Oyster Harbors
Encyclopedia
Oyster Harbors is a gated community within the village of Osterville, Massachusetts
. It is located on Grand Island.
. Captain Kidd is supposed to have buried treasure at Noisy Point during this time, guarded by the witch Hannah Screecham, but this is only known to be a legend. In 1658 Oyster Island was reserved to the Indians, but after an expensive lawsuit, the natives were forced to sell to the Lovell family in 1737. The island thus remained uninhabited for two centuries, used only for salt works and pasture.
The oldest house on the island, the Nymphas Marston house of about 1680 was actually moved there from the mainland.
In the year of 1925, Norris W. Norris, an entrepreneur real estate developer from Boston visited the grand island and saw it potential. The summer of 1925 he had purchased the holdings, previously owned by Richard and Helen Winfiled. Along with about 30 other people, Norris formed Oyster Harbors, Inc. in 1929. In only 3 years this development had turned into a charming summer resort, with a wonderful golf course, harbors, roads, Cape Cod style homes, and a clubhouse. The landscape had been done by the Olmsted Brothers
, top landscape architects of their time, who had also designed Central Park in New York, and the golf course was designed by prominent golf course architect, Donald Ross
. Between 1925 and 1967 Oyster Harbors Club was owned by investors and stockholders, which for many years members did not know. At that time there was no initiation fee to be a member (members were invite only) and annual dues were paid on April first. If one had not received a bill for their annual dues, one would understand that he was no longer a member and could no longer use the facilities. These conditions existed until the establishment of the new club in 1968.
Upon the death of T. Kenneth Boyd in 1960, the majority stockholder and devoted supporter of Oyster Harbors, it was a financially hard time for the Club and there had been rumors that the Body family would sell the estate to the highest bidder. There had been a few who wished to purchase from the Boyd family including Howard Johnson
, Ramada Inn, who planned to turn Oyster Harbors into a commercial resort with profit as their only motive. Two residents of the island, Paul Mellon
and Harry Hoyt, Sr. became aware of the issue and became the primary stockholders and owned all the stock with the exception of one share owned by the late Alexis F. du Pont
and his sister, and three shares owned by Gladys B. Thayer. Eventually in 1980 Mellon became the only stockholder of the corporation. Without Paul Mellon's determination to have Oyster Harbors remain a private island, the club, the course and the entire island would have been much different today.
Osterville, Massachusetts
Osterville is one of the seven villages within the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. The village of Osterville is located on the south side of Barnstable on Nantucket Sound...
. It is located on Grand Island.
History
Oyster Harbors was first inhabited by the Wampanoag tribe when they first settled on Cape CodCape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
. Captain Kidd is supposed to have buried treasure at Noisy Point during this time, guarded by the witch Hannah Screecham, but this is only known to be a legend. In 1658 Oyster Island was reserved to the Indians, but after an expensive lawsuit, the natives were forced to sell to the Lovell family in 1737. The island thus remained uninhabited for two centuries, used only for salt works and pasture.
The oldest house on the island, the Nymphas Marston house of about 1680 was actually moved there from the mainland.
In the year of 1925, Norris W. Norris, an entrepreneur real estate developer from Boston visited the grand island and saw it potential. The summer of 1925 he had purchased the holdings, previously owned by Richard and Helen Winfiled. Along with about 30 other people, Norris formed Oyster Harbors, Inc. in 1929. In only 3 years this development had turned into a charming summer resort, with a wonderful golf course, harbors, roads, Cape Cod style homes, and a clubhouse. The landscape had been done by the Olmsted Brothers
Olmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers company was an influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by stepbrothers John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. .-History:...
, top landscape architects of their time, who had also designed Central Park in New York, and the golf course was designed by prominent golf course architect, Donald Ross
Donald Ross
Donald James Ross was an influential golf course designer. He was born in Dornoch, Scotland, but became a citizen of and spent most of his adult life in the United States...
. Between 1925 and 1967 Oyster Harbors Club was owned by investors and stockholders, which for many years members did not know. At that time there was no initiation fee to be a member (members were invite only) and annual dues were paid on April first. If one had not received a bill for their annual dues, one would understand that he was no longer a member and could no longer use the facilities. These conditions existed until the establishment of the new club in 1968.
Upon the death of T. Kenneth Boyd in 1960, the majority stockholder and devoted supporter of Oyster Harbors, it was a financially hard time for the Club and there had been rumors that the Body family would sell the estate to the highest bidder. There had been a few who wished to purchase from the Boyd family including Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson may refer to:*Howard Johnson's, a chain of hotels and restaurants*Howard Deering Johnson , founder of Howard Johnson's restaurants* Howard David Johnson, , American painter...
, Ramada Inn, who planned to turn Oyster Harbors into a commercial resort with profit as their only motive. Two residents of the island, Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
and Harry Hoyt, Sr. became aware of the issue and became the primary stockholders and owned all the stock with the exception of one share owned by the late Alexis F. du Pont
Alexis F. du Pont
Alexis Felix du Pont Sr. was a member of the American du Pont family and helped found St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. His son, Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr., co-founded the All American Aviation Company, predecessor of today's US Airways Group, Inc, whose primary subsidiary is US Airways,...
and his sister, and three shares owned by Gladys B. Thayer. Eventually in 1980 Mellon became the only stockholder of the corporation. Without Paul Mellon's determination to have Oyster Harbors remain a private island, the club, the course and the entire island would have been much different today.
Notable residents
- Alexis F. du PontAlexis F. du PontAlexis Felix du Pont Sr. was a member of the American du Pont family and helped found St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware. His son, Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr., co-founded the All American Aviation Company, predecessor of today's US Airways Group, Inc, whose primary subsidiary is US Airways,...
, pioneer aviator, builder of the first hangar on Cape CodCape CodCape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States... - Paul MellonPaul MellonPaul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, art collector - (Known as the man who purchased and saved the island when it was about to be sold to be turned into a non-private resort by Howard Johnson). - Reverend Pitcairn, art collector
- Bill KochBill Koch (businessman)William Ingraham "Bill" Koch is an American businessman, sailor, and collector. His boat was the winner of the America's Cup in 1992. His last name is pronounced "coke." Per Forbes William Koch's net worth was $3.4 billion in 2010 on oil and other investments-Early life and business...
, winner of the America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging... - Chuck and Doreen Bilezikian, founders of Christmas Tree ShopsChristmas Tree ShopsChristmas Tree Shops are a retail chain that started in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in 1970 as a complex of three small stores; the Front Shop, the Back Shop, and the Barn Shop. The multiple store location, which was located on Route 6A, explains why the name is Christmas Tree Shops...