How Things Used to Be
Turnip Field, Eastham, 1928
On Massasoit Rd. between the Catholic Church and Wiley Rd. Though few names are known, the importance of this photo is that owner George Appleton Nickerson, father of Art and Shirley (Nickerson) Williams, took sick with appendicitis and contracted pneumonia while in the hospital, so couldn't "pull" his turnips. This group of men, Odd Fellows, joined forces and did the job for him. Son, Art, was 14 years old. They worked from 8:00 — 5:00 and "pulled, topped, pitted, and covered" 1400 bushels. Harry Collins is in front to left of basket, and Otto Nickerson is left of center, standing, with light-colored shirt.
Harry Collin's "hoss"
Obed Fulcher borrowed Harry Collins's Horse, "Tarzan", to plow his potato field, as Obed didn't have a work horse. Here is Obed with his grandson, Jerry.
Vernon Smith
A well-known Orleans Artist, lived on Monument Road, Orleans, where he raised three children, Sara, Joy, and Pete.
Walter Brady's wedding
Attendees, in part — (Gives a new definition to "dapper"). Red Eldredge, George Norgeot, Jack Poole, Wally Adams, Jack Crossman, Ray Toomey
Chet Landers & Del Johnson, Sr. - 1953
There was an opening in the job of caretaker of the Herring Brook. Lonnie Chase was the caretaker long ago, and Ed Tom Higgins took over from him. The importance and prestige of the job attracted both Chet Landers and Del Johnson, each seeing himself as better qualified than the other. As well as keeping the brook flowing, there was a requirement that the caretaker take a bucket of herring once a year to the town hall. The job paid $25.00 per year. It is reported that Del Johnson got the appointment, and Chet sank into political obscurity. It is also reported that it was all in good fun.
Lester Young
Lester owned and operated "Youngs Fish Market", conveniently located where the daily catch of fresh fish and shellfish were unloaded.
Ray Perreault, Wayne Parent
Ray watches Wayne work his yo-yo with a "do I really pay him to do this " look?
"Square" Gould
"Square", hunter & sportsman extraordinaire, engages customers at the Goose Hummock Shop.
Unknown
Probably not a Cape Codder.....or even a fisherman. That isn't how they fish. Maybe he is afraid to get his feet wet.
John Fulcher
John Fulcher. 14-year-old apprentice boy on the "Margaret," that foundered and piled up on Nauset Beach in 1852. Young John. with the ship's cat tucked under his shirt, swam ashore and later refused to return to Great Yarmouth, England with his surviving shipmates. He chose, instead, to stay on Cape Cod and found(ed) the Fulcher clans on Cape Cod. He lived, for a time, with the family of the then Captain Samuel Knowles and later married Josephine Helena Doane of Eastham (daughter of Cap’n Ezekiel). The couple birthed ten children: Dawson, Mary, James (Alfred), John, Ezekiel, Frederick, Josephine, Sarah, Lois, and Obed - the latter a relative, though distant, of the author of "0bed's Diary".
Fred Higgins - 1921
Fred Higgins 1883 — 1959. In addition to being a very successful hunter, he could really "cut a rug". At any local dance you could see Fred flying around the dance floor, his feet barely touching the floor, his wife, Agatha, easily meeting the challenge.
James Leach, Vet. — Lunch time!
Dr. Leach ran his veterinary clinic at the old Charlie Gunn house, the last house on the right as you approach the top parking lot at Fort Hill, Eastham, known years ago as the Seth Knowles Farm.
Warren Quinn ca. 1954
Warren, on board one of John Hamilton's D-7 bulldozers. He always wanted to play with trucks and diggers. Now he can. Here, Warren leveled things off down by the rotary.
Wash & Wax?
L to R: Betty Young and Martha Bonnell, doing the basics. What color is Martha’s white horse?
Alfred “Link” Nickerson
Standing 6’7” tall, “Link” was probably the tallest man around of his era. Having died at a very early age, 43, he had worked many years for Nickerson Lumber Co. as a salesman. In spite of his unusual height, he never played basketball, but did have a try-out as a pitcher with the New York Yankees. Unfortunately, at that time, he came down with a case of appendicitis and never pitched again. Both he and Willis Gould were owners of the “Goose Hummock” hunting camp, from which “Sarge” Sargent adopted the name for his sports equipment store.