This house located on the Old Kings Highway in Yarmouth Port is a classic example and the old Yankee way of reuse and repurpose. The current residence… is actually three structures combined in the center by the original structure dating to circa 1740. The front Grand Colonial was floated across Cape Cod Bay from its original site in Duxbury in 1760. The back portion of the house was part of the old Rope Walk built 1790 on the town green and was moved after production stopped sometime after 1850. This was due to the October Gale of 1841 the Railroad and the Plymouth Cordage Company had changed the industry and the Age of Sail was over. Parts of the old rope walk can be found attached to various homes in the area such as this one. This strong bodied barn was built by Eldridge Taylor in 1871 and moved from the neighboring lot in the 1940's. This beautiful antique is listed under the National Register of Historic Places. Map copied with permission from the Cape Cod Shorewhaling book by The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth.

Our first of Houses of Notable Citizens! The house standing at 1515 Baker Ave, in the center of Wellfleet was originally constructed in 1867 by William Atwood. In 1889, the home was purchased by Wellfleet's most notable native son, Lorenzo Dow Baker. Born on Bound Brook Island in 1840, Baker had made his fortune founding the Boston Fruit Company, which later became the United Fruit Company, ultimately changing into Chiquita Banana. Baker, known as the Banana King, and his company can be noted as the first importers of bananas into the U.S. in 1870. Naming his grand summer estate "Belvernon", bananas hanging from his front porch denoted that he and his family were in residence. The stately home remained in the Baker family until shortly after the death of Lorenzo Baker's grandson Capt. Reuben Baker Jr in 2008.

Known as the Selem Baker House built 1835, is a Federal, Greek Revival House standing in what was part of the early Indian reservation near Bass River and the old saltworks in South Yarmouth is an exquisite example of an Antique. From the established wallpaper to the Sandwich Glass on doors and dresser, everywhere you turn a piece of the past. This repurposed mantle and realistically painted fireplace gave this bedroom a warmer feel that perhaps couldn’t be felt before. This mantle… giving life to a fireplace that completes this room, once the homes green house is now an extension of the kitchen. Pieces of the past have been salvaged, have been preserved, and placed with decorative care by the present owners. Also built by Selem Baker, and original to the property is this strong sturdy barn along with an outhouse. To this day it has two adult holes in the back, and on one side, two very low holes for his five children to use. It is now used to store gardening tools. In the 1850’s whaling was on the decline in Nantucket, to raise money, buildings like this barn were flaked and moved to the mainland. What was once for the storage of hay is now a large rear window originating from the State House in Augusta, Maine. The current owners stated, “it gives us wonderful light and views!” This Antique dressed in Antiques was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in May of 1990 as part of the South Yarmouth Bass River Historic District. On Behalf of POP, we thank you for protecting our past!

Not too far from Captains Row in West Harwich stands an unusual variation of a “double” Three Quarter Cape Style house built circa 1840. This antique holds the memories of generations of the same family that occupied this home starting with a marriage that took place around 1838, between Priscilla Doane and Sea Captain Anthony Kelley who later died off Shanghai, China.This house transports you back in time…from the wallpaper….to a delicate stenciling of the rooms borders….. to the gentle warp from generations past that used these stairs. This home buzzes with a warm familiarity and has been lovingly preserved by its current generation of caretakers who stated “Its never been sold or even emptied out…Sometimes I feel like I live in a museum…If walls could talk!” On behalf of POP we thank you for protecting and preserving your past.

Did you know that the Hyannis Public library is named after Ora Adams Hinckley? She was the first female in Barnstable to register to vote in 1920 at the age of 63. Ora a direct descendent of John Alden and President John Adams. A “remarkably intelligent woman" she served as a school teacher and librarian from 1909 to her passing in 1943. The Hinckley building dates back to around 1750 and housed postmasters and sea captains like Samuel Hallet and his family from 1839 to 1908. While home he created the attic to be like his ships cabin filled with mementos, maps and trunks from past trips. Today the Hinckley building serves as the library’s bookstore and hold space for the Hyannis Historical Society. #protectourpast #historiccapecod #historicalarchitecture #popreels #history #capecod #hyannispubliclibrary #oraadamshinckley #barnstablecounty #womaninhistory #gutfishnothouses #hyannis

A memorable moment from our latest documentary Love Letter to Cape Cod. A 13th generation Cape Codder and Yarmouth Historical Commission member Sam Lawrence speaks about the destruction of homes on this peninsula. Visit our website for more! www.protectourpast.org

Did you know that this Italian Villa style home standing at 416 Main Street was the town’s first municipal annex building? Built in 1860, It originally stood at 27 Cross Street behind the town offices and was purchased by the town in 1969. The oft called Perry-Berry house served in this capacity till town meeting voted to liquidate it in 1978. Fortunately the house was auctioned off and its new owners moved it down Main Street to its present location. The house was used as a commercial retail space for several years until it was brought full circle as a private residence. Second photo- Courtesy of Cape Cod Chronicle 1992 Third photo- Richard C. Kelsey Song- Cold Frosty Morning-Bluegrass instrumental by Boundary Water Boys