Ancient Landmarks. 171 



North of Rockland Street, just before it reaches the rising 

 ground, and perhaps a quarter of a mile or so out over the 

 marshes, upon Ly ford's Liking, is Barnes's Island, formerly 

 Sprague's Island. From the road it has the appearance of a 

 slight rise, well wooded. 



A short distance further west the road crosses Weir River, 

 here a pretty stream about to empty into Weir River Bay, a 

 quarter of a mile northward. Tide water comes up beyond the 

 bridge at this point, to the falls at the dam a few score rods 

 south, where Thomas's Pond is, and where Thomas's Foundry 

 stood until within a few years. 



Along the river bank on the east side, for some distance, is a 

 range of high rocky cliffs, beautifully wooded, and very pictur- 

 esque. Down from this savin-clothed height comes the little 

 Woodcock's Run, or Lypord's Liking Run, a small brook hardly 

 distinguishable in the dry months. 



There was in early times across Weir River, not far from the 

 bridge now spanning it at Rockland street, a log, upon which 

 people could cross the stream, and also a landing where timber 

 and firewood were loaded upon vessels bound for Boston and 

 elsewhere. This place was called The Log, or At the Log. 

 Log Lane led to this spot, from Weir River Lane. 



Down the river about a quarter of a mile, and at the point 

 where it broadens into a wide estuary, there was, nearly a cen- 

 tury since, a woollen mill, owned by and carried on in the interest 

 of General Benjamin Lincoln, who seems to have been interested 

 in many enterprises. There was afterwards a flour mill here, and 

 the place was subsequently occupied by the small-pox hospital. 

 The Lime Kiln was near by, and the neck of land opposite, 

 situated between the river and the cove which makes up on the 

 west side of this neck, is terminated by Bass Point. 



Crossing Weir River by the Rockland Street bridge, we are 

 upon higher ground, included in Plain Neck, which comprehends 

 all the country south and west of this bridge (as well as north- 

 ward as far as Cushing's Neck), which can be comprised in the 

 territory bordered on the east and south by Weir River, and upon 

 the west by the harbor, and probably extending as far as Cham- 

 berlain's Run. The limits are indefinite, but old deeds show 

 that they are about as described. 



A short distance west of the river Rockland Street passes 

 through a thickly wooded swamp, which was for many years, 

 until 1855, The Heronry. Here were the homes of the night 

 herons, their nests being visible in the woods on every side. 

 They were driven away when the road was laid out through 

 their haunts. 



Neck Gate Hill, now Old Colony Hill, at the junction of 

 Rockland Street, Summer Street, and Martin's Lane, is a pleas- 

 antly located hill, having fine woodlands and beautiful country 

 about it. The view from the summit in every direction is charm- 



