Early Files: Poor cranberry crop at Cape bogs in 1872

The Early Files includes stories from the archives of the Barnstable Patriot.

1862

The late master of the schooner Mail, Capt. Aaron H. Young, having enlisted in the army, that vessel is now hauled up, and advertised for sale. We understand that it is the wish of many of our citizens that the portion of this packet owned out of the place be purchased by our citizens, and that she be put in command of a competent person, and continued on the route she has so long and so acceptably run. (Note: The route ran between Barnstable and Boston. An article in the following week’s Barnstable Patriot announced that the packet schooner Mail “has been purchased by parties in Hyannis” and was at New York to pick up "Sutler's Stores" for the war, a “sutler” being a merchant who sells provisions to the military.)

1872

West Barnstable. The cranberry crop in this vicinity is generally very small. In many bogs it will prove almost an entire failure. On Sandy Neck the crop is unusually light. The vine worm has been very destructive in some places. But on the large bog at Newtown the prospect is uncommonly good. It is likely to prove the largest crop ever gathered there, estimated all the way from 1,500 to 1,800 barrels. (Note: The newspaper indicated that the anticipated poor harvest would drive up cranberry prices.)

More: Early Files: Sandy Neck takes a beating in 1972 from storm 'Carrie'

1882

Hyannis: Mr. Joseph H. Howard, one of our promising young men and a recent graduate from the Massachusetts Agricultural College, left town Friday for Springfield, where he will enter into employment … Monday morning, Frank B. Bearse, Jr., William C. Lewis, and Hattie S. Bacon, left this town for Deane Academy, Franklin, where they will pass the winter in improving the mind. (Note: In the Barnstable Village news column of the same newspaper it was announced that “Miss Sarah Dixon of this village has very successfully passed an examination for admittance to the State Normal School at Bridgewater.” After graduating, Dixon taught school for a number of years. She later earned a degree in theology, and became the first pastor of the Federated Church of Hyannis.)

1892

Osterville: Mr. Wilton Crosby has gone on an excursion to New York. While there he has sailed a boat built and sold by him three years ago to Mr. Plant of New York in a race and won the first prize. As would naturally be expected, a Crosby built boat, sailed by a Crosby, is very hard to beat.

1922

Hyannis: The Hyannis Normal school opened last week with an increased number of pupils. The capacity of the dormitory was last year taxed and this year there are still more students occupying rooms outside. (Note: The “rooms outside” most likely meant school tents set up to accommodate students.)

More: Early Files: Solar eclipse in 1932 brings thousands to Cape Cod

1932

Coach W. P. Bangs had a squad of 67 players out for the first football practice at the Barnstable high school Tuesday afternoon, using them in six teams. The practice was held on the new football field which Mr. Bangs calls splendid and says is in excellent condition. This was the first time the field has been used. While the prospects of the team are considered good it must be borne in mind that having only three of last year's team Mr. Bangs will have to get out an almost entirely new team this fall.

1942

Off to war: A large delegation of Cape Cod citizens is expected to be on hand Monday morning at the Hyannis railroad station when a contingent of young men from towns between Barnstable and Provincetown will leave on the 8:40 train for Fort Devens. These Cape boys have been accepted by the Army, have had their furloughs and will leave Monday for assignments to training centers throughout the country, after a brief stay at Devens.

1952

The Veteran Motor Car Club of America, with headquarters at the Larz Anderson Museum, Brookline, Mass., held a convention at the Pines Hotel, Cotuit, Sept. 12, 13, and 14. Residents of this village were both amazed and delighted as the cavalcade of eighteen ancient cars passed by. The oldest car of the group was a 1906 Pierce Great Arrow owned by George C. Donald of Weston, Mass.

More: Early Files: Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops perform at Cape Cod Mall in 1972

1962

Workmen have begun exterior and interior restoration of the old Samuel Dottridge Homestead which was donated early this year to the Historical Society of Santuit and Cotuit, Inc. The ancient landmark on the corner of Main Street and Shell Lane was moved to Cotuit from Harwich early in the 19th century. Built in the latter part of the 18th century, it was transported on skids drawn by 17 oxen.

1972

The 25th anniversary of the Cape Cod Tuna Tournament at Barnstable Harbor this week was climaxed by a record catch totaling 28 fish, ranging from 375 to a winning 776-1/2-pound monster. The big one was caught by Mr. Supranant of Osterville aboard the sports fishing boat "No Alibi," skippered by Ted Elliott of Osterville.

1982

Rehabilitation work on the Sagamore Highway Bridge crossing Cape Cod Canal resumed Sept. 13 following suspension of the work for the summer. The contractor is restricting travel to one lane in each direction during regular work hours, 7 a.m.to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. During evenings and on weekends, the bridge will be fully open. (Note: Completion of the two-year, $8 million bridge renovation was scheduled for May 1983.)

More: Early Files: Louis Armstrong performs at the Melody Tent in 1962

1992

The council rules and ethics committee voted 3-2 to recommend that no regular or special meeting of the town council last more than three hours. This is an amended version of a proposed rule change sent to the committee in August, calling for all council meetings to end no later than 10 p.m.

2002

While the summertime beach season is winding down, Barnstable is gearing up for COASTSWEEP 2002 at local beaches … Organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, COASTSWEEP typically engages between 4,000 to 5,000 volunteers in the removal of marine debris from a diversity of coastal ecosystems. The thousands of people who participate each year do their part by collecting bag after bag of trash and debris, and recording their findings onto data cards.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Early Files: Poor cranberry crop at Cape bogs in 1872