Scituate (pronounced SIT-choo-it) is a pretty coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. It's located on the South Shore, about halfway between the big cities of Boston and Plymouth. In 2020, about 19,063 people lived there.

History of Scituate
Geography and Travel
Education in Scituate
- Elementary and Middle Schools
- High School
Culture and Fun
- St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Heritage Days
Notable People from Scituate
Gallery
See also

History of Scituate

Scituate was first settled around 1627 by people from Plymouth. Later, more settlers came from a place called Kent in England. At first, they were part of the Plymouth colony, but on October 5, 1636, Scituate became its own official town.

What Does "Scituate" Mean?

The name Scituate comes from "satuit," a word from the Wampanoag people. It means "cold brook." This refers to a small stream that flows into the town's inner harbor. In 1710, some residents moved to Rhode Island and started a new town, which they also named Scituate, Rhode Island.

Early Buildings and Events

The William-Barker House, built in 1634, is still standing near the harbor today. In 1676, during a conflict called King Philip's War, twelve homes and a sawmill in Scituate were sadly destroyed.

Over the years, parts of Scituate became separate towns. In 1717, the western part became Hanover. In 1788, a section went to Marshfield. Later, in 1849, another western part became South Scituate, which is now known as Norwell. Since then, Scituate's borders haven't changed much.

Life by the Sea

In the past, fishing was a very important job in Scituate. People also collected "sea moss," which was used for different things. Today, a small fishing fleet still uses Scituate Harbor, but the town is mostly a place where people live and enjoy the coast.

Lighthouses and Heroes

In 1810, a lighthouse was built at the entrance to Scituate Harbor. It's now called Old Scituate Light. During the War of 1812, something amazing happened there! Two brave daughters of the lighthouse keeper, Abigail and Rebecca Bates, scared away a British raiding party by playing a fife and drum very loudly. The British thought a whole army was coming! These girls became famous as the "American Army of Two."

Another famous lighthouse, Minot's Ledge Light, stands about a mile off the coast of Scituate Neck.

Other Landmarks

Scituate is also home to the Old Oaken Bucket house, made famous by a poem. You can also see the Lawson Tower, which is a water tower that looks like a castle! It has an observation deck with great views of the area.

During World War II, there was a military base called Fourth Cliff Military Reservation in Scituate. It helped protect the area. Today, it's a recreation spot.

Geography and Travel

Scituate is located right on Massachusetts Bay. To the south is Marshfield, and to the west are Norwell and Hingham. To the northwest is Cohasset. The town is about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Boston.

Unique Coastal Features

Scituate has a varied coastline. The southern part has many salt marshes. The middle part, around Scituate Harbor, has sandy beaches. The northern coast, around Minot, has exposed granite rocks. Minot's Ledge Light stands on these rocks. The inland areas of Scituate are mostly wooded, with several small rivers and brooks.

Getting Around Scituate

There are no major highways that go through Scituate. Route 3A runs through the town and is known as Chief Justice Cushing Highway. Route 123 also passes through.

For air travel, the closest small airport is Marshfield Municipal Airport. For bigger flights, people go to Logan International Airport in Boston.

Scituate has two train stations for the MBTA commuter rail. One is in North Scituate, and the other is in the Greenbush neighborhood. These trains can take you right into South Station in Boston. The ride takes about 45 minutes.

In 2015, a local bus service called GATRA started in Scituate. It offers low-cost bus rides within the town.

Neighborhoods and Areas

Scituate has many different areas and neighborhoods, including:

Egypt
First Cliff
Greenbush
Humarock
Lawson Tower
Minot
North Scituate
Peggotty Beach
The Harbor (the main business area and harbor)
Third Cliff

Education in Scituate

Scituate has public schools for students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

Elementary and Middle Schools

Hatherly Elementary School (K-5)
Cushing Elementary School (K-5)
Wampatuck Elementary School (K-5)
Jenkins Elementary School (K-5)
Lester J. Gates Middle School (grades 6-8)

High School

Scituate High School serves students in grades 9-12. Their sports teams are called the Sailors, and their colors are blue, white, and black. They play against local rivals like Norwell, Cohasset, and Hingham.

Students can also choose to go to South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover for free. Some students also attend private schools in Boston and nearby towns.

Culture and Fun

Scituate has some fun annual events that bring the community together.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Every year, on the third Sunday in March, Scituate holds a big St. Patrick's Day Parade. It goes from Greenbush-Driftway to Scituate Harbor. The celebration also includes a Mad Hatter's Ball and the St. Pat's Plunge, where people jump into the cold Atlantic Ocean at Peggotty Beach! These events raise money for local charities. Many people in Scituate have Irish family roots, so St. Patrick's Day is a very popular holiday here. The parade started small in 1995.

Heritage Days

Heritage Days is an outdoor event held in the Scituate Harbor area for one weekend in August. It features live music, entertainment, crafts from local artists, activities for kids, and chances to visit historical sites.

Scituate is even mentioned in a short story by famous author Nathaniel Hawthorne called The Village Uncle, where it's described as a good place for fishing.

Notable People from Scituate

Many interesting people have connections to Scituate:

Abigail Bates and Rebecca Bates: The two sisters who became known as the "American Army of Two" for scaring off the British during the War of 1812.
Brittany Brown: A champion professional wrestler.
Gridley Bryant: Built the first commercial railroad in the U.S.
George W. Casey, Jr.: A high-ranking general in the U.S. Army.
William Cushing: One of the very first judges on the United States Supreme Court.
Ryan Donato and Ted Donato: Both played professional ice hockey in the NHL.
Henry Dunster: The first president of Harvard University.
Jacques Futrelle: A journalist and author who sadly died on the Titanic.
Conor Garland: An NHL hockey player.
Joe Gaziano: An NFL football player.
Mark Goddard: An actor known for Lost in Space.
Inez Haynes Irwin: A journalist and writer who supported women's right to vote.
Anna Konkle: A comedian.
Bruce Laird: A former NFL football player.
Thomas W. Lawson: A businessman who built a large estate in Scituate.
Mordecai Lincoln Sr. and Mordecai Lincoln Jr.: Ancestors of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
Jim Lonborg: A famous baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
John McDonald: A Major League Baseball player.
Tom McCall: A former Governor of Oregon.
Dave Silk: An ice hockey player who won a gold medal at the 1980 Olympics as part of the "Miracle on Ice" team.
Ryan Whitney: A former NHL hockey player and podcast host.