Hingham Center in Plymouth County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Buttonwood Tree
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 9, 2026
1. Buttonwood Tree Marker
Here stands the Sprague Bottonwood Tree. A living historical landmark transplanted in 1793. Dedicated to Francis H. Ford upon his retirement as Tree Warden for the Town of Hingham.
Erected 1988 by Town of Hingham, Massachusetts.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.
Location. 42° 14.028′ N, 70° 52.816′ W. Marker is in Hingham, Massachusetts, in Plymouth County. It is in Hingham Center. It is at the intersection of Main Street and Leavitt Street, on the left when traveling south on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 274 Main Street, Hingham MA 02043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the South Shore. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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
this page online
Regarding Buttonwood Tree. Tradition is that Revolutionary War soldier Daniel Souther (1758-1809) planted this tree outside his blacksmith shop at Hingham Center in 1791. In most sources it is referred to as "Souther's Buttonwood Tree". The plaque names it "Sprague" without sourcing.
Buttonwood is a common name for platanus occidentalis, also known as American sycamore, American planetree, western plane, occidental plane, and water beech.
Also see . . .
1. Corner of Main and Leavitt Streets - History of Hingham, publ. 1893.
Having surmounted Pear-Tree Hill, we are upon the Lower Plain, which is a tract of mainly(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)level country extending south as far as Tower's Bridge, on Main Street. But we will leave this street and take Leavitt Street eastward. A large, low building on the corner, under a noble buttonwood-tree, was, in former days, Lewis's Inn. The large, old-fashioned building east of it was once the old Almshouse.Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 8, 20262. Buttonwood Tree at Burrs Corner
2. Late 19th Century B&W HHS.
Black and white print from a lantern slide depicting the Buttonwood Tree at the corner of Main and Leavitt Streets in Hingham Centre in the late 19th century.(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
3. The Buttonwood Tree, Hingham Mass. Postcard - Digital Commonwealth.<blockquote>The Buttonwood Tree Hingham, Mass. Second largest tree of its kind in Massachusetts [ca. 1898-1949] (Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
4. Way Back Wednesday: Souther's Buttonwood Tree. In 1791 Daniel planted this Buttonwood tree to give shade over his blacksmith shop and it is in his small smithy the irons were formed for Hinghams first fire
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, May 8, 2026
3. Buttonwood Tree in Spring
5. Buttonwood Tree c. 1935, HHS. When this photo was taken in c. 1935, the Buttonwood Tree is almost 300 years old and its circumference was 17 feet, 4 inches. (Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
6. Buttonwood Icon-The Girth of Growth.
One of the oldest trees in the South Shore area, the wintery depiction of this protected and cherished Buttonwood is located at Old Hingham Center. The yellowish blemished bark set the color palette for depicting the stout oversized limbs.(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
7. Daniel Souther (1758-1809): Revolutionary War soldier, Blacksmith. <blockquote>Revolutionary War soldier, Daniel Souther is the son of Joseph Souther and Abigail Kent. He was a Blacksmith and had a smitty at Hingham Center across the street from the cemetery where he is buried. (Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
8. Platanus occidentalis (Wikipedia).
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, July 4, 2026
4. Buttonwood Tree in Summer
Platanus occidentalis, also known as American sycamore, American planetree, western plane, occidental plane, buttonwood, and water beech, is a species of Platanus native to the eastern and central United States, the mountains of northeastern Mexico, extreme southern Ontario,and extreme southern Quebec.(Submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
9. The Hingham Militia.
Col. Benjamin Lincoln Regiment - Second Suffolk Regiment - Hingham Militia - First of Foote: Inspired by the legacy of Major General Benjamin Lincoln, we reenact the past to educate, connect, and inspire all Americans.(Submitted on July 5, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts.)
Photographed by G.W.Bartlett, July 4, 2026
5. Buttonwood Tree on July 4th
The buttonwood tree at Burr's Corner in Hingham Center uses its massive summertime canopy to perform its annual duty, shading parade-viewers, and gives a little one an elevated vantage point, as the Hingham Militia First Company of Foote fires off a musket volley in celebration of the nations semisesquicentennial on ye 4th day of July 2026.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Last updated on June 4, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 9, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. 4, 5. submitted on July 4, 2026, by G.W.Bartlett of Hingham, Massachusetts. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
