Cut River

Ever since the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth and subsequently, Marshfield, there have been efforts to improve inland connectivity between Plymouth, Duxbury Bay, and Scituate.   In 1633, a canal was dug to better connect the Marshfield Rivers (Green Harbor River, North River, and South River) to the bay. In 1636, this canal was widened and deepened per order of the court. In 1806, a group of Marshfield landowners successfully petitioned the court for permission to dig a more direct canal from Green Harbor to Duxbury Bay. Known today as the Cut River, this canal flowed through the marshes and meadows behind Green Harbor Beach, and out to sea near present-day Canal Street on the Duxbury line.  In fact the Cut River is believed by some to be the oldest man-made canal in North America.  As impressive as this claim is, perhaps conjuring up a vision of grandeur, the opposite is true. The actual canal and bridge are quite small.   

On a mild afternoon recently I set up facing west at the end of Avon Street, providing a perfect meadow level view of the small bridge over the Cut River.   Since it is still Spring, the visible marsh grasses are last year's dried straw.  Colors are generally washed out. I brightened up the color in the foreground, which was not true to the scene.  The real scene was pretty darn drab.  

Still to be added are the tall telephone poles and wires, that run parallel to the bridge.   I believe I will also add some vertical straw in the foreground.  

I was imagining the history behind this waterway just a few hundred feet from where I live, and thinking, I am so lucky to live here.