Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.
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War Memorial Park in West Bridgewater, MA looks like a small green space from the road. Well, …it is. Within its four+ acres is a lot to see. The Town River flows through the area, and as with so many rivers, and even streams in New England, the river was used as a power source for multiple industries through the years.
The stone structures along the river, along with diversions to create power for the mills, are both beautiful and humbling. I often think about the planning, the engineering, the gathering of materials, and the actual construction of these retaining walls and sluice gates that went into capturing the power of flowing water. Yes, it took someone investing in the project. But it also took workers willing to put in untold hours of heavy work. Their efforts turned that planning into a source of production of goods, while also offering an important source of employment for local residents.
What I particularly appreciated about this small park was the bridges that carry visitors over the various waterways that made up the mill infrastructure. Standing in the middle of a bridge and looking down at a river as it flows past is something I never tire of. At this park, benches along the way, smooth paths for strolling along the river’s edge, and different viewpoints offer a variety of perspectives that make this a sweet place to visit in different seasons.
Shade trees offer respite from summer’s heat. A winter visit may require more care, since there are stone steps that would be a barrier for some visitors. I look forward to fall when the park will offer the colors New England is famous for. The backdrop of all the stonework creates a classic New England autumn scene.
A portion of the park is blocked off next to the river. Rivers flood. It’s what they do. Much of the river here is channelized. This means that the river is squeezed into smaller routes that increase the power of the water. Good for industry, not so great for river banks and the walls built there to channel the water. Thus, erosion.
The town of West Bridgewater has gone to a lot of effort to make this spot a reminder of the history of this area. While typical of many other industrial sites throughout Massachusetts and nearby state, each site has its own character. Each river flows according to the topography and watershed it drains into.
In this case, the Town River is part of the Taunton River watershed, all of which eventually ends up in Mount Hope Bay. As opposed to the interior of the country, which has one watershed that drains into the Mississippi River, New England has multiple small watersheds that empty out into estuaries or larger rivers finally reaching the ocean in various locations along the coastline.
Besides the stonework, the soundscape of areas such as this park is enchanting. Simply listening to the varying notes of music that rivers and streams create as they flow to the sea is calming. Magic is the word that always comes to mind. Can a river be joyful? Its moods, as it were, both cheerful, angry, or placid, reflect the surroundings, the rain, or the snowfall that are its lot.
You may have your own favorite place to listen to a river wend its way to the sea. If you are in or near West Bridgewater, this little park is a place well worth makin time to stop and enjoy your visit. Bring a lunch or snack. Picnic tables and benches invite visitors to stay awhile. Remember to breathe, and Happy Trails.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, Easy Walks South of Boston and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 