Town Brook Historic And Archeological District
The district includes historical and archaeological resources that span more than three centuries. Included in these resources are four mill ponds, dams, herring runs, mill privileges (sites where mill operators were authorized to divert water, where industrial archaeological remains may be found), and a variety of housing from nearly every significant period in that time. The oldest house in the district is the Richard Sparrow House built in 1640; it is also the oldest building standing in Plymouth.
The mills erected by the early settlers were used to saw wood and grind grain. As Plymouth prospered and grew, smaller industrial operations harnessed the brook's water power to perform other functions. During the 19th century, the nation's industrialization reached Town Brook, and mill complexes of larger size were also built. Around the turn of the 20th century, mills were established for processing iron in a variety of ways, some of whose buildings still survive today. A significant number of industrial properties from the 19th century were lost in the 20th century, often to fire. Interest in the area's rich history led to the establishment in the 1920s of Brewster Gardens, a public park near the mouth of the brook. Near the park is the Jenney Grist Mill, a 1970 reconstruction of an early grist mill which burned in 1837.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ National Register Nomination for Town Brook Historic and Archeological District. Available by request from the National Park Service.