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PrintOrleans - A Vibrant Hub at the Elbow of the Cape
Orleans, at the elbow of the Cape is a vibrant community serving as a hub of retail and service for the towns on the lower Cape. It is also a peaceful respite for those seeking an ideal Cape Cod vacation. The diversity of shopping, historic sites, beaches and activities fulfills all the needs of the residents and visitors. The busy downtown offers many shopping and dining opportunities and when folks want to get away from it all the dynamic and ever changing Nauset Beach and peaceful inlets including the popular Pleasant Bay are accessible and a pleasure to visit.
Orleans was incorporated as a town in 1797 having originally been known as the South Parish of Eastham. Honoring the aid of the French during the American Revolution and sharing a bitterness for the British who had captured the parish twice during the war, the leaders of the newly incorporated town chose to name it after Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orleans of France.
The industries that have contributed to the livelihoods of Orleans settlers and residents include the maritime industries such as fishing, whaling and, today, a thriving charter boat fishing fleet. Salt work factories were also prevalent in Orleans until the 1850s.
Farming and manufacturing have also been a part of Orleans’ economic history. Perhaps one of the most successful manufacturers was the Cummings-Howes clothing factory that specialized in making trousers. It operated successfully for 20 years and employed as many as 200 people at its peak. Another well-known and cherished business in Orleans was Mayo’s Duck Farm in Nauset Heights. Walter H. Mayo Sr. started the farm in 1895 as the Nauset Poultry Farm. During its history the farm had as many as 350,000 ducks and chicks, orchards, pigs and a successful lunch spot and bakery called Mayo’s Farm Kitchen.
Unique and vibrant businesses are not the only unique features that define Orleans’ past. Included in the history of Orleans is the distinction of being the only town in the United States that was fired upon during two wars. In the midst of The War of 1812 the British threatened to take over the town’s salt works but the residents of Orleans were not to be intimidated and the local militia drove the British away. The second war incident happened during World War I when a German submarine fired on a local tugboat, the Perth Amboy and also three barges. The response from the local Chatham Air Station included three planes sent to turn the enemy away. The Germans retreated.
Another contribution from the French to the town of Orleans is the French Cable Station. This station, located on Town Cove, housed important telegraph equipment that allowed communication between America and Europe. The station played an important role in transmitting international news including the news that Charles Lindbergh had arrived in Paris successfully after the first transatlantic solo flight and a sad and telling message when the Germans took over Brest, France. The station functioned from 1890 to 1959. Today the Station has been turned into a museum where more of its illustrious history is shared with visitors.
Orleans continues to thrive. Its industrious and entrepreneurial spirit has allowed the residents to adapt to the changing tides of history. Today tourism is a huge economic engine originally fueled by the arrival of the railroad and continued after. The many activities offered for a person’s pleasure include the Orleans Firebird Cape League baseball games, the Annual Pops by the Sea, The Fourth of July Parade and the Holiday Stroll. Beautiful homes grace the highways and byways and nearly all roads lead to the incredible beaches on the bay and ocean. Orleans is truly a hub of activity for those who live near or far.
