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Advocate Archives
This week’s look back into the Advocate Archives takes us to 1933 and an explanation of why houses have wound up in the odd spots they have; to 1947 when a selectman charged neglect of town roads and sought to change that; and to a 1966 plan to create a more stable pool of summer workers.
Nov. 2, 1933
Why Many Houses Are Apparently in Back Yards
An old dwelling, one of the oldest in town, at the end of Soper street, is being demolished. It was occupied at one time by a man called Shimerick.
The house was built by Samuel Soper and stood where now the octagon house stands, and was moved to its present location to make a place for the new house, the Octagon.
This is an answer to the question often asked by strangers, “Why were so many houses built apparently in the back yards?”
Like this one, they were not built in a back yard, but were moved to a considerable distance and later the vacant land was built on.
Like this old house of Capt. Soper, moved up Soper street when there was no other house between it and the new house.
Since the moving of the old house to the present lot, Tremont street has been extended from Nickerson to West Vine, the houses of the Fields and of John Everett Freeman have been built, and two houses from the Point also have been placed between the Shimerick and the Octagon.
Now that the old house is demolished and the old smoke house has collapsed, some shrewd man will buy that square of land, move to have the dump filled and Soper street extended to Bradford. That will some day be a valuable lot.
Nov. 6, 1947
Rogers Urges Provincetown Priority in Overdue Chapter 90 Road Work
For 17 years Cape End Town Received No Benefits, Selectman States, Roads in Deplorable Condition—Wants Bradford Improvement Speeded
A firm stand was taken yesterday in a letter by Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Irving S. Rogers to William H. Buracker, Commissioner of the Department of Public Works against any reduction of the 1948 appropriation for continuation of Bradford Street reconstruction which was hinted might occur in a letter received here from L.R. Sellew, District Highway Engineer.
Replying to a request from Selectman Rogers that the Bradford project be speeded up and interference with early Summer traffic be avoided next year, Mr. Sellew said, “We will have the survey work done for this project as soon as we can get authority from the Boston office. The County Commissioners will meet with our Commissioners in Boston some time in December to determine what money will be allotted to each town.”
This brought a prompt reply from Mr. Rogers, in part: “The records will show that from the years 1928 to 1945, when we applied for the present reconstruction of Bradford Street, Provincetown made no application for Chapter 90, and, naturally received none of the benefits. (This was due entirely to the negligence and mismanagement of former Boards of Selectmen.)
“However, our roads have unnecessarily deteriorated through neglect, and an examination will reveal that Provincetown streets are the worst in the entire County, and their condition is deplorable. Maintenance costs have increased alarmingly and are much greater than the accepted average. The continued and perennial ‘patching’ does not improve the situation which is most critical.”
The town has asked for $40,000 for reconstruction of Bradford Street from Center Street to Conwell Street and Prince Street to West Vine Street under Chapter 90, which calls for the town and county each to put up $10,000 and the State $20,000.
Nov. 3 1966
Has Plan to Get Reliable Workers
How Provincetown employers of Summer “manpower” may get dependable seasonal workers was outlined to a luncheon gathering Monday of Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce members at the Provincetown Inn.
Rev. Alan Travers of Duxbury told of the service a group he represents is offering in the selection, screening and training of Summer employees. He was one of the speakers at the 6th annual Cape Cod Summer Harvest Festival, in session here Monday at the inn.
Cape Cod businesses, Rev. Mr. Travers said, are at “the mercy of a large wave of young people who come to the Cape at the last minute,” some of whom quit before the Summer is out, leaving the employer without help, to join the large numbers of other young folk whose aim is a vacation, with or without funds.
The plan the Duxbury speaker outlined called for early recruitment, even beginning now, of prospective Summer help. Applicants would be screened throughout the Winter and prospective employers provided with a list of suitable and available Summer employees. If the prospective employer is satisfied, he said, interviews would be provided.
Arnold Lane of the Barnstable County Extension Service, told of the increased sales possibilities in good exterior appearances. Landscaping, increasing the attractiveness of a business establishment, he considered important, and told the audience the Extension Service was set up to provide this kind of help.
John B. Crosby of a Barnstable supply company described the many new building materials available for modernizing, updating and decorating.
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Nov 1st, 2007