In 1743 came the “Great Awakening” evangelical movement and with it
the all-out sects known as “New Lights” who “made the pine woods of
Harwich ring with Hallelujahs and hosannas, even from babes!” Moreover,
there was “a screeching and groaning all over, and it hath been very
powerful ever since.” Touching on activities of the New Lights, Henry
C. Kittridge, Cape Cod historian, narrates that “when under the spell
of their mania, they walked along the tops of fences instead of on the
sidewalks; affected a strange, springing gait, and conversed by singing
instead of ordinary speech, in the distressing manner of characters in
light operas.” Could it be that author Kittridge was spoofing us a bit?
A native of Harwich--recorded in history as the first liberator of
slaves--is eulogized in verse by Whittier. Capt. Jonathan Walker in
1844 put out from Pensacola with seven runaway slaves aboard his
vessel, having responded to their appeals to be taken to the British
West Indies, where they would find freedom under the Union Jack. The
Cape Cod skipper was captured, he was imprisoned in irons and thence
the brand, “S.S.” (slave stealer) was seared into his right hand.
Captain Walker is hailed by Whittier:
“Hold it up before our sunshine, up against our Northern air;
Ho! Men of Massachusetts, for the love of God, look there!
Take it henceforth for your standard, like the Bruce’s heart of yore,
In the dark strife closing round ye, let that hand be seen before.”
The culture of cranberries on Cape Cod--a source of revenue that runs
into the millions--was begun on a commercial scale in Harwich in 1845,
though it was Henry Hall of Dennis who was the pioneer grower in 1816.
Fishing was on the decline and a retired harvester of cod spoke the
sentiment of his salty brethren:
“I put up my chart and glass, and took to raising cranberry sass.”
Before then the cranberry was regarded as only food for the cranes.
Crane-berry was the original name the pioneers gave this famous Cape
Cod product.