CHANGES- Chatham and elsewhere on Cape Cod- 2020

 from April 11 2020
Well Pate's sold and New  England Pizza moved and Organic Market left town-

Dubis pit off Middle road in South Chatham sold to a solar farm company. it is slowly being cleaned up.

 to be continued

May 10 2020 Harwich Center new construction

May 17 2020
Pate's paints trim white and for other renovations gets a stop work order

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New structure on the curve of Champlain road

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Pleasant Lake General Store- rt 124 Harwich MA
The old sign is up on an embankment of the bike path near the old location

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Not sure if this should be a rant or just something new. For many years neighbors have tried to stop the electric company from spraying poison at the power lines to control growth of weeds etc. They usually failed and the spraying continued. I often wondered why they didn't use torches or vinegar to control the growth. Also I often wondered why abutters didn't start gardens and maintain the  area. Then this year on Bay Road / Head of the Bay Road they cleared the area and put up a sign
" A Forest Garden- Walking Commons". I saw an article about them planting fruit and nut trees. wow after the ground has been saturated with poisons.  Well we will see.

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Scargo Tower has been fenced off preventing access to climb the tower for over a year now- but now the road is blocked off with closed gates. As of May 16th 2020

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Mural on overpass,Barnstable rt 6A done by Kurt Vonnegut's wife I think- has been refurbished.

 Harwich center new building June 14 2020

June 28 2020 
drove by the above today and looks like some headway

Commerce Park
June 27 2020
This went up about a month ago- never seem to have the camera ready as I leave here on Saturday to food shop. 

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Francis and Jean Jone's home on Barcliff- drastic change!

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Had errands in Hyannis and left here a bit before 8am to get to the stores opening at 9am, was back here by 10:30am. Trader Joes and Whole Foods were my objectives and I will post that in my Rant quarantine blog post. But wanted to post here the changes I observed along the way.
Independence Park- AC Moore closed beginning of 2020 you can faintly see the impressions the removed letters left on the building. In general the place was so inactive- except for Home Depot of course LOL

found out stand pipe  is fire department related.
Independence Park pix are mostly blurry what the fuck???
in any case there are now apartment buildings and businesses going up and sidewalks on the right as you enter from Mary Dunn.

The Mall
Target was not as busy as I thought it would be. Dick's is there and all the past restaurants look to be up and running. Sad to see Macy's and Barnes & Noble looking so forlorn.

funny how Vision Works is blurry

ah sadly the 2 photos I took of a bin like the Salvation Army has- apparently didn't take. There was a huge pile or items outside the bins.

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July 26 2020

Left here early after breakfast but skipping coffee. It was blasting hot and so is today. Left around 8am back here by 10:30am frazzled with the heat.

The itinerary of the adventure was this:

check out the following

Pates, Fish pier observation deck, Handlers, Pink Victorian, accident scene and memorial garden in South Yarmouth then Ancient cemetery in South Yarmouth. On the way back I planned to check out things on rt 124- crayon fence completion, new nature hike and Pleasant Lake General store. No where near completing this it was too hot.

But the following pix show the highlights. In no particular order.

A&W in Harwich on the curve hasn't changed that much over the years- wonder if they still have their classic car night on Wednesdays.

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Dr Bauer's wife had a store in Bass River , been for sale for ages. looks like it has been painted and still for sale.

Benny's closed in Dennis a few years ago- very much missed

Big Lots opened recently and as I approached the area- wow you can see the  yellow paint on the islands!

no other businesses are there anymore- used to be a fish market and a breakfast place.

 Bishops Terrace in Harwich has been closed for years and continues to deteriorate- still a fascinating building.

Link to article in the Cape Cod Chronicle August 2016

Bishops Terrace

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On the curve in West Dennis there used to be a restaurant bar named Christines. It sat vacant for a few years then was demolished and a new group of businesses went up- coffee beans is one- Nothing there to attract me but it looks nice.

a bit further down the road Columns restaurant just sitting there.

Back to Commerce Park and progress on a new addition to a business across the way. And of course a free chair at Anchor Marine.

Dairy Queen Harwich- no clue how these places are staying afloat!

Dennis Fire department and wow look at that water tower!

on the Harwich Dennis town line there used to be a Friendlys, it was recently a high end restaurant. Closed now for whatever reason and the one in Chatham has out door dining- but no longer a Friendlys

Handler's auto parts and junk yard soon to be no more after a few years of just sitting there. I wanted to capture it before the wrecking ball.

Chatham- what is left of Eldredge Garage has no character and has been painted white. Pedestrians actually distancing and wearing masks and the old Cumberland Farms is just sitting there.

Pate's

Started as Pate's Charcoal Pit over 50 years ago and had the Cleaver in Orleans, Steak Pub in Dennis and Hereford House in Dennis. Food and atmosphere were top notch. Cleaver disappeared a few years ago, Hereford  House was torn down last year and I should check the Steak Pub and see if that still exists. Well Pate's in Chatham sold and is now new owners, new sign and freshened building. I saw the new sign when I passed by there on Saturday after food shop. Figured Sunday would be a good day to check it out. Left here before 8am and went there first as I was pretty sure the dump would not open on time. A car seemed to be following me so I was glad I turned in at Pate's- funny so did they. I parked at the side of the building so the truck would not be in the photos. Got out and a man came from behind Pates and I asked him if they were opening soon. Typical sassy restaurateur . Went to pull a weed and joked about using  Round up. I immediately gasped and said NO! He said he knew that would get me. etc. Took pix and left.

There was a lovely Victorian style building in West Dennis that was painted pink. It sold antiques gifts and tea cups. Lovely store. I think the Historical Society took over and now it is Baker's donuts :)

It is now a greyish beige

Schluter's old Mobil station, run by Philip Griswold last. They are cleaning that up in Dennis Port. And what was BZ's Pizza is now Knock out Pizza.

Was Susan's Bakery years ago, Pleasant Trowel gardening supplies when I was a customer- really miss that. Now a wind and weather indicator store. on the curve headed toward Hyannis before the Herring River Bridge rt 28

Small house across from Ezra Baker school- I was curious about the front stoop.

Rt 28 West Dennis a small gift shop in front and behind it was a smaller shop with candies. Been gone a long time but looks like someone painted it recently. Next door is a lovely gingerbread house that changes every few years And a liquor store and head shop - something for everyone.

That's it for now.

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August 1 2020

Skaket corners or where Star Market is. Used to be many things there. Booksmith moved a couple of years ago and went to the Staples Plaza down the road and went out of business this year because of covid and health issues. Also once in Skaket was Hearth and Kettle restaurant- that has been empty a few years. Radio Shack- gone- A Hallmark shop gone. And a branch of CCB&T or TD Bank. gone. Well drove through and took pix on this day and they turned out blurry but as you can see- many changes still.

I think even the camera shop is gone. due to reshoot pix when it stays cool

I give up too blurry- next time

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Dubis Pit  August 8 2020

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August 23 2020

Bass River marina! wow what a change.

Heading down Great Western to get to Hyannis I noticed a new sign for the Congregational church in Harwich. On the way back got pix.

Came back from Hyannis by way of rt 28 for a bit- to get pix of Pirates Cove and the reported missing Shark head on the building- yup it is gone.

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Orleans September 2020

Skaket Corners first

no more Hallmark store or Radio Shack. Many things disappear after one year. The Liquor & More gets me right next to a liquor store. Maybe owned by the same people.Camera Shop still there. But TDBank long gone still empty and Hearth n Kettle same story.

Main Street Orleans

That building was a First National Food store years ago. 2 businesses to the left used to be near Land Ho one on the right used to be across the street.

Parish Park  and the new Book store

 

Musicsmith- Booksmith closed this weekend.

ride back nice sail boat scene

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September 5 2020

So Pine Tree Landscape and Nursery sold last year. Now it is for lease and they are looking for landscapers?

Always well laid out and a pretty display aznd it was convenient for me to walk to. I miss that.

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Try as I do top get a clear photo of Phil Griswold's Mobil gas station I can't. Wondering what will go in there eventually

September 13,2020

What used to be a T shirt shop near Ezra Baker school on rt 28 in Dennis- getting a new look

When in Hyannis a drive through Festival Mall when I saw Pier 1 going out of business. of course THAT photo is blurry.

Jerry's tasty freeze? on the way back hasn't changed that much in 50 years. Some say it is still great food others say the place is a mess.And then another shot of Pirate's Cove gift shop I guess soon to be leveled like Johnny Yee's

Old VFW site or Mitchell's steak house- been so long I forget but new construction there near the airport.

in Whole Foods you never know where the fuck to stand in line to check out. Looks like 2 choices- quick checkout to the left or near the "deli" on the right where people seem to shop while they are in line.I have patience and really do not give it much thought but this may be a "forever thing" so I wish the stores would work out the kinks LOL

On the way back via rt 28 I saw a new tavern across from Pirates Cove and near where Gateway Isles used to be.

So on my way I decided to check out a former boyfriend's house. He is off facebook and I haven't heard from him in ages. It's a pay call for me.

wonder who is responsible for phone pole replacement- this has been like this for over a year

Drove by Hick's a while ago and the house was up on stilts I guess in an attempt to prepare it for protection from tides and erosion. Went by the other day and it is back to "normal" but someone working there on a Sunday.I used to babysit there and they were family friends.

September 19 2020- drove rt 124 looking for Pleasant Lake store and to see if it is up and running again. Looks the same. On my way there saw Cape Cod Tech and remembered they were building a new school there. WOW!

Pleasant Lake Store- I'll never get a better shot unless I park there. LOL

blurry one taken through the truck wind shield. Other taking stopping and looking back.

Cape Cod Tech

September 20 2020

Handlers making some headway. I could see what looked like reclaimed soil piles behind the big truck

September 27 2020

Finally got a parking spot at the Chatham Fish Pier to take photos of the observation deck.I was the only person up there of the 185 that are allowed LOL egads that many people in one spot.
Got to watch a seal for a couple of minutes

October 3 2020 

West Harwich Baptist Church for sale and Bishop's Terrace still in limbo

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Handlers October 4 2020

Harwich Junior Theatre

October 4 2020 

house near Baptist Church that is for sale in West Harwich

Shop Ahoy during rotary construction in West Chatham a storm wrecked the sign a couple of years ago and never replaced.

Starbucks inside Star Market in Harwich

later I need a walk- been breaking in new stove.

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October 24 2020

progress on the 2 roundabouts in West Chatham  on rt 29. At least the road is paved now.

October 25 2020 on my way to Fort Hill noticed a big change in the place where Chatham Furniture and Pate's the Cleaver used to be

will get a better photo some day.

November 8 2020

Dubis Pit- with a real estate sign that says sold. wonder if it is still going to be a solar farm or what.

Jonny Yee's that has long been gone is now just a vacant lot

Shop Ahoy whose sign was demolished in the tornado we has , what 2 years ago, and with the roundabout work not likely to be replaced anytime soon. But this is what the corner looks like now

In Hyannis where VFW and Mitchell's Steak House used to be is a huge concrete building that looks like a fortress. Rumors are Walgreens and Jiffy Lube.

other places to look out for- Kitchen Appliance Mart or KAM at the railroad tracks will be gone when they finish widening Willow street. World Market near Christmas Tree Plaza is gone. And KMart sure looks like it is on its last legs.

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November 14 & 15 2020

So I Like driving the loop once in a while Stage Harbor Road to Cedar street then by Stage Harbor and then Bridge Street and to the light. Haven't been able to park at the light since march so have given up on that. Saturday after food shop gasoline and lottery I decided to go the round. Noticed big equipment at Alton Kenney's old Boatyard which is now the Harbor Master's quarters. Looked a like a big dredge. I parked and took pix. The dredge was darkened by back light so I went back on Sunday after laundry  and tried again. Just a tad clearer. Guess that is hopeless.

Saturday

 

 way back to apartment wanted to check out the roundabout

oh and this one didn't load at first

Time for supper

November 15 2020 Kenney's Boatyard revisited

 paving is not concrete or macadam but cinder blocks filled with crushed  bluestone. Supposedly it is safer, less slippery if icy and more stable than regular paving.

the new roundabouts in West Chatham- if this is a repeat- excuse it.

November 28 2020

drove over to Brewster for a walk and stopped at the power lines to take pix because it looked so different! Come to find out that the electric company is upgrading poles and power lines. About time. Noticed a bunch of Eliot trucks in Orleans near Bob Gill's today, so guess they are working on those as well. At first it looked like an observation deck or the beginning of a ski jump LOL

supper ready be back later to add the rest.

November 28 2020 going down 28 and the new roudabout in West Chatham near Shop Ahoy- even more advanced today December 5 2020 but it was pouring rain. so no pix from the 5th

Handlers in Harwich December 6 2020. the lot to the right is seeded and totally green. I try to get a photo and always too much traffic. some day.

Lot cleared on Cedar street   near Jill December 2020

roundabout near Dunkin Donuts December 13 2020

December 19 2020

wanted to check out the new location of a Christmas light display in Harwich. The man used to have it on Forest Road but it was deemed a rick to rescue personal because of the traffic it created. So this year it is at the Community building on Sisson where the school used to be- which was at different times a high school, middle and elementary. After leaving that and not seeing them lit- I was too early and I was tired I went down Parallel street and saw this house that looked remodeled.

December 26 2020

Orleans- where there used to be a wooden carved Indian- and seasonally dressed for the holiday occasions now is the heart with a wreath.

The West Chatham roundabout December 26 2020

Orleans- Staples Plaza December 26 2020

So many changes in this shopping plaza over the years. Musicsmith Booksmith closed in 2020

covid being what it is I rarely "shop". Used to go to Staples maybe once a year. But wow the place has changed. Never knew Cardi's and Walgreens were here!

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