History
Native American tribes that lived in the
area prior to European colonization
include the
Nauset, specifically the Manomoy or
Monomoy people. "Manamoyik" was a Nauset
village located near present-day
Chatham. Explorer
Samuel de Champlain landed here in
1606, contacting (and skirmishing
with) the Nauset. English settlers first
settled in Chatham in
1665, and the town was incorporated
in
1712, naming it after
Chatham, Kent,
England. Located at the "elbow" of
Cape Cod, the community became a
shipping,
fishing and
whaling center. Chatham's early
prosperity would leave it with a
considerable number of
18th century buildings, whose charm
helped it develop into a popular summer
resort.
Chatham is also the home to the
Chatham Lighthouse, which was
founded by President
Thomas Jefferson in 1808 to protect
the ships circling the Cape. Originally
consisting of two lights, the pair were
moved back and rebuilt in 1877, but the
second was moved to Eastham to become
the
Nauset Light in 1923, after both
were upgraded to rotating lights. Today,
the keeper's house is home to a
Coast Guard station which tends the
light.
Although sprawl has started to invade
the country and even
Cape Cod, the town of Chatham still
boasts a quaint and walkable
Main Street. Main Street is home to
numerous family owned and operated
shops, restaurants and businesses. The
main shopping area features
pedestrian-friendly crosswalks,
on-street parallel parking and some
parking lots that are off Main Street.
During the summer, concerts are held in
a
gazebo on Main Street, and not far
from the shops is where the Chatham A's
baseball team plays.
Notable Inhabitants:
