The abandoned settlement of Whitewash Village, Massachusetts holds a special place in the history of Massachusetts. What was once a community full of life and activity now serves as a silent witness to the passage of time. Its weathered structures and empty streets speak volumes about the changing fortunes of American settlements.
County: Barnstable
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 41° 33′ 33.5 N, 69° 59′ 37.1 W
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Established: 1710
Disestablished: 1860
Comments: According to local history, whitewash Village was a village settlement on Monomoy Island in Massachusetts, established sometime around 1710. The village received its name from the belief that the settlement contained vestiges of a strong economic framework that had lasted for many years, and had been “bestowed upon it.” A tavern for sailors was opened up in the location of today’s Hospital Pond, known then as Wreck Cove.
Remains: Currently, the location during the early 19th century, a deep natural harbor at Monomoy’s inner shore known as the Powder Hole attracted a sizable fishing settlement. In its prime, Whitewash Village housed about 200 residents, a tavern inn called Monomoit House, and Public School #13, which boasted 16 students at one time. Cod and mackerel brought in to the Monomoy port were dried and packed for markets in Boston and New York. Lobsters were also plentiful, providing both food and income for the villagers, who peddled them to mainlanders at about two cents apiece. There were residents of the village known as “wreckers,” because they would oftentimes pray for, and sometimes even cause shipwrecks, which they would subsequently strip of any valuable items.
Current Status: The abandoned location is currently abandoned after being washed away by a hurricane in 1860.
Remarks: The story of Whitewash Village provides valuable insights into Massachusetts’s development and the challenges faced by early settlers. Historians continue to study this site for its significance in understanding the region’s economic and social evolution.
Whitewash Village, also known as Monomoy Village, represents a fascinating chapter in Massachusetts coastal history. This ghost town, once a thriving fishing settlement on Monomoy Island off the coast of Cape Cod, has been reclaimed by nature and shifting sands. Its story illustrates the precarious relationship between coastal communities and the ever-changing shoreline, as well as the economic and environmental factors that can lead to the abandonment of once-vibrant settlements.
Origins and Early Settlement
Monomoy Island, a long barrier island extending south from the elbow of Cape Cod, has a rich history dating back to pre-colonial times when it was inhabited by the Monomoyick tribe, a branch of the Wampanoag people. The name “Monomoy” itself is derived from an Algonquian word meaning “deep water,” reflecting the island’s maritime character.
European settlement on Monomoy Island began in the early 18th century, with Whitewash Village established around 1711. The village took its name from the practice of whitewashing the modest homes of the settlers, a common technique used to protect wooden structures from the harsh coastal elements. This practical method of preservation gave the settlement its distinctive appearance and name.
The village was strategically positioned to take advantage of the rich fishing grounds surrounding Monomoy Island. The waters off Cape Cod were teeming with cod, mackerel, and other valuable fish species that formed the economic backbone of many early New England coastal communities. Whitewash Village’s location provided its residents with direct access to these resources while offering some protection from the open Atlantic Ocean.
The early settlers of Whitewash Village were primarily fishermen and their families who built a self-sufficient community on this isolated island. Despite the challenges of island living, including limited fresh water and exposure to storms, the abundant marine resources made the location viable for settlement. The village grew slowly but steadily throughout the 18th century as the fishing industry flourished along the Massachusetts coast.
Community Life and Economy
By the early 19th century, Whitewash Village had developed into a small but thriving community centered around the fishing industry. The village featured several key elements typical of New England fishing settlements: modest wooden homes, fish processing facilities, a general store, a bakery, salt works for preserving fish, a wharf for docking fishing vessels, and eventually six windmills that likely served multiple purposes including grinding grain and pumping seawater for salt production.
The salt works were particularly important to the village’s economy. Salt was essential for preserving fish in the era before refrigeration, and the production of sea salt through solar evaporation became a significant industry on Cape Cod during this period. The process involved pumping seawater into large shallow vats where the sun and wind would evaporate the water, leaving behind salt crystals that could be harvested and used for fish preservation.
Education was valued even in this remote setting, as evidenced by the construction of a school house by 1846 to serve the children of the village. This development suggests that by the mid-19th century, Whitewash Village had grown large enough to support and require formal education facilities, indicating a stable, multi-generational community rather than just a temporary fishing camp.
At its peak in the 1840s, Whitewash Village was home to approximately 200 residents. The community, though small by mainland standards, represented a significant population for an island settlement with limited resources. These residents formed a tight-knit community bound together by shared livelihoods, the challenges of island living, and their dependence on the sea.
Daily life in Whitewash Village would have revolved around the rhythms of the fishing industry and the seasons. Men would spend long hours at sea in small fishing vessels, while women maintained households, processed fish, and often supplemented family incomes through activities like vegetable gardening, poultry raising, and handicrafts. Children would have helped with various tasks while also attending the village school when it was established.
The isolation of island life fostered a strong sense of community and self-reliance among the villagers. With limited access to mainland resources, especially during winter months when storms could make crossing to Cape Cod dangerous or impossible, the residents of Whitewash Village had to work together to ensure their collective survival and prosperity.
Decline and Abandonment
The decline of Whitewash Village began in the 1850s, triggered by a combination of economic and environmental factors that undermined the community’s viability. One significant economic blow came from changes in the salt industry. The discovery of cheaper salt deposits in New York state made the labor-intensive process of producing sea salt on Cape Cod less profitable. As the salt works in Whitewash Village became economically unsustainable, an important secondary industry that had supplemented fishing income disappeared.
Simultaneously, the fish population in the waters around Monomoy Island began to dwindle due to overfishing. As fishing vessels from throughout New England and beyond intensively harvested the once-abundant cod and mackerel stocks, catches decreased, making it increasingly difficult for the fishermen of Whitewash Village to sustain their livelihoods. This environmental change struck at the very heart of the village’s economic foundation.
Faced with these challenges, residents began to leave Whitewash Village in significant numbers. Many relocated to Provincetown and other mainland communities on Cape Cod where economic opportunities were more diverse and access to markets was easier. In a fascinating example of practical New England resourcefulness, many villagers dismantled their houses before departing, floating the components across the harbor on scows (flat-bottomed boats) to be reassembled in their new locations. This practice of relocating entire structures was not uncommon in coastal New England, where building materials were valuable and the skills to dismantle and rebuild structures were widely held.
By 1861, the once-vibrant community had dwindled to just two houses and the lighthouse. The dramatic exodus left Whitewash Village largely abandoned, though the lighthouse continued to operate, providing an essential navigational aid for vessels in the treacherous waters around Monomoy Island.
Civil War Era and Brief Military Use
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Monomoy Island briefly gained strategic importance. The Union military constructed earthen mounds on the island to serve as a Civil War battery, establishing a defensive position to protect shipping lanes along the Massachusetts coast from potential Confederate naval threats. Barracks were built to house soldiers stationed at this remote outpost, and one of the two remaining houses in Whitewash Village was repurposed as officers’ headquarters.
This military presence represented the last significant human activity in Whitewash Village during the 19th century. When the Civil War ended in 1865, the military abandoned their positions on Monomoy Island, and Whitewash Village was once again left largely deserted, with only the lighthouse keeper and perhaps a few fishermen maintaining any regular presence on the island.
Later Developments and Final Abandonment
In 1875, a new economic activity briefly came to Monomoy Island when the wharf at Long Point was repurposed to process whale carcasses for the Cape Cod Oil Works. This whaling-related industry represented an attempt to find new economic uses for the abandoned infrastructure of Whitewash Village, but it proved to be short-lived. By the early 20th century, whaling had become obsolete as petroleum products replaced whale oil for lighting and lubrication purposes.
The Monomoy Point Light Station, established in 1823, remained the most enduring human presence on the island. The lighthouse and its keepers represented continuity amid the abandonment of the village, maintaining a vital navigational aid for vessels traveling along the treacherous coastline. However, even this permanent fixture eventually succumbed to technological change when the lighthouse was automated in the mid-20th century, eliminating the need for resident keepers.
During World War II, a poignant moment in the island’s history occurred when a wooden cross was placed at the top of one of the Civil War batteries. This memorial honored Charles Darby, a local Provincetown man who had died in the war. The cross, along with the lighthouse, became one of the few visible human markers remaining in what had once been Whitewash Village.
Nature gradually reclaimed the site of Whitewash Village. The harsh coastal environment, with its constant winds, salt spray, and shifting sands, eroded the remaining structures and obscured the evidence of human habitation. The dynamic coastal processes that shape barrier islands like Monomoy—including erosion, accretion, and the movement of sand—have continuously reshaped the landscape, further obscuring the physical remnants of the village.
Monomoy Island Today
Today, Monomoy Island exists as a wildlife refuge rather than a human settlement. In 1944, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing the island and its surrounding waters. The refuge protects important habitat for migratory birds, seals, and other wildlife, representing a transformation from human use to environmental conservation.
The site where Whitewash Village once stood is now primarily visited by wildlife enthusiasts, researchers, and the occasional history buff. Physical remnants of the village are scarce, with the lighthouse and the wooden cross being among the few visible structures that hint at the island’s human history. Archaeological evidence of the village likely remains beneath the sand and vegetation, but natural processes continue to obscure these traces of the past.
Coastal erosion and the natural movement of barrier islands have significantly altered Monomoy since the time of Whitewash Village. What was once a single island has, at various times, been split into North and South Monomoy by storms and currents. These ongoing changes to the island’s geography illustrate the environmental forces that have always challenged human settlement in this dynamic coastal environment.
Access to Monomoy Island is now limited and regulated to protect its natural resources. Visitors can reach the island via boat tours or private vessels, but facilities are minimal, and overnight stays are generally not permitted. The island’s current status as a wildlife refuge represents a return to a more natural state after the brief period of human settlement represented by Whitewash Village.
Historical Significance
Whitewash Village represents an important example of the fishing communities that once dotted the New England coast. These settlements played a crucial role in the early economy of Massachusetts, harvesting the rich marine resources that attracted European settlement to the region in the first place. The village’s rise and fall illustrate the economic cycles that have affected coastal communities throughout New England’s history.
The abandonment of Whitewash Village also demonstrates the vulnerability of coastal settlements to environmental and economic changes. The depletion of fish stocks through overfishing represents an early example of the environmental consequences of resource extraction without sustainable management practices. This aspect of Whitewash Village’s history resonates with contemporary concerns about marine conservation and sustainable fisheries.
The practice of relocating entire buildings from Whitewash Village to mainland Cape Cod represents a fascinating example of architectural recycling and adaptation. Some structures that were once part of this ghost town may still exist in Provincetown and other Cape Cod communities, though they have been repurposed and modified over the generations. This physical dispersal of the village adds another dimension to its ghost town status—parts of it literally moved away rather than simply decaying in place.
The military use of Monomoy Island during the Civil War connects this small ghost town to the broader currents of American history. While no major battles were fought there, the defensive preparations on the island reflect the coastal defense strategies employed during this pivotal conflict and the far-reaching impacts of the war even on remote communities.
The transformation of Monomoy Island from a fishing village to a wildlife refuge illustrates changing American attitudes toward coastal environments over the past two centuries. What was once valued primarily as a site for resource extraction is now protected for its ecological significance, reflecting broader shifts in how society values and manages coastal landscapes.
Legacy in Local Culture
Though physically diminished, Whitewash Village maintains a presence in the cultural memory and historical narratives of Cape Cod. Local historical societies, particularly in Chatham and Provincetown, preserve documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the village and its inhabitants. These materials help maintain the connection between present-day Cape Cod communities and this vanished settlement.
The story of Whitewash Village is often included in tours, exhibits, and publications about Cape Cod history, particularly those focusing on maritime heritage or ghost towns. The dramatic image of houses being floated across the harbor as families relocated has particular resonance as a vivid example of the resourcefulness and adaptability of Cape Cod’s historical residents.
For descendants of Whitewash Village residents who relocated to mainland communities, family histories often include stories of their ancestors’ life on Monomoy Island. These personal connections help keep the memory of the village alive, even as its physical traces diminish with each passing year and each coastal storm.
The Monomoy Point Light Station, though no longer actively used for navigation, has been preserved as a historic structure and serves as a tangible reminder of Whitewash Village and the maritime history of the region. Efforts to maintain this lighthouse help ensure that at least one significant structure from the village’s era remains as a physical link to this ghost town.
Visiting and Remembering Whitewash Village
For those interested in connecting with the history of Whitewash Village, several options exist despite the limited physical remains at the original site. The Atwood House Museum in Chatham includes exhibits on Monomoy Island’s history, including information about Whitewash Village and its inhabitants. The Provincetown History Museum may also contain artifacts and information, particularly regarding the structures that were relocated from the village to Provincetown.
Boat tours to Monomoy Island are available from Chatham and occasionally include historical commentary about Whitewash Village along with information about the island’s natural features and wildlife. These tours provide the closest experience possible to visiting the actual site of the ghost town, though visitors should be prepared for an experience focused more on natural than historical features.
For those unable to visit in person, historical photographs of Monomoy Island, including images of the lighthouse and some structures from Whitewash Village, are preserved in various archives and collections. These visual records provide valuable documentation of this vanished community and help researchers and history enthusiasts visualize the village as it once existed.
Walking tours of Provincetown sometimes include information about buildings that may have originated in Whitewash Village, though definitive identification of these structures is often challenging due to modifications over the years and incomplete historical records. Nevertheless, these potential physical connections to the ghost town add another dimension to understanding its history and legacy.
Conclusion
Whitewash Village exemplifies the transient nature of human settlements, particularly those in dynamic coastal environments. From its establishment in 1711 to its abandonment in the mid-19th century, this community existed for less than 150 years—a brief moment in the broader history of Cape Cod, yet a significant chapter in understanding the region’s maritime heritage and economic development.
The village’s story encompasses themes that resonate beyond its specific location: the relationship between communities and natural resources, the impact of technological and economic changes on traditional livelihoods, the vulnerability of coastal settlements to environmental shifts, and the practical adaptability of New Englanders in the face of changing circumstances.
As one of Massachusetts’ ghost towns, Whitewash Village offers a compelling example of how settlements can disappear not through sudden catastrophe but through gradual economic decline and deliberate relocation. The fact that many of its buildings were dismantled and moved rather than simply abandoned adds a unique dimension to its ghost town status—its physical legacy dispersed rather than concentrated in a single abandoned location.
Today, as Monomoy Island serves as a wildlife refuge, the site of Whitewash Village has come full circle—from natural environment to human settlement and back to protected natural space. This transformation reflects broader patterns in how coastal areas have been valued and used over time, making this ghost town not just a curiosity of local history but a meaningful example of the changing relationship between New Englanders and their coastal environment.
Sources:
1. History of Massachusetts Blog. “Ghost Towns in Massachusetts.” https://historyofmassachusetts.org/ghost-towns-massachusetts/
2. Cape Cod. “Hidden Cape Cod: A Village That Used To Exist In Provincetown.” https://www.capecod.com/lifestyle/hidden-cape-cod-a-village-that-used-to-exist-in-provincetown/
3. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.” https://www.fws.gov/refuge/monomoy
4. National Park Service. “Cape Cod National Seashore – Monomoy Island.” https://www.nps.gov/caco/learn/historyculture/monomoy-island.htm
5. Chatham Historical Society. “Monomoy Point Light Station.” https://chathamhistoricalsociety.org/monomoy-point-light-station/