How Things Used to Be

Cranberry Cove Plaza

A big part of the attraction to the Cranberry Cove Plaza was this train. A significant portion of the train route (which circled a wetland area) was torn down to make way for The Stop & Shop Supermarket which was erected on the filled area.

Central Package Store

The Central Package Store was located on Route 6A in Orleans (next to what was, at that time, the Army/Navy store. It was owned and operated by Lester & Eva Quinn, parents of Bill, Ellis, Howard, Leslie, and Warren.

Old South Orleans Post Office

The Post Office was on the Judge Kendrick Sparrow's property, directly across the street (Route 28) from the still existing public water pump in South Orleans. The pump was used for water for the horses.

South Orleans District School

This school, located in South Orleans next to what is now the Ridgewood Motel, and across the street (Route 28) from Mike Bessom's store which is now a real estate office.

Original Orleans High School

Built in 1843, with separate entrances for boys and girls, it was located directly across the street (School Street) from what is now the Orleans Town Offices building.
For some details about how much it cost and who paid for it, click this link

Original French Cable Station

This is the original French Cable Station, built in 1879 in North Eastham at Nauset Light. It didn't last long there because, as the story goes, some of the married men were unhappy about being in such a remote place and unable to get home with any satisfactory frequency. Therefore they built the new station in Orleans at the juncture of Rte. 28 and Cove Rd.

Charlotte Kent's Home

This house was moved to this site on the now famous "Kent Property" from further up (North) Lonnie's River whose now politically correct name is now Kescayoganset River. It was torn down for liabillity purposes.

Gull Hill School

The Gull Hill School for boys sat up on a hill directly behind Bill's Sunoco and The Yardarm REstaurant. The hill was flattened to allow for construction of the Seaman's Bank (now Rockland Trust) near the traffic light intersection of Route 28 & Main Street. There was/is a related school in France.

Eagle Wing

The "Eagle Wing" was formerly the Gull Hill School for boys. At some point in the late 1940s - early 1950s the school ceased operation and became a private residence.

Southward Inn — 1953

The original Inn was located on the site where currently the Masons have their lodge. In 1953 the Inn was owned by Eva Rich and was run by son, Alan. They had a parrot that used to call out "Alan, Alan!" somewhat to the annoyance of patrons. This rambling old Inn was originally the residence of Alexander T. Newcomb, a prominent resident of the Town.

Main St. & Rte. 6A

A view from the 1930' s, this was a very busy intersection, the Cummings building on the right, facing toward Eastham. Above the Socony sign it says H.K. Cummings Filling Station. Notice the arrow on the sign saying "Pochet", suggesting that Pochet had an importance that other parts of town didn't have

Earl Sylver's Tydol Station

As teen-age boys with our jalopies in the early 50’s, Earl would allow us to buy gas on credit. There was a metal 3x5 card box that contained a card for each of us. We would pump our own gas and then note the amount on the card. Imagine such trust today. The station is not the only thing that is gone.

A & P Produce Stand

Located on Main Street where Watsons is now. It was open only during Summer months.

First National Store Grand Opening of new, self-service market, around 1949

Back row L to R ? , John McEvoy, Jim Degnan, Matt Joseph, Eddie Leonard, Kay Wallen, ? , John Rogers, Clarisse Hurley, Lois Steele, Dolores Carpenter, ? , Hernaldo Kelly (Mgr.) Front row L to R Larry Hurley, Charlie Dunham, Paul Service, Ed Starr, Midgie Fields, Donald Walsh, ? , “Putt” Manangas, Bud Flavin, Jim Buckley, John Taylor

T.A. Smith Grocery Store

Notice the sign above the door: CASH Grocer! The building to the left was Clarence Knowles’ Bake Shop, later owned and operated by Gaston Norgeot, hence the name of Bake Shop Rd., now Cove Road.