Old Bourne Cemetery

Recently drove by "Old Bourne Cemetery" located on County Road in Bourne ,Massachusetts.  It's also known as "Middle Monument Burial Ground".  I was curious so I drove in. I was on another errand so I just snapped some pictures from the car. It has a narrow road that loops around.

This cemetery has 377 internments dating from 1749 to about 1909. Has about a quarter mile road that loops around. You can click here to see list of those resting here. It is located near the Bourne Village, Aptuxet Trading Post and Cape Cod Canal.

Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge - 1934

Post by Bourne Police Department.

Cape Cod Attacked!

On this day in 1918 Cape Cod came under attack from a German submarine. Off the coast of Nauset Beach in Orleans U-156 attacked the tugboat "Perth Amboy" and four wooden barges. With a combination of fire from the deck gun and torpedoes the tugboat was sunk and barges and town of Orleans came under fire also. The nearby Chatham Naval Air Station was alerted and joined foray to thwart the German attack. Unfortunately they were dropping duds or completely missed there mark. All 32 merchant sailors, including the tugboat Captain's wife and child, were saved. It was the first attack on the continental United States from a foreign power since the Mexican War in 1846. The U-156 then left to continue it's mission elsewhere.

Brief History of Cape Cod Canal

Shipwrecks around Cape Cod (Illustrated) by William P. Quinn

Shipwrecks Around Cape Cod by William P. Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fascinating look at shipwrecks that occurred on and around Cape Cod, Massachusetts up until about 1973. Anyone interested in the maritime mishaps and tragedies along the Cape Cod shoreline this book would be an excellent addition to their collection. Even the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower thought better than trying go around Cape Cod so eventually settled in Plymouth. The advent of the Cape Cod Canal and other technological advances have slowed down the events. Enjoyable for the casual reader or serious researcher. Photograph's are either from author's personal collection or from other sources. Sadly I recently found out that Quinn recently passed away this past year and was a local legend in Cape Cod. Worth a look if your interested in Cape Cod maritime history.

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Cape Cod's First Shipwreck: Sparrow-Hawk

The first shipwreck off Cape Cod was the (Pinnacle)Sparrow-Hawk in 1626.The ship was smaller than the more famous Mayflower that landed in Plymouth around 6 years earlier( 30 tons verses 130). After a six week voyage and out of beer/water plus a sick captain she foundered off outer Cape Cod in Orlearn's on Nauset Beach. Survivors (all 25) were guided by friendly natives to Plymouth where they stayed until they could hitch a ride to Virginia(there original destination).

The shipwreck was discovered in 1862 after a storm. It did spend over a century at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth Massachusetts. It is now on display in Hyannis, Massachusetts at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum. It is the oldest surviving shipwreck of "New World' colonies.

Pirates off Cape Cod

One place I'm hoping to check out this summer is The Whydah Musuem located on the tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown. The museum displays artifacts of the Pirate ship "Whydah" that was wrecked in a fierce storm in 1717 off the Outer Cape. Captain Black Sam Bellamy was possibly try to visit a local girl, the "Witch of Wellfleet" Maria Hallet. You weren't someone unless you had a cool nickname back the early 1700's. When the ship hit a storm off the outer Cape it ran a ground off Wellfleet and only two survived.

The wreck was found again in the 1980's by underwater explorer Barry Clifford. He has since brought up many interesting artifacts from Captain Black Sam's ill fated voyage including the ship's bell. I can't wait to visit.

Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center

IRecently made a quick visit to the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center located in Sandwich, Massachusetts. It's located on the northern end of the canal that opens to Cape Cod Bay just south of historical Plymouth.

Inside the visitor center you can find out information about the canal which celebrates it's 100th birthday this year. It also has restrooms and a small recreation /picnic area. It is also adjacent Sandwich Marina. It's a cool place visit if your in the area. Here are a few pictures I snapped while I was there. 

Book - The Death of the USS Thresher

The Death of the USS Thresher by Norman Polmar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the tragic story of the USS Thresher loss on April 10,1963 with 129 personnel on board 222 miles off the coast of Cape Cod Massachusetts at a depth of 8400 feet. This is a hard look at at the chain of events and speculation of what may have happened. If you are interested in learning more about this event this is the best place to start.

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