Summary
One of the oldest towns in Massachusetts, Rehoboth was established in 1643 as a part of the Plymouth Colony.
The significant events marking the conclusion of King Philip’s War unfolded in Rehoboth during the 1670s. At Anawan Rock, one can observe the location where the Wampanoag war chief was apprehended, leading to the end of the conflict.
Covering a substantial area, Rehoboth is a rural community characterized by ancient mill ponds, agricultural land, conservation areas, tranquil villages, and various private golf courses.
The Rehoboth Antiquarian Society operates a captivating town museum, in addition to the public library, while the local historical commission has designated numerous sites around town, ranging from sawmills to 17th-century dams and textile factories.
1. Carpenter Museum
In celebration of America’s bicentennial, the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society (founded 1884) established a new facility to showcase its remarkable collections.
The Carpenter Museum is a Colonial-style residence featuring a gambrel roof and an accompanying post-and-beam barn reminiscent of the mid-18th century.
This museum is named after Elsie and E. Winsor Carpenter, who donated the land and initial funding, coming from a family that has resided in the area for generations.
The collection includes household implements spanning 400 years, maps, furniture, clothing items, and numerous Carpenter family heirlooms.
At the time of this writing, an enlightening exhibition focused on the Rehoboth Milkmaids, a pioneering women’s softball team established in the 1930s.
2. Anawan Rock
This puddingstone rock formation stands as one of the few remaining sites from King Philip’s War (1675-1676).
On August 28, 1676, Anawan, a Wampanoag war chief, was captured here by colonial forces led by Captain Benjamin Church.
This pivotal event marked the conclusion of the conflict, occurring two weeks after the sachem Metacomet (King Philip) was captured and killed in Bristol, RI.
King Philip’s War was a catastrophic event for the region, resulting in higher local casualties than the Civil War nearly two centuries later.
The site may be easily overlooked along Winthrop Street; however, there is a small parking area and a booth that leads to a short trail to the rock.
3. Rehoboth Village & Dam
Established as a site for small industry beginning in the early 18th century, the rural village center located at the intersection of Locust Avenue and Bay State Road is preserved as a historic district, maintaining an appearance reminiscent of the late 19th century.
In addition to the Carpenter Museum and Goff Memorial Hall (discussed later), there are several points of interest in this charming area.
The Rehoboth Historical Commission has produced informative signs highlighting businesses that operated here during the early stages of the American Revolution.
The Village Pond served as the site of a gristmill for approximately 180 years, starting in 1690. Other local industries during the mid-1800s included a tannery, slaughterhouse, sawmill, and a fulling mill.
The most prominent landmark is the First Congregational Church, constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1838.
4. Rehoboth State Forest
Spanning 138 acres, Rehoboth State Forest offers a glimpse into the habitat that once encompassed much of eastern Massachusetts.
One of its trails leads visitors into a stand of Atlantic white cedar swamp, featuring a boardwalk that facilitates crossing this wet terrain.
The remaining sections of Rehoboth State Forest consist primarily of pine woodland, with several large glacial erratics, and can be traversed via a mile-long loop.
The forest can typically be explored in under an hour, making it a valuable stop for those seeking a connection with nature.
5. Ephraim Hunt Ministerial Land
Visitors can further explore Rehoboth’s former village center by strolling through this tranquil landscape of pitch pine forest, wooded wetlands, and streams, situated atop a high-yield aquifer.
Covering just over 60 acres, the Ephraim Hunt Ministerial Land is managed by the Rehoboth Land Trust, which acquired the property from the First Congregational Church to assist in fundraising for repairs.
This conservation area, while aesthetically pleasing, also possesses ecological significance as a habitat for the wood turtle, a species of concern in Massachusetts. It also contains an esker, a sinuous ridge formed by glacial meltwater during the last Ice Age.
6. Anawan Farm
This charming family-operated farm near Rehoboth State Forest offers a stand that provides a diverse array of produce during summer and fall.
Depending on the season, visitors can find fresh onions, kale, peppers, corn, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers, summer squash, and pumpkins.
Anawan Farm also features fresh-cut flowers, grown without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides. In late summer, guests can partake in sunflower-picking activities.
The farm hosts special seasonal events, including hayrides during the fall and holidays.
7. Shad Factory Fish Ladder
Encompassed within town-owned conservation land, the historic Shad Factory Pond is located in the southwestern part of Rehoboth.
From a parking area on Water Street, one can follow an unmarked trail along the Palmer River leading to the pond’s shores, which is dammed by a structure built in 1911.
Benches are situated by the water, along with remnants of the Orleans Mill, which dates back to the 19th century.
Currently, the pond is part of the Bristol County Water Authority’s supply system, featuring a 300-foot fish ladder constructed in 2007, facilitating the migration of herring and American shad upstream for spawning.
8. Goff Memorial Hall
The Rehoboth Antiquarian Society also manages the public Blanding Library, located in the society’s former headquarters and museum.
This is Goff Memorial Hall, named after Darius Goff (1809-1891), a notable textile entrepreneur who financed the original edifice.
The current Tudor-style hall, constructed in 1915, was built using bricks following the destruction of the wooden structure from 1886, which was consumed by fire in 1911.
The collections of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society were transferred from Goff Memorial Hall to the Carpenter Museum upon its completion in the 1970s.
This distinguished building serves as the venue for the Arts in the Village Concert Series, hosting regular performances by classical soloists and small ensembles.
9. Hornbine School
Located at the quiet intersection of Hornbine Road and Baker Road, one will find a meticulously preserved one-room schoolhouse that is open seasonally as a history museum.
Surrounded by historic stone walls, Hornbine School was constructed in 1862 and features clapboard siding, a front-facing gable roof, and a brick chimney at the rear.
This is the best-preserved one-room schoolhouse in the town, functioning as an educational institution until 1937 and operating as a museum since the late 1960s.
Visitors can explore the school on the second and fourth Sundays from June to September for a glimpse into historical education. Hornbine School houses original 19th-century desks and blackboards, along with antique pictures, educational tools, books, and games.
10. Redway Plain
This open space adjacent to the Village Cemetery has been town-owned since 1992, boasting a rich history.
Redway Plain is acknowledged to have been utilized as farmland for centuries, tracing back to Native American times, growing timothy hay, alfalfa, corn, and various vegetables.
Subsequently, the land served as a training area for Rehoboth’s militia, remaining contiguous with the Village Cemetery and the neighboring Faxon Field Farm.
Today, Redway Plain persists as a gathering space for the community, hosting a series of outdoor concerts at the bandstand on Sunday evenings from mid-July to the end of August.
11. Perryville Dam
Situated a couple of miles north of Rehoboth’s historic village center, there exists a secluded pond with a history stretching back to the late 17th century. Perryville Dam, alongside Butterworth Falls, was initially constructed around the 1680s for the operation of a sawmill.
For the next 250 years, this site buzzed with industrious activity. Among the factories located here was a turning mill, producing handles for tools, in addition to bobbins for the textile sector until the late 19th century.
Sawmill and gristmill operations persisted into the 1930s, and now Perryville Pond offers a remote sanctuary, holding faint recollections of its once-bustling past.
12. Hazelton Golf Club
Extensive areas of Rehoboth’s countryside are occupied by exclusive country clubs. For casual golfers seeking a daily fee course, Hazelton Golf Club is the preferred destination.
This facility previously functioned as a country club and has recently undergone restoration to its original design by the esteemed Massachusetts golf architect Geoffrey Cornish (1914-2012).
Other enhancements include a new irrigation system, updated bunkers, new tee boxes, and a comprehensive restoration of all 18 greens.
The course runs along a tributary of the Palmer River, coming into play on nine holes, including the long par 4 18th, which is a dogleg right.
13. The Ice Cream Barn
This popular ice cream stand began in 2012 through a partnership between two innovative ice cream creators and a sixth-generation dairy farmer.
Highlights of the Ice Cream Barn include its commitment to sustainability; in 2020, the business transitioned to using compostable packaging.
Additionally, many of the 20+ flavors are made with locally sourced ingredients, with a map at the stand indicating where essential components like strawberries, maple syrup, apples, cranberries, and oats originate.
A few noteworthy flavors include Apple Crisp, Kahlua Brownie, S’mores, Green Tea, and Cranberry Jubilee, each complemented by exquisitely crafted homemade waffle cones.
14. Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary
Located a short distance away in Norton, this sanctuary provides care for abandoned, neglected, and abused animals.
Opened in 1997, Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary hosts nearly 200 residents on a serene wooded campus.
In spacious and healthy enclosures, visitors can observe goats, alpacas, peacocks, cats, horses, chickens, donkeys, pigs, and more, each leading fulfilling lives.
Many animals are free to roam, and there is a small playground for children alongside a shaded picnic area.
15. Seekonk Speedway
Conveniently accessible from Rehoboth, Seekonk Speedway is the oldest family-owned racetrack in the United States still in continuous operation.
With seating for approximately 10,000 attendees, Seekonk Speedway first opened its doors in 1946 and continues to be a vibrant venue for high-speed racing.
This ⅓-mile asphalt oval features NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing every Saturday throughout the season.
Visitors can watch pro stocks (Division 1), Late Models (Division 2), Sportsmen (Division 3), and Sport Trucks (Division 4), while budget-friendly races occur on Friday nights, offering opportunities for emerging drivers.
It is advisable to check the schedule for special events that include open-wheel racing, demolition derbies, and monster truck exhibitions.
