Seaside Series I LbNA #3085

The Seaside Letterboxes (4)

(Mattapoisett & Marion, Massachusetts)

The Catnapper and The Yachtsman have just put out a new series of letterboxes in Plymouth County, MA. They were placed between Sunday, July 14th and Thursday, July 18th. Have fun!

This is a series of letterboxes in the coastal area of Southeastern Massachusetts. Prior to the placement of these boxes, there were hardly any remaining letterboxes in this part of the state, since a number of letterboxes placed by Lonemass Wolf and You Inspire My Spirit have gone missing. Since this is truly a scenic part of Massachusetts, we are trying to place some boxes in particularly scenic areas to tempt local letterboxers. We envision this as a growing series, so will call these first four boxes "Series One". All boxes in this series can be considered "drive-by", since they are very close to parking lots. As such they are appropriate for parties with young children. The entire loop could also be reached by bicycle; the best place to park to bike the loop would be the commuter parking lot to the south of Route 195 at exit 19B. From here through Mattapoisett, to Marion, and back will be on the order of 20 miles, depending on the exact route you take. Many excellent food stops can be found along the way, but we recommend:

Uncle Jon's Coffee (across from the commuter parking lot in Mattapoisett, and also along Rte 6 in Marion)

The Mattapoisett Chowder House and Tavern (Has moved east on Route 6 a few miles; it is now next to the Mattapoiset Fish ladder and next to The Nest diner)

Panino's (breakfast and lunch) at the Ropewalk (north of Rte 6 in Mattapoisett)

Nick's Pizza (north of Rte 6 in Mattapoisett)

Turk's Seafood (north of Rte 6 and east of Mattapoisett center)

Oxford Creamery (south of Rte 6 and east of Mattapoisett center)

Santoro's Pizza (south of Rte 6 in Marion)


SEASIDE LETTERBOXES -- SERIES ONE

1. Dunseith Gardens

This letterbox is placed on Mattapoisett Land Trust property near the center of the Town of Mattapoisett. The land was originally owned by Henry Dunseith, who was a model railway aficionado and owner of a home-based gift shop that dominated this particular corner of Route 6 before Interstate 195 was built. The gift shop was marked by a 38 foot statue of a marine vertebrate, which became a Mattapoisett landmark from the 1950's on. Long after Rte 195 had "bypassed" this part of Route 6, and long after the gift shop closed its doors, the statue remained . Henry Dunseith died in 1988, and bequeathed the property to the land trust. In 1991, the animal was given a new paint job and wiring. After some discussion about what to do with this unique landmark, the land trust decided that it could stay where it is. The land on which Henry Dunseith's house stood, however, has been converted into gardens. A small nature trail has been constructed as an project by a local eagle scout. It is really quite a unique place.

The entrance to the property is off Route 6 West, just after passing the new Tedeschi's/Dunkin Donuts store, and the gardens occupy the corner of North St and Route 6. Enter and park your car. I won't spoil your fun by telling you "what animal" the statue represents, or otherwise describing all the details of this property because it is quite unusual. After parking, find your way to the nautical buoy. With your back to the buoy, site 60 degrees to a very large pine tree that is about 29 paces from you. Walk to that tree, and with your back to its trunk, site 0 (360) degrees to a large ash tree. Walk to that tree. After passing the tree, you will see the entrance to a nature trail. Enter the trail, and turn right. Proceed 42 paces where you will see a small monument on your right that marks the grave of a beautiful collie named "Sandy". Continue down the trail (past an exit to your right). Where the trail curves to the right, there will be a red cedar immediately in front of you with a small holly tree at its base. Put your back to that tree, and site 20 degrees to a wall. Your treasure lies behind the wall under a boulder to your left if you walk to the wall in the direction of your bearing. [Please do not pull the wall apart looking for the box, as it is at the base of the wall in the back. Most recently (3/5/2008) there was a small pile of twigs behind this wall section].

Before leaving Dunseith Gardens, take a look at some of the other features of the landscape, include a ring of stones (for storytelling?) that ressembles Stonehenge!

2. Island Wharf


(Clue revised April 18, 2006)

2. Island Wharf

Island Wharf is situated on Front Street in the middle of the Town of Marion. Take Route 105 South (Front St). Cross Route 6 at the traffic light. Continue on for about 1 mile, passing parts of Taber Academy on your right and left. Island Wharf is on your left across from the old Taber Music Hall. The Island Wharf area serves as a parking lot for the town docks, and for Barden's Boat Yard. Enter and park on your left in the dirt parking lot. Anyone can park here by day, but overnight parking requires a resident sticker. The Marion Band Shell is also located here, and is the site of free concerts on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the summer months.

The Island Wharf letterbox can be best be approached by starting at the small park on the water at the end of the parking lot near the Harbormaster's office and restrooms. Take the path to the water, turn left, and proceed along the wall that separates the lawn from the harbor until you reach the first of two juniper bushes. The Island Wharf letterbox is hidden underneath that bush, under a few rocks. Please be discrete in removing and replacing the box, as this is a very popular place in spring and summer. [Currently missing, and will be moved]

3. Silvershell Beach

Silvershell Beach is the town beach for residents of both Marion and nearby Rochester. This situation developed because 150 years ago in 1852, Marion split off from Rochester to form a separate town. Rochester residents' rights to use the beach on Buzzards Bay stem from that time.

In the summer, you will need a resident sticker to park at Silvershell during the hours of 8 - 5. After hours, or during the off season you may park at the beach. Alternatively you can bike or walk to the beach from parking at Island Wharf or elsewhere in town. The Beach can be found by continuing down Front St from Island Wharf until you reach Sippican harbor. A truly spectacular site awaits you there. The views onto Sippican harbor and Buzzards Bay are quite scenic. You can see Bird Island lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor, and Cleveland Ledge light, which marks the entrance to Cleveland Ledge channel (a ship's channel leading towards the Cape Cod canal) in the distance. North Falmouth is situated across the Bay from Marion, and may also be visible on a clear day.

After parking in the dirt lot, find the sign that tells the tale of Sprague's Cove Stormwater Wetland System, an artificial wetlands that was built to try to purify the runoff in this cove. The wetlands is full of birds on a spring or summer evening. The sign that describes the formation of this wetland system makes interesting reading. After reading the sign, you might want to walk to the foot of the beach and look at the salt marsh at its southern edge.

The Town Beach has a pavilion and an adjacent playground at the northern end of the property. The grassy area to the west of the pavilion is full of people on any 4th of July evening, watching spectacular fireworks over Sippican Harbor. To find the Silvershell Beach letterbox, follow the wooden fence north from the parking lot along the grassy sward. Continue to the northwestern corner of the property that abuts Lewis St. Your treasure lies under the southern end of the wall, just a little bit to the left of a chunk of black asphalt that juts from the wall. Take care in this area, as private houses are immediately across the street from the hidden spot.

Note: Box went missing during the summer of 2007 and will be relocated]

4. "Walk Softly":

As the name implies, you will want to walk softly, or tread lightly in the area where this letterbox is placed. It is in a section of town where wealth is apparent, and privacy is a high priority. To reach the site from Silvershell Beach, travel back up Front Street to Route 6. Turn right (headed east) onto Route 6, and travel a mile or 2 to the intersection with Point Rd. Turn right on Point Road, and proceed for several miles. Notice that many of the roads off Point Rd are "Private Roads". At the end of many of these roads are large mansions with spectacular water views. After passing the entrance to Piney Pt on your left (marked by stone pillars), watch for the Planting Isle road on your right. Turn right onto this road, and proceed down to the rocky beach. Park in the first small cutout parking lot on your right. Although a sign marking the lot states that resident only stickers are required, you will not be bothered if you go early in the morning (before 9 AM) or after 5 PM in the afternoon in the summer, or anytime during the offseason (Labor Day to Memorial Day). Walk back up the road the way you came until you reach the second electric pole on your right. At this point Bird Island lighthouse is visible directly to the south. Turn around and look towards the northeast, and you will see a rather large red cedar tree standing about 35 paces off the road. Your treasure likes under a rock behind this tree. From the "correct" red cedar , Bird Island light is 160 degrees, and the aforementioned pole is 190 degrees. There are several ways to safely reach the tree, but be careful --- a few of them are rocky and bare while others track through poison ivy patches.

After stamping in, enjoy the views from the beach. Do not proceed farther down Planting Isle Rd, as it is private property sometimes patrolled by a private security guard who will ask who you want to visit. After leaving Planting Island, you may want to drive (or bicycle) farther down Point Rd to see some nice "houses" and spectacular scenery. The road ends at the Kittansett Country Club (private) which is at Butler Point. On your way back, you may want to take the Delano Rd loop, which will take you past the Stone estate, a very nicely landscaped property.

Hope you enjoyed your venture through Mattapoisett and Marion!