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For three hundred years or possibly more, the "Tory House" has been sitting facing our town's Common. Built originally as a farmhouse by a gentleman named Joseph Leonard. The second owner was a minister, Rev. Benjamin Allen who used the house for a parsonage while he was associated with the First Parish Church. In 1732 he was called to preach in Plymouth and sold the house to Colonel Josiah Edson. Unfortunately, his great loyalty to the Crown and King George angered his fellow townsmen and he was asked to leave town. The old house then became known as the "Tory House." The house was taken over by the town and sold to Major Lazell, head of the Lazell,
Perkins Company. From 1780 to 1825 the Lazell family operated an inn
there. It served as a dental office for Dr. Nahum Washburn,
from 1840 to 1883. It later became a rooming house for out-of-town pupils going
to the famous Bridgewater Academy.
Paul Revere House The earliest record of the Paul Revere House, now used by the Estabrook & Chamberlain Insurance Agency, is in the 1790 deed of sale by Seth Alden to Nathan Lazell. In 1816 Caroline Lazell married Paul Revere of Boston, a grandson of Colonel Paul Revere. The house remained in the Revere family until 1959 when the last Paul Revere of this line left it to the Masonic Lodge, which had been founded in 1797. Its charter was signed by Colonel Paul Revere. The exterior of the house is a fine example of formal Federal taste with a fanlight doorway. Under the main cornice is a carved ornamental frieze. The same frieze is repeated on the inside in the hallway cornice. The hallway is elegant and wide with a side staircase.
St. Thomas Aquinas Church Catholics in those days were misunderstood by their "Yankee" fellow citizens. As large numbers of immigrants settled in Bridgewater, their desire for a new church building met with much opposition. On March 28, 1853, Irish workers from the Iron Works began construction of the church on their own time after work. The name of St. Thomas Aquinas was given to the church because of its proximity to the State Normal School. St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of teachers and schools. It is the oldest of the three St. Thomas Aquinas churches in the Boston diocese and opened it doors in 1858.
Scotland Trinitarian Congregational Church The Scotland Church was organized on October 17, 1821. It is the oldest Church building in Bridgewater. The beautiful old New England church was dedicated on January 29, 1823. Its beautiful bell was purchased in 1822 and for years the ringing of the bell has called people to worship -- even today.
Lake Nippenicket Lake Nippenicket is located on the edge of the Hockomock Swamp on the Bridgewater-Raynham line. The popular name is "The Nip". The Indians named it as the place where the Great Spirits dwell. Years ago "Pilgrim Park" was located off Rte. 104 which runs along the shore of "the Nip". It featured clam bakes,dances, vaudeville shows and all kinds of water sports. Two steam launches named the "Puritan" and the "Pilgrim" gave folks rides around the Lake. This was also a stop on the trolley car line that ran from Bridgewater to Taunton along Rte. 104. Folks came by the thousands to spend Sunday at the Park back in the good old days. If you are a camera buff you will find sunsets at "the Nip" are as pretty as a picture.
Tour written by James Kenneth Moore, edited by DLD, and Betty
Gregg, photos by DLD. |
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