Orleans Summer Memories from Museum Visitors
2011
D. Greaney/Orleans:
I’ve only been on Cape since 2001 – spending a few weeks with my sister and her family. One summer we stayed at Cottontail Cottages and I had to share a room with my mom who snored so loudly that I ended up sleeping in the bathroom! My few experiences we so enjoyable that now my husband and I life here full time.
Stasia Crouteau/S. Orleans:
Growing up on Cape Cod, I remember that summer were always a time of hustle and bustle. Properties were spruced up for the influx of tourists, and many places opened for the season. There was summer theatre and the melody Tent. There were parades, bonfires, and new friends from far away, not to mention all the relatives who crowded into our little house. I remember summers as a happy, busy, time.
Liz Orr/July 1, 2011:
Cape Cod is where I fell in love with lobster! Early 1960s, in a summer rental in Wellfleet, now back every summer to visit my folks in Orleans, I’m happy to continue that love affair. I also love exploring all the other Cape offerings…beach, nature walks, biking, it’s beautiful.
Steve Bushnell/Newark, DE:
Memories of a Cape Cod Camper – I was a camper at Camp Namequoit from 1955-1958 – first as a counselor in training, then junior and counselor. The camp owner, C.J. Thayer, lived across the street from our house in Baton Rouge, LA. As a result, many campers and counselors came from Louisiana. The campers traveled by train chaperoned by counselors from New Orleans to Washington, DC, New York City, and finally Hyannis.
Summer highlights included trips to the Cape Cod Melody Tent and other theatres, sailing races at the Eastward Ho Country Club and dances with the girls from Quanset and Avalon. The early memories bring me back year after year to the Cape. The memories remain but the camps are history.
Bill Payne/Saugerties, NY:
In 1954, my family took a car trip and the first lighthouse I ever saw was on Cape Cod when I was seven. From then until 1984 I never came here again. But since that year, we have come every summer and our three children (now all over thirty) spent many happy days and nights; camping, hiking, biking and on the water. This year we bring our grandson, Liam, age seven months, for his first Cape Cod summer. Thank you for preserving the history of the Cape.
Robin Hogan McIntyre/Nauset ’77:
I grew up here with my three sisters. Between the four of us, it seemed we worked everywhere in town. Between us, we worked at the Penny Candy Store (where Mahoney’s is now), the Pancake Maid (10 summers – where the That restaurant is now), Philbrick’s (two summers – now Liam’s), Watson’s for Women, Tree’s Place (when owned by the Goldmans – two summers), The Joy of Dining on 6A, the Snow Library (when Kay Bader was librarian), Friendly’s (and we had to add up the check in our head – mistakes were posted on the employee board – so embarrassing!), the yarn store at Peacock Alley, Beth Bishop at the old location. The hardest job was painting the floor of the movie theatre (now CVS at 6A and Main). It was hard to paint between all those seat legs! The owner was not happy when we accidentally tipped over the paint can on the rug in the center aisle when we were done…..Perhaps that was the “final straw” and he closed the theatre! (Joking here – don’t be mad at us!!) Wish the theatre was still there! I love Orleans, best of all Cape towns!!