The town of Duxbury, Massachusetts has a long legacy of conservation and preservation, dating back to its earliest founders. According to the town’s most recent Master Plan in 2019, the pastoral setting and commitment to conservation remain a top priority of the town. The rural setting, open spaces, and conservation lands are a major reason why residents choose to settle in Duxbury.
Back in the 1600s after the Mayflower passengers and descendants originally left Plymouth, the North West section of Duxbury was mostly inhabited by the Keen family, for whom our present day Keene Street was named. Josiah Keen, Sr moved to Duxbury in the late 17th century and acquired much of the land north of Keene’s Brook. Josiah Keen built the antique cape house at 787 Keene Street in 1680 and raised a family of 11 children there. His descendants built homes and farms in the area, including the farmhouse and historic barn that are now the property of nearby Camp Wing. The Keens operated a saw mill on their property which produced much of the lumbar, cranberry boxes and furniture at that time.
Four hundred years later, the area is still rural and full of wetlands. The Keene barn is still standing, water still flows over the base of the Keene's Sawmill and the area has been fairly well preserved. The antique homes are now interspersed with a modern dwellings with towering pine trees and rustic stonewalls.
The land pictured above was part of 388 North Street, which like all other homes here, originally belonged to the Keen family. It features an antique cape house built around 1800. The land and home were most recently owned by the Ness family for over 60 years, until its last caretaker Frank Ness passed away in 2013. The home and immediate surrounding 6 acres were sold to a single family in 2015 and the remaining acreage was subdivided.
Preserve Duxbury is a group of concerned residents focused on the wetlands, wildlife habitat and scenic character of the area as well as the health and safety of residents as they relate to development in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Our neighborhood group needs the support of all concerned Duxbury citizens as well as neighbors in surrounding towns to advocate for responsible development.