MGJ Postal History

Strong and full blue Burlington Vermont sock on the nose full date...month, day, year...postmark on small cover.

Snow has requested a new order of merchandise and Masse has agreed to send it "as soon as you can send me the balance of your account." The full, red Fair Haven postmark is not listed in ASCC with the state identification as Mas. Note soiling at lower left. No tears or separations. Snow was a prominent citizen of Wychmere Harbor. See information below.

Wychmere Harbor

Wychmere Harbor used to have no opening to the sea. In the early times it was called Salt Water Pond. The fisherman of Harwich tried to dig by hand a passage for their boats where a trickle of water flowed between the sea and the pond. When this did not work, they plugged the little stream and built a 3/4 mile race track all-around the pond and raced their horses there.

In 1889 the state dredged a proper channel. It measured about 100 feed wide with jetties on each side and fishermen then had a safe anchorage. Fifty years later the big outer harbor was dredged.

Around 1891, Levi Edric Snow paid about $250 for land at the end of the dirt road on the west side of Salt Water Pond. He built an eight room seaside cottage and had so many relatives visiting the following summer that he built a 20 room addition and began charging rent.

In 1913 when Levi’s grandson Biddle was married, the hotel became a year round business. Biddie and his wife had three sons–The Clam Bar’s “Thompson Brothers.” The boys, all over six feet tall, grew up at the Inn and a place was built for them by the dock. They called it Hangover Inn or Spit ‘n Whittle. After World War II, the family began another business. Line Trawlers tied up at the dock and the fish was packed and shipped to Boston and New York. The new wholesale business had begun! Fish, clams and lobsters were unloaded on the dock. This brought many onlookers, whom all wanted to eat and purchase seafood. Thus from the top of a fish box or a barrel head, freshly opened clams were served. People started buying lobster retail, then wanted them cooked and opened. The family responded; away went the Spit ‘n Whittle and up went The Clam Bar. The fish you serve are probably direct descendants of the first ones unloaded here over forty years ago.

Over the years the dirt road was paved, the salt water pond become Wychmere Harbor, a long jetty curved out into the Old Inn and Channelside Restaurant grew yearly and became known far and beyond the small village of Harwich.

Thompson clam bar later was established at the Inn by Levi’s daughter, Clementine. In 1983 a developer purchased the inn, and closed it after 100 seasons in 1991.

Letter is from J. B. Masse. There are several Masse’s listed in Fair Haven (now condensed to Fairhaven) historic records.

Cover is very presentable on the address side with full Fitchburgh red postmark.  This mark is unlisted in ASCC. Paid 3 in circle mark in red.  Back is a bit ragged (see scan) but complete.

Nice cover. Full postmark on very good Scott 26A stamp. Corner card is on right side noting letter is from Cashier's Office, Land Department, Ill CRRC(?). There is some aging as is to be expected in covers this old.