1600 - present
timeline
THE history OF
Wellfleet
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Transcript
1600 - present
timeline
THE history OF
Wellfleet
22. 2010s
21. 2000s
20. 1975-1999
19. 1960-1975
18. 1950s
17. 1940s
16. 1930s
15. 1920s
index
14. 1910s
13. 1900s
12. 1880-1899
11. 1870s
10. 1860s
9. 1850s
7. 1830s
6. 1800-1825
5. 1775-1799
4. 1750-1775
3. 1700-1750
2. 1650-1699
8. 1840s
1. 1600-1650
index
European Colonizers Bought Land from Native Americans
Plymouth Colony Established
Billingsgate Explored by English Adventurer
Native American Communities Struck with Epidemics
1643
1620
1616
1618
Champlain Explored Cape Cod
1606
1602
Gosnold Began Written History of Cape Cod
Approx. 1600
Caboto pre 1600
1600
Active, Permanent Lifestyle of Native-Americans
Before 1600
1600
Billingsgate (now Wellfleet) Settled
Town of Eastham, including Wellfleet, Is Incorporated
Plymouth Colony Merged
1697
1692
1651
1600
Tax for Small Pox Victims Passed
Samuel Smith Purchased Land For Tavern
New Meetinghouse Built
Fresh Brook Settled
1747
1746
1734
1734
1720
First Wharf Built at Griffin Island
1719
Bound Brook Settled
1718
Billingsgate Petitions the General Court
1717
Pirate Ship Whydah Sank
1700
Whaling Reached Prime In Wellfleet
1771
Oyster Beds Died Off
Cutting of Trees Restricted
Population Reached 500
First Windmill Built
1770
1768
1765
1765
1763
Wellfleet Incorporated, Separating From Eastham
1763
Schools Kept In Private Houses
1761
Wellfleet Became Common Name
1700
First School Built
First Postmaster Appointed
1798
1797
Second Wharf Built on Duck Creek
Population Reached 1200
Wreck of the Ship America
1788
1779
1775
1700
First Lighthouse in Wellfleet
1819
Free Mason Schooner Built
First Methodist Revival Held
First Methodist Church Built
Five School Districts in Wellfleet
Offshore Whaling Schooners Active
1819
1816
1802
1807
Methodists Hold First Class
1802
1802
Humane Society Built Huts
1801
First Mail Service Established
1800
Packet Service with Boston Began
1800
1800
Mayo Beach Lighthouse Built
1839
Duck Creek Wharf Built
39 Salt Works in Production
Enterprise Wharf Built
Marine Benevolent Society Organized
Methodist Church Built in South Wellfleet
1837
1837
1835
1836
Commerical Wharf Built on Duck Creek
1835
1833
2nd Congregational Church Built in South Wellfleet
1831
South Wharf Built on Blackfish Creek
1830
Mackerel Fishing 1830-1870
1830
1800
Lorenzo Dow Baker Born
Wreck of the Franklin
Thoreau Visited Wellfleet
Schooners Built at Duck Creek Shipyard
Wreck of the Barque “Cactus”
1849
1849
1847
1848
Daily Mail Service Started
1846
1843
Methodist Church Built on Main St.
1840
River Wharf Built
1840
First Universalist Society Formed
1840
1800
Luther Crowell Patented Flying Machine
1859
12 School Houses Existed
30 Families Lived on Billingsgate
1859
1858
Pond Hill School Built
Uncle Tim's Bridge Built
New Congregational Church Built
1857
1850
1850
1800
J.A. Stubbs Oyster Company Formed
Advent Society Organized
1867
1866
Schools Consolidated
Mackerel Fishing Industry Flourished
Central Wharf Built
1865
1863
1860
1800
Steeple Blown Off Congregational Church
1879
Adams Masonic Lodge Built
First Circulating Library Established
Wellfleet Savings Bank Built
U.S. President, General Grant, Visited
1877
1876
1874
1874
1872
Cahoon Hollow Station Built
1870
Railroad Arrived in Wellfleet
1870
Mercantile Wharf Built
1800
Workers Free Public Library Established
1893
L.D. Baker & Company Established
Prospect Hill Development Laid Out
New Methodist Church Built
Oyster Transplantation Took Hold
High School Moved
1892
1892
1889
1890
Mercantile Wharf Purchased
1885
1884
Massive Pilot Whale Stranding
1883
Schooner Freeman Built
1880
Schoolhouse on Bound Brook Island is Sold
1880
1800
Herring River Dike Built
First Transatlantic Wireless Communication
1909
1903
First Gasoline Powered Oyster Boat
First Catholic Church Formed
Chequessett Inn Opened
1902
1902
1900
1900
Second Congregational Church Moved to Town Center
U.S. Navy Took Over Marconi Station
The Wellfleet Hotel Created
Billingsgate Island Inundated
1919
1917
1915
1915
1914
Chequessett Girls Camp Opened
1914
Castagna Wrecked Off Cahoon Hollow
1912
Our Lady of Lourdes Church Built
1900
Chequessett Country Club Established
Austin Ornithological Station Founded
First Fire Tower Erected
Electricity Comes to Wellfleet
1929
1929
1927
1927
1921
Town Dump Established
1920
Tourist Economy Became Important
1920
Population 826
1900
Passenger Service on Railroad Ended
1939
Wellfleet Consolidated School Built
1938
The Curtain Factory Built
Police Dept. Established
S. Wellfleet Neighborhood Assn. Established
Jack Hall Bought Property on Bound Brook
Four Rock Jetties Built on Mayo Beach
1938
1937
1937
1937
Fire Department Established
1934
1934
Chequesett Inn Destroyed
1933
Big Chief Dance Pavilion Destroyed
1933
American Legion Hall Built
1931
1900
Fire Station Constructed on Commercial Street
Biddles Bought the Baker Homestead
The Colony Built
Route 6 Bypassed Town Center
Summer Painting School Opened
1949
1948
1947
1948
Serge Chermayeff Bought Home on Slough Pond
1944
1943
Camp Wellfleet Opened
1942
Edmund Wilson Bought House On Money Hill
1941
New Town Hall Opened
1941
1900
Ocean View Drive Built
Spit and Chatter Club Became Captain Higgins Restaurant
Nauset Regional High School Opened
Audubon Bought Austin Ornithological Station
Chapel of St. James the Fisherman Built
1959
1959
1956
1959
Freight Railroad Ended
1955
1953
The Beachcomber Opened
1951
Wellfleet Historical Society Inc.
1951
New Marina and Pier Begun
1950
1900
Wellfleet Cannon Dedicated
Herring River Dike Rebuilt
Police Dept. Moved to Commercial Street
A.I.M. Medical Center Established
1975
1974
1966
1966
1961
Post Office Dedication on Main Street
1961
CC National Seashore Created
1960
Town Hall Burned Down
1900
Fire on Main Street
The Library Moved to the Former Candle Factory
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Formed
Spirit of Massachusetts Visited Wellfleet
New Town Charter Approved
1990
1985
1985
1985
Wellfleet Conservation Trust Established
1984
1984
The Pirate Ship Whydah Found
1984
Police and Fire Departments Moved to Lawrence Road
1984
Monies Appropriated for New Police and Fire Stations
1976
1900
Our Lady of Lourdes Moved to Route 6
New Fire Station Dedicated
Uncle Tim’s Bridge Rededicated
WHAT Opened A New 210 Seat Theater
2009
2009
2008
2007
2004
Fireworks Faux Pas
2003
First “State of Harbor" Conference
2002
The First Oysterfest Held
2000
Wellfeet's 250th Anniversary
Spike in Dolphin Stranding
2013
2012
Preservation Hall Opened
Community Gardens Established
Water Tower Completed
2011
2010
2010
2000
The Wellfleet Hotel Created
The Wellfleet Hotel and Annex was created at the house of Solomon Higgins on the corner of Main Street and Holbrook Avenue by Clarence W. Ryder.
A.I.M. Medical Center in Wellfleet was established. It was reorganized as Outer Cape Health Services in 1987.
A.I.M. Medical Center Established
First Methodist Revival Held
Cape Cod’s first Methodist camp meeting took place in South Wellfleet in 1819. It was on the Isaac Rich property in Paine Hollow. Rich was a wealthy Wellfleet citizen, a Boston fish dealer, a devout Methodist, and founder of Boston University, which was originally a school to train Methodist ministers. From 1823 to 1825 the camp meeting was held on Bound Brook Island.
Electricity came to Wellfleet, and a year later at a Town Meeting vote, gas street lamps were discontinued.
Electricity Comes to Wellfleet
Chapel of St. James the Fisherman Built
In 1956 the Chapel of St. James the Fisherman was built above Route 6. The architect was Finnish born Olav Hammarstrom, who also designed modernist houses in Wellfleet.
Serge Chermayeff Bought Home on Slough PondSerge Chermayeff, who became head of the architecture departments at Harvard and Yale, bought a home on Slough Pond on the Wellfleet-Truro border. Here, he entertained a number of renowned modernist architects including Walter Gropius and Eero Saarinen and Katharine Kuh, curator of modern art at the Chicago Art Institute.
Big Chief Dance Pavilion Destroyed
The Big Chief Pavilion was destroyed as a result of suspected arson. It was the site of high school basketball games, senior proms, roller skating, Saturday night dances, and other social events. It was located on the east side of Route 6 between South Wellfleet and Wellfleet.
Castagna Wrecked Off Cahoon Hollow
The Castagna was wrecked on a bitterly cold night off Cahoon Hollow Beach. Her captain and 3 crew members were frozen to death in the rigging where they had climbed in panic. The bodies of the 3 seamen were buried in the Catholic cemetery.
The Colony Built
Designed and built in 1948 by architects Nathaniel Saltonstall and Oliver P. Morton, the Mayo Hill Colony Club first served as a private club and art gallery for artists and their patrons. The cottages and the furnishings were in the Bauhaus style with pieces designed by leading modernists of the day.
Billingsgate Explored by English Adventurer
John Smith sailed into Cape Cod bay and set ashore at Billingsgate.
Schools Kept In Private Houses
In 1763 it was agreed that school terms of five weeks each be kept at the homes of James Atwood,, Joseph Atkins, Joseph Pierce and Zoeth Smith. The remainder of the six months school terms would be at the home of Widow Doane.
Methodists Hold First Class
The first Methodist class meeting was organized in 1802 with three members, Abigail Gross, Thankful Rich, and Lurana Higgins. Ephraim Higgins was the first class leader.
Wreck of the Barque “Cactus”
The Barque Cactus wrecked at South Wellfleet, and all hands were lost. It was on its way from Boston to Ireland with a cargo of grain for the famine-stricken country.
30 Families Lived on Billingsgate
In 1858 there were 30 families living on Billingsgate Island along with a lighthouse, store, school, and oil works.
Champlain Explored Cape Cod
The first to explore Cape Cod extensively was Samuel de Champlain. It is believed that Norsemen visited Cape Cod starting in 1000 A.D. Prior to 1600, other explorers passed the Cape (among them Giovanni and Sebastiano Caboto) aka John and Sebastion Cabot in 1498 and Giovanni da Verazzano in 1524); however there are no records of these men stopping to explore.
Oyster Beds Died Off
Wellfleet’s famous oysters died off because of over harvesting and the habit of local farmers removing the shells for lime for their fields. In a weakened condition disease struck the oysters and killed off most of the natural beds. Oystermen turned to importing spat from Long Island Sound and Chesapeake Bay.
Prospect Hill Development Laid Out
Prospect Hill Development is laid out in South Wellfleet south of Old Wharf Road.
Mercantile Wharf Purchased
In 1885, Lorenzo Dow Baker purchased Mercantile Wharf and spent $100,000 converting the old wharf buildings into the elegant Chequessett Inn. It was open only in the summer and staffed by Jamaican workers.
New Meetinghouse Built
In 1734 it was voted to build a new meetinghouse, a Second Meetinghouse of the First Congregational Church, to the south of the head of Duck Creek. Elisha Holbrook gave the land. This replaced the first meetinghouse on Chequessett Neck.
Schooner Freeman Built
The Freeman was a 500-ton banana schooner that combined both steam and sail.
Four Rock Jetties Built on Mayo Beach
Town Meeting approved $1500 for 4 rock jetties on Mayo Beach.
Wellfeet's 250th Anniversary
Wellfleet celebrated its 250th anniversary of being incorporated as a town on August 8th, 2013
U.S. Navy Took Over Marconi Station
In April, 1917, due to World War I, the U.S. Navy took possession of the Marconi Station in South Wellfleet and created the U.S. Navy Radio Station. In 1926, the Navy decommissioned the operation.
Our Lady of Lourdes Moved to Route 6
In 2009 a new 500-seat Catholic church on Route 6 was dedicated. The altar and reredos from the 1912 church on Main Street, hard carved from chestnut wood in Belgium, were refinished and installed in the new church.
First Transatlantic Wireless Communication
The first transatlantic wireless communication took place between Marconi Station in South Wellfleet and England. Messages were exchanged by President Theodore Roosevelt and the King of England, Edward VII.
New Methodist Church Built
Lorenzo Dow Baker financed a new Methodist Church on Main Street after the first one was struck by lightning and burned in 1891. It replaced a church built after the great revival movement of 1842-43. The lumber was shipped from Maine. Noted English artist, Claire Leighton, designed some of the stained glass windows.
Population Reached 1200
Population Reached 1200
Freight Railroad EndedThe last trains carrying freight to Wellfleet ended in 1955.
Library Moved to Former Candle Factory
The former candle factory on West Main Street was renovated, and the library moved there from the 2nd floor of Town Hall.
The First Oysterfest Held
Main Street was shut for 2 days of celebration featuring the Wellfleet oyster. The first festival held the promise of a new tradition.
Massive Pilot Whale Stranding
A large number of pilot whales stranded in Blackfish Creek.
Mercantile Wharf Built
Mercantile Wharf was built west of Mayo’s Beach Lighthouse. At the height of cod and mackerel fishing 100 vessels sailed from the harbor.
In 1915 the brick lighthouse and keeper’s house were inundated. A local man ferried the last of the bricks to the mainland in 1922, and by 1935 all that remained of Billingsgate was a tidal mudflat.
Billingsgate Island Inundated
1850 - Uncle Tim's Bridge Built
Uncle Tim's Bridge, named after ship’s chandlery owner, Timothy A. Daniels, constructed a bridge from Hamblen Island (Cannon Hill) to the village over Duck Creek.
Schoolhouse on Bound Brook Island is Sold
The Bound Brook Island schoolhouse was sold in 1880. The belfry became a well house at the David Baker homestead on the Island and the bell was moved to a Wesleyan Chapel in Jamaica. It was carried there by Captain L. D. Baker, a native of Bound Brook Island. Presently, a stone monument and plaque marks the approximate location of the school
Native American Communities Struck with Epidemics
Explorers and fishermen brought European diseases to the New World. A particularly deadly plague swept through native communities from 1616 until 1619. This was most probably small pox, but it could have been a viral typhus or even bubonic plague.
First Gasoline Powered Oyster Boat
L.D. Baker built the first gasoline powered oyster boat, The cultivator, for his newly-formed Wellfleet Oyster Company. Nicked named "the cheese box on a raft", it was unattractive but practical.
U.S. President, General Grant, visited and rode on the completed railroad line.
U.S. President, General Grant, Visited
Police Dept. Moved to Commercial Street
The police department moved from Town Hall to the second floor of the fire department on Commercial Street.
A Nautical camp for girls was opened by Alice Hamilton Belding and William Gould Vinal off Nauhaught Bluff Road. The site was later occupied by Camp Mar-Ven.
Chequessett Girls Camp Opened
Nauset Regional High School Opened
Nauset Regional High School opened in Orleans on Route 28 with an enrollment of 415 students. For the first time since Wellfleet’s incorporation, children went out of town for schooling.
Wellfleet Became Common Name
By 1761 Wellfleet became the common name for the town.
Offshore Whaling Schooners Active
Although whaling out of Wellfleet declined after The Revolutionary War with the drop in North Atlantic whales due to over harvesting, Wellfleet in 1802 still had 5 schooners out of a fleet of 25, active in the hunt for whales. Increasingly Wellfleet whalers turned to fishing as the number of whales declined.
Railroad Arrived in Wellfleet
The Fall River and Old Colony Railroad extended its line from Boston and arrived in Wellfleet on Dec 9,th 1870. The station was off Commercial Street, opposite Railroad Avenue.
Methodist Church Built in South Wellfleet
The Methodist Church at South Wellfleet was built in 1835, and was located on the west side of the road, a little to the south of the 2nd Congregational Church. After becoming inactive, in 1869 it was moved to town and converted into a dwelling house by Dr. George T. Wyer.
Population 826
The 1920 Census recorded a population of 826 for Wellfleet.
2nd Congregational Church Built in South Wellfleet
The Second Congregational Church was organized December 4, 1833, in South Wellfleet, with 42 members withdrawing from the First Church for that purpose. The church was moved to Wellfleet in 1919 to a location in town and eventually became Town Hall.
CC National Seashore Created
"The Cape Cod National Seashore was created by an act of Congress and approved by President John F. Kennedy. It encompassed more than 44,000 acres. The park stretches for 40 miles along the shoreline of the “Great Beach” of Cape Cod from Chatham to Provincetown. It is the first National Park that included privately-owned land. Camp Wellfleet had reached its final days of usefulness. It was closed, and a small crew left to manage the site until the National Park Service arrived."
First Mail Service Established
The first mail service that reached Wellfleet was established in 1801. For many years this was only once a week.
South Wharf Built on Blackfish Creek
Leonard Battelle and Robert Little, both of whom were in the shipping business in Boston, joined Richard Arey, a South Wellfleet local, in building the South Wharf on Blackfish Creek. It was 100 feet long and berthed as many as 100 ships.
First Methodist Church Built
The First Methodist Church was built on Pleasant Hill.
39 Salt Works in Production
There were 39 establishments in Wellfleet manufacturing salt. They were located at the Cove, on Griffith and Bound Brook Islands, and in South Wellfleet. By 1860 the salt works industry was abandoned.
Active, Permanent Lifestyle of Native-Americans
By 1600 there were extensive permanent Native-American settlements on the Outer Cape, including Wellfleet. They grew corn, beans, squash and harvested deer and small game, fish, shellfish, whales and native plants. They manufactured mishoons, (canoes), we-tus, pottery, fishing weights and other tools and numerous styles of bi-face projectile points. Wampanoag people acknowledge the Earth as a living being, including all that live on her, grow from her, or are part of her body. (Linda Coombs)
Community Gardens Established
On June 27, 2010 there was a ribbon-cutting for 33 garden plots at the Wellfleet Council on Aging building at 715 Old Kings Highway.
Humane Society Built Huts
The large number of wrecks on the back side encouraged the formation of a Humane Society which began to build huts along the coast where seamen who washed ashore could find shelter. The huts in Wellfleet were located in the hollows at Newcomb, Pearce, Cahoon, and Snow. There were also huts at Fresh Brook and Great Island.
Wellfleet Consolidated School Built
A final consolidation of Wellfleet schools resulted in the building of a school overlooking Long Pond Road at the cost of $60,000.
Jack Hall Bought Property on Bound Brook
Jack Hall, a self-taught Modernist architect, purchased the 18 century cottage which was the birthplace of Lorenzo Dow Baker along with several acres on Bound Brook Island from author John Dos Passos and his wife, Katy. Jack Hall created a welcoming environment for European Modernists who arrived in Wellfleet in the mid-1940s. He designed a number of Modernist houses, including the Hatch Cottage.
Billingsgate Petitions the General Court
Wanting more control over their taxes and resources, the families of North Eastham attempted to separate from Eastham in 1700. Eastham allowed those to the north to support their own minister and teacher and not contribute to those in Eastham, but did not support the establishment of a separate town. In 1718 those in North Eastham petitioned the General Court for separation. Separation was opposed by Eastham.
Plymouth Colony Merged
Plymouth Colony was merged with Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the seat of government for the Cape shifts to Boston.
Fresh Brook Settled
Fresh Brook is located in the south east area of area of Wellfleet. It is now part of the CC National Seashore. It's first know resident was Sylvanus Snow in 1734. It eventually became a village with over 50 inhabitants and a school.
Summer Painting School Opened
Xavier Gonzalez established a summer studio and summer painting school. His art was displayed throughout the United States, including, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as in Paris, Venice, Brussels and Tokyo. He designed a 300 pound aluminum Christmas angel for the Town Hall in 1955. It was destroyed in the fire that destroyed the Town Hall in 1960.
Wellfleet Cannon Dedicated
After years of being lost, the town cannon was dedicated and placed on Town Hall green. The inscription reads: “Unearthed in South Wellfleet in September 1974, having been carried from Cannon Hill, Wellfleet, in 1963 by Clarence B. Hicks with several of his friends and buried on the Hicks’ property. Presented to the town of Wellfleet by Mrs. Otto Andl, current owner of the homestead.”
Wellfleet Savings Bank Built
The Wellfleet Savings Bank was built on Bank Street.
Wreck of the Ship America
In 1779 the ship America of Wellfleet, captained by WilliamDoane, was lost with all twenty three men on board.
Samuel Smith Purchased Land For Tavern
Samuel Smith purchased land for a tavern on Great Island. Thomas Rich & Co. conveyed by deed parcels of land on Great Island to him for £3 and 10s.
Cutting of Trees Restricted
Faced with significant erosion, especially into the town harbor from Great Island, Wellfleet petitioned the General Court to restrict the cutting of trees and grazing on common land.
Camp Wellfleet Opened
For about 18 years, starting in March, 1943, the U.S. government used Camp Wellfleet as a military training facility. The facility was located in South Wellfleet at what is now the Marconi area of the National Seashore.
First Postmaster Appointed
Thomas Holbrook was offered the position of postmaster but declined. Lewis Hamlen thus became the first postmaster on October 30, 1797.
Before 1600
For over 10,000 years Indigenous people accommodated their life ways as the land retreated and changed. The bluffs on the ocean side of Wellfleet extended as much as four miles further east than they do today, (2022). The Wampanoag continue to live as they have for millennia in Mashpee, Herring Pond and Aquinnah.
Schooners Built at Duck Creek Shipyard
From 1848 to 1853 Henry Rogers & Sons built 8 schooners, but otherwise boat building was on a small scale.
Mackerel Fishing 1830-1870
With the decline of whaling, Wellfleet fishermen turned to off-shore mackerel fishing. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Wellfleet was third in the nation in mackerel catch. In 1851 the town had 79 schooners with 852 men chasing mackerel.
New Congregational Church Built
In 1850 the present First Congregational Church was built on Main Street. In 1873 it was remodeled and repaired at an expense of $10,000.
Tax for Small Pox Victims Passed
There was a smallpox epidemic from 1746-1748. The General Court passed a tax bill to support families afflicted by smallpox which included the Native Americans
Fire Department Established
Town Meeting voted to organize a modern fire department. Town Meeting voted to appropriate $500 for the purchase of equipment. A whist party, picture show, and dance raised $110.60 to pay for other department expenses. A board of fire engineers was appointed consisting of Dr. C.J. Bell, Cyril Downs, Edward B. Lane, Fred Howard, Benjamin Paine, and Clarence Hicks
Gosnold Began Written History of Cape Cod
The first recorded history of Cape Cod begins May 15, 1602, when having sighted land the day before, the English explorer, Bartholomew Gosnold, found himself "embayed within a mighty headland near this cape." He anchored in fifteen fathoms and they caught so many codfish, he named the place Cape Cod.
Mayo Beach Lighthouse Built
The Mayo Beach lighthouse began operation in 1839.
Enterprise Wharf Built
Enterprise Wharf built by Benjamin Rich and Stephen Young in Chipman's Cove at Old Pier Road. It was abandoned in 1862.
Police and Fire Departments Moved to Lawrence Road
The police and fire departments moved out of the station on Commercial Street into a modern public safety facility on Lawrence Road. The new station housed the fire department on the lower level and the police department above.
Fire on Main Street
The Penny Patch fire destroyed two storefront buildings on Main Street. The Penny Patch was a penny candy store which had formerly been the popular Newcomb’s Soda Shop.
Adams Masonic Lodge Built
The Adams Ancient Free and Accepted Temple was opened on the corner of Bank and Commercial Streets. The construction was done by local architect and builder, Zoheth Sparrow.
First Wharf Built at Griffin Island
Taking advantage of laws which granted owners property rights to the low water line, and with growing need to move goods in and out of the area, the first wharf in Wellfleet was built at Griffin Island.
Bound Brook Settled
Farm families move out to Bound Brook to take advantage of the wide expanse of salt marsh for feed for their cattle and the access to the bay through Duck Harbor.
Mackerel Fishing Industry Flourishes
In 1851 there were 79 vessels employing 852 men. The business increased and was at its best between 1860 and 1870, when about 100 vessels were in operation. After that date fishing declined, until in 1884 there were only 30 vessels employing about 500 men.
Pond Hill School Built
The Pond Hill School was built in South Wellfleet.
Chequesett Inn Destroyed
The famous Chequesett Inn built by Captain L. D. Baker was destroyed by ice in February, 1934.
Town Hall Burned Down
The Town Hall burned down during a March blizzard. In 1961 it was rebuilt in the same style with an extension on the back for more office space.
Central Wharf Built
The Central wharf was built on Duck Creek by 60 shareholders. It was 300 feet long and did a thriving business. It later became the town landing.
Workers Free Public Library Established
Town meeting voted to establish the Workers Free Public Library in a rented building where the Town Hall now stands.
Marine Benevolent Society Organized
The Marine Benevolent Society was organized to provide relief for shipwrecked seamen and families.
Biddles Bought the Baker Homestead
Francis Biddle, Attorney General under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and his wife, poet Katherine Garrison Chapin Biddle, bought the Baker homestead on Bound Brook Island from Jack Hall. Francis spent summers there until his death in Wellfleet in 1968. The property was acquired from the Biddle family by the National Park Service in 2011.
First Fire Tower Erected
The State Forestry Service built the first fire tower as a direct result of a 1927 disastrous fire that destroyed 2500 acres of woodland.
High School Moved
The high school was moved to Main Street next to the Congregational Church.
Herring River Dike Rebuilt
Repairs were made to the Herring River Dike originally built in 1909.
Ocean View Drive Built
The construction of Ocean View Drive was started in 1950, connecting Lecount Hollow Road and Long Pond Road. It was paved in 1951. This connected Lecount Hollow Beach with Cahoon Hollow Beach. White Crest Beach and Parking was created at a later date. Construction on the section from Long Pond Road to Gross Hill Road and on to Newcomb Hollow Beach was started in 1958 and paved in 1960.
Spit and Chatter Club Became Captain Higgins Restaurant
At the death of Captain Everett Higgins, the Spit and Chatter Club building was sold and remodeled to become Captain Higgins Restaurant. Construction of the inner basin of the marina required the building be moved from the east side of Commercial Street to the west side in 1951. The building now houses the restaurant, The Pearl.
Wreck of the Franklin
The Franklin foundered at Newcomb's Hollow on her way from London to Boston. It carried among its cargo: apple, pear, and linden trees which were salvaged and planted in town. The descendants of these can be seen around town today. The captain and several crew members were lost, emphasizing the need for more life-saving facilities. It appeared from the Captain's private papers picked up by Capt. Isaiah Hatch that the ship was purposely wrecked.
On January 1, 1961 the post office at the corner of Holbrook and Main Street was dedicated. The post office sat on the lot previously occupied by Hotel Wellfleet. The flag for the ceremony had been flown over the Post Office Department in Washington and the Capitol Building.
Post Office Dedication on Main Street
First “State of Harbor" Conference
In what was to become an annual event, on Sept 6th, 2003, the State of Wellfleet Harbor Conference filled the Council on Aging. The purpose was to provide information to the general public on issues and research affecting Wellfleet Harbor.
Preservation Hall Opened
Preservation Hall opened in the renovated former Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on May 5th, 2011. Under the leadership of Marla Rice, Anne Suggs, and Ellen LeBow, a nonprofit 501c3 organization was formed to preserve a unique part of Wellfleet’s architecture, breathing new life and new use into the space left vacant and deteriorating. The opening of “Prez Hall” brought back a vibrancy and sense of community to Main Street.
First Catholic Church Formed
By a vote of the town on October19, 1900, the schoolhouse opposite the old cemetery was sold to Henry Delory for $59. The abandoned one-room schoolhouse was cut in sections and moved to Route 6 on the site now occupied by the Mobil Service Station to serve as a chapel for the Catholic community. It was named Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel.
Pirate Ship Whydah Sank
Pirate Captain Sam Bellamy’s ship, the Whydah, sank off South Wellfleet. The Whydah smashed into the shoals of Wellfleet near the present day Marconi beach, drowning most on board, including Bellamy, and sending the treasure of 50 plundered ships into the sea.
Tourist Economy Became Important
By 1920 Wellfleet was becoming a summer destination.
The Pirate Ship Whydah Found
The ship of pirate Black Sam Bellamy, which sank in 1717, was found in 14 feet of water and 5 feet of mud by Barry Clifford off Marconi Beach. In 1985 the bell with the words “The Whydah Gally 1716” was recovered making the Whydah the first authenticated pirate shipwreck ever to be discovered.
First Universalist Society Formed
The First Universalist Society was organized in 1840. Subsequent meetings were held in Lyceum Hall. In 1844 the original Masonic Hall was remodeled into a suitable place for worship. The Union Hall was purchased in 1868, where regular services were held until 1889.
Caboto pre 1600
Prior to 1600 Giovanni Caboto, aka John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer. His 1497 voyage to the coast of North America under the commission of Henry VII of England is the earliest-known European exploration of coastal North America since the Norse visits to Vinland in the eleventh century. Hi son, Sebastiono Caboto was also an explorer.
Monies Appropriated for New Police and Fire Stations
Voters appropriated $654,000 for a new combined police and fire station which was located at the intersection of Gross Hill Road, Lawrence Road, and Route 6.
Uncle Tim’s Bridge Rededicated
Uncle Tim’s Bridge was rebuilt with funds provided through the Community Preservation Act. It was retained as a wooden structure as a result of community input.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church Built
In 1912, Our Lady of Lourdes church was completed on Main Street and dedicated on September 1. The architect was Matthew Sullivan of Boston.
First Lighthouse in Wellfleet
The first lighthouse in Wellfleet was erected on Billingsgate Island. It was the third lighthouse on Cape Cod, after the Highland Light in Truro and the Race Point Light in Provincetown.
Passenger Service on Railroad Ended
Passenger service on the Old Colony railroad ended. The passenger station had been demolished in 1935.
Free Mason Schooner Built
From 1730 boat builders utilizing local lumber constructed boats of varying sizes from small skiffs to large schooners. In 1800 the hundred-ton Free Mason was built at Bound Brook. A ton measures the carrying capacity, not the weight of a ship.
Methodist Church Built on Main St.
A new Methodist Church was erected on Main Street which was at that time the most elaborate church edifice on the Cape. The church was struck by lightning and burned in 1891.
Fire Station Constructed on Commercial Street
A new three-bay fire station was constructed for $2500 on lands purchased from the Methodist Church and Lydia Scott. Money to fund the construction came from sale of town property.
S. Wellfleet Neighborhood Assn. Established
South Wellfleet Neighborhood Association and Social Union was established for and by residents and visitors. The center of its activities is the former Pond Hill School.
Oyster Transplantation Took Hold
The business of buying seed oysters in Long Island Sound and planting them in Wellfleet Bay, to be taken up on their maturity and prepared for market, was started. Buildings were erected for handling the product, which in 1903 had reached the amount of 200,000 bushels.
Daily Mail Service Started
Lorenzo Dow Baker Born
Lorenzo Dow Baker, one of Wellfleet's most prominent citizens, was born. He was a sea captain, banana exporter, and entrepreneur. He was founder of what became the United Fruit Company.
Second Wharf Built on Duck Creek
The second wharf was built by Thomas Holbrook in 1788 on Duck Creek below the residence of Charles Marsh. When whales were caught in the Bay they were secured at this wharf and tried out on Physic Point.
The Beachcomber Opened
Russell Gallagher bought the former Coast Guard station at Cahoon Hollow Beach, converted it into a small inn and called it The Beachcomber. In 1978 Todd LeBart and Hugh Dunbar bought it and it became a restaurant, bar, and dance club.
Audubon Bought Austin Ornithological Station
In 1959 the lands and the buildings of the Austin Ornithological Station were sold to Massachusetts Audubon Society. The sale was supported by private gifts from the Mellon family.
Thoreau Visited Wellfleet
Henry David Thoreau visited Cape Cod and Wellfleet in 1849 as he walked along the back shore. He spent a night with John Young Newcomb, an oysterman, and his wife, Thankful, in Wellfleet on present day Williams Pond. They were mentioned in his book Cape Cod.
Route 6 Bypassed Town Center
Route 6, the state highway, was rebuilt to bypass the town center.
Billingsgate (now Wellfleet) Settled
John Doane III farms on Chequessett Neck, formerly a part of North Eastham known as Billingsgate.
Plymouth Colony Established
The Pilgrims reached Provincetown and explored parts of the Cape including Wellfleet.
The town dump was established off Coles Neck Road.
Town Dump Established
L.D. Baker & Company Established
L.D. Baker & Company was established by Baker and Capt. Jesse H. Freeman. Lorenzo Dow Baker was born in 1840 on Bound Brook Island. He became one of Wellfleet's most prominent citizens. He was a sea captain, banana exporter, and entrepreneur.
Commerical Wharf Built on Duck Creek
Paine Atwood and Elisha Perry built Commercial Wharf and ran it until 1853 when the twenty-man Commercial Wharf Company bought them out and established an oyster plant
Population Reached 500
The population of Wellfleet was estimated to be 500 in 1765 with only 5 Native Americans on record.
Town of Eastham, including Wellfleet, Is Incorporated
Seven families composed of some 50 individuals took up land in the new town of Eastham and allocated farms of about 200 acres composed of marshland, woodland, easily-worked sandy plowland and grass-covered dunes. Land was set aside for Native Americans and Great Island was reserved for common land.
European Colonizers Bought Land from Native Americans
The first European settlers move from Plymouth Colony to the Outer Cape. In 1643 Governor Bradford and others made a land survey and purchase from the Indian Sachem the territory now included in the towns of Orleans, Eastham and part of Wellfleet.
The first windmill was built for grinding grain. It was located on the present area in town known as Mill Hill.
First Windmill Built
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Formed
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) was formed and took residence on Kendrick Avenue. The nucleus of the founders were Kevin Rice, Gip Hoppe, Lori Swift, Dick Morrill, Dan Walker and Vicki Shephard. Jeff Zinn arrived later as a co-director.
Second Congregational Church Moved to Town Center
The Second Congregational Church in South Wellfleet was moved to the center of town and renamed Colonial Hall. It eventually became Town Hall in 1941.
First Circulating Library Established
The first circulating library was established by Dr. Thomas Stone.
Police Dept. Established
A vote at the annual town meeting in 1938 established a police department with John C. Daniels, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, as police chief. He received no extra pay and did not wear a uniform. Elmer Wiles and George Barrio were the first two officers. The office of the department was in the town hall.
Edmund Wilson Bought House On Money Hill
Critic and author Edmund Wilson bought a home on Money Hill on March, 15th 1942 and moved there with his 3rd wife, author Mary McCarthy. Wilson owned the house until his death in 1972.
Austin Ornithological Station Founded
Oliver L. Austin and his son founded the Austin Ornithological Station which became one of the largest private bird-banding stations in the world. Today, it is the location of Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Packet Service with Boston Began
The packet system was established about 1800, and was the only means of conveyance of freight and passengers between Wellfleet and Boston.
Water Tower Completed
The completion of the water tower in 2010 greatly expanded the municipal water supply. The tower joined the steeple of the Congregational Church as a main focus of the town's skyline.
Herring River Dike Built
A dike was built across the Herring River to decrease mosquitoes by restricting tidal flow.
J.A. Stubbs Oyster Company Formed
J.A. Stubbs Oyster Company formed. It was the first viable oyster planting and shipping company.
12 School Houses Existed
In 1859 the town had a total of twelve school houses and 600 students. The town paid teachers' salaries but did not own all the school houses. An example is the case of Pond Hill School in South Wellfleet built on a shares basis by men of the community. The site was donated by the Lewis family who owned large tracts of land in the area.
Spike in Dolphin Stranding
From Jan. 12 to Feb. 16 a total of 178 dolphins stranded. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) had workers in town for over a month. Of 71 stranded alive, 56 were released live into the wild.
New Fire Station Dedicated
The ground breaking for a new fire and rescue station took place on March 6, 2008. The dedication took place a year later on April 1, 2009. The new station is located on Route 6 and is a state-of-the art building.
Duck Creek Wharf Built
The slow silting in of Duck Harbor encouraged the migration of people and economic activity to the present harbor area. John Harding built the first Wharf on Duck Creek which would soon become the location of several wharves and the center of town commercial activity.
Wellfleet Historical Society Inc.
The Wellfleet Historical Society was incorporated. It later became Wellfleet Historical Society & Museum.
New Town Hall Opened
A new town hall opened in the former South Wellfleet 2nd Congregational Church which was moved in 1919 from the east entrance of the South Wellfleet cemetery to the center of Wellfleet. At that time, the building was renamed Colonial Hall.
New Marina and Pier Begun
The town bought Shirttail Point and began to build the marina and pier over the next 8 years.
Luther Crowell Patented Flying Machine
Luthor Crowell was a local inventor.
Schools Consolidated
All the schools were consolidated into five primary schools, two grammar schools and one high school. For the first time, a high school building was erected on the hill in back of a residence occupied by David C. Lombard. This location at that time accommodated pupils from the outlying districts of the town.
Chequessett Country Club Established
A golf club was established just before the October, 1929, stock market crash with stocks being sold for cash as well as kind. The oil painting by Gerrit Beneker, presently over the fireplace in the clubhouse, was payment for 5 shares. In 1936 the name was changed to Chequessett Country Club as tennis had been added. In 1934 the Wellfleet Yacht Club started to use the anchorage.
Steeple Blown Off Congregational Church
In December, 1879, the steeple and town clock were blown down, but later replaced.
Advent Society Organized
A small Advent Society was organized in 1866. A chapel was fitted up over the store of Mr. Payne W. Higgins, the current location of the Wellfleet Historical Society Museum.
Spirit of Massachusetts Visited Wellfleet
In observance of the 300th anniversary of Barnstable County the newly-constructed schooner, Spirit of Massachusetts, visited Wellfleet. Four days of events were held to coincide with the event.
River Wharf Built
River Wharf was built opposite Great Island for fish packing.
American Legion Hall Built
The American Legion Hall was completed on land purchased from Nickerson Lumber Company, now Mid Cape Home Center. A stone watering trough was donated by Emmanuel Davis with a plaque reading, “American Legion, John R. McKay Post 287, April 1933". The Left Bank Gallery now occupies the building.
Whaling Reached Prime In Wellfleet
In 1771 Wellfleet was credited with having 30 whalers of 75 tons, each employing 15 men. By thee 1780's whaling had significantly depleted whales in the North Atlantic.
On July 10th 2004 a fireworks show was set off prematurely during the day causing a large fire near the Indian Neck parking area. The fire chief called it “one of the largest and most dangerous incidents we have yet to manage.”
Fireworks Faux Pas
Chequessett Inn Opened
Chequessett Inn opened after Mercantile Wharf was converted to a hotel resort.
Wellfleet Conservation Trust Established
The Wellfleet Conservation Trust was established in 1984 to assist and promote the preservation of open spaces and natural resources and to protect the rural character of the town of Wellfleet. This purpose is consistent with and supportive of the vision of the residents of Wellfleet who place a high priority on protection of our natural environment, precious natural resources, and improved access to open spaces. We share that vision. Hence, the mission of the Wellfleet Conservation Trust is to conserve land in perpetuity for enjoyment by current and future generations.
"A life saving station was built at Cahoon Hollow Beach by the Federal Government along with 8 others on the Cape's east shore. They were located at about 8-mile intervals from Provincetown to Chatham. These stations contained everything needed for a sea rescue. They were manned by a brave and experienced captain and crew and were critical in the saving of life and property. Every mile of the backshore was patrolled at night and on foggy days. After the establishment of the Life Saving Service, all shipwrecked mariners were cared for at the expense of the government."
Cahoon Hollow Station Built
New Town Charter Approved
A new town charter was approved creating a governing body of 5 selectmen and a town manager. A new Board of Health was appointed since the selectmen previously did this job.
The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, formed in 1985, built a state of the art facility on Route 6. On Saturday, June 23, a gala opening night featured a cheering ovation for Julie Harris as she knelt onstage, kissed her hand, and slapped the floor to dedicate the Julie Harris stage.