Eastham Historical Society
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Eastham Historical Society |
A tablet on the knoll at the north end of First Encounter Beach marks the location of the first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. While the Mayflower remained in Provincetown, Captain Miles Standish and his party explored along Cape Cod Bay. While camped here they were surprised by a group of Nausets; arrows flew and shots were fired, but no harm resulted. The inscription on the tablet, erected in 1920, reads:
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Another plaque, reflecting a more fair representation of the incident, was placed at the beach edge of the parking lot in 2001. The same above listed names are prefaced by:
NEAR THIS SITE
THE NAUSET TRIBE
OF THE
WAMPANOAG NATION
SEEKING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
AND THEIR CULTURE
HAD THEIR
FIRST ENCOUNTER
8 DECEMBER 1620
WITH...
Not seen by the great majority of visitors passing through Eastham is the Old Town Centre Historic District, located just west of the National Seashore Visitor Center. The district includes nine homes, the oldest dating to 1765, with classic examples of original Cape Cod architecture. All are within easy walking distance. The district was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
This district includes 20 properties located on Route 6, Samoset Road, Depot Road and Mill Road. Notable properties include Eastham Town Hall, the Windmill and Windmill Green, Public Library, Chapel-in-the-Pines, and the Swift Daley House. The district was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
This district includes seven cottages, a fieldstone seawall, and a shucking house. Six of the seven cottages were built in 1928-1929 with some of the materials used coming from chicken coops that previously stood on the site and from the former Chatham Naval Air Station. The district was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. It was cited as an exceptional representative of the type of small-scale cottage colonies that were appearing on Cape Cod in the early twentieth century to serve the region's thriving tourist industry.
The society conducts an active year-round program: a spring plant, book and white elephant sale, an August and October antiques show, a periodic lecture series and a quarterly newsletter. See calendar of events below.
The archives of the society are located on the lower level of the Eastham Public Library at 190 Samoset Road. General hours for the archives are Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The archives and genealogical help are also available by appointment; write volunteer archivist Bobbie Cornish at Eastham Historical Society, Box 8, Eastham, MA 02642. Phone (508) 255-0558. Or contact Bobbie by e-mail at easthamarchives@easthamhistorical.org. Volunteer genealogist Marilyn Schofield may be contacted at (508)255-0175
Tuesday, February 24 - Eastham Historical Society Fundraiser Dinner. 4:30 to 8:00pm. The Fairway Restaurant Route 6, Eastham (508) 255-3893. $13.00 per person; includes Main Course and Rolls & Butter. Dinner choices: Lasagna or Spaghetti and Meatballs. Salad, Desert and Beverage extra. Eat in or take out. Tickets available at the door.
Sunday,
May 17 - Eastham
Historical Society Annual Meeting. NEW
LOCATION—
Sunday, June 7 - Plant, Book, and White Elephant Sale, Swift-Daley Museum Lawn. 9am to 2pm. Something for everyone! Select from a large assortment of annual & perennial plants all donated from local landscapes. Find a great book at bargain prices. Search through our famous white elephant table. No admission...all proceeds benefit the ongoing maintenance of the museums.
Saturday, July 4 - Celebrate an old fashioned July 4th on the 1869 Schoolhouse lawn. 1 -4pm
Wednesday,
July 15 - Historic
Walking Tour. Meet at Schoolhouse Museum
9:45am. Tour starts at 10am.
Rain date July 16. Take a guided tour through the Eastham Historic District,
learning about the old historic houses and their early inhabitants.
Walking among the old houses on Salt
Pond Rd., Locust Rd. and Old County Rd., one is taken back to a time when
many Eastham residents were sea captains and farmers. Tour guide, Kate
“Moore” Alpert, Eastham native and past president of Eastham Historical
Society. $8/person.
Wednesday, July 29 - Cemetery Tour. Tour the Bridge Road Cemetery with cemetery historian Bob Carlson. Hear the local legends, tall tales and true stories about Eastham's early townsfolk. 1754-1886. Park in front of the cemetery along Bridge Rd. Meet at 9:45am, tour starts at 10:00am. $5:00 per person, children under 16 free.
Saturday,
August 8 - Annual Summer Antiques Show
& Sale. Schoolhouse Museum grounds, 9am
to 4pm. Rain date Aug. 9. The antique show everyone looks forward to; 48 local
and regional antique dealers with quality antiques, primitives and fun vintage
finds. Historical Society antiques & treasure table. Food, beverage &
bake sale table. $4 admission, $3.50 with coupon.
Wednesday,
August 12 - Historic Walking Tour. Meet at Schoolhouse Museum
9:45am Tour starts at 10am.
Rain date August 13. Take a guided tour through the Eastham Historic District,
learning about the old historic houses and their early inhabitants. Walking
among the old houses on Salt Pond
Rd., Locust Rd. and Old County Rd., one is taken back to a time when
many Eastham residents were sea captains and farmers. Tour guide Kate
“Moore” Alpert, Eastham native and past president of Eastham Historical
Society. $8/person
Sunday, August 17 - Antique Tool Day. Ranlett Tool Museum/Swift Daley House. 11:00am - 3:00 pm. An event for tool collectors, with an entertaining "Whatzit" session. Bring a sample of your antique tools for other collectors to see. Take a guided tour around the Tool Museum with curator Mark Herman.
Sunday,
September 6 - Book
& White Elephant Sale. Swift-Daley
House Museum lawn. 9am to 2pm. Find a great book at bargain prices. Paperbacks,
hardcovers, new & used, children's books too. Maybe a Ming Dynast vase at
the Elephant table! Swift-Daley House Museum, Ranlett Tool Museum and Dill Beach
Camp will be open for tours. Also, visit our Olde Gift Shop for that unique
treasure. No admission charge to museums, but donations greatly appreciated.
Saturday, September 26 - Oktoberfest. Elks Club, McKoy Rd. Eastham. Come to our 3rd annual Oktoberfest. Reception 5:30pm, dinner 6:30pm. Good food, good company, good drink, fun, raffles. Cash bar. Zoe Lewis entertains with her unique program. $20.00 per person.
Saturday, October 10 - Annual Fall Antiques Show and Sale. 9am-4pm on the Schoolhouse Museum grounds. Rain date Oct 11. A quality antiques show featuring 45 dealers with furniture, glass, pottery, textiles and other miscellaneous antiques. Don’t forget to stop at the bake table and also enjoy a luncheon sandwich under the warm October sunshine. $4 admission, $3.50 with coupon.
Sunday, October 18 - Annual
Historical Society Potluck Supper. 5pm-7pm. NEW LOCATION - First
Baptist Church, Great Pond Road, Eastham Socialize with members and guests of
the Eastham Historical Society enjoying scrumptious food.
Good company, good food. All
are welcome, just bring a salad, main dish or dessert to serve 6 people, and
bring your own plate and utensils. We
supply the coffee/tea. Speaker to be announced.
Membership applications ($15/year individual, $25/year family, $50/year Friend) may be obtained by writing the society at Box 8, Eastham, MA 02642, or by calling (508)240-0871.
Volunteers to serve on committees, to help with projects, and to serve as docents at the museums, are always needed and provide an opportunity to learn more of Eastham's history, and to meet other residents of the community and Cape visitors.
