Solon Economou

Route 6: "Patti Page Highway"?

After my piece, "Old Cape Cod at Old Landing Motel," wherein I mentioned Patti Page, I was contacted by Michael Glynn, Patti Page's personal manager, who told me how much he appreciated it.

We reminisced a little on how Patti's recording of Old Cape Cod has now been playing for fifty years, keeping Cape Cod in people's thoughts and helping to attract new visitors to the Cape each year. 

Patti Page put Cape Cod on the map for people who couldn't find it on the map, for people who couldn't find Massachusetts on the map, for people who couldn't even find the map.

If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air

Quaint little cottages here and there

I ran into a first-time visitor to the Cape in Dennisport the other day, who told me, "Omigosh, it's just like in the song!" 

You're sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod

And I thought, a generation from now people may not be as familiar with that song as we are today, people may not remember Patti Page as most of us do now.  Maybe it's time to honor her in some way and keep her and that song ever connected to Cape Cod.

Oh, where is Patti Page?  Not too far away.  She and her husband run the New England Hilltop Farm in Bath, New Hampshire, about 20 miles south of Littleton, where they produce maple products and organic foods.  (www.pattipageproducts.com)  At the age of 80--she is in fantastic shape--she still performs about 50 concerts a year.

In tossing ideas around, Michael and I came up with a couple.  He proferred that she might be available to appear at some fund-raising occasion, or perhaps a plaque could be erected in some park, things like that.

But the best, and the most improbable one, is to change the Cape's portion of Route 6 from "Mid-Cape Highway" to the "Patti Page Highway."  I know highway names are usually reserved for war heroes or governors, but Mid-Cape Highway still retains that boring moniker and let's face it, it has no panache.  "Patti Page Highway" is so much more meaningful and will serve to keep and attract visitors to the Cape because of the wonderful memories it will evoke.

If you spend an evening you'll want to stay

Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay

So I throw that out to you and ask for your own suggestions.   Can we come up with something that could take off?  Something our Chamber of Commerce may want to pick up on?  After all, we've gotten fifty years of wonderful, free advertising from Patti Page.

You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod

Give me your thoughts.  And enjoy today on the Cape.