HARWICH – A harbor can shelter vessels from the stormy sea or it can allow them to be stored during colder weather.
On Cape Cod there are many harbors which offer such protection. Rock Harbor in Orleans, Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, and Pamet Harbor in Truro are a few of the picturesque harbors on the Cape.
Harwich is a town known for three harbors.
Allen Harbor and Saquatucket Harbor are both natural harbors. But the third and most well-known Harwich harbor, Wychmere, is actually man made.
This harbor was once known as Salt Pond and it had no opening to the ocean. There was a small stream of water exchanged between pond and ocean, but nothing that would allow any sort of vessels to access the pond.
Fishermen tried in vain to dig a channel by hand. When that failed, the stream was plugged and a makeshift race track was made around the pond for the locals to race their horses.
Salt Pond did not become the harbor seen today until 1887 when a channel was dug to the ocean and jetties were built.
The new harbor was not named “Wychmere” until the mid-1920s when a group of tycoons bought the land surrounding the harbor and as well as some land in South Harwich.
They called themselves the Wychmere Syndicate and their mission, in part, was to give the harbor a better name than Salt Pond.
Wychmere can translate to “salt lake,” because “Wych” is believed to come from the British “wich” meaning where salt is found, and “mere” is Scottish for lake.
Today Wychmere Harbor is one of the most unique harbors on the Cape. The view of the harbor filled with vessels during the warmer months is spectacular.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHRIS SETTERLUND.
Wychmere Harbor in Harwich is one of the Cape’s most picturesque harbors.
What makes this spot even better is the ease at which one can view it. As you drive along Route 28 in Harwich, you will pass right by the harbor.
I am not advocating slowing down and rubbernecking to see it, however. There is a small dirt area where a few cars can pull off the road. From there you can view the harbor safely, even walk down to the water’s edge.
Definitely use caution when pulling off of and on to Route 28, as it is the busiest Cape Cod road besides the Mid-Cape Highway.
Occupying a large area on the western side of Wychmere Harbor is the Wychmere Beach Club. It is a beautiful luxury resort with lodging available to members and event guests which still tries to maintain a classic small town summer feel.
The Harbor House at the Beach Club was once the location of the iconic family restaurant, Thompson’s Clam Bar. This was a hugely popular Cape Cod restaurant that served generations of customers until it closed in 1990.
Whether staying the night or just a few minutes Wychmere Harbor is a beautiful Cape Cod location with a lot more history to it than meets the eye.
Have fun and happy traveling!
If You Go: Wychmere Harbor is in Harwich on Harbor Road, a dirt road on the south side of Route 28 east of Snow Inn Road.
By Chris Setterlund
