Cape Cod families are difficult to trace because only the probate records survived the burning of the Barnstable County Courthouse in 1827, and similar disasters have taken their toll on the Cape's town records. Many of Chatham's records, for instance, were lost in a fire, and Yarmouth's records of the Revolutionary War period have been missing for years. Even so, many important Cape Cod town records still exist; the problem is that so few of them are in print. So it was fortuitous when Col. Leonard Smith stumbled upon a series of pamphlets published at Yarmouthport by Charles W. Swift in the early part of this century under the name Cape Cod Library of History and Genealogy. Although contributors to the Cape Cod Library included such celebrated genealogists as Josiah Paine (author of History of Harwich), William C. Smith (known for his History of Chatham), and Amos Otis (Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families), the series never reached a large audience, and is today virtually inaccessible. No library in the country holds the complete collection of 108 pamphlets. With great diligence, Col. Smith put together a complete collection for himself, arranged the pamphlets in the order in which they were published, and then, to make the material usable, compiled an index of names.--From publisher description.

A guide to the storied Massachusetts eateries that have left an indelible mark on their customers. Author Christopher Setterlund details the history of the iconic establishments of the Cape, still fresh in the memories of patrons, complete with famous recipes. Bill and Thelma’s was hugely popular with students from the 1950s to the 1970s, often packed with locals after sporting events and dances. Starbuck’s Restaurant in Hyannis featured the Chief Justice Warren Burger Burger and the Larry Bird Burger on its menu and boasted of the soup du jour, “We don't know what it is, but we have it every day.” Opinions differ on how the Reno Diner actually got its name, whether from a broken sign or a local appliance company. This fun collection is sure to arouse some fond memories of these old eateries, and perhaps a little hunger too. “Forty chapters—one each for 39 restaurants and another for some recipes—make for a delicious and nostalgic read.” —Barnstable Patriot

Beginning in 1924, Proceedings are incorporated into the Apr. number.

Far from the glistening waters and gray-shingled villages of Cape Cod were the bloody front lines of the American Civil War. During this era, Cape Cod recruiting officers often urged soldiers to "raise the right arm of the old Bay State." Learn about the Cape's first casualty of war, Philander Crowell Jr. of Yarmouth, who was a member of the First Massachusetts Regiment; discover how local fishermen made money both by catching fish and by enlisting in the army; and read about the four bloody battles that caused considerable loss for Cape Codders. Join author and historian Stauffer Miller as he chronicles the untold and riveting history of Cape Cod and the Civil War.

Its 1886, and the Cape Cod South Wellfleet is stirring back to life after a long, cold winter. Strong-willed Eva Paine has always admired her dashing neighbor, Captain Henry Smith, and as fruit trees blossom, she abandons thoughts of a university education and arranges her own marriage. Evas wedding day is bittersweetshe bids her dear parents and brother good-bye and moves down the lane to Henrys family homestead. There she eagerly enters the realm of marital relations by night, and by day she practices the art of housekeeping under the watchful eyes of her new mother-in-law Eva accepts the joys and disappointments of her marriage with a unique combination of faith, good humor and forgiveness. She is soon in charge of all household affairs while Henry is out to sea, but is then expected to slip back into submission upon his every return. Motherhood seems elusive, even though Eva strongly desires to bear a child. Motivated by the alternating forces of passion and loneliness, Eva pushes towards the modern machine age as Henry insists upon continuing in a dangerous traditional profession. Their fiery relationship swings like a wind-blown weathervane between bliss and crushing pain Eva and Henry, A Cape Cod Marriage, transports the reader back in time to the Cape Cod of the late nineteenth centurya period of great social and economic upheaval. The novel will draw you firmly into the challenging lives of real people, and their story will remain with you long after youve finished reading. Be sure to visit www.EvaandHenry.com for photographs and more information about the time period, location, and the characters.

In her critically acclaimed, ingenious memoir, Sarah Messer explores America’s fascination with history, family, and Great Houses. Her Massachusetts childhood home had sheltered the Hatch family for 325 years when her parents bought it in 1965. The will of the house’s original owner, Walter Hatch—which stipulated Red House was to be passed down, "never to be sold or mortgaged from my children and grandchildren forever"—still hung in the living room. In Red House, Messer explores the strange and enriching consequences of growing up with another family’s birthright. Answering the riddle of when shelter becomes first a home and then an identity, Messer has created a classic exploration of heritage, community, and the role architecture plays in our national identity.