In My Footsteps: Trip 45: Dennis, Mass. - Part Two

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 45: Dennis, Mass. – Part Two

April 21, 2010

            After living on Cape Cod for nearly the entirety of my life it is difficult for me to find places that I either had not known about or had not seen.  On this second trip through Dennis I was able to discover one such place.  The town of Dennis, though settled by Thomas Howes and John Crowe (Crowell), got its name for the resident minister Josiah Dennis.  His saltbox home, the Josiah Dennis Manse, built in 1736, is a must see which functions as a museum as well.  Though it is highly recommended the museum is currently being renovated and will not be opened to the public again until 2011.

            The north side of Dennis has an incredible stretch of beaches that are some of the most popular on the Cape.  My beach of choice is Corporation Beach due to the scenic overlook that gives you a view of the beach below from about thirty feet up(left).  On a clear day you can easily see all the way up the coastline to Provincetown with the Pilgrim Monument standing out against the sky.  Another great view at Corporation Beach happens during big storms.  There is a long rock wall, separating the private homes from the ocean, which runs parallel to the parking lot about fifty feet out.  During these storms it is fun to park and watch the ocean waves crashing up and over the rock wall.  These views are what make Corporation Beach unique. 

Still, if that is not your thing, Chapin Beach offers a different sort of thrill which is off-roading.  The route to Chapin Beach is nearly two and a half miles leading to a very secluded parking lot; though in summer it is extremely crowded.  Those vehicles with the capability may opt to drive out along the beach which extends out to where the Chase Garden Creek Salt Marsh empties into Cape Cod Bay.  From there you have a great view of both Sandy Neck in Sandwich and the close by Grey’s Beach, also known as Bass Hole. 

After hitting the beaches there are more historical sites to see and of course they lie on Route 6A.  Around the intersection of 6A and Old Bass River Road there are a few places close together which makes it a great area to park and walk.  Located directly across the street from one another are two historic places.  The Carleton Hall, built in 1828, was originally created to be a Methodist ‘praying house.’  It was purchased in 1865 by Captain Carleton Howes and a group of local citizens to be used for community activities.  It is still used for that purpose to this day.

Across the street from the Carleton Hall, and next door to the fire station, is the Dennis Union Church(right).  Originally established in 1727 this church still plays the chimes at the tops of the hours.  It is incredible to be there at noon when it is almost as if an entire concert is being played for those in and around the church.  It has a large green in front of it with a gazebo; this spot is a tremendous place to get out of the hot sun, or to just sit and people watch along 6A.

Not more than a few hundred yards from the Dennis Union Church is the famous Dennis Playhouse(left).  It is the country’s oldest professional summer theatre.  Originally a Uniatrian Meeting House the Playhouse was begun by California native Raymond Moore in 1927.  A frequent visitor to Provincetown where he worked in the theatres there Moore desired to have a theatre of his own.  The first performance came on July 4, 1927 and was The Guardsman featuring Basil Rathbone.  In the time since many world famous performers have graced the stage inside the Playhouse or, in the case of Bette Davis, been discovered there.  Ms. Davis worked as an usher in the Playhouse when it opened.  Gregory Peck, Lana Turner, Humphrey Bogart, and Ginger Rogers are just a few of the performers that include shows at the Playhouse on their resumes.

Finally we come to a spot in Dennis that I had never actually been to.  Crows Pasture sits on South Street past the Quivett Cemetery on the east side of Sesuit Harbor.  The road out to Crows Pasture Beach is long, bumpy, and unpaved.  It is recommended that you take it slow, or better yet have a vehicle capable of four-wheel drive.  The scenery is amazing, especially during a first drive out there.  The 138-acre conservation area has many designated parking areas with views of Cape Cod Bay and the neighboring Quivett Creek Marsh(left).  On this trip I witnessed a few people out on the beach at low-tide shellfishing.  It is possible to park and any of the designated areas and taking a walk to the beach or to Coles Pond which sits in the northeast section of Crows Pasture and only a few hundred yards from the ocean.

Though it is relatively hidden to those unfamiliar with it, Crows Pasture is a spot in which a day can easily be spent simply enjoying the solitude and beauty of untouched Cape Cod.  I left there feeling like it was a part of the National Seashore on the mid-Cape; an area large enough to give you the feeling that it looked much the same as when the first settlers gazed upon it for the first time.

Whether taking a walk along Rt. 6A, where nearly everything has historical significance, or enjoying the untouched solitude of Crows Pasture, Dennis is a destination point with limitless possibilities for good times.  I enjoyed taking another look at the amazing sites that are in my own backyard and absolutely recommend any visitor to the Cape take some time to enjoy what this town has to offer.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions:  Corporation Beach: From Rt. 6A heading east, turn left onto Corporation Rd.  Follow it to the beach.  Chapin Beach: From Rt. 6A heading east, turn left at New Boston Rd., take quick right onto Beach St.  Continue onto Taunton Ave., turn left at Dr. Botero Rd., continue onto Chapin Beach Rd.  Follow it to parking lot.

Crows Pasture:  From Rt. 6A heading east turn left onto School St.  Take first right at South Street.  Follow it past the cemetery on the right.  Entrance to Crows Pasture is straight ahead, remember road is dirt so drive carefully.

References:  Cape Playhouse     

            Dennis Historical Society

            Dennis Chamber of Commerce

Dennis on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 43: Yarmouthport, Mass. - Part Two

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 43: Yarmouthport, Mass. – Part Two

April 15, 2010

            Nothing beats Route 6A in the spring.  The warm, sweet smelling air coupled with the blooming trees and flowers gives every site the appearance of a painting or postcard.  I decided to venture back over to Yarmouthport to check out some places missed during my first article.  I also wanted to find out just how people spell Yarmouthport.  Is it with the space, or without?  According to the highway signs near Exit 7 it is without the space, so I am going with that way until further notice.

            It was a pleasant change to be able to take a stroll along the historic sidewalks of 6A in Yarmouthport while it was sunny and warm.  Most of my other trips had taken place during the dead of winter so I really appreciated this day.  There are plenty of great places to park to get out and walk along 6A, I chose the small parking area of the Kelly Chapel, located behind the Post Office.  I walked east a little ways, deciding to start from the First Congregational Church of Yarmouth(left) and work my way back. 

            The First Congregational Church, which sits on Zion Hill overlooking the Yarmouthport Village Store, was first gathered in 1639 coinciding with the town’s founding.  The current church was built in 1870 due to the increasing need for a larger building to house all of the worshipers in the town.  It has a majestic quality to it, especially after dark when the face of the church is lit up by a large spotlight.  It is the prefect start to a spring stroll. 

            As you walk along this area of Rt. 6A it is important to keep your eyes open for black and gold plaques featuring a sailing ship.  It is along this stretch of road that there are fifty-three such plaques; these make up the ‘Yarmouth Captain’s Mile.’  It is amazing when you do spot all of the plaques adorning the fronts of homes, to realize that so many sea captains once lived in such close proximity during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

One such house that intrigued me was the Captain Thomas Ryder House located next to the Yarmouthport Library.  The home itself is beautiful, sitting on a modest hill with a large wraparound front porch.  It was after I had snapped a few shots up close that I noticed something odd.  On the three steps leading from the walkway to the street there were words.  The words read ‘The Hillock.’(right)  I do not know what this meant, or how many people that pass by the steps ever notice them, but it makes for a neat mystery that I am trying to figure out.

            Located across from the post office is the Winslow-Crocker House(left).  Originally built in 1780 this house is a great place to check out just because of the story of how it got to where it currently stands.  The house sat in West Barnstable but was bought and moved by Mary Thacher in 1936; she subsequently used the house to showcase her collection of colonial furniture, hooked rugs, ceramics, and other antiques.  Set back from the road the house has a spacious yard, it can make you feel as though you are looking at this house when it was originally built despite the fact that it is not its original location.  The Winslow-Crocker House is available for tours and operates as a museum where many of Mary Thacher’s antiques are still on display.

            Normally I would not consider a bookstore to be an historic spot that needed to be visited.  When it is the Parnassus Bookstore(left), a Cape Cod landmark, an exception can be made.  Located just before the curve that forks off toward Dennis Pond the Parnassus Bookstore has been a part of Yarmouthport for nearly 200 years.  Before it was a bookstore the building housed Knowles General Store.  Inside you will find shelves of old and rare books, many of which have to do with Olde Cape Cod.  Outside there are more shelves of books underneath an awning, I found it a bit odd to have books located outside of the building itself but I believe that it only adds to the charm of this spot.  Even if you are not a lifelong Cape Codder I recommend taking some time to look through the rare books and discover a lot of what made the Cape what it is today.

            After taking this stroll along Rt. 6A the only spot to end it is at the Hallet’s Store(right).  Established in 1889 by Thatcher Taylor Hallet this Cape institution was originally a pharmacy complete with soda fountain and lunch counter.  Now owned by the great-great grandson of Thatcher, Hallet’s is still serving ice cream and sodas as well as doubling as a museum.  The 121-year-old shop still has all of its original fixtures inside; the fact that they still serve sandwiches, ice cream, and sodas as well makes you feel as though you just sat down in the late 19^th century.  The dedication to retaining that authenticity is what makes Hallet’s special.  It is open from April through November.     

            Whether you choose to spell it Yarmouthport or Yarmouth Port there is one thing that can be agreed on, a trip down the amazing Route 6A in the spring is something that locals and far off visitors alike will enjoy.  I make this drive a few times per week and still marvel at the fact that so much history sits so close to me.  So visit the Winslow-Crocker house, read a few passages at Parnassus, grab some ice cream at Hallet’s, and if anybody knows what ‘The Hillock’ means on the steps in front of the Thomas Ryder House please let me know.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions:  From Rt. 6, take Exit 8 and head north on Union Street.  Turn left on Rt. 6A and follow it for about ¾ mi., it is up to you where to park and start to enjoy the sites along 6A.

References:  Parnassus Books

            Yarmouth Historical Society

            Edward Gorey House.org

            Hallets Store

In My Footsteps: Trip 10 - Barnstable, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 10: Barnstable, Mass.

January 24, 2010

           

            Is it possible for one town to have two names?  In the case of Barnstable, yes it is.  People call the town Barnstable and Hyannis and they are both correct.  Barnstable is usually the name associated with the historic district along Route 6A while Hyannis is seen as the area with all of the stores and restaurants along Routes 28 & 132.

            The town of Barnstable, founded in 1639, got its name from the town of Barnstaple, England.  As you enter the town from the highway there is a sign along Willow Street noting this fact.  Heading south on Willow Street will lead you into Hyannis while heading north leads you into the historic district of Barnstable.  On this trip I went north toward Rt. 6A.

            A left turn onto Rt. 6A will eventually lead you to a set of traffic lights.  Heading right takes you down Millway along Barnstable Harbor.  The road ends at the small Millway Beach parking lot which has a tremendous view of the Sandy Neck Trails and the cottages and lighthouse that adorn the point(left).  I covered the trails here: Sandy Neck Trails.  There are extensive mudflats which become exposed at low tide and are popular for shell fishing.    

            Along historic Rt. 6A after exiting Millway you will find the Barnstable County Courthouse(below) standing stoically over the other buildings.  Built in 1831 this is not even the oldest courthouse in the village.  That honor belongs to the appropriately named Olde Colonial Courthouse.  Located just up the road from the current courthouse near Rendezvous Lane this building, which currently houses the Tales of Cape Cod historical society, was built in 1772 and served as the county’s courthouse until 1838. 

Located on the front lawn of the Barnstable County Courthouse are statues depicting Colonial lawyer James Otis who some argue actually sewed the seeds of the American Revolution through a speech in 1761 as well as his sister Mercy Otis Warren.  She is widely considered the ‘Conscience of the American Revolution.’

            About a half a mile up on the left is the narrow opening of Old Jail Lane.  This road once housed the oldest wooden jail in the United States.  Built in 1690, the ‘Old Jail’ was moved from its former location on Old Jail Lane in 1971 to its current location on Cobb’s Hill behind the Coast Guard Heritage Museum only a few minutes drive away. 

Old Jail Lane can be a very spooky ride at dusk and there is a great set of trails which are accessible from here, the Cape Cod Community College parking lot, or at another entrance located diagonally from the Lamb and Lion Inn on Rt. 6A.  The trails are easy to follow thanks to color coded arrows and detailed maps located throughout the trail area.

            Entering the trails from the West Barnstable parking lot on Rt. 6A leads you up a steep hill that gives way to an unexpected and spectacular view.  The wide open rolling hills that stretch out give you a feeling of being on the shores of Ireland rather than Cape Cod(right).  This entrance is highly recommended specifically for the amazing views.  There aren’t any water views but the sights and sounds of Cape Cod’s natural beauty will be enough to keep you interested.      

            Another great recreation area is Hathaways Pond located on Phinney’s Lane(left).  It is hidden a bit from the busy road and has a swimming area and swings for children.  The half-mile loop trail leading around the circumference of the pond is packed with views of the pond from all heights and angles.  It is perfect for the warmer months.    

            Barnstable Village is filled with beautiful scenery and amazing historical relics as are most places along Rt. 6A.  If you are lucky enough to find a parking spot during the warmer months most of the places visited here can be seen in one walk.  Whether you walk or drive to all of these places make sure to take time out to see them all.  It is definitely worth the trip.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions: Millway Beach: Take Rt. 6A to the set of lights at the intersection with Hyannis Road.  Turn down Millway and follow it.  Barnstable Harbor comes up on the left and the small parking lot for Millway Beach is at the end of the road.  

Old Jail: Heading east on 6A take you last left before the lights at the intersection with Millway, this is the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, the Old Jail is located in the house directly behind it.  Old Jail Lane is ½ mile from the Courthouse on the left.  The road’s entrance is very narrow and could be mistaken for a driveway, go slow to find the turn.

Barnstable County Courthouse: On Rt. 6A heading east go through set of lights for Millway Beach.  Courthouse in on the hill just past the fire department.

Olde Colonial Courthouse: Keep on Rt. 6A past the center of Barnstable Village, the building that was the courthouse and is now a museum is located on the right near Rendezvous Lane and across from St. Mary’s Church.

Hathaway’s Pond: Heading east on 6A turn left at lights onto Hyannis Road.  Stay right, Hyannis Road becomes Phinney’s Lane.  Follow Phinney’s Lane for nearly a mile.  Entrance for Hathaway’s Pond is on the right and designated by a blue and white oval sign.

References: The Old Jail

            Barnstable Historical Society

            Tales of Cape Cod

Barnstable on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 9: Yarmouth Port, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 9: Yarmouth Port, Mass.

January 23, 2010

Being the most historic roadway on Cape Cod Route 6A is chock full of places to see. So many in fact that all of the places in this article sit within a mile or so of one another, on a warmer day they would make up a tremendous walk.

Our trip begins at Gray’s Beach, known to most locals as Bass Hole. Located off of 6A on Center Street, Bass Hole is a free public beach nestled up against a narrow cove overlooking Cape Cod Bay Bass Hole. Any trip here would have to start with the 800-foot long boardwalk(right) that stretches its way out into the neighboring marsh and gives a wonderful view of the bay as well as Chapin Beach which acts as a barrier for Bass Hole from the harsh ocean waves. The beach area is great for swimming as it is calm; there are visible sandbars at low tide. There is a large open filed and a newly revamped playground area in addition to a covered picnic area which can be reserved for large parties if so desired.

Across the field and playground there are trails to be walked that take you through the woods surrounding Bass Hole and across a marsh which, thanks to a recently built walking bridge, gives a great panoramic view of the area. The trails lead through the woods and across Center Street where they come out on the other side of the marsh.

Center Street can be taken back out to Route 6A; a right turn will take you to the next spot. About a half a mile down the road sits two historic spots in the same parking lot. Getting in is a tricky proposition as the road immediately follows the Post Office on the left. In summer this one is easy to miss. Park in the small lot and decide which way to go first.

Going straight back behind the Tufts Gatehouse along a rocky path you will find the Kelly Chapel(left). Built in 1873 by David Kelly this small church is secluded from the road, although it can be accessed via a path from the Old Yarmouth Inn restaurant next door. It is not routinely open but many weddings take place there; it is still a big part of life in this small village.

Located off to the left of the chapel are a set of trails which cover the nearly fifty acres of land the chapel stands watch over. More than a hundred years ago this area was Cape Cod’s first golf course built by the Thacher family in the 1890’s for private use. The trails lead through the natural beauty of the Cape and eventually will lead you to Miller’s Pond and Dennis Pond. Dennis Pond is located on Summer Street and is a recreation area; it is a very short drive from the chapel grounds.

From the small parking lot near the Tufts Gatehouse a left turn will take you up a sloping driveway to another piece of Cape Cod history. The Captain Bangs Hallet House(left) gives you a great view of life on the Cape more than 200 years ago. Built in 1840, and named for an illustrious 19th century fisherman, it is the only historic house that is regularly open to visitors. Tours of the house take place often during the summer and fall but the grounds are always able to be walked. Located behind the Bangs Hallet House is a natural wonder, a century-plus old English Weeping Beech tree. In the warmer months this giant’s limbs, covered in broad, flat leaves, reach to the ground. You may step inside this awesome piece of nature; it feels like being under an umbrella.

The last stop on the trip around Route 6A in Yarmouth Port starts with a left turn out of the Kelly Chapel parking lot. Less than a mile away, following a trip through the historic ‘center’ of Yarmouth Port on 6A you will come to Mill Lane on the right. It sits on a curve so approach slowly. The Keveney Lane Bridge crosses over Hallets Mill Pond(right) and the subsequent river that empties out into Cape Cod Bay. This bridge is unique in the fact that is a narrow one-lane bridge. There are very few spots to park on Mill Lane leading up to the bridge so a stop to walk might be out of the question in the warmer months. Still, taking a slow drive across the bridge might be enough to soak in the scenery.

When not stopping to take in these sights a trip through Yarmouth Port may take a few minutes, but you could easily spend all day visiting the places mentioned above. There are other spots nearby that have not been mentioned including the 140-year old First Congregational Church which stands up on a hill looking over the village. This is just a guide as there are many places maybe I have missed, but any of these places are well worth the drive or walk. Along 6A it seems that all you have to do is turn around and you are face to face with another piece of Cape Cod and American history. Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions: Bass Hole: From Mid-Cape Highway take Exit 8. Follow Union Street north until you reach Rt. 6A. Cross Rt. 6A to Old Church Street. Bear right onto Center Street and follow it to the beach.

Kelly Chapel & Captain Bangs Hallet House: Follow Center Street to Rt. 6A, turn right. Travel about ½ mi., the turn for the chapel is left immediately following the Post Office.

Dennis Pond: Leaving the chapel turn left on Rt. 6A; bear left onto Summer Street at curve. Dennis Pond is on right.

Keveney Lane Bridge: Exiting Summer Street turn left onto Rt. 6A. Mill Lane is a right turn on a curve diagonally across from Willow Street. Follow Mill Lane until you reach the bridge, there is a spot for one car on the right as you approach the bridge.

References: Yarmouth Historical Society

Yarmouth Port on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 6: Cape Cod Canal - Cape Side

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 6: Cape Cod Canal – Cape Side
January 20, 2010



With so many destinations on the map when it comes to visiting Cape Cod, there are some very obvious ones that tend to get overlooked. One such place is seen by every single person who ever visits the Cape: the Cape Cod Canal. Stretching just over seventeen miles in length from Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay and crossed by three bridges the Canal is a man made miracle that gets lost sometimes in the allure of the many beautiful beaches and shops of the Cape. This article is going to be all about the Canal and what there is to see along its shores. Being far too long it will be divided into an on Cape article and an off Cape article.

I began at the mouth of the Canal on the east side which empties into Cape Cod Bay. After a short walk across a very rocky beach I was lucky enough to arrive at the edge of the Canal just in time to watch a large ship from the Great Lakes area pass through and head out into the bay(left). At a maximum width of 540-feet the Canal sees over 20,000 ships pass through its waters annually.

Located a few hundred yards from the bay end of the Canal is a Power Plant owned and run by the Atlanta-based energy company, Mirant. A trail way leads from the mouth of the Canal back toward one of the visitor’s centers. Directly across from the visitor’s center is the Coast Guard station as they, along with many fishermen, operate out of the small harbor at the Sandwich Marina.
Route 6A is the best way to follow the Canal. There is a service road for authorized vehicles and bike trails running along either side of the waterway but most of the sights along the Canal can be driven to without a problem. Traveling along 6A, the first major sight is that of the Sagamore Bridge. Opened in 1935 and spanning 1,408 feet across the Canal, this bridge is the way to get onto the Cape from Boston and points north as it continues seamlessly from Route 3 to Route 6. The ‘Sagamore Flyover’ project, completed in 2006 replaced a rotary that caused traffic to become severely congested with an easier to navigate system of roads. 

Route 6A becomes Sandwich Road during its run along the Canal. Just before the Bourne Bridge rotary comes into sight Sandwich Road bears right. Follow this road and you will find yourself stepping into a hidden piece of Cape Cod, and United States history. Sandwich Road travels along a more secluded section of the Canal, passing directly under the Bourne Bridge(right). Unlike with the Sagamore Bridge there is a designated recreation area next to the bridge allowing visitors to park. People can get out and walk along the Canal while listening to the rush of highway traffic passing overhead. It is a soothing sort of hum. There are active railroad tracks which also pass along the Canal and they should be watched in case of trains. The bike path can be used to walk on and on warmer days it is highly recommended and highly populated by bicyclists, runners, and skaters.
Sandwich Road continues and it is along here that the visit to the Canal takes on a more historic twist. After passing by the Jonathan Bourne Library a right hand turn down Perry Avenue will lead you to the Aptucxet Trading Post museum. Built in 1627 it was the first trading post used by the fledgling Plymouth Colony. The building that stands is a replica of the original, but the museum houses excavated pieces of the nearly 400-year old building inside. Not to be missed as well sitting less than a hundred feet from the Aptucxet Trading Post museum is the Gray Gables railroad station. It was created for President Grover Cleveland whose summer home in Bourne was named Gray Gables. The building was moved to the Aptucxet grounds in 1976.

Aptucxet Road leads to Shore Road via a surprisingly beautifully painted overpass. Turn right and follow Shore Road to Bell Road and the third and final bridge along the Canal. The railroad bridge, built in 1935 and crossing the Canal near Buzzards Bay, was the largest vertical lift bridge in history when it was originally built. It is still right up there today. When raised it has a clearance of 135-feet. Near the Buzzards Bay end of the Canal sits a small cove where on this day hundreds upon hundreds of ducks and other water fowl congregated. No trains passed during my stop here but watching the railroad bridge(below) move is a spectacular sight to see.

Not to be lost in all of the sights and activities along the Cape side of the Canal is the fact that the entire waterway was man made. It is amazing to think of how technology was different when the project began nearly one hundred years ago. That information makes the whole scope of the trip even more remarkable. Stay tuned for the second part of this article focusing on the off-Cape side of the Canal. Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions: Cape Cod Bay end of the Canal: On Cape, take Rt. 6A into Sandwich, take a right onto Tupper Rd. to Town Neck Rd. Off Cape, take Exit 1C after crossing Sagamore Bridge, turn right onto Sandwich Road. Follow it just over a mile and take a left onto Tupper Rd.
Bourne Recreation Area: Follow Sandwich Rd. west along Canal. Bear right before Bourne rotary. Recreation area is right turn at foot of bridge.

Aptucxet Trading Post & Gray Gables: Follow Sandwich Rd. west along Canal, bear right before Bourne rotary, follow Sandwich Rd. into Bourne. Turn right onto Perry Ave., a quick left onto Aptucxet Road. The grounds are designated by a windmill and sign.

Railroad Bridge: Follow Sandwich Rd., turn right onto Shore Rd. Right turn onto Bell Rd. less than 1 mile away. Follow it to the Canal.

References: Bourne Historical Society

                     Cape Cod Canal Chamber of Commerce

Sagamore Beach on Dwellable

In My Footsteps: Trip 3: Dennis, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 3: Dennis, Massachusetts

January 16, 2010


Located in the Mid-Cape area, Dennis has many well known attractions. The beaches are famous: West Dennis, Corporation, and Chapin to name a few. There are numerous historical landmarks including Scargo Tower. As in my other travel blogs I am trying to find places not as easily found on any vacation guide.

The journey begins quite aptly on historic Route 6A. Also known as Old King’s Highway, Route 6A was the most used roadway on Cape Cod before Route 28 and the Mid-Cape highway came around. Thought to have begun as an Indian trail from Plymouth to Provincetown, it became part of Plymouth’s ‘King’s Highway’ in the late 17th Century.

A drive along this road is a rich tapestry of historical homes and monuments. So protective of the history on Route 6A is the Cape that even changing the color of ones home is subject for intense debate at town meetings. This road in and of itself is a worthwhile adventure, complete with large oak trees hovering over the road and old horse hitching posts located just off of the sidewalk.

One of the first places to see is a spot that is technically in neighboring Yarmouth by about 1,000 feet. That would be Bray Farm(right). Established in 1639, this small farm is open to the public year round. Even on a sunny January day like today one can park and walk the grounds and see the animals roaming. From the requisite sheep, goats, and chickens, to donkeys, bees, and the oddly beautiful Scottish cattle, Bray Farm will thrill children and adults alike. The owners are very friendly and will gladly answer any questions you may have. There is even a boardwalk along the back end of the property with a spectacular view facing toward Grey’s Beach in Yarmouth.

A little further down Route 6A, just across the street from Osprey Lane is another piece of Cape Cod history. Through a natural tunnel of trees sits the burial ground of the Nobscussett tribe of Indians which lived in Dennis hundreds of years ago(left). The grounds are fenced in and marked by a stone stating that the chief of the tribe was named ‘Mashantampaine.’ Also the site holds a great view of Scargo Lake at the back end of the burial ground, but there are many other spots with better access to the lake.

One of those spots is a conservation area in close proximity to Scargo Tower, named Scargo Park. The tower and park are named for the legendary Nobscussett Indian Princess Scargo who was so beautiful that legend has it other Indian warriors would come from all parts of Cape Cod just to see her and bring gifts to help sustain her people.

Dennis, like much of Cape Cod, has numerous conservation areas great for hiking and animal watching. Scargo Park is a hidden gem down a windy dirt road just off of Scargo Hill Road. With an elevated view of Scargo Lake, along with swings for children and a sheltered picnic area, this conservation area is a worthwhile stop for any visitor.

Old Bass River Road, another historical drive, leads you to another great conservation area called Indian Lands. Located next to the Dennis Town Offices, the Indian Lands conservation area is actually closer to three areas in one. There is a set of paths which lead down toward Bass River with a great view of the Highbank Bridge. The master path runs along the power lines and is a tougher hike with soft sand and stones mixed together. The other pathway is a set of defunct railroad tracks(left) almost totally overgrown with small trees and plants. Follow these and you will come to a bridge crossing over Bass River with a view of the rushing highway traffic rushing by on the right.

Not to be missed in the same parking area as the Indian Lands and the Dennis Town Offices is another piece of history. Called either Old South Dennis Cemetery or Dennis Ancient Cemetery(right), it lies behind the Town Offices in a fenced in area but is accessible. The graves contain some of the last names most associated with Cape Cod. Names like Baker, Bangs, and Nickerson fill many of the plots.

There is nothing against all of the great beaches and other historical sites that Dennis has to offer. They should all be visited as well. Once those have all been seen, or if you are trying to see the Cape Cod that locals know, check out the places mentioned above. You won’t be disappointed. Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions: Bray Farm: from Rt. 6A turn on Bray Farm Road and follow it to the end.

Nobscussett Indian Burial Grounds: from Rt. 6A, turn left on Osprey Lane, located less than ½ mi. east of the Red Pheasant Inn. Grounds are directly across the street, but parking is difficult, may be better off walking to this spot from elsewhere.

Scargo Park: from Rt. 6A, turn onto Old Bass River Road. Take left onto Scargo Hill Road. Scargo Tower is designated by a big sign; Scargo Park is the second left after the tower.

Dennis Town Offices: from Rt. 6A, turn onto Old Bass River Road, follow it approximately four miles. The town offices are designated by a green sign on the right side. There is access to both the Indian Trails and the Dennis Ancient Cemetery from the parking lot.

References: Cape Cod Gravestones

The Legend of Princess Scargo

Cape Cod Commission - History of Rt. 6A

South Dennis on Dwellable