The Ducking Stool

If you time things right (we didn't), you may catch a free show before or after visiting the Town Hall. Monday-Thursday & Saturday at 12:30pm during May to October and Wednesday and Saturday at noon for the rest of the year, by the waterfront, you will see a replica Ducking Stool. Well, the Ducking Stool is always there, but the show is only at the aforementioned times. 

Anyyywhoo. Apparently back in the day if women were especially naggy or gossipers they would be taken to the Ducking Stool and dunked into the water. Other offenses qualify for this punishment as well. If you are there when the show happens, you will see a fully colonial costumed Town Crier demonstrate the way things went down. In case you don't make it, there are a lot of videos on youtube.

I think her throat must be really sore after that. Would you want that job? I mean.. maybe if you had some angst you needed to let out and it was a super hot day it wouldn't be so bad... :p