“And there is a very sweet brooke runnes under the hillside, and many delicate springs of as good water as can be drunke.” GOV. BRADFORD.

At the foot of Burial Hill, on the south side, the Town Brook flows through the centre of the town, “vexed in all its seaward course by bridges, dams and mills.” Along the banks the Pilgrims erected their first dwelling-houses and brought water from “the very sweet brooke” below, into which the “many delicate springs” still continue to run.

It is a favorite resort for artists who delight in sketching the picturesque scenery and ancient architecture. One of these springs of deliciously clear cold water, is forced up from near the brook by electric power, and runs out in a fountain at the corner of Leyden and Main Streets, on land once owned by Elder Brewster as previously noted. During the summer many thousands are here refreshed, and while citizens much enjoy the cooling draughts, visitors highly commend the public provision which enables them to partake of the waters of a spring, from which the Pilgrims themselves daily obtained their supply “of as good water as can be drunke.”

The stream proceeds from Billington Sea about two miles distant from the town. It furnishes a valuable water power at the present, and in the days of the Pilgrims, and for nearly two centuries after, it abounded with alewives almost at their doors, affording an important resource for the supply of their wants. The tide flowed for some distance up this stream and formed a convenient basin for the reception and safe shelter of the shallops and other vessels employed in their earlier enterprises of fishing and traffic. Under authority of a Legislative act the Town of Plymouth purchased this estuary in 1909 that the area and surrounding may be subject to public improvements. From Watson’s Hill, over this brook, where Market Street crosses it, came the great sachem Massasoit, with twenty of his braves, on a visit to the Pilgrims, when was concluded that treaty April 1, 1621, which during nearly fifty-five years conduced so effectually to the safety and permanence of the colony.