Sandwich Town Hall Square Historic District Properties Tour

Explore the rich history of Sandwich, Cape Cod's first town.

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Sandwich Town Hall Square Historic District Properties Tour

Sandwich, Massachusetts 02563, United States

Created By: Sandwich Historical Commission

Tour Information

Antique homes, historic sites and landscapes are significant features of Sandwich. This Historical Properties Tour honors the town’s history and the stewardship that has preserved its special character over the years.

Thank you to the Sandwich Visitor Services Board for their support!


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What You'll See on the Tour

TOUR #1 BEGINS HERE: Once a tinware and stove shop that burned to the ground in 1908. It was rebuilt using the same plan and has housed many businesses over the last 100 years.
Spotted Cod. This was once a 19th century apothecary shop.
Built as a wedding gift from her father who owned the tavern next door. In 1826, Nancy Freeman Fessenden married Captain Ezra Nye and moved into this new house after the wedding. Nye was a prominent sea captain who sailed his clipper ship A... Read more
Nancy’s grandfather, Rev. Benjamin Fessenden, served as the Sandwich town minister from 1725 to 1746. In 1729 his supporters built him a home here at 149 Main Street. After he died, his son William (Nancy's father) converted the home into... Read more
The town purchased the former Cooperative Bank building in 1977 relieving pressure at the time to rebuild the interior of the old Town Hall. The building is on the site of what was known as the "Boyden Block" owned by William Ellis Boyden. ... Read more
In 1639 this spot was set aside for public use and a thatched-roof Meetinghouse was built. In 1704 it was replaced by a larger, 2-story Meetinghouse. Town meetings were held here and it was also home to a Calvinist/Congregational parish. Bu... Read more
Rev. Asahel Cobb who was a minister in the Calvinist Church until he resigned in 1842. In the early 20th century it included the first small shop in town to sell antique Sandwich glass. The re-appreciation of Sandwich glass began here. ...
Capt. Nichols was a whaling captain out of New Bedford who retired to Sandwich. During the Civil War many young men learned to play the new game of base ball. When some returned to Sandwich, they played the first game on Cape Cod in Novemb... Read more
Mill Creek Park offers a comfortable resting stop for visitors providing welcome shade and convenient benches. There are bronze plaques explaining the neighboring historic structures. It was redesigned by the Sandwich 375 Anniversary Commit... Read more
Eaton Memorial Park. It was created in 1911 by William Eaton to remember the soldiers and sailors from Sandwich who served in the Civil War. Sandwich was the first Cape Cod town to field a military unit. From a town of approximately 3,500, ... Read more
Seth Nye was a very successful lawyer and later judge in the town of Sandwich. When he went to his law office he did not have to go very far. He owned the magnificent Federal style house next door to the right. Note that the roof line is i... Read more
#6 Grove street was built in 1888 by Benjamin Gibbs Bartley (born June, 1857) and presented as a gift to his new wife, Theodora Newcomb. They named it “Bendora,” derived from their names: BENjamin and TheoDORA. They were married on Octo... Read more
Peter Newcomb, of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, had the first tavern in town and was noted far and wide for hospitality. The house stands much as it was originally built, except the north side, which has had improvements. In the time of the... Read more
The #10 Grove Street story starts with Seth Pope. Known as “Seth the Trader” he is part of Sandwich legend. Seth came to town in 1670 reportedly with a backpack containing needles, thread and other portable peddling items. Through some ... Read more
The first town burying ground, this cemetery was constructed in 1663 and last used in 1939. Most of Sandwich's earliest families are buried here. The oldest known grave is of 7-week old Thomas Clark who died in 1683. The second oldest is Th... Read more
The First Parish Meetinghouse (at today's 143 Main Street) had served as the religious and political center of the village of Sandwich into the early 19th century. However, the need for a new civic building was prompted by the formal separa... Read more
The original grist mill was built in 1637 by Thomas Dexter and replaced in 1654. It had the vital purpose of grinding corn into flour for essential baking needs. The Shawme pond was dammed up to create the power source for the grinding whee... Read more
Built in 1847, this beautiful church is sometimes called the Elvis church because it was used as a backdrop on Elvis Presley's first gospel album "How Great Thou Art” recorded in 1967. A copy of the album is located in the vestibule of th... Read more
This home was built circa 1699-1710 for Melitiah Bourne, the wealthiest man in town at the time. He was a lawyer, judge and member of the Massachusetts General Court. This was the childhood home of Bathsheba Newcomb/Ruggles. Documents show... Read more
Built in 1828, this is the home of the most famous sea captain in Sandwich. Ezra Nye was a distant cousin of lawyer Seth Nye. Ezra went to sea at age 11 and became a captain at age 21. He sailed packet ships from Boston to Liverpool and set... Read more
This is a beautiful house with the front door on the side and great front porch and bay window. It is a good example of the wealth that the glass operation was bringing to town. It became the home of Hazel Blake French, a jewelry designer i... Read more
Circa 1740, This house has been in the same family for 5 generations. And, it has been owned and occupied by somebody named Jonathan Leonard since 1798! Moreover, all 5 generations of Jonathan Leonard's are Harvard graduates. Jonathan Leo... Read more
Built 1842. Owned by a glass cutter at the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory and later by Dr. Samuel Beale (1914-1965) for whom Beale St. was named.
Charles C.P. Waterman House, Built1836. Mr. Waterman was an executive with the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory and had the title "Paymaster". But, he was more than that. In addition to paying 500 workers, he collected rents on behalf of... Read more
Built in 1847, this building was originally the Methodist Church. Reverend Joseph Marsh was a factory worker and an ordained minister and often preached here on Sundays. It would be impossible to understate the importance that religion play... Read more
Built 1840. This home was built by Dr. Jonathan Leonard II in 1840. Note the entry way on the side for patients as well as the front and rear entrances for guests and family. He sold this house in 1861 to Isaiah Jones who owned a tack facto... Read more
This beautiful Victorian was built in 1882 for George Drew, a wealthy clothing merchant, who had stores in Hyannis and here on Jarves St. It became the rectory for the Catholic Church next door. Now it is a restaurant and inn owned by Chri... Read more
Corpus Christi Church, now the Belfry Inn, was built in 1901. The Church was built in 1901 to replace the St. Peter's Church that was destroyed in a storm in 1898. To begin glass operations, Deming Jarves relocated about 60 skilled workers ... Read more
Puritan Chapel, now Beth's Bakery and Cafe, was built in 1850. This building was originally a chapel for those who dissented with the Congregational Church. John Jarves was one of its founders and it transitioned to an Episcopal church. It ... Read more
The Captain William Stutson House was built in 1825. This home was owned by Deming Jarves's sister, Sally and her husband. He was the General Manager of the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory during the early years and Deming often stayed ... Read more
John Jarves House was built in 1857. This beautiful home was a wedding present from Deming to his son John and his new wife, Mary. At the time it was the most expensive and modern house in town. It cost $7,000 to build and boasted 4 firepl... Read more

 

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