You probably walked by it and had no clue what it was. It had the appearance of a condemned building boarded up and in gross disrepair. The twelve ton 29 foot structure was actually a belfry! It was removed from the old Methodist Episcopal Church, (built in1845) in 2002 when the town took over the building to begin renovations on its newly relocated library. They had it lowered to the lawn by the front entrance while work proceeded on the interior of the building. It sat in place all these years waiting for enough funding to complete the task

Read about the famous bell in the belfry.

The donations were enough this year to complete this part of the project. The Belfry was made structurally sound and the mounting brackets on the buildings peak were replaced with steel girders. The one ton bronze bell, (originally cast in 1835), that hung in the belfry was sent to a company in Ohio to be restored. The bells yoke was replaced with a stationary mount and a clapper so the bell could ring again.

Two cranes where put in place (over 200 tons of equipment) to raise the belfry to its new home. On August 20th the bell rang for the first time in decades in honor of the Pilgrim Monuments 200th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. Total cost was $185,000. The town is now seeking one million to complete the exterior renovations!

Next time you are in town check out the views from the libraries upper floors and don’t miss the 62 foot half size model of the Grand Banks fishing schooner the Rose Dorothea. The schooner replica was built on the second floor and rises two stories in the interior. It couldn’t be removed without dismantling it so it stayed in place while the renovations took place all around it. It took fifteen years to build by dozens of craftsmen

Want to read more about the library or see more pictures of the bell, the belfry and the schooner http://www.ptownlib.com

*Special thanks to the library website for the picture we are using and lots of goodie facts. Mary Ann Bragg of the Cape Cod Times wrote a great article on the library which was consulted, as well.

The Cranberry Harvest Festival lost the cranberries!

You won't find a cranberry at the Cape Cod Cranberry Festival. Harwich is celebrating its thirtieth year with the popular festival the weekend of September 14th and cranberries are not in the line up. But, a parade, concerts, spectacular fireworks, and an awesome weekend long fair are. Listed as one of our top events not to miss you won't go home empty handed. The fair is my favorite part of all the events. Held on the high school grounds, just shy of the town center, the fair is made up of arts, crafts, exhibits and local vendors displaying/selling their wares under the "big top". Like a carnival you'll also find amusement rides and food vendors with all the favorites.

Read more about this and other September events. 

The event name may seem a little bit misleading to the happenings but the name is firmly rooted in the town’s history. When Harwich was first settled in the 1600's its claim to fame was the fishing laborers and crews it provided the economy as well as farming. As the 1800’s approached the fishing and whaling industry was in decline. To survive the change cranberries were harvested by the locals and sold to provide the extra support. The first intentional bog was planted in 1846.

The festival has taken many forms over the years but one of the intents has always been to bring visitors to Harwich by using its cultural roots as the draw.  Today the all volunteer committee that runs the events uses the proceeds to support community and non profit local organizations that cater to the needs of children.  Their mission statement is very clear, "This is all to benefit the towns children as well as to bring fun to the people who attend."  They have recently contributed over $200,000 to these support groups.

Here are some other events and festivals we recommend you try on your next visit:

The Great Schooner Regatta (9/9 &10)

The Bourne Scallop Festival (9/21 &22)

Cape Land & Sea Harvest (9/28 & 29)

*Special thanks to the Harwich Cape Cod website and the Harwich Cranberry Festival Official Website for some of our information and pictures.

Indian summer is upon us and so are the quieter months of the fall. Warm days, mild sleeping nights and fewer people to enjoy the great restaurants, shops and activities the Cape has to offer. Relax on the beach, jump in the heated pools and whirlpools, or immerse yourself in the many festivals, live theater performances, nature tours etc at your leisure.  We have a few specials for the fall you might want to consider that give time to take it all in. Our "Fun" packages include accommodations and activities most days and holidays while offering a reduced price. We also have a Family Adventure Package for two to four people that will give you lots of choices to sightsee the different areas of the Cape for one low price. You'll find those all listed on our specials page.