POP Stories in 60 Seconds
Many of our supporters aren’t on social media, but we still want you to see the stories we share every week. This page brings together Protect Our Past’s short videos about endangered buildings, preservation wins, and the people fighting to save Cape Cod’s historic character—no Instagram or Facebook required.
Isaac Bea Young Gallery
Welcome to the historic Isaac Bea Young Gallery, founded in 1840 and located at 727 Main Street in Chatham. Both as proprietor of the Gallery and property owner, Janet Whittemore has lovingly preserved her family residence, which now serves as an art gallery and her personal painting studio, featuring her works and those of other Cape Cod artists.
During Janet’s stewardship, she has uncovered fascinating details about the structure, including the discovery that the wood used in the post-and-beam construction varies in size because much of it originated from old ship timber—materials commonly reused during that era.
The Isaac Bea Young family traces its roots back to the Mayflower and later married into the well-known Nickerson family after the Revolutionary War. They went on to establish the first block factory on Cape Cod, hand-carving blocks used in ship pulley systems—an essential contribution to the region’s thriving fishing industry.
Welcome to Clippership
Welcome to Clippership! Next stop on POP’s Virtual Historic House Christmas Stroll series. 🌲
Built in 1928 by the Horne family, this gambrel cottage is an iconic Cape home.
The beams, use of various woods including fir and oak, and the design of the structure mimicking a Clippership and catching the ocean breezes.
All original architectural features have been preserved.
Briggs Mill
We’re kicking off our Virtual Historic House Christmas Stroll series with this beautiful historic windmill.
This mill was saved thanks to the efforts of Protect Our Past founders Ellen Briggs and Robert Stevens, and it stands as a reminder of how important it is to honor and preserve our shared history. Built of beams from old shipwrecks found along the shores of Cape Cod.
Architect: Edward Sears Read, well known on Cape Cod. Hand hewn beams up to 11 inches, a rarity!
Framework held together with wooden pins: mortise and tenon construction.
“There is nothing like this anywhere!” Curator: New Bedford Whaling Museum
Was built as a guest windmill, featured in House Beautiful magazine: July 1932.