| Eastham Historical Society |
| 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:
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HISTORIC DISTRICTSNot 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. EASTHAM CENTER HISTORIC DISTRICTThis 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. COLLINS COTTAGES HISTORIC DISTRICTThis 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.
ABOUT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY...ACTIVITIESThe 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. ARCHIVESThe 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 Box 8, Eastham, MA 02642. Phone (508)255-0558. Or contact Bobbie by e-mail at easthamarchives@easthamhistorical.org.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS2011 Monday, February 28 - Fundraiser Dinner at The Fairway Restaurant Route 6, Eastham 5:00 to 8:00pm. $13.00 per person. Dinner choices: Lasagna or Spaghetti and Meatballs. Salad, desert and beverage extra. Tickets available at the door. Eat in or take out. Monday, March 28 - Fundraiser Dinner at The Fairway Restaurant Route 6, Eastham 5:00 to 8:00pm. $13.00 per person. Dinner choices: Chicken Parmigiana or Spaghetti and Meatballs. Salad, desert and beverage extra. Tickets available at the door. Eat in or take out. Saturdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28 - Book drop for book sale between 10:00am and 2:00pm at the gift shop behind the Swift Daley Museum. Gift shop will be open during those hours with a 50% off sale. Sunday, May 15 - Eastham Historical Society Annual Meeting. Nauset Baptist Church, 1050 Great Pond Rd. Monday, May 23 - EHS Fundraiser Dinner. Van Rensellaers Restaurant and Raw Bar, 1019 Rt.6 So. Wellfleet. No tickets to buy, just come and enjoy a great meal from their extensive menu. 10% of the proceeds from each dinner will go to the Eastham Historical Society. Bring your friends for a wonderful evening with great food. Doors open at 4:00pm Sunday, July 3- Celebrate an old fashioned July 4th on the 1869 Schoolhouse lawn. 1 -4pm Wednesday, July 13 - Virtual Historic District Tour. Schoolhouse Museum at 9:45; program starts at 10:00 am. Normally an actual walking tour, this tour will be a "virtual" walk with slides and a map through the Eastham Historic District learning about the historic homes and their early inhabitants. "Walking" among the old houses on Salt Pond, Locust Rd., and Old County Rd., one is taken back to a time when many Eastham residents were sea captains and farmers. Presenter will be Kate Moore Alpert, Eastham native and former president of the Historical Society. $8 per person. Wednesday, July 27 - Cemetery Tour. Tour the Bridge Road Cemetery with cemetery historian Bob Carlson. Learn interesting facts about the stones and interred 1754-1886. Meet at 9:45am, tour starts at 10:00am. $5:00 per person, children under 16 free. Parking at cemetery off the road on grass strip. Saturday, August 13- 34rd Annual Summer Antiques Show & Sale. Eastham Windmill Green, Route 6. 10am to 4pm. Rain or shine. The antiques show everyone looks forward to; 35 local and regional antiques dealers with quality antiques, primitives and fun vintage finds. Historical Society antiques & treasure table. Beverage & bake sale table. $4 admission, $3.00 with coupon. Sunday, August 14 - Tool Discovery 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. No admission charge. Saturday, October 8 - Annual Fall Antiques Show and Sale. THIS SALE HAS BEEN CANCELLED Wednesday, November 2 - Joshua Blair Delaney, author of Pieces of Eight, will be the guest speaker. Schoolhouse Museum 7:00pm. Sunday, November 13 - Historical Society Pot Luck Supper. 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. VOLUNTEERSVolunteers 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.
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