AROUND CAPE COD
Brewster
Dennis Port
Known as Cape Cod’s “Sea Captains’ Town,” Brewster was originally settled in 1656 as part of Harwich, before separating in 1693 and officially incorporating in 1803. Named in honor of William Brewster, a Mayflower passenger who became the senior elder and religious leader at Plymouth Colony, this quaint and wooded town soon emerged as a hub of early industry when the land near Stony Brook, which had been purchased from the Wampanoag, became the site of a water- powered grist mill. Colonial-era commerce was driven by the mill, which was used to grind local corn and also served as a fulling mill for homespun woolen cloth. This thriving district eventually
became known as Factory Village, the center of the town’s economy, with a tannery, a cobbler’s shop, a dry goods store, and carding and cotton mills. Brewster’s rich maritime traditions included robust herring and shore-whaling fisheries in the 18th century. The village became popular with sea captains during the glorious clipper ship era of the mid-1800s. Many of these wealthy mariners’ stately homes are now bed and breakfasts, inns, or museums, and the circa 1799 Captain Elijah Cobb House on Lower Road serves as the home of the Brewster Historical Society.
Located on the southeastern side of the town of Dennis, Dennis Port has a coastline on Nantucket Sound and is separated from the village of West Dennis by the Swan River. Several of the town’s beaches are here, including Haigis Beach with its high dunes, the good-sized Glendon Road Beach, and Sea Street Beach. Swan Pond is in the northeastern part of Dennis Port, close to Harwich, and is great for kayaking. Swan River is perfect for paddling, too, as it flows from the pond to the sound. Shops, coffee cafes, galleries, and restaurants line Main Street (Route 28) in Dennis Port, which has undergone a recent transformation spearheaded
by the Dennis Port Revitalization Committee. The South Side Civic Association sponsors a concert series at the refurbished gazebo at the Village Green, which is located close to the public library. Also in Dennis Port is the Sea View Park Recreation area, which has plenty of open space, picnic tables, a great children’s playground, and a pleasant walking path to Nantucket Sound. There are many beach cottages close to Nantucket Sound in Dennis Port, as well as numerous year-round neighborhoods with homes in all price ranges. The village is busy in the summer but takes on a quieter atmosphere in the off-season.
Spring is eagerly welcomed with the annual Brewster in Bloom event, a three-day celebration of art and culture. Held on a weekend in late April or early May, the town-sponsored affair includes self- guided tours of art and crafts galleries, a 5K race, live music, and a festive parade down Route 6A.
Swan River (also known as Swan Pond River) is a twisting tidal river that begins in Swan Pond and flows down to Nantucket Sound at South Village Beach. The waterway is ideal for kayaking or canoeing, and the river offers a water-level view of salt marshes, shore birds, fish, and shellfish.
The Brewster Flats are an ecological phenomenon created by the ebb and flow of the daily tides. As the waters of Cape Cod Bay recede, they reveal over one mile of sandbars, clam beds, and tidal pools teeming with sea life.
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