More advanced in years than mail carrier Tom Baker are Miss Saidee M.
Swift and her sister, Mrs. Caroline Burr, of the Home Front. They are
in the candy-making business.
A large and pleasant old house stands at the bend of the road just as
you enter upon the beautiful vista of great elms in Yarmouthport. A
weather-worn sign--Saidee Swift’s Candies--is on a tree out in front.
For 20 years Saidee Swift has turned out fine candies and travellers
from all parts of the nation have knocked at her door. Her chocolates
have gone to China. Governor Saltonstall is one of her best customers.
Her trade has included judges, society folk, artists, writers and
countless prominent individuals who have visited the Cape. Each
Christmas she makes about 200 pounds of candy for faithful customers in
distant parts.
Saidee Swift’s technique includes a close watch on the weather and
sometimes she waits four or five days for just the right temperature.
She says, “In a northeast storm, I can dip splendidly.”
Whaling captains lived in the great houses facing the Yarmouthport
elms. In 1691, Ichabod Paddock was engaged to go to Nantucket to
instruct men “in the art of killing whales by the employment of boats
from the shore.” Not far from Saidee Swift’s is the former domicile of
Asa Eldredge, commander of the famous clipper Red Jacket, who made a
record voyage from New York to Liverpool in 13 days.
Regular packet service to Boston contributed to the naming of
Yarmouthport. There is still an old timer or two who can recall the
fierce competition between the Yarmouthport and Barnstable sailing
packets and the frequent races to Boston.