Chatham Survey Plan 2015

CHATHAM SURVEY PLAN 2015 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Chatham Historical Commission TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ……………………………………………………………………… p. 2 I. Introduction …........................................................................................................ p. 3 II. Chatham’s History and Themes of Development …………………………..….. p. 4 III. The Inventory Explained ………………...……………………………....……. p. 9 IV. Documentation in Chatham to Date ………………………………………..…….. p. 10 V. Survey Plan Methodology ………………….……………………………...…… p. 12 VI. Survey Recommendations ……………………………………………...………. p. 16 VII. Preservation Observations ……………………………………………………… p. 18 VIII. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………...………. p. 19 IX. Bibliography ………………………………………………………………...……. p. 19 X. Appendix – Chatham Street Index …………………………...…………...…….. p. 22 Chatham Survey Plan 2015 1 Chatham Historical Commission ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The consultants and members of the Chatham Historical Commission thank the people and organizations in Chatham who provided assistance in preparing this Survey Plan. Appreciation goes to the staff of the Community Development Department, including Deanna Ruffer, Director, Michele Clark, Office Manager and CHC Liaison, and Paul Lagg, GIS Coordinator. The Chatham Historical Commission would also like to acknowledge and thank the Town of Chatham Community Preservation Act Program for the critical role it played in providing funding for this Survey Plan. Chatham Twin Lights, early-20th century, tower on right relocated to Stage Harbor Light, ca. 1925 (Courtesy of Images of America, Chatham). Eastham in 1923 (Courtesy of Images of America, Chatham). Preservation Consultant Chatham Historical Commission Eric Dray Frank A. Messina, Chair Robert D. Oliver, Vice Chair 258A Bradford Street Donald Aikman William E. Manley Provincetown, MA 02657 Jane Moffett Janet B. Yeaw Sandi B. Porter Stephanie Hamilton Benjamin Smolenski Florence Seldin, BOS Liaison Chatham Survey Plan 2015 2 Chatham Historical Commission I. INTRODUCTION Chatham has a wealth of historic buildings, structures, and areas that are significant and worthy of documentation. Important resources remain from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, all of which contribute to the understanding of Chatham’s historic development and sense of place. Chatham’s Inventory of Historic Places and Archaeological Assets (the Inventory or Survey) is the building block for most of the town’s preservation planning goals. Updating and completing the Inventory has been identified as a core preservation goal in Chatham’s Long Range Comprehensive Plan. The Inventory identifies and describes all significant resources in Chatham, and identifies which of these resources are eligible for the National Register either individually or as part of a district. The Inventory is also used by town boards, researchers, students, genealogists, and local businesses. As the Inventory is expanded, it will become much easier to develop historic and cultural resource information for tourism, Chatham’s public schools, town boards, and year-round and seasonal residents. In addition, the Inventory is vital to ensure effective administration of the Chatham Historic Business District and the Demolition Delay Bylaw. In order to complete a town-wide comprehensive Survey, it is important to establish the scope and priorities of the work. While many historic resources have already been surveyed, some of those survey forms are out-of-date or incomplete, and many additional resources have not yet been surveyed. This Survey Plan is intended to guide the Town of Chatham and future consultants in accomplishing this important multi-phase task. This Survey Plan creates a road map for completing the town’s Inventory by providing the following information: Outline of Chatham’s History and Themes of Development What is the Inventory Documentation in Chatham to Date Survey Plan Methodology Survey Recommendations Preservation Observations Conclusion Annotated Bibliography Appendix: Chatham Street Index Chatham Survey Plan 2015 3 Chatham Historical Commission II. CHATHAM’S HISTORY & THEMES OF DEVELOPMENT Chatham is located at the “elbow” of Cape Cod and is bounded on the northeast by Pleasant Bay, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Nantucket Sound to the south, and Harwich to the west and northwest. In addition to the mainland, Chatham boundaries also include the southernmost portion of Nauset Beach and all of Monomoy Island. Identifying important themes and patterns of Chatham’s development will better inform the understanding of Chatham’s extant historic resources. A theme that runs throughout Chatham’s history is the role its many harbors and waterfront lands have played in creating a way of life. A. Native Patterns and Colonial Explorations (Pre-history to 1625) Like most towns on Cape Cod prior to European settlement in the 17th century, Chatham was heavily forested with pine and oak trees. The Monomoyicks, a subgroup of the Nauset Indians, are known to have occupied portions of Chatham. The exact location of Native American trails and village sites and the number of Native Americans that settled in the area are unknown, but subsistence activities likely took place along coastal and estuarine sites. There were no known Colonial settlements in Chatham during this period. However, there were occasional explorations, most notably in 1606 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain who spent three weeks in Stage Harbor, which he named Port Unfortunate due to hostilities with the Native population. Governor Bradford and other Plymouth settlers also visited Chatham in 1622 where Map of Port Fortune drawn by Samuel they traded with the Monomoyicks for corn and beans. de Champlain in ca. 1606 (courtesy of Three Centuries in a Cape Cod Village). B. Early Settlement (1625-1675) Chatham developed slowly during the early Colonial years. The Monomoyicks began selling land in the 1650s. William Nickerson of Yarmouth purchased what would become much of the central portion of the town, as well as the southern coast and Stage Neck, in ca. 1656, although lawsuits from Plymouth Colony proprietors or “old comers” withheld clear title until 1672. Nickerson also became its first settler when he relocated to the west side of Ryder’s Cove in 1664. Most of his children and their spouses settled in Chatham soon thereafter. Nickerson began selling tracts of land in 1674 to other settlers. Like the Monomoyicks, the first settlers relied on subsistence agriculture, fishing and hunting. The Colonial settlers also introduced husbandry, including cattle, pigs, sheep, horses and oxen. Two primary transportation routes were established during this period: the east/west road to Harwich Sketch showing lands of Monomoit (Main Street/Rte. 28) and Queen Anne Road which connected to Brewster and Orleans. There are two purchased by William Nickerson (courtesy of Images of Aermica, residential buildings which appear to date to this period, a Full (5-bay) Cape and a ½ (3-bay) Cape. Chatha m). Chatham Survey Plan 2015 4 Chatham Historical Commission C. Colonial Period (1675-1775) William Nickerson and others continued to purchase land from the Monomoyicks and by the 1690s most of present-day Chatham was owned by Colonial settlers, many of whom relocated from Yarmouth and Eastham. Settlements were dispersed throughout the town, a pattern that would continue into the 20th century. Until 1679, Chatham lands were under the control of Eastham. In 1679, Chatham (also referred to as Monomoit) was made a constablewick (a semi-independent village), and in 1712, Chatham was incorporated as a town. While the construction date of the first meeting house is unclear, a new meeting house was approved in 1700 and built north of the burying ground at Old Queen Anne and George Ryder Roads. During this period, the Native population continued to decline and the population of Colonial settlers slowly grew. Estimates vary, but between 1675 and 1730, there were between 50 and 150 inhabitants. By the 1776 census, that number had grown to 929. Agriculture remained important but was steadily declining as the soils began to fail due to deforestation and drifting sands. It was during this period that maritime-related activities became the dominant industry in Chatham, including mackerel and cod fishing, shellfishing, and for a time whaling. Much of the maritime activity was focused in Stage Harbor and Chatham Harbor. Chatham Harbor was located farther north from the present location until shifting sands on the barrier beach in 1750 directed access to the harbor farther south. Surviving buildings from this period Atwood House, ca. 1752, 347 Stage Harbor Road (Courtesy of consist primarily of Full and ½ Capes. In addition, a number of Chatham’s Images of America, Chatham). cemeteries were established during this period. D. Federal Period – Early Maritime Industry (1775-1830) Following the Revolutionary War, Chatham emerged as the second-fastest growing town on Cape Cod. By 1830, the population had almost doubled to 2,130. In addition to the Congregational meeting house on Queen Anne Road, three other churches established a presence during this period: a small Methodist chapel was built in 1808 (66 Water Street), the Universalists formed a society in 1823, and a Baptist meeting house was built on Old Queen Anne Road in 1827 (no longer extant). In 1830, the Congregational meeting house was dismantled and replaced by a new building on Main

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