Atlantic Realty

Harwich

Town of Harwich Brief History

The Town of Harwich is a resort and residential community located on the south side of the Cape peninsula, with an extensive shoreline on Nantucket Sound. It was settled around 1665, and incorporated in 1694. Its early economy included agriculture and maritime industries and its history has included boom and bust cycles from the earliest days of the community.

When the whaling industry collapsed with the discovery of oil, the community’s emphasis shifted to cod fishing. By 1802, 15 to 20 ships were shore fishing and another four ships were cod fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, and by 1851, there were 48 ships employing 577 men and bringing in thousands of tons of cod and mackerel. The eventual decline of the fishing industry in Harwich by the latter part of the 19th century was caused by increases in the size of ships which eventually outstripped the shallow port’s ability to house them. Residents turned to the development of cranberry bogs and resorts for summer visitors, working side-by-side with Portuguese immigrants. The first resort hotel opened in 1880 and both the cranberry and the tourist industries remain substantial parts of Harwich’s economy in the present.

In 1775, when Separatists and Baptists outnumbered Orthodox Congregationalists, Harwich burghers felt independent enough to refuse to support a minister with public tax monies and they continued refusing to do so for 18 years. The town showed religious diversity from the first, including residents who are Baptists, Methodists, Reformed Methodists (anti-episcopal), Wesleyans and Catholics, among others.

Commercial, motel and condominium development has been intense along the Route 28 corridor and suburban development has significantly decreased the remaining agricultural landscape, but the town retains much of its 19th century character, including period Portuguese farmhouses.

Town Departments

Accounting

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7518 Fax: (508) 432-5039 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Assessing Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7503 Fax: (508) 430-7086 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Building Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7506 Fax: (508) 430-4703 Office Hours: Building Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m. Plumbing/Gas Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m. M-W-F Electrical/Wiring Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m. M-T-TH

Engineering Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7508 Fax: (508) 432-5039 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Health Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7509 Fax: (508) 430-7531 Office Hours: Health Director* / Technical Staff – M – F 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Administrative Hours – Monday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm, Tu/We/Th 8:30 am – 4pm, Fri 8:30am – Noon

*Check with office, Health Director’s schedule is posted weekly.

Natural Resources

Location: 715 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02646 Telephone: (508) 430-7532 Fax: (508) 430-7535 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Planning Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7511 Fax: (508) 432-5039 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Recreation Department

Location: 100 Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7554 Fax: (508) 430-7579

Town Clerk

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7516 Fax: (508) 432-5039 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:3 0 am – 4:00 pm

Treasurer/Tax Collector

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 430-7501 Fax: (508) 430-7504 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Water Department

Location: 196 Chatham Road, Harwich, MA 02645 Telephone: (508) 432-0304 Fax: (508) 430-7520 Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Last updated: July 31, 2007