Cape Cod History

Today in Cape history: Mayflower Compact signed in P'town Harbor

Some call it America's first Constitution

On this day in 1620, aboard the Mayflower at anchor in waters later to be known as Provincetown harbor, the males on board the vessel signed the Mayflower Compact.

The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was drafted by the Pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower seeking religious freedom in what what then the "New World".

It was signed on November 11, 1620 by 41 of the ship's more than one hundred passengers, in what is now Provincetown Harbor at the tip of Cape Cod.

A month later the Mayflower's Pilgrims, having failed to find sufficient fresh water on this sandy peninsula, sailed across Cape Cod Bay and settled in what is now Plymouth Massachusetts.

The painting on the right is called "Signing of the Mayflower Compact" by Edward Percy Moran, and hangs today at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth.

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1935: Henry Ford takes our favorite windmill

CAPE COD RESENTS HENRY FORD TAKING MILL

Officials and Business Groups Protest His Plan to Remove Landmark to Dearborn.

SUMMER VISITORS JOIN IN

22,000 Ford Workers Are Said to Have Contributed to Purchase of Historic Structure.

WEST YARMOUTH, Mass., Nov. 10. -- Cape Cod raised its collective voice today in apparently unanimous resentment at the proposed removal from this historic section, by Henry Ford, of America's oldest windmill.

Read the rest of the story below...
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1960: JFK's first press conference as president-elect

On this day in 1960, John F. Kennedy held his first of many press conferences. In this, his first as President-elect, he told us about his exchange of telegrams with Vice President Richard M. Nixon whom he had just defeated.

Following is the text of remarks yesterday by President-elect John F. Kennedy, as recorded by The New York Times:
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1960: JFK to Meet with Ike

President-Elect Kennedy to meet with President Eisenhower

On this day in 1960, newly elected President John F. Kennedy was invited to meet with out-going President Eisenhower over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The headline read:

PARLEY AWAITED; White House Officials Expect a Conference at End of Month

EISENHOWER DUE TO MEET KENNEDY

AUGUSTA, Ga., Nov. 8 - President Eisenhower expects to meet with President-elect John F. Kennedy here over the Thanksgiving week-end, Nov. 24-27... read the rest below.
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1831: Construction begins on new courthouse

Building Barnstable's new Courthouse

On this day in 1831, construction begins on a new courthouse in Barnstable village to replace one destroyed by fire four years earlier. 

The structure, the columned facade of which can be seen in the photo, eventually becomes the county's superior court, situated close to the county jail and a district court built in the early 1970s.

The statue of Colonial Patriot Mercy Otis Warren was added a few yars ago as a counter balance to her brother's statue which the only one there for decades.

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1894: How the Kennedy dynasty began in Congress

1894: JFK's grand father "Honey Fitz" elected to Congress

John F. Kennedy with father Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and grandfather John F. "Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald

On this day in 1894, a colorful Irishman from Boston's North End, nicknamed "Honey Fitz" for his charming and loquacious ways, was elected to the U.S. Congress. Ten years later, John Francis Fitzgerald returned to Boston and ran for mayor. His victory rattled the Yankee establishment. He worked on behalf of the poor, immigrants, and workers, but his administration was rife with graft, cronyism, and corruption. After withdrawing from the 1914 mayoral campaign, Fitzgerald turned his attention to business and family. His daughter Rose had married Joseph Kennedy, and "Honey Fitz" devoted himself to grooming their sons for political careers. Three of them would serve in the U.S. Senate. His namesake, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, would be the35th President of the United States. Source.

"Honey Fitz" Fitzgerald was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Irish immigrants, Thomas Fitzgerald of County Limerick and Rosanna Cox of County Cavan. He was the fourth of twelve children; of his siblings, both sisters died in infancy, as did his eldest brother. Joseph, the ninth brother, had severe brain damage from malaria and barely functioned. Only three survived in good health and after John's mother died when he was sixteen, his father wished for him to become a doctor to help prevent future tragedies of the sort that had marred the Fitzgerald family.

Accordingly, after being educated at Boston Latin School, he enrolled at Harvard Medical School for one year, but withdrew following the death of his father in 1885. Fitzgerald later became a clerk at the Customs House in Boston and was active in the local Democratic Party.

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1778: British man-of-war shipwrecked. 2006: Police failed to test all Worthington case DNA

2006: Police failed to test DNA of all evidence at Worthington murder scene

In the Worthington murder trial which was about to end on this day in 2006, the jury will not visit crime scene McCowen's girlfriend takes stand, but doesn't testify, and another witness testifies some DNA was not tested. cc2day. Read the trial reports here.

1778 B ritish warship runs aground. 1973: Somerset wreakage return

On this day in 1778, residents of Provincetown and Wellfleet awoke to learn that the Royal Navy man-of-war Somerset had run aground at Peaked Hill Bars in a fierce two-day gale. Twenty of her crew and two officers were killed while survivors were taken prisoner.

The frigate had played a notable role in the American Revolution. In April 1775, Paul Revere rowed past the Somerset at anchor in the Back Bay en route to his midnight ride to warn of a British attack. Longfellow later immortalized Revere's close brush with the warship in his poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."  

The Bunker Hill Monument you see as to drive north out of Boston on I-195 or 93 was built by mistake on nearby on Breed's Hill.

Two months later, the Somerset served as British flagship during the Battle of Bunker Hill, which the British won but at a fearful toll in lives.

The wreakage returns

At least twice in the centuries to follow, the wreckage of the Somerset near Dead Man's Hollow was uncovered by storms, in the late 19th century and again in 1973, as shown in the photo.

(photo credit, http://www.royal-nay.mod.uk/)

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1991; 2001: The Perfect Storm. 2001: The Way We Live Now. 2006: Kitten's death case prompts reaction

2006: Kitten's death case prompts reaction from PETA

Oon this day in 2006 the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) demanded jail time and psychiatric evaluation if the West Yarmouth man recently accused of killing a kitten is convicted. Peter J. Hession, 47, of 18 Egg Harbor Road, West Yarmouth, allegedly stomped a kitten to death Oct. 19. He faces cruelty-to-animals charges as well as assault charges stemming from an alleged attack on his roommate that day.

1991: Harbors checked from Woods Hole to Cape Breton
The brunt of the storm was off Cape Cod

On this day in 1991 the Gloucester Times first reported the Andrea Gail, the ship featured in the book and movie "The Perfect Storm", was missing.  The article reported:  The Coast Guard continued searching today for a fishing boat due back in Gloucester last Friday from a trip to the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, Canada.

The crew of the fishing vessel Andrea Gail was lost in the North Atlantic during one of the strongest storms in recorded history. Above is a scene from the movie showing the boat vertical as it  climbs a wave.The 70-foot Andrea Gail was supposed to have returned to port by Saturday with its crew of six fishermen, according to Chief Petty Officer Alan Burd.

Several Gloucester fishermen were said to be aboard the vessel, but Coast Guard officials were withholding crew members' names this morning pending notification of their families.

The vessel has not been heard from since Thursday when it was reported to be 180 miles east-northeast of Canada's Sable Island...

The missing vessel was reported to be encountering 30-foot seas and 50- to 80-knot winds kicked up by the northeaster that devastated coastal New England last week.

"The brunt of the storm was off Cape Cod," Brannan said. "But it did affect that area. Not as badly as it was here."

Robert Brown, owner of the Andrea Gail and a resident of Bray Street, said last night, "We have hope the boat is OK and that it's just lost its communication."

The Coast Guard has been searching for the Andrea Gail for three days. Today a Coast Guard cutter and long-range airplane were assisting four U.S. Coast Guard an one Navy aircraft.

Authorities were searching an approximately 18,000-square-mile area between Gloucester and the Grand Banks... (from the Gloucester Times, Nov. 4, 1991)

2001: The Way We Live Now: 11-4-01; United Nations

"What Orwell and Churchill foresaw, and the 1990's deepened, bin Laden catalyzed still further. And it's appropriate, perhaps, that this came about not because of some political effort from the top but simply because of an emotional groundswell from below." - Andrew S ullivan.

In crises, some things clarify. I grew up for 20 years in Britain, and I'm now closing in on 20 years of adulthood in the United States. It's funny how feelings of identity arc in such a life. I remember the first time I got a lump in my throat singing ''The Star-Spangled Banner,'' on July 4 about 10 years ago. It took me completely by surprise. My attachment to my new country had taken shape and form without my even knowing it, until I found myself tearing up in a routine ritual of patriotism. It wasn't that I had left my love of homeland behind. But it was now refracted through the prism of my new love -- a love that is foolish to inspect because it belongs somewhere in the heart where reason doesn't follow.

And then, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, another surprise... My own first moment of silence blurred nationalisms as well. It was at a memorial service for an acquaintance of mine from Provincetown, where I spend my summers. Graham Berkeley was a Brit, a violinist, a business professional, a big, tattooed bodybuilder, who'd been on the flight from Boston that crashed into the World Trade Center's south tower. Like me, he was a transplant for many years in America and loved the place with a passion. A bunch of us gathered around some candles and memorabilia on the farthest part of Herring Cove beach, the sun setting over Cape Cod Bay, told stories and wiped away tears. And by the side of us were two large flags impaled in the sand, Old Glory and the Union Jack. In the dusk, they intertwined until the reds, whites and blues seemed almost indistinguishable... NY Times.

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1929: Curley goes too far; 1979: Major reconstruction of Bourne Bridge begins; 1930: Blogfather hatched

1929: Irish pol finally goes too far
"My opponent is a known thesbian and practices nepotism with a maiden aunt."

     "Every time you do a favor for a constituent, you make nine enemies and one ingrate."
         - James Michael Curley

On this day in 1929 James Michael Curley, heavily favored to win his third term as mayor of Boston, used a radio appearance to defame a school committee member who had spoken out against him. The savage, and ungrounded, attack was unprecedented: his adversary was a woman, a wife, a mother, and popular civic volunteer. The remake was "My opponent is a known thesbian and practices nepotism with a maiden aunt. "Curley's tactic of "do unto others before they do you" backfired, and he barely squeaked out a victory in the election two days later. One local newspaper would call it "one of the most dramatic incidents in the whole history of Boston politics." Between 1914 and 1950, the charismatic and resilient Irishman served four terms as Boston's mayor, one term as Massachusetts governor, and two terms in jail.

1979: Rebuilding the Bourne Bridge

   The Bourne Bridge is in the foreground with the Railroad Bridge beneath and behind it in a setting sun. It's difficult to remember that the canal runs more north and south than east and west which allows for this photograph.

On this day in 1979 the first complete overhaul of the Bourne Bridge in its 45-year history ends its second week.  The $11 million, two-year project will include replacing the 2,384-foot long bridge's entire concrete span, shoring up of structural components, new paint and placement of suicide deterrent barriers.

1930: Blogfather born - the Republicans lose control for decades.

November 3, 1930 was the first national election after the start of the Great Depression which had begun a year before.

It was also the day our Blogfather was born. That's him on the right holding a photo of his wife Pat and sitting on his evil twin Vlad. Paul Rifkin recently shot a short film about all this which you can see here or by clicking on the video below.

Walter "Blogfather" Brooks' own father was the political columnist for the Waterbury, CT daily newspaper, The Republican-American. 

So on this day 78 years ago, Walter Sr.  received a telegram from the Democratic candidate for Governor that year, Wilbur Cross ( for whom the Wilbur Cross Parkway is named) saying,

"Congratulations on the birth of your son. This must bode well for the party in today's elections."  - Wilbur Cross.

It was. It would be four more elections for Governor before a Republican regained the State House.

When asked his reaction at attaining his 79th birthday, Brooks aped W.C. Fields and said, "If I'd known I was going to live this long I'd have taken better care of myself."

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1915: Bay State women lose the vote; 1962: JFK votes, watches the election on Cape Cod. 2006: Dennisport deaths were murder-suicide

2006: Deaths of mother and child in motel were murder-suicide

"It was a murder-suicide.
That's it.
We don't say anything more in these cases nor do we identify the people."
                                 - DA O'Keefe.

The investigation into the deaths of a Rhode Island mother and her 4-year-old daughter was closed today.  Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe said Wednesday morning, "It was a murder-suicide. That's it. We don't say anything more in these cases nor do we identify the people."

The woman and her daughter checked into Glendon Beach Cottage 97 in Dennisport on Saturday. At 1:30 Monday afternoon, Dennis Police Officer Dave Tinelli responded to a call from the cottage's owner, Richard Cravenho, who requested a well-being check on the renter, who had not been seen, and whose car had not been moved, since check-in.

"The owner told Officer Tinelli he was concerned about the occupants of the cottage," Dennis Police Capt. Bill Monahan said Tuesday. "He led Officer Tinelli into the cottage, and they made the discovery [of two bodies]." Tinelli then called for assistance and checked the sign-in log to verify information about the dead woman and child."

1915: Female "Anti's" block a women's right to vote in Massachusetts

On this day in 1915, a referendum to give Massachusetts women the vote failed at the polls. In spite of its leading role in the nineteenth-century woman's rights movement, Massachusetts was the first state to organize an association of women opposed to suffrage.

Known as the "Anti's," these women believed that they could be better, more effective citizens without the ballot. Many of the "Anti's" were active in Progressive era causes; they feared that involvement in electoral politics would erode their influence. For over 30 years, they and their male allies succeeded in keeping Massachusetts women out of the voting booth. But ultimately they lost the fight. On this same day in 1920, Massachusetts women cast their votes in a federal election for the first time. Source.

1962:The last vote John F. Kennedy lived to cast

In the midterm election in November of 1962, President Kennedy was to cast his final vote because nine moths later he was dead from an assassin's bullets in Dallas.

As was the President's custom, he voted in Boston and then came to the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport with his family to watch the results... for the last time. Read the newspaper reports of that day below.

Kennedy Casts Ballot in Boston
And Passes the Day on Cape Cod; President Gets Returns

President Kennedy followed today his own exhortation to the nation's voters. He voted in the midterm elections. Moreover, he accomplished it quickly.... read the rest below.
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