Barnstable County, Massachusetts - Town of Harwich, 1890 (part 2 of 2)

The post ofBce here was established in 1827. The first postmaster was Elijah Chase, appointed January 6th, of that year. His successor was Samuel P. Bourne, appointed May 20, 1841. Mr. Bourne resigned in 1843, having been appointed cashier of the Falmouth Bank, and Anthony Kelley was appointed November 17. Mr. Kelley resigned in 1848, and was succeeded by David H. Small, appointed July 20. Anthony K. Chase, appointed December 23, 1856, .succeeded Mr. Small, and was followed by Erastus Chase in 1861. Charles H. Kelley succeeded Mr. Chase in 1885, and Henry C. Berry succeeded Mr. Kelley in 1889.

The only public house here for many years, was kept by Isaiah Baker. The site is marked by the house of James W. Eldridge, afew rods west of the Baptist meeting house. In 1881 Ozias C. Baker opened the Central House, which is now kept by him. In 1883, William P. Baker, his son, started a livery stable in connection with the hotel; and it is the terminus of his express and stage route from North Harwich railroad station through Dennis Port to this village.

Among those who have stores in the village, are: Erastus Chase, dealer in clothes and groceries; Henry C. Robbins, Davis Lxjthrop, jr., and C. H. Kelley.

dollars. Bartlett White, of Yarmouth, was the builder. The first story contains the public hall, the second story is occupied by Mount Horeb Lodge, of Freemasons, and the Sylvester Baxter Chapter, and the third story is used for a dining room. The lodge room was furnished at an expense of about fifteen hundred dollars, and dedicated December 25, 1865. Rev. Dr. Quint, of New Bedford, delivered the dedicatory address.

Mount Horeb Lodge of Freemasons was constituted, December 26, 1855. The following officers, representing the Grand Lodge, were in attendance: Sylvester Baxter^M. W. G. M.; Rufus S. Pope, D. G. M.;

A. C. Nickerson, G. S. W.; H. W. Rugg, J. G. W. The marshal for the occasion was Anthony Kelley. The officers for the year ending December, 1856, installed were: Nehemiah D. Kelley, W. M.; Joseph K. Baker, S. W.; William E. Ansel, J. W.; Anthony Kelley, jr., secy.; Remark Chase, treas.; Samuel D.Chase, S. D.; Benjamin W. Eldridge, J. D.; and Anthony Kelley, marshal. The masters of the lodge have been: N. D. Kelley, Joseph K. Baker, Anthony K. Chase, Veranus Nickerson, Ozias C. Baker, Benjamin P. Sears, Abner L. Ellis, Luther Fisk, David Fisk, Erastus Chase, Sylvester Baker, Sylvester F. Baker, and Henry H. Fisk. The secretary of the lodge in 1889 was James

The Sylvester Baxter Chapter meets in Mount Horeb Lodge room. The charter bears date December 7, 1870. The principal officers the first year were: N. D. Kelley, H. P.; Joseph K. Baker, K.; Watson B. Kelley, sec. The principal officers of 1889 were: John E. Hamer, H. P.; Henry H. Fisk, K.; and Erastus Chase, S. Charles H. Kelley has been secretary during eleven years of the existence of the chapter. Besides the above, who acted as H. P. since the chapter was instituted, was Abiathar Doane. The members are scattered over the adjoining towns.

North Harwich is the post office designation of the village in the northwestern part of the town. This part of the town was early known, as here was built the first grist mill in the south part of the old town. It stood upon the Herring river, and was known as Hall's mill. The site is now marked by the Ryder's mill. It was owned by Samuel Hall, the first resident here, sometime before 1700. A short distance north of this mill, on the river, stood the cotton and woolen factory, removed from South Harwich in 1825, and again removed in 1851; and also the grist mill and mill for carding wool. The site of these mills is marked by Rogers' mill. Below Hall's mill, or " Middle mill," as it was sometimes called, was Kelley's mill. Near the site of this grist mill, in 1867, was erected the tap and die factory, which was burned in December, 1868. Near by was shortly after erected the building for making safety sectional boilers, under the superin- tendence of B. F. Bee, the inventor, who also was superintendent of the tap and die factory. The village now contains two houses of worship and one school house. The railroad station for accommodation of Dennis Port and West Harwich, is situated in the western part of the village.

Stores here were formerly kept by Ebenezar Kelley, Nathan Foster, Sheldon Crowell and Elijah B. Sears. The present stores are kept by Richard Baker and J. C. Baker.

The first public house in this section of the town, so far as is now known, was opened here. It was first known as Downe's tavern, and afterward as Howes' tavern. The site is now marked by John E. Ryder's house.

The Baptist meeting house stood in this place up to 1828, when it was removed to West Harwich. The old cemetery of this society is near the site of the meeting house. It has been enlarged, and is now occupied as the cemetery of the village.

The post office was established here in 1862, with Sheldon Crowell as postmaster. He was succeeded in 1867 by Elijah B. Sears, who was followed by Mrs. E. B. Sears. Mrs. Sears was succeeded by Jonathan Burgess. Joseph Raymond succeeded Mr. Burgess, and James C. Baker followed Mr. Raymond.

Pleasant Lake is the post office designation of the settlement at, and near the west end of Long pond, and at Hinckley's pond. The first postmaster was Patrick F. Gaboon. He died a few years after his appointment, and Alvin H. Bassett, the present postmaster, was appointed. The Old Colony railroad passes through this place, and has a flag station near the post office. The people of this vicinity have a small house of worship, called the " Free Methodist Chapel," situated on Queen Anne's road, so called, built in 1880, and a school house near by. Cranberry culture is the business the people are mostly engaged in. Here resides Alvin Cahoon, the first to experiment in cranberry culture. It is also the residence of Cyrus Cahoon, a prominent cranberry grower, who early engaged in the business. This place was early settled. Among the first residents were Thomas Hinckley, Micah Philips, Reuben Philips, James Severance and James Cahoon.*