172 History of Hingham. 



ing. For many years the Old Colony House, a favorite summer 

 resort, stood here. It was built in 1832, and burned in 1872. 



But now before going on to Hingham harbor, let us turn down 

 Martin's Lane, to the right, and northward. This is a narrow 

 road, formerly having the Neck Gate across it, at the hill. It 

 slopes gradually downward, and is bordered by trees, with masses 

 of tangled woodlands upon the right, now exquisite in the glory 

 of autumn. Wild hidden ravines, picturesque rocky precipices, 

 clothed with vines, ferns, and savins, are upon the east side. The 

 trouble of searching them out will be well repaid in learning 

 what scenery generally thought peculiar to mountain districts 

 is here under our very eyes, but almost unknown. 



On the west, the land lies in beautifully rolling fields, dotted 

 here and there with fine trees, down to the water. The road 

 finally winds over a slight rise, between shrubby woods and 

 through a noble private estate till it reaches, nearly a mile from 

 Neck Gate Hill, Martin's Well, formerly Abraham's Well, the 

 remains of which are still visible in the field to the right, near 

 by where the lane ends. There is a pretty cove, or indentation, 

 at this point. 



Abraham Martin was one of the early settlers who came with 

 Rev. Peter Hobart in 1635. He owned land in this locality and 

 built this well. 



This land is embraced in the strip between the harbor and 

 Weir River to the eastward, called Cushing's Neck, — large tracts 

 having been owned here early by a branch of that family, which 

 has furnished, in peace and war, so many celebrated Americans. 

 Hingham was the home of the family in America. Lands at Cush- 

 ing's Neck are still in possession of one of the descendants. 



The road which crosses the head of this cove goes over the 

 heavy stone dam (Martin's Well Dam) which shuts out the sea 

 from the fertile meadows lying east of it. These formed one of 

 the Damde Meddowes, so often referred to in old deeds. The 

 east end of these meadows is also dammed at Weir River Bay. 



Passing through a gate, we come to Pine Hill, a little emi- 

 nence overlooking the harbor, now a smooth, rounded hill, with 

 a few trees upon its summit. North of this is the fine Planter's 

 Hill, also smooth and oval in outline, like all the Hingham hills. 

 There is a noble view from its top, extending all around the hori- 

 zon, — of the Blue Hills of Milton, in the far distance, the town 

 lying close by, Third Division woods southward, the harbor to the 

 west, and broad ocean to the north and east beyond Nantasket 

 Beach. 



At the foot of the northerly slope of Planter's Hill is a short, 

 low isthmus, a few rods in length, and very narrow at high tide, 

 — World's End Bar. A generation ago the fox hunters used 

 to beat the country at South Hingham and drive the game north- 

 ward through the woods and fields of the township till it arrived 

 at the peninsula bounded by Weir River and the harbor. After 



