Atlantic Realty

Orleans

Town of Orleans Brief History

Originally known as South Parish of Eastham, which was settled in 1644, Orleans became incorporated in 1797 after seeking independence since 1717. The Nauset Indians were the native people of the area. The relationship between the settlers and native Americans was peaceful and co-operative. The present Nauset Heights area was the farming site of the Indians. The last of their settlements lived in South Orleans.

The sea has influenced the economy of Orleans from the beginning to the present. Salt works were located on the bay and Town cove shores. There were many domestic needs for salt and the fishing fleet’s requirements were large for fish preservation. Finally with the discovery of salt deposits in the U.S. the salt-making industry became obsolete in the 1850s.

Sea Captains and ordinary seamen of Orleans manned the merchant and whaling vessels during the age of sail.

The fishing industry has waxed and waned through the years according to the supply. Fish weirs and small boat hand lining as well as coastal whaling thrived in the early years. Today there is a large charter boat sports fishing fleet located in Rock Harbor, which has been the Orleans center of maritime commerce and history.

The Indians initially taught the settlers about shell fishing. It has continued to be an excellent source and generally reliable monetary factor in good and bad economic times. Now aquaculture appears to have a successful future.

Packet boats were the mode of transportation of goods and people until the arrival of the railroad in 1865, which opened up other avenues of commerce such as pants manufacturing. The railroad spawned early tourism. The many needs of the town supplied by the railroad were taken over by cars and trucks. Railroad service to the town ceased in the 1950’s.

Shipwrecks were a common occurrence until the Cape Cod Canal was built. The rescue and care of survivors were part of everyday life until the Massachusetts Humane Society composed of volunteers lead to the formation of the U.S. Life Saving Service in the 1870’s. The salvage of shipwrecks and their cargoes became part of the economic structure.

Orleans is no stranger to enemy attack. The war of 1812 created great hardship on the Cape as Britain controlled and blockaded the towns of Cape Cod. An attack on Rock Harbor in December 1814 by the British Marines from H.M.S. Newcastle was swiftly repelled by the local militia with one fatality to the British.

Orleans has the distinction of being the only U.S. site of attack by the Germans in WWI. A German U-boat fired upon the tug Perth Amboy and four barges in the Nauset area in July 1918.

Farming was a constant factor from the beginning of the settlement. The once heavily forested area became decimated fuel to the creation of farming and pasture needs, lumber for housing, heating needs and the ship building requirements of both the English King and the colonists. Commercial agricultural products of the 1920’s and 1930’s was asparagus while cranberry harvesting was prevalent from the late 1800’s to the 1930’s.

The formerly barren landscape is now covered with trees and vegetation and people are very supportive of land conservation. The advent of the National Seashore Park in 1962 created the complete tourist economy of today. The charm and beauty of the town has created a large retirement population with a younger service population.

Town Departments

Assessing Department

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 430 Fax: 508-240-3388 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Building Department

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 (lower level) Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 341 Fax: 508-240-3702

Conservation Department

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 (main floor) Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 425 Fax: 508-240-3388 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Council on Aging

Location: Senior Center, 150 Rock Harbor Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-255-6333 Fax: 508-240-6936 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Council on Aging Meetings: 1:00 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month, Orleans Senior Center, 150 Rock Harbor Road.

Finance/Town Accountant

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 440 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Fire and Rescue Department

Location:58 Eldredge Parkway, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: Business 508-255-0050 Fax: 508-240-0855 Emergency 911

Health Department

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 (lower level) Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Telephone: 508-240-3700 Fax: 508-240-3702

Highway Department/Transfer Station

Locations: Bay Ridge Road, Orleans, MA 02653 (Highway Garage) Lots Hollow Road (Disposal Area) Telephones: 508-240-3790 (Highway) 508-240-3770 (Disposal) Fax: 508-240-3792 Email: highway@town.orleans.ma.us. Hours: Highway Department – Summer 6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Highway Department – Winter 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Disposal/Transfer Station 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Daily except some holidays from June 25th to September 3. Otherwise closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Parks and Beaches Department

Location: 18 Bay Ridge Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3775 Fax: 508-255-6157 Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Planning Department

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 (main floor) Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Telephone: (508)240-3700 ext. 435 Fax: 508-240-3388 Meetings are held: The Planning Board holds meetings on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7PM. The agendas are posted in the meetings section of the website.

Police Department

http://www.orleanspd.com/

Recreation Department

Location: Community Center on Main Street, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3785 Fax: 508-240-3388 Hours: 8:30a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Responsibilities: The Recreation department offers a wide range of activities with quality instruction on a seasonal basis.

Fall Programs: (Grades K-8, Adult)

• Soccer
• Field Hockey
• Adult Tennis
• Adult Fitness
• Youth Center
• Instructional Soccer

Winter Programs: (Grades Preschool-8, Adult)

• Basketball
• Movement/Ball Skills
• Public Skating
• Saturday Basketball
• Youth Center
• Instructional Basketball

Spring Programs: (Grades 1-8, Adult)

• Softball
• Baseball
• Adult Tennis
• Youth Center
• Instructional Softball/Baseball

Summer Programs: (Ages 4-16, Adult)

• Swimming
• Tennis
• Arts and Crafts
• Summer Recreation

Shellfish And Harbormaster

Location: Route 28 at Eldredge Park Way (behind police station) Mail to:Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3755 Fax:508-240-3388 Email: harbormaster@town.orleans.ma.us. Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; On-call 24 hours/day

Snow Library

http://www.snowlibrary.org/

Town Administrator

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 415. Fax: 508-240-3703. Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Selectmen’s Meetings: Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room A at Legion Hall. Public Comment is at 6:30. Public Comment is a time when citizens can address the Board without an appointment about any Town business. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed.

Town Clerk

Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext. 405 Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans, MA 02653 Meetings are held: Orleans Town Meeting is held the second Monday in May. Call for details.

Treasurer

Location: Town Hall, 19 School Road, main floor Telephone: 508-240-3700 Ext.420 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Water Department

Location: 2nd floor of the Town Hall. 19 School Road Orleans, Massachusetts Telephone: 508 255-1200 Fax: 508 240-3702 Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Water Commissioners meetings: The Board of Water Commissioners meet the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month at 3pm in the Nauset Room on the second floor of the Town Hall.

Last updated: July 19, 2007