Marshfield Hills, Marshfield

Owner of the Marshfield Hills General Store, Sherry Bechtold (cq) talks to a customer in her Marshfield Store. Debee Tlumacki photo/The Patriot Ledger.

GALLERY PEEPING

Before noon, go to the Grand Army of the Republic Hall at 157 Old Main St. and check out to see the exhibit at the North River Arts Society, a nonprofit that offers art classes, workshops and lectures. The hall was built in 1826 as a church and served as a paint and wheelwright shop, then as before becoming a meeting place for the local chapter of the Society of Civil War Veterans. It is open from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays Monday through Friday. The Switch Gallery, the current exhibit, includes paintings, photographs and other two-dimensional pieces from members of the North River Arts Society.

INTO THE STACKS

At 1 p.m. and hBefore 1 p.m., head to the Clift Rodgers Library at 540 Pleasant St. The independent library, which was founded in 1897, holds about 11,000 volumes – mostly fiction, mystery, history and pleasure books, and a children’s collection. Unlike other libraries, the Clift Rodgers has no computers or library cards. Browse through the shelves and chat with the librarian. Then Grab a classic and snuggle up by the fireplace in one of the comfortable leather chairs. The library is open from 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays Monday through Friday. Upstairs in the con signment shop and browse through the clothes, jewelry, glassware, dishes, furniture and other treasures you can pick out a second- hand gem or a pair of homemade paper earrings by Marshfield designer “Jazzy Gems.”

At the Marshfield Hills General Store, three year old William Coggeshall of Marshfield  is greeted by the stores owner, Sherry Bechtold's dog  Star on his morning visit to the store with his father. Debee Tlumacki photo/The Patriot Ledger

QUICK BITES

Before you head back to work, grab a muffin and coffee or a microwavable burger, chips and some homemade cook ies around the corner, at the Marsh field Hills General Store. The store, which is connect ed to the local post office, sells a vari ety of knickknacks and snacks, along with grocery items and wine. It is a perfect ending to your journey back in time.

THE SKINNY

Marshfield Hills is a historic village in northern Marshfield. The area was settled around 1640 when Joseph and John Rogers, sons of Mayflower Pilgrim Thomas Rogers, each acquired 50 acres of land near where present-day Summer Street is today. Many of the houses in the neighborhood bear plaques listing the names of their original owners and the dates they were built. Take a stroll around the village, imagining yourself in another time.

Cost: $2.75 for a coffee and muffin; $3.95 for a cheeseburger and cookies. Plus $12 for earrings or another treasure at the Clift Rodgers Consignment Shop.

Time: 60 minutes