Sea Call Farm History
Sea Call Farm, located at 82 Tonset Road in Orleans, Massachusetts is a historic farm. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2008.
Per the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form which can be seen in full here, the Sea Call Farm property was actively farmed by William A. and Bertha Fiske during 1931–1950 following William’s retirement from railway employment. It was one of many small market-garden farms in Barnstable County, but now is “the only surviving agricultural ensemble in Orleans and one of the few in the Cape Cod region. Its significance is enhanced by the extensive collection of diaries, account books, and other papers that detail life on the farm.”
The Town of Orleans, acquired Sea Call Farm from the Fiske family in 1987, for conservation and public space reasons.
The 6.35-acre property provides an example of a commercial agriculture venture of the last century. It includes the community gardens, an herb garden, apple and pear trees, a grape arbor, a green house, a main dwelling, a garage, and a path down to Town Cove. The area around these features is mowed and maintained by the Sea Call Supporters.
The Sea Call farmhouse itself was built in 1921 and will thus celebrate its 100-year birthday in 2021!
The property is open to the public for walking and picnicking, although the same cannot be said of the home or the garden. The area is closed from 10:00 pm until 7:00 am. Groups of more than 10 people require a permit from the Conservation Office.
Fellow gardener Judy Ryon provided a PDF which provides some interesting information about Sea Call Farm:
- A 2008 flyer from the Sea Call Supporters.
- A 2008 article from the Cape Cod Times’ Susan Milton (staff writer).
- A 2003 ad from the Cape Codder requesting donations for “Saving Sea Call Farm”.
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