Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-28
For the Democrat.
GLlMPSES IN. AN OLD TOWN.
PEMBROKE, MASS.

search Of place to locate. They lsnds
in what is now the town of Pembroke
built rude hut in which they passed tn
winter and in the spring constructed
stone house one story high and contain
ing one room. Here Mr.. Barker lived
and in an old letter, well preserved, b
wrote he was on friendly terms with tn
Indians who were honest and trustful
In 1889 the house Vas enlarged and for
titled so that it became refuge for thos,
who feared the attacks of the savage
during the -desolaiing war that KIM
Philip wsged in Plymouth and Massa
chuseits Counties in 1916 when thirtsei
towns were destroyed and six hundred o
the colonisis slain. More recently, tn,
outside Of this building was boarded ant
shingled and now stands, gray ant
weather beaten, the Oldest house in III,
United States.
Such was the commencement Of the
settlements of Pembroke, quaint old
town about twenty miles south by cas-,
OF Boston. 1t WAS originally part OF
DuXbury. but was Incorporated inl7l2
and named in honor Of place in Eng
land. for at that time the inhabitants
held the mother country in high respect.
howbeit they were the fiBt to show q re-
bellious spirit and twenty.eight years
later protested vehemently against the
emission Of bills Of public credit, which
had become almost valueless on account
Of the large export Of silver, and de-
clared themselves free to act in opposi-
ton to the king and his counsellors.
The town is made beautiful by the
many ponds that lie in and around ia
short drive in almost any direction will
disclose beautiful sheet of water snowy
now with lilies and set in a frame Of
green. Gay pleasure parties glide over
the blue surface in their white winged
boats, or silent fishermen invite with
The line or the net the finny tribes with
v hich the ponds are stocked. A few
years ago the Old Colony Railroad pur-
chased Jones River Pond. so called for
he Captain of the Mayfower. and
changed the name to Silver Lake to the
great disgust Of those who cling to old
customs and manners. 1t is about one
nile from Pembroke, and four days out
If the week long trains carry hundreds
If weary men and women and merry
amid great shouting and wav.
ng Of flags and flirting Of handkerchiefs,
rom the heated streets Of Boston to the
DOL groves around the Lake, which are
admirably fitted up for their entertain
nept.
The region was Paradise Of laziness
or the Indians, who found excellent
iunting grounds in the forests and to
"hom the ponds yielded by easy labor
abundant supplies Of food. Relics Of
hese early inhabitants are seen in all the
ields and gardens and by the roadsides.
Hundreds Of spear and arrow heads are
urned up BY the plough share, and
tone hatchets. tomahawks, pestles and
Kettles are discovered by the farmers.
The powerful tribe of the Massachusetts,,
three thousand warriors, dwelt
n these regions, subdivision known as
he Mattakusetts living in the neighbor-
iood Of the ponds of Pembroke, and a
,art of these we're the Praying Indians
having been converted to Christianity
md persuaded to give up their savage
.ustoms and embrace the habits OF civil
ration by John Eliot the apostle of the
Indians.
The town is crossed by roads to an e1-
ent that is most perplexing to the femi-
line understanding. Roads that twist
md turn and bend at right angles and
Tart off unexpectedly until the head
wins With the effort to determine where |
lou are and where you ought to be. A
town. in which the highways
lave the same crazy character but lead at
asst to the village, has given origin to q |
lind Of local proverb-"A man can get
INTO Duxbury but he can't get out"
The roads at Pembroke, however differ !
rom these, in that, they lead anywh hare !
nd everywhere, and for this very reason
ford the loveliest drives in the world.
they run by trim, white cottages all
blaze now with gorgeous trumpet creep
rs, that Chamber over porch and roof; pre-
entious square mansions with ponderous
;nocker on the door the age Of which the
wner will tell you with much pride is
wo hundred years. stand by the wayside,
,uarded by stately tulip trees and huge
esded catAlpas loaded with monstrous
DDS. or chestnuts with long, patulous
'ough or lichens growing from shoots of
he trees Governor Winslow planted"