The Wild, Wild Beach

Farmhouse-(01)

 

Dear sisters,

Hop in the Beach Buggy and let’s take a ride through the pioneer days of the Wild, Wild Beach. Gurnet/Saquish Beach.

My handsome Yankee and I have been working on a fun little side-project as a fundraiser for our beach community. We are in the midst of creating a Vintage Beach Photo wall calendar as a product to sell at our summer events this season. They make a great gift for beach lovers and residents love to have them for their cottages too!

At the Well-001

At the well

Why a vintage theme rather than a cool, modern coastal vibe? We thought we might get more interest in our calendar if we featured images from the ‘good old days’ from our beach community. Plus it gave us an excuse to reach out to neighbors we might not have had a chance to visit with otherwise. We got some bites on our idea and through the generosity of a handful of residents we also secured enough keepers for the calendar with the side benefit of hearing each persons telling of when and how their families landed on the shorelines. One neighbor who’s lived there for at least 50 years, invited us in for brownies and coffee on a very blustery, rainy June day. We sat on her expansive second floor enclosed porch and watched the waves roll in and out and as the wind blew the falling rain sideways we went back in time.

Gurnet by Boat

The only way anyone could ” land ” on the shorelines back then was either by boat or horse and buggy.

Bill Jacobs-02

One of the first Beach Farmgirls to keep chickens at the beach.

Even with today’s modern conveniences and 4 wheel drive to boot, it’s a job to prepare to get out to our little off grid beach cottage. Once we cross that wooden bridge we are ” beached ” until we head off to go home. I always forget something and we make do. I like to think I would have been able to do the same 100 years ago, but I’m not convinced of it.

Duxbury Beach - (13)-001

There are no markets, restaurants, or any other sort of shopping or entertainment. Here in lies the true beauty of this special place. One has to make their own fun which leaves the possibilities wide open. I bet my beach farmgirl hat that these early residents were just as taken with this charming peninsula as we are today.

 

Gurnet Light-1885 (02)Gurnet Light, located near Duxbury, MA.( once one of the worlds leading ship building centers) has quite an impressive background. It was home to Americas first set of twin lights and the first woman lighthouse keeper, ( I would love to learn more about her ) and is also home to the country’s oldest wooden freestanding lighthouse.

Gurnet L.S.S. Boathouse

Light Saving Stations and their crews played an important role for those out at sea and on land. Imagine having to go out in a small wooden boat, in the middle of the night in high seas, waves rolling over your head not certain you would return alive?

Gurnet Head Lighthouse (01)

We’ve only scratched the surface of the good old ” beach ” days.  Just having the opportunity to see some of these images first-hand has whet our appetite for more!

Image (36) VINTAGE Gurnet Ox Cart EDIT

The history of this beautiful barrier beach is as deep and wide as the ocean itself and can hardly be contained in one ‘Lil ole blog post, but I hope you enjoyed these snippets of The Wild, Wild Beach as much as we have.

Until our next shoreline visit~ Beach Blessings and Much Love

Land Ho!

Deb, The Beach Farmgirl  # 1199

PS. do any of you know a great printing company for bulk order Calendars?

PS. I’ll share the images we chose for the calendar in a future post!

  1. Adrienne says:

    If you’d like to know more about Mrs. Hannah Thomas, try this website. There is quite a bit of information here: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=39851631

    Great post as usual!

    • Deb Bosworth says:

      Hi there, Adrienne,
      Thanks so much for the link. I look forward to reading more about her. Fodder for a future post, I’m sure!
      Hope all is well and you are feeling great.
      xo Deb

  2. susana says:

    Is it possible to buy one of the calendars? Id love to buy
    One. My mother had relatives. From Massachusett and. And Maine. Love. The lighthouses..

  3. bonnie ellis says:

    Just love the idea of your calendar. It’s a great way to involve the public. Good thinking farmgirl!

  4. Joan says:

    Oh fun oh fun oh fun!!!! seeing and reading about the beach and your calendar is s super great idea!! You always have something fun going to involve others – very sweet. Yes let us know when the calendar is ready. God bless Happy 4th of July!!!

    • Deb Bosworth says:

      Hi Joan!
      Thanks so much!
      Calendars are ready! Let me know if you’d like one and I’ll send one out to you.
      hugs,
      Deb

  5. Lu Johnson says:

    Hi. I cannot believe you moved to Plymouth, my childhood playground! Check with Plymouth historical Society and with the Plantation. They have a lot of records back to 1620. Check with the Brewster family ,alot of the original Mayflower families still live in Plymouth. We would ride the boat to Gurnet for picnics from Manomet.

  6. Sally says:

    Truly amazing photos and stories. What an interesting place, you are so lucky!

  7. duxsix says:

    How do I get one of those calendars. Would make a great Xmas present for my wife. We live in Duxbury

  8. duxsix says:

    Can anyone tell me where to get a calendar?

  9. Paul Christian says:

    The gentleman in the photo with the chickens is my uncle, Bill Jacobs from about 1912, life long resident of the Gurnet and a lobsterman

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