Town Brook (Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Town Brook |
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Town Brook, near Plymouth Harbor
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| Region | Plymouth |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Billington Sea |
| River mouth | Plymouth Harbor |
| Length | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
Town Brook is a small stream, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This important brook provided fresh drinking water to the first Pilgrims who settled nearby on Leyden Street.
The brook begins at Billington Sea, a large freshwater pond. It then flows through several smaller ponds, including Deep Water Pond and Jenny Pond. Along its path, you can see the Plimoth Grist Mill and the beautiful Brewster Gardens. Finally, Town Brook empties into Plymouth Harbor. A nature trail follows the entire length of the brook, perfect for exploring!
Contents
History of Town Brook
When the Pilgrims first arrived in America, they landed at Cape Cod. But they needed fresh water, so they sailed to the mainland. There, they found Town Brook. One person described it as "a very sweet brook" with cool, clear water.
The brook's mouth had a salt marsh, which was a good place for their boats. The Pilgrims decided to build their homes close to this important water source.
How Town Brook Helped the Pilgrims
Town Brook was more than just a source of water. It was also a pathway for fish like river herring. These fish would swim upstream to lay their eggs. Eels and freshwater birds also lived near the brook.
Squanto, a Native American interpreter, taught the colonists how to use fish to fertilize their corn crops. This helped them grow food. The first corn mill in the area was also built along Town Brook.
In 1636, John Jenney built a grist mill on Town Brook. This mill helped grind corn into flour. The original mill burned down in 1847. For many years, the brook's water power was used for different industries.
The Amazing Herring Run
Every spring, something amazing happens in Town Brook! Thousands of alewives, a type of herring, swim up the brook. These fish are called "anadromous" because they live in the ocean but travel to freshwater to lay their eggs. They swim all the way to Billington Sea to reproduce.
Changes Over Time
Long ago, there were so many alewives that people said you could "walk across their backs" to cross the water! But since the Pilgrims arrived, the number of alewives has dropped a lot. This happened because more people moved to the area and built factories. Many dams were also built along the brook.
The first rule to protect the fish was made way back in 1623. In recent years, many people have worked hard to help the alewife numbers grow again. This helps the whole brook's ecosystem.
Counting the Fish
In 2003, about 7,000 herring were counted. Since 2008, Plymouth's Department of Marine and Environmental Affairs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have carefully counted the fish. In 2016, a huge number of 199,368 alewives were counted!
Projects to remove old dams have also helped the alewife population. Many groups support these efforts, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Dam Removal for Fish Life Cycle
Over the last 20 years, a lot of work has been done to help the fish in Town Brook. Several dams have been removed:
- Billington Street Dam was removed in 2002.
- Off-Billington Street Dam was removed in 2013.
- Plymco Dam was removed in 2014–15.
- Holmes Dam was removed in 2018–19.
Removing these dams makes it easier for the alewives to swim upstream and complete their life cycle.
Nearby Attractions
Plymouth is a very historic town, and many interesting places are close to Town Brook. Here are some attractions you can find nearby:
- Morton Park
- Jenney Grist Mill
- Brewster Gardens
- Plymouth Rock
- Massasoit Statue
- State Pier (where the Mayflower II is often docked)
- Plymouth Yacht Club
- Burton Park
Images for kids
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Town Brook, near Plymouth Harbor
