Sandwich

Sandwich, located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, stands as the oldest town on Cape Cod. The town’s motto, “Post tot Naufracia Portus,” translates to “After so many shipwrecks, a haven.” According to the 2020 census, the population of Sandwich was 20,259.

**Historical Background**

Before European colonization, Cape Cod was inhabited by American Indians, particularly the Eastern Algonquian-speaking Wampanoag tribe. This tribe notably assisted the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony during the 1620s. Today, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe continues to reside on Cape Cod and is actively working to revive the Wampanoag language.

Sandwich was colonized in 1637 by a group of settlers from Saugus, Massachusetts, under the permission of the Plymouth Colony. The town derives its name from the seaport of Sandwich in Kent, England. Officially incorporated in 1639, it holds the distinction of being the oldest town on Cape Cod, along with Yarmouth. In 1884, the western portion of the original Town of Sandwich separated and became the town of Bourne.

Sandwich has a notable Quaker history, hosting an early Quaker settlement and today maintaining the oldest continuous Quaker Meeting in the United States. Initially, the town’s economy was rooted in agriculture, supplemented by fishing and trading activities. Over time, Sandwich developed a small industrial sector along the Scusset River, Old Harbor Creek, and its tributaries. In contemporary times, the town’s economy is predominantly driven by tourism.

**Sandwich Glass Museum**

The Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory was founded in 1825 by Deming Jarves. The town was strategically chosen for its proximity to a shallow harbor, its potential as a canal site, and its local timber supplies needed to fuel the glass furnaces. The factory specialized in lead glass and gained renown for its use of color. Jarves secured several patents for his innovations in glass mold designs and pressing techniques. However, the factory’s fortunes declined after the Civil War due to competition from companies in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, which produced less expensive pressed soda-lime glass tableware.

In 1909, construction of the Cape Cod Canal commenced through the town of Sandwich, and it was officially opened for travel in 1914. Later, in 1968, the Canal Generating Plant went online, further marking the town’s historical and industrial significance.

Thus, Sandwich is not just a town of historical importance but also a symbol of resilience and adaptation through the centuries.