The first Cape Cod Canal, also called “Jeremiah’s Gutter” (which means a waterway or channel), was used for whaleboats and other vessels to get from the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Cod Bay through Orleans and Eastham. It was named after Jeremiah Smith who came from a founding Eastham family of the late 17th century. The hand-dug canal was in existence from 1717 to 1849. (Click on blog link for other photos.)
“On April 26, 1717 a strong nor’easter battered Cape Cod. It was in this storm that the famed pirate ship Whydah sank with all of its treasure aboard. This storm also carved a channel of varying depths running roughly from Town Cove in Orleans west to what is today Boat Meadow Beach in Eastham. The channel would only be used by British vessels trying to recover the sunken Whydah treasure in 1717.” (capecod.com)
You can see where the canal wound through the salt marsh from the Cape Cod Rails Trail in Eastham. The first photo is facing Orleans while the 2 photo faces toward Cape Cod Bay. It’s amazing to think that there used to be a functional canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean with Cape Cod Bay in Orleans and Eastham!
Did you know that the First Cape Cod Canal connected the Orleans Town Cove with Cape Cod Bay via Boat Meadow Creek? It is a very interesting story. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
“Jeremiah’s Gutter, also called Jeremy’s Dream was a canal located on the border of Orleans and Eastham, Massachusetts, the first canal to cut across the peninsula of Cape Cod. It connected Cape Cod Bay in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east. It was active for over 100 years, although it gradually fell out of use and was replaced by the Cape Cod Canal.” (Wikipedia)
The first whaleboat transit through the canal began in 1717 and it was very useful in the War of 1812 in helping elude the British blockaders.
You can see the marker for the canal on Canal Rd. in Orleans across the street from Wendy’s. Have you ever seen it there?
This guy was just munching away and enjoying his breakfast at Fort Hill along with 5 other deer.
(Any baby boomers out there who remember “Grazing in the Grass?” It reminded me so much of that song! )
I love hiking the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail in Wellfleet this time of the year when the rains have made the swamp a magical wonderland. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
When the sun is out, the reflections in the water on the swamp are so pretty.. Have you hiked there lately?
Every time I drive by this utility pole, I see this lone Osprey sitting up there looking around. You see, for many years, he built his nest up there . Then, over the winter, the utility company put this new rounded piece up there so he can’t build a nest. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
I sure hope he finds a place soon to build his nest this year, and I hope it’s close by as I always enjoyed stopping to see the two of them with their little babies.
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
