to the gate near the widow Deborah Hatch's." This Deborah Hatch lived near the corner of Circuit and Winter streets.
Nearly all of the highways that were laid out by the Selectmen of Hanover were made two rods in width. While the Colony Court required it, the highways were made forty feet in width,
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ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
but there were not more than three or four of these. The roads laid out by the county commissioners have been made forty feet or more in width.
It is quite certain that previous to the incorporation of the town, beginning about 1699, the highway from the Norwell line near the house of Samuel H. Church to Washington street and then following up what is known as "Henry's Lane" to the foot of the "Great Lots," Union street, Silver street, Washington street, Broadway throughout its entire length, the whole of Elm street, East street, Hanover street from Washington street to Circuit street, Circuit street from Hanover street to Summer street, and probably Center street, were laid out by the town of Scituate.
Soon after the incorporation of the town, in 1727, and from that date to 1750, Winter street, Summer street, the south part of Main street, School street, part of King street, Spring street, and the west end of Plain street in Hanover, and King street in what is now Hanson, were laid out.
From 1750 to 1800 the way from the end of Pleasant street to the Rockland line, Whiting street, the north part of Main street, Cedar street, Pleasant street, and the road from Assinippi to the store of the John S. Brooks Co., were laid out.
Between 1800 and 1850 the east end of Plain street, Pine street, Water street, Hanover street from Circuit street to West Hanover station, Webster street from Whiting street to the easterly end of North street and Webster street, east of Washington street, were constructed.
Since 1850 the following have been opened : Myrtle street from Circuit street to Center street, Rockland street, West avenue, Webster street from Main street to the end of Walnut street, and Pond street.
The wording of the laying out of some of the streets is so obscure that we have not cared to solve the meaning. Quite likely some of the streets in the town were never laid out. So far as we have stated facts, they have been taken from the Colony Court records, Scituate records, Plymouth County commissioner's records, and Hanover records.
The following extracts from the records of laying out of high- ways may prove interesting, especially as they locate the dwell- ings or lands of some of the older residents :
"Scituate, March 7, 1699-1700. Then laid out by James Tor- rey and John Cushing, Jr., Selectmen of said town the highways following,-One highway beginning at the easterly end of the Great
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Lot belonging to Edward Wanton at a place called the Beach. Neck, from thence we laid the said highway forty feet in breadth where the cartway has usually gone and still goeth till it com- meth to the said Country Road where we marked two trees stand- ing near the said road to the northward of the dwelling house of William Curtis, Jr. (easterly end of Union St.)
Also laid out one other highway of forty feet in Breadth along at the easterly end of the said Great Lots in manner following: Namely, beginning at the Southeasterly corner of the Great-Lot belonging to Thomas Jenkins and so is continued northward till it Commeth to a small swamp and then round on the easterly side of the said swamp till it commeth to the easterly end of the said lots again and then is continued still northward on the easterly end of the said lots till it commeth to a great swamp on the easterly side of the said Beach Neck and then beginning on the northerly side of the said swamp, is continued still northward on the easterly end of the said Lots forty feet in Breadth to the Country Road.
JOHN CUSHING, JR. JAMES TORREY."
This road was never worked. It however included the north part of Birch Bottom road and crossed Webster street near the house of Patrick Kane.
"December 1st, 1701: A highway forty foot in breadth laid out from the Country Road to the Drinkwater land, so called,- Beginning at a red oak tree marked with three notches standing near the Road to the Southward of Jonathan Pratt's field and as the way goeth along on the Southwardly side of Pratt's field and along to the southward of Joseph Barstow's land until it comes to the Iron Mine brook and along as the way goeth until it comes to the land of Isaac Hanmer and along on the northerly side of said Hanmer's land as the way goeth until it comes near the "Dirty Slough" and then something Southerly as the trees are marked over the swamp to the way and along as the way goeth until it comes to the land of Jeremiah Hatch and along by the northerly corner of Hatch's land and then along as the way goeth until it comes to the land of the owner of Drinkwater Mill and to the way between the land of Jeremiah Hatch and the aforesaid land of Drinkwater." (A part of Hanover St. and a part of Circuit St.)
"March 23, 1703-A highway laid out at Indian Head River beginning about a rod and a half below the "horse bridge" at a
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sapling white oak standing near the River, thence nine and one- half rods to a stake standing forty foot from the Iron Works, which way so far is through Josiah Palmer's land and thence on the common land up to the coal house and thence turning North- east or something more Northerly as the way now goeth, thence along through a swamp and up a hill until it comes to the cart path where it goeth through a little brook within the Widow Turner's fence and so along five or six rods eastward of said widow's farm until it comes to the cart path leading to the Country Road and as the cart path now goes until it comes to the Country Road that leads from Barstow's Bridge towards Hingham." (This was from Curtis' Iron Works to Hanover Four Corners).
"March 29, 1729-A highway laid out near the road from James Hatch's to the saw mill, thence to the Southeast corner of Amasa Turner's ten acre lot,-thence to a marked tree in James Hatch's range, thence to John Cobb's corner,-thence to a corner between John Cobb and Bachelor Wing,-and thence to Drink- water Road, near where the old gate stood by the widow Deborah Hatch's." (Probably this was what is now Winter street.)
"March 16, 1730-A driftway laid out, beginning at the gate near the widow Deborah Hatch's, as the way goes down the "dug hill",-thence to Caleb Barker's line, between his land and that of Isaac Hatch,- and so on to the way to the furnace and thence to the furnace mill dam." (Probably School street.)
"February 25, 1730-A private way laid out, from the way from Barstow's to the New Forge, in the range between James and Nathaniel Torrey's,-thence to the Northeast corner of Benjamin Hanner's field, thence to the upper end of Nathaniel Torrey's lot,-thence to the corner of Benjamin Stetson's lot, and thence in his range and Matthew Stetson's range, to Drinkwater Road." (This was probably what is now Spring street.)
"February 27, 1764-A way laid out from the land of Marlboro Turner and the heirs of Joseph Curtis, late of Hanover, deceased, -thence North as the way now lies to Samuel Whiting's and James White's land,-thence to a beech tree on Joshua Jacob's land,-thence to the south end of the lane between the land of Thomas and William Whiting, and thence North as the way now lies, till it comes to the north bounds of the town of Hanover." (Whiting street.)
"October 24, 1774-A highway laid out, at the request of Mat- thew and William Estes, beginning at the top of the hill above William Estes' shop,-and turning north to the east side of said
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Estes' fence to Matthew Estes' line, and thence to Caleb Barker's fence on said Estes' land, till it comes to Matthew Estes' orchard fence." (Now the westerly end of Plain street.)
"April 17, 1782-A way laid out, beginning at Scituate line, at the south end of the highway from Captain Thomas Colla- more's to Hanover Meeting House,-thence to Job Curtis' corner, -thence to Otes' lot,-thence to the head of a wall between Ben- jamin Mann's and Thomas Hatch's,-thence to the head of a wall between Thomas Hatch's and Job Curtis',-thence by the house of Lemuel Curtis, Jr., and thence to the highway heretofore laid out." (Part of Main street.)
"April 25, 1791-A highway laid out across the land of Richard Estes, from the highway leading from said Estes' dwelling house to the old furnace, beginning at the Southwest corner of his farm, and running North to the highway opposite the dwelling house of Isaac Hatch." (Probably King street from School street to Circuit street.)
"May 16, 1796-A way laid out from the Northeast corner of William Stockbridge's land, by the highway near Charles Bailey's, and thence West to the highway near John Bailey Jr's." (Cedar street.)
While a highway once established is seldom abandoned, yet there have been two or three such cases of more or less importance.
The first is one that left Center street near the house of Henry A. Harlow, crossing the fields and coming out on Broadway near the end of Water street. On this road there were at least three houses long since gone to decay. An extension of this street prob- ably passed down near Water street, crossing the Indian Head river at the head of the R. C. Waterman pond and entering Dwel- ley street in Pembroke, near the Hanson town line. The abut- ments to the bridge which crossed Indian Head river on this way are plainly visible.
Mill lane, as it was called, was for a hundred years at least a public way to the mill which stood near Waterman's tack factory. This way left Broadway near the end of Spring street.
Henry's lane, so called, was for a long time a public way but is now abandoned as such. We have given the laying out of this way. It left Washington street at the end of Mill street, running westerly to the foot of the Great Lots. There were three or four houses on this lane some years after it was laid out. By a vote of the town the easterly end of this way was moved to the north several hundred feet. This way or lane is still used considerably as a cart path or private way.
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ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
Birch Bottom road, as it was called, was for a long time used as a public highway. This road leaves Union street near the John Dwelley house and enters Main street at the end of Grove street.
Hanmer Hook road, so called, in early deeds, left Hanover street near the house of Wendell P. Thayer, crossing Grove street about 50 rods from Hanover street and entering Plain street midway between Main street and Hanover street. There was one house on this street, the location of which is well defined, a few hun- dred feet south of Plain street.
No other house stood so near the geographical center of the town as did this.
As late as 1850 the highways in the town seldom exceeded two rods in width and the most of them were bordered on each side by a stone wall. Since that date the stone walls have nearly all been removed and the larger part of the ways have been widened.
STREAMS AND BRIDGES.
By Jedediah Dwelley.
North River forms the boundary between Pembroke and Han- over for about two miles. The Indian Head river forms the boundary between Pembroke and Hanover for about the same distance and also the boundary between Hanson and Hanover for more than one mile.
The Third Herring brook forms the easterly and northeasterly boundary between Norwell and Hanover for a distance of about four miles.
Drinkwater river in the southwesterly part of the town is for a distance of two miles a wide, deep stream.
North river is historic and Dr. Briggs in his "Ship Building on North River" has left little to be said. Regarding the name of this river we quote from that book, (page 1) : - " Why the stream which has become so historic takes the name of North River, those who named it left no record, but probably it was either because that in going north from Plymouth they found two' rivers, and named the southern, South River and the northern, North River; or else, during their explorations along the coast, when they discovered these two rivers, one flowing directly from the north, the other directly from the south, meeting a little way from the coast, and flowing into the ocean together as one stream, they named the one flowing from the north, North River, and the one flowing from the south, South River. Either would be suf- ficient reason for thus naming these rivers, and in absence of any
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
record, one of these two theories may probably be accepted as correct."
Quoting further from Briggs: "Until 1628 the waters of the North River had probably never been disturbed by any navigator ex- cepting the Indian in his canoe, and how we all would like to look back three hundred years and see the same beautiful river with the picturesque Indian and canoe, he disturbing the quiet waters with the silent dipping of his paddle. The first white people known to have navigated the river were the Barkers, about 1628. When they reached the "Crotch," instead of following up the In- dian Head they ascended the Herring Brook as far as it was navig- able with their small boat, where they left the stream and settled in what is now Pembroke."
The Indian Head river was so named, we suppose, from the fact that its principal source was the pond which, at the time the country was settled, was the home of a large number of the Indians.
For a long time after the incorporation of the town, this stream was visited annually by a large school of herring in their passage to the pond and this school was protected until some time about 1850. The many dams on the stream presented such an obstacle to the ascent of the fish that their protection was finally aban- doned.
The Third Herring brook which, as stated, forms the boundary line between Hanover and Norwell, rises in Valley Swamp in Norwell or Hingham. Although narrow, this stream has a steady flow of water and in the early history became an important factor in the development of the town.
There are three streams emptying into the North river which were named respectively the First, Second, and Third Herring brooks, presumably because these brooks were annually visited by the alewives, or herring. In the Third Herring brook these fish came as far as Valley Swamp. The mill dams on this stream checked their progress to the pond. We have described quite care- fully in another place the history of the mills and factories erected on this stream.
Over this stream and near its mouth is the Rainbow bridge, a narrow wooden structure which was used much during the ship building days, and elderly people have still pleasant and tender memories of this spot.
We shall give such of the tributaries of these streams as have their rise in Hanover:
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STREAMS AND BRIDGES.
The most important tributary to the Third Herring brook is what is known as Hughes' Cross brook. This brook rises between Hanover and Main streets, near the house of Charles G. Perry, flows northeasterly along the borders of the cemetery, and, for a long distance, nearly parallel with Silver street; crosses Washington street near the end of Silver street, forming the reservoir for Mr. Thomas H. Tindale's cranberry bog here, then crossing Mill street, enters the Third Herring brook a few rods east thereof.
The Curtis' gristmill stood on this stream for nearly one hun- dred years.
Iron Mine brook, or Trout brook, as it is called at its source, is a North river tributary and has its source in the swamp west of Washington street and north of Hanover street. It then crosses this latter street near the house of A. N. Chamberlin, Rockland street at its deepest fill; Broadway a short distance west of its junction with Elm street; Elm street near the house of Fred C. Ridgeway, and enters the North river about one-fourth of a mile east of Elm street. This stream furnished the necessary water for William Church's tannery, and also the power for a small mill, referred to in the chapter on manufactures, and now furnishes water for Thomas H. Tindale's extensive cranberry bog on Broadway.
The highest point of land between Hingham harbor and the North river lies just north of Hanover and is known as Ridge Hill; so that the source of several streams which are tributary to Drinkwater river is in the northerly part of the town.
One of these is a stream, early called Matthias brook or Burnt Plain brook, which has its source in Turner's swamp, so called, and crosses Main street north of the Baptist church and Webster street west of Main street. Then pursuing a course southerly and then westerly for a distance of about one-half of a mile it flows into Longwater brook.
Longwater brook rises in the northwest part of the town, crosses Webster street just east of the end of North street and then pur- suing a course southerly about two-thirds of a mile, crosses Cedar street near its junction with West avenue, Hanover street near the residence of Lot Phillips, and then, flowing southerly for a short distance, enters the Drinkwater river.
Another stream called Bailey's brook rises south of Webster street and east of Main street, then crosses Main street south of the Curtis school; Cedar street one hundred rods west of Main street, and empties into Longwater brook one-fourth of a mile south of Cedar street.
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HISTORY OF HANOVER.
A stream called Stetson's brook rises in what is known as "Hell Swamp," north of the house of Charles H. Dwelley on Union street, and flows southeasterly across Union street, and then across Main street just south of Cedar street. Then, turning abruptly and run- ning northerly, it crosses Cedar street west of Main street; and then, flowing first northerly and then westerly, it unites with the stream last described.
Another stream of considerable length, tributary to Drinkwater river, is what is known as Torrey's brook. This rises near the house of Andrew T. Damon on Hanover street, crosses Grove street, Myrtle street near its central part, and Winter street near its central part, emptying into Drinkwater river.
Drinkwater river has its rise near the northwest part of Han- over, or perhaps in Rockland, and flows southerly, crossing Web- ster street just west of Whiting street,-Pleasant street at the Aliab or Eliab Mill location,-Hanover street west of the resi- dence of Lot Phillips,-Circuit street midway between Summer and King streets,-King street at the National Fireworks Con- pany's plant. It then flows easterly for half a mile and then again southerly to the Hanson line and so continues until it becomes the Indian Head river.
A tributary to Drinkwater river (Briggs gives this tributary as the source of said river) enters Hanover south of Summer street and flows easterly, emptying into what we have described as Drink- water river about one-third of a mile south of the above-named street.
There are one or two other copious streams during the spring and fall months which are dry in the summer months. The most important of these is one that rises in "Flat Swamp", so called, north of Webster street; then, flowing across Main street and then across Webster street, enters Hacketts' Mill pond.
There is no important bridge on the Third Herring brook; but, before 1700, bridges had been constructed in every place where there is one now, excepting the one where Mill street enters Nor- well, the bridge here having been built about 1860, when the road was laid out.
Indian Head river, at the end of Broadway, was first spanned, about 1710, by a bridge called Hatches' bridge. The stream here when swollen is quite wide and deep and yet a wooden bridge spanned it until 1907, when the present arch bridge was construct- ed. This arch bridge, now and for a long time known as Teague's bridge, was constructed by William H. Ward, of re-enforced con- crete and has a span of twenty feet.
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE, ERECTED 1829
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE, ERECTED 1904
OLD TEAGUE'S BRIDGE
BRIDGE AT E. H. CLAPP RUBBER FACTORY, ERECTED 1894
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STREAMS AND BRIDGES.
The first bridge at South Hanover, near the works of Ezra Phillips & Sons, was constructed about 1720. This was developed from the horse bridge to the carriage bridge and in 1896 the present iron truss bridge was constructed. This truss bridge is in Hanson, the principal part of the tack factory buildings of Ezra Phillips & Sons being in the same town, while the stream which forms the dividing line channel is still spanned by a stone bridge.
Indian Head river at the rubber factory was spanned by a. horse bridge as early as 1704. This bridge gradually developed and in 1894 the present stone arch bridge was constructed. This arch took the place of an abutment bridge with a middle pier which was covered with plank. The present bridge was construct- ed by Richard J. Shanahan, an artistic stone workman and one who built for the future.
The most important bridge in the town is of course the one spanning North river below the Four Corners. The writer has been requested by many persons to introduce here the article which he wrote for publication at the time this bridge was con- structed. As it has an historic interest, he complies with the request.
"Very early in the history of the colony the necessity of a bridge at this point became imperative, and, in 1656, "before William Bradford, Governor, and Thomas Prince, William Collier, Tim- othy Hatherly, John Alden, and James Cudworth, Counsellors," William Barstow agreed "for the sum of 12 pounds to make a good and suitable bridge over the North river at Stony Reach, being the place where now passengers go frequently over-the said bridge to be made sufficient for horse and foot, and to clear and mark a way to Hughes' Cross and beyond toward the Bay." This bridge was completed before October, 1657, as on that date the Court appointed a committee to see "that the horse bridge over the North River and the way unto it be sufficiently done, and to judge what William Barstow is worthy to have for his work and pains thereabout."
During the next ten years there were several orders of the Court relative to this bridge. One was in 1663, when "the Major and the Treasurer were appointed a committee to agree with William Barstow to repair the bridge at North River, the charges thereof to be levied by rate on the said townships of this government."
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