The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives

Interviewee Collection Sort descending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Cecil I. Goodspeed Tales of Cape Cod

Born in 1898, in West Barnstable, Mr.

Frank Rudd Osterville, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Otto E. Nickerson Tales of Cape Cod

Mr. Nickerson was born in Eastham in 1896.  His father was a selectman of Eastham and he has 10-11 generations of Cape relatives.  His grandmother was a Mayflower descendent.  He recalls working in cranberry bogs as a teenager and describes the use of cedar swamps to create and develop cranberries.  He describes the development and care of a cranberry bog.  He remembers riding on school barges (horse drawn wagons) to get to elementary school.  There would be straw on the wagon floor to keep your feet warm in the winter.  Mr.

Betty Richards Eastham, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
William L. Grozier Tales of Cape Cod

Mr. Grozier was born in North Truro in 1904.  His paternal grandfather John Paine Grozier was born in Truro. His grandfather’s occupation was a teamer, one who collected cargo from shipwrecks on the beaches and then reloaded it on ships.  His father John Franklin Grozier was a road man who worked for the town of Truro for 32 years.  Mr.

Betty Richards North Truro, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Joseph Oliver Tales of Cape Cod

Captain Oliver describes trap fishing, early twentieth century Provincetown, the Shaw Fund for Mariner's Children, and his experiences taking Ernie Pyle out fishing.

Notes: The Tales of Cape Cod Oral History Collection is housed at the William Brewster Nickerson Archives in the Wilkens Library at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. For more information about the collection, please contact the Nickerson Archives, http://www.nickersonarchives.org/.

Betty Richards Provincetown, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Dudley Winthrop Hallett Tales of Cape Cod

Born in 1902, Mr. Hallett describes his childhood experiences from 1907-1909 while vacationing in South Dennis, Massachusetts. He also describes his experiences living as a summer resident in Silver Beach, North Falmouth, Massachusetts from 1910 to the 1920. He describes the costs of rentals and food in 1907, his experiences with Captain Howard Kelley family in South Dennis; his great uncle Joyce Taylor in Hyannis who was a prominent realtor and business man; Mr. Hallett's life as a child and teenager in Silver Beach, North Falmouth and the affluent neighbors who were summer residents.

William Pride Falmouth, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Mildred B. Paine Tales of Cape Cod

Part 1: Born in 1893, Mrs.

Renée Magriel Harwich, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Marjorie Hamblin Tales of Cape Cod

Born in 1899, Mrs.

Susan Shaw Marstons Mills, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Eleanor Small Tales of Cape Cod

Eleanor Small interview with Tales of Cape Cod, November 17, 1977. Born in 1909, Ms. Small describes her ancestors from Harwich. Her grandmother was related to Jonathon Walker, of "the branded hand" who married an Indian woman and went down south to help the slaves. He was captured and branded for helping slaves escape. She lived on the Cape with her grandmother and recalls several stories of local residents. She recalls the great Dennisport fire and Dr. Ginns block burned. Also remembers Ernie Cole, the blacksmith in Harwich Port and the Catholic church in Harwich Center burning.

Renée Magriel Chatham, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
John Bonnell Tales of Cape Cod

Born in 1892, Bonnell describes his experiences living on Cape Cod  including bullraking, digging clams, and tautog fishing; transportation to the Cape by train, early automobiles and motorcycles; early electric lights and kerosene lanterns; dentistry on the Cape in the early 20th century; Billingsgate Island; rum runners, and being the captain of a charter fishing boat.

Betty Richards Orleans, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives
Donald E. Higgins Tales of Cape Cod

Born in 1904, Dr.

Susan Shaw Cotuit, MA The William Brewster Nickerson Cape Cod History Archives