Pembroke in Plymouth County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Historic Landmark of Pembroke Herring Run

Since Colonial Days

Historic Pembroke Herring Run Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

1. Historic Pembroke Herring Run Marker

Inscription. The average run of the herring is five weeks with each one weighing approximately 3/4 pounds. In Connecticut they are called Kyacks, in Canada Gaspereaux, and in Massachusetts Alewives. As soon as warm spring weather arrives, the alewives, both male and female, travel 23 miles from the salt water to the ponds, the old ones returning to the ocean the same summer and the babies in the Fall. The young Alewives do not return to the fresh water for 3 years. From the time the herring leave the salt water until their return they do not eat and because of this they cannot be caught with a hook. The female containing about 30,000 eggs spawns once.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Colonial Era.

Location. 42° 4.6′ N, 70° 48′ W. Marker is in Pembroke, Massachusetts, in Plymouth County. It is on Barker Street (Massachusetts Route 14), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 191 Barker Street, Pembroke MA 02359, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the South Shore.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Ox Knoweth His Owner (approx. 0.6 miles away); North River Bridge (approx. 2.2 miles away); On North River (approx. 2.2 miles

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away); Ford Mill (approx. 4.4 miles away); Old Marshfield Training Field (approx. 4.7 miles away); Daniel Webster Tablet (approx. 4.7 miles away); Tree of Knowledge (approx. 4.8 miles away); Wamsutta Was Taken Prisoner (approx. 5.4 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Herring Run Park – Pembroke.

Thomas Reading Memorial Herring Run Park in Pembroke is a large, grassy town-owned park that stands on both sides of Herring Brook, off Barker Street. Herring begin their annual migration through this property in the springtime, usually in April. the Mattakeeset band of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe, who lived for thousands of years in the North River watershed. Fishing is not permitted in Herring Run Park while the herring are running.

(Submitted on May 16, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

2. See the Herring Run on the South Shore!.

Spring means flowers, songbirds, and the annual upstream migration of river herring to spawn in the streams and ponds they were born in! These historically large migrations of fish into our freshwater streams, rivers, and ponds once supported the Native Americans, the Pilgrims, and the colonists who came after
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

2. Pembroke Herring Run Marker
them. Where Can You See a Herring Run Near You?

(Submitted on May 16, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)

Pembroke Herring Run Water Wheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

3. Pembroke Herring Run Water Wheel

Pembroke Herring Running image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

4. Pembroke Herring Running

Pembroke Herring Run image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

5. Pembroke Herring Run

Roadside signage with herring run water wheel in background.

Pembroke Herring Run downstream image. Click for full size.

Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 16, 2026

6. Pembroke Herring Run downstream

Credits. This page was last revised on May 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 16, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.