Cape Cod: Its People and Their History

A native of Cape Cod and a Harvard graduate, Henry Crocker Kittredge (1890 - 1967) spent his life speaking, teaching and writing about the history of New England and the Cape. His major works include "Cape Cod: Its People and Their History" (1930); "Shipmasters of Cape Code" (1935); and "Mooncussers of Cape Code" (1937). This, his first book is, for the most part, a very good read. It is endlessly interesting and packed full of anecdotes on the history, people, and places of Cape Cod. Whether discussing whaling, fisheries, ship-building, or religion, Kittredge captures the imagination of the reader, painting a picture of a magical place and time. The narrative, however, is marred, as the realities of life in the 1930s intrudes on Kittredge's story. The author uses the "N" word, for example, to refer to African-American slaves, for whom, he tells us, only the lowest category of dried fish is reserved. And his many references to Native Americans are all patronizing and demeaning. Nonetheless, Kittredge has managed to brilliantly capture the essence of the heart of New England and America, making this book an essential read for those interested in Cape Cod and the maritime history of America.

When we think of American history in general, we often begin with a major landmark like the Revolutionary War. Well, Cape Cod history precedes the arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620. And that doesn't even count the native settlements that predated European arrivals. A few centuries is a lot of ground to cover in one volume. First published in 1930, this book is a detailed history of the peninsula. The text might look dry and dusty at first, but it's got its interesting moments. Kittredge traces the naming and settlement of every Cape town and moves mostly chronologically through time, with a few backtracks to cover special topics like religion, wars, the canal, whaling and fisheries. Of utmost importance, of course, is the continuing relationship of the residents to the sea. Some of the most fascinating (and brutal and tragic) stories can be found in the "Storms, Wrecks, and Wreckers" chapter. Truly sobering is the reproduction of a map showing the location of every known shipwreck off Cape Cod just from 1880 to 1903, when 540 wrecks were reported. That's a staggering number to consider. On the lighter side is the chapter regarding the construction of the Canal. Cutting a waterway through the Buzzard's Bay area had been an occasional topic of conversation and speculation since 1676. But the final product, the current canal, wasn't started until the 20th century, and it opened for business on July 4, 1914. Getting to that point makes for fun reading. For this second edition, local naturalist John Hay provided an Epilogue covering major changes during the years 1930-1968. That's when tourism became a key part of the economy and also when the National Seashore was created. He touches on conservation issues and the beginning efforts to protect the unique landscape that entices vacationers, part-time residents, and year-rounders alike. Readers without enough time for details might be better off with the more recent and thinner release, "Cape Cod Companion," by Jack Sheedy and Jim Coogan. In either case, you'll learn a lot about this special place at the edge of our continent.