Sea Street Bridge

2 Sea St, Marshfield, MA 02050, USA

Owned By: Town of Marshfield

• Directions

Spanning the South River, the Sea Street Bridge connects Marshfield’s Sea Street to Humarock’s Marshfield Ave. The bridge was officially named in 1998 to honor Captain Frederick Stanley, who was the keeper of Scituate’s first life saving station, near Fourth Cliff. At the western end of the bridge, look for the historical marker for White’s Ferry. One of the earliest shipyards on the North River was located near this spot, as well as a ferry service (1638-1881/1882).

Features

The Sea Street Bridge was originally constructed in 1888, and fortified during WWII to sustain heavy equipment going to the military base on Fourth Cliff. Then in 1952, it was rebuilt entirely – still as a wooden structure. The current bridge — which was constructed in 2007-2008 with state funding — is an eight-span pre-cast concrete structure. The bridge was formally dedicated in 1998, to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Portland Gale. As part of the 2007-2008 bridge replacement, the channel underneath was dug deeper and wider, to improve conditions for boat traffic.

The bridge is named for Captain Frederick Stanley, who was keeper of Scituate’s first federal life-saving station. The Fourth Cliff Lifesaving Station (part of The Humane Society, which later became the United States Coast Guard,) was located in a remote spot on the south side of Fourth Cliff, just under the big bluff. Built in 1879, it burned down in 1915 or 1919. It was not rebuilt, because by then the Coast Guard was using different boats and different ports.

In 1638, a ferry boat employed in transporting both people and cattle operated between Marshfield and Scituate here at the narrowest place in the North River (now the South River). At the time, the location was known as New Harbor Marsh. Jonathan Brewster was the first ferryman. He was the son of Elder Brewster of Mayflower fame. He sold the ferry service in 1641 to Barker and Howell. Ralph Chapman later ran the ferry service, and then in 1712 Benjamin White, grandson of Peregrine White, took over. From that point on, it was known as White’s Ferry.

There was a shipyard at White’s Ferry as early as 1705. The sloop Mary & Abigail (40 tons) was built that year. Simeon Keene built ships in 1787, beginning with the schooner Neptune (64 tons). Then from 1825-40 the Hall Family (mostly Luke, plus William and Samuel) built ships there. The only steamboat built on the North River was built there in 1839, the Mattakeesett (21 tons). The steamboat was intended to be put to use towing new vessels downriver, but this proved to be difficult because the winding course of the river did not permit an ample length of tow line. The Mattakeesett was sold and put to use in Boston Harbor instead. White’s Ferry Shipyard also produced spars, sails, cordage and rigging. Ships built upstream were often rigged here, and many also had their masts stepped, before setting out to sea.

The ferry was replaced in 1881-1882 by the bridge from Marshfield to Humarock Beach. The bridge was constructed by The Fourth Cliff Land Company, to whom the town gave a quitclaim deed to “all the land or Hummocks below Fourth Cliff between the North River and the ocean to low water mark.” The bridge was built to service the resort hotel, Hotel Humarock. Over the bridge from Marshfield, it was on the right.

In the early days of Plymouth Colony, the Pilgrim Trail, also known as Green Harbor Path, was the primary land-based travel route from Plymouth to Scituate. From North Plymouth, it followed the coastline through Kingston, crossing the Jones River near Rocky Nook at a location known as the Wading Place. It continued through Duxbury, west of today’s Tremont Street/3A, and crossed into Marshfield at Careswell Street. Heading north through Marshfield, it crossed the Green Harbor River near today’s Bourne Park Ave. and crossed the South River at a spot called Valley Bars. From there it proceeded along the base of Snake Hill (Telegraph Hill) to White’s Ferry. After the ferry crossing at what was then the North River (now the South River), it proceeded along Humarock’s barrier beach, crossing into Scituate’s mainland between Fourth and Third Cliffs (the present location of the North River mouth). From there, it led to the Scituate First Church.

First established by Native Americans, this route likely existed for centuries before Europeans arrived in the area. It was formally designated by Plymouth Colony in 1637. It was probably the first court-ordered road in America.

This land is within the region of the Massachusett (or Massachuseuk). To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag and the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett share information on their websites.

Trail Description

No trails, but the bridge is pedestrian-friendly with a broad concrete sidewalk.

Habitats and Wildlife

The South River is a beautiful tidal estuary where wildlife abounds! Paddling or boating on this estuary allows you to go shellfishing, fishing or just exploring. Downstream there are salt marshes and numerous creeks, host to egrets and blue heron. You might even see a bald eagle!

The South River originates deep in Duxbury. Its source is in the Round Pond area, and from there it winds unobtrusively through the woods for several miles. Although one can view it from Route 3, and also from both the South River Bog and the Camp Wing Conservation Area, it remains a narrow and mostly un-navigable stream until just below Veterans Memorial Park. From there it flows through South River Park, behind the playground of South River School, and under the Willow Street and Francis Keville Bridges. Wider at that point, and navigable at most tides, its course winds through the marshes as it runs parallel to Route 139, all the way to Rexhame. From there the river turns northward. It flows for 3 miles between Humarock and the mainland to Fourth Cliff, where it joins the North River at its outlet to the sea.