Osterville, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
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. Osterville is primarily a residential community that includes marshes, bays, ponds, a small lake, beaches,and a small business district.
Osterville was originally named Cotacheset, based on the native american name for the area. Over time it became a center for "oystering" (harvesting wild oysters) and was re-named Oysterville. Later a map mis-spelled the name as Osterville and the village became so.
Osterville's business district includes a public library, gift stores, women's fashions, restaurants, a small market, banks with ATMs, a pizza place, package store (spirits), a U.S. Post Office, a hardware store, art galleries, barber & beauty shops, and many real estate brokers.
During July and August, Osterville's population swells due to the many seasonal residents. Many summer residents maintain a second house in Osterville while residing most of the year in the Greater Boston
area. The village is known for its oceanfront estates.
The cemetery for the village of Osterville is the Hillside Cemetery on Old Mill Road.
Armstrong-Kelley Park, the oldest and largest privately-owned park on Cape Cod, is located in Osterville. Crosby Boat Yard is port to the famous Crosby catboat
, and the Wianno senior
, both well respected within the sailing community and the latter a favorite of nearby Hyannisport resident President John F. Kennedy
.
A steel drawbridge connects the village to Little Island and Grand Island (also known as Oyster Harbors
), a gated community featuring many luxury houses and a private country club. The neighborhood of Wianno abuts the East Bay section of Osterville.
There are two private country clubs in Osterville: The Wianno Club and the Oyster Harbors Club. Each club has an associated private 18 hole golf course, private tennis facilities, and a private beach. The Wianno Yacht Club, a private club on West Bay, offers children's sailing lessons to both members and non-members.
Osterville once had a thriving Community Center (recreational facility with an indoor basketball court, pool room, and ping pong room) in the heart of the Village, behind the Baptist Church, that burned down. Osterville is also home to a well known private K-12 school, Cape Cod Academy
.
Dowses Beach in Osterville is a Town of Barnstable beach with limited automobile parking available to town residents only yet anyone can walk in. There are toilet facilities with showers and a beach house for changing in privacy. Lifeguards are present during the summer months only.
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
. The village of Osterville is located on the south side of Barnstable on Nantucket Sound. Osterville is primarily a residential community that includes marshes, bays, ponds, a small lake, beaches,and a small business district.
Osterville was originally named Cotacheset, based on the native american name for the area. Over time it became a center for "oystering" (harvesting wild oysters) and was re-named Oysterville. Later a map mis-spelled the name as Osterville and the village became so.
Osterville's business district includes a public library, gift stores, women's fashions, restaurants, a small market, banks with ATMs, a pizza place, package store (spirits), a U.S. Post Office, a hardware store, art galleries, barber & beauty shops, and many real estate brokers.
During July and August, Osterville's population swells due to the many seasonal residents. Many summer residents maintain a second house in Osterville while residing most of the year in the Greater Boston
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
area. The village is known for its oceanfront estates.
The cemetery for the village of Osterville is the Hillside Cemetery on Old Mill Road.
Armstrong-Kelley Park, the oldest and largest privately-owned park on Cape Cod, is located in Osterville. Crosby Boat Yard is port to the famous Crosby catboat
Catboat
A catboat , or a cat-rigged sailboat, is a sailing vessel characterized by a single mast carried well forward ....
, and the Wianno senior
Wianno senior
The Wianno Senior is a gaff rigged sloop. The boat is raced on Nantucket Sound by four Cape Cod yacht clubs: Bass River Yacht Club, Hyannis Yacht Club, Hyannis Port Yacht Club, and Wianno Yacht Club....
, both well respected within the sailing community and the latter a favorite of nearby Hyannisport resident President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
A steel drawbridge connects the village to Little Island and Grand Island (also known as Oyster Harbors
Oyster Harbors
Oyster Harbors is a gated community within the village of Osterville, Massachusetts. It is located on Grand Island.-History:Oyster Harbors was first inhabited by the Wampanoag tribe when they first settled on Cape Cod. Captain Kidd is supposed to have buried treasure at Noisy Point during this...
), a gated community featuring many luxury houses and a private country club. The neighborhood of Wianno abuts the East Bay section of Osterville.
There are two private country clubs in Osterville: The Wianno Club and the Oyster Harbors Club. Each club has an associated private 18 hole golf course, private tennis facilities, and a private beach. The Wianno Yacht Club, a private club on West Bay, offers children's sailing lessons to both members and non-members.
Osterville once had a thriving Community Center (recreational facility with an indoor basketball court, pool room, and ping pong room) in the heart of the Village, behind the Baptist Church, that burned down. Osterville is also home to a well known private K-12 school, Cape Cod Academy
Cape Cod Academy
Cape Cod Academy is an independent coed college preparatory school for grades kindergarten through 12.-Lower School:...
.
Dowses Beach in Osterville is a Town of Barnstable beach with limited automobile parking available to town residents only yet anyone can walk in. There are toilet facilities with showers and a beach house for changing in privacy. Lifeguards are present during the summer months only.
Notable residents
- James M. GavinJames M. GavinJames Maurice "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin was a prominent Lieutenant General in the United States Army during World War II...
, World War II general, US ambassador to France. - David HartmanDavid Hartman (TV personality)David Downs Hartman is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on cable TV's History and on PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America, from 1975 to 1987. As an actor, he...
, best-known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning AmericaGood Morning AmericaGood Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
. - Adam OatesAdam OatesAdam Oates is a retired professional ice hockey and lacrosse player and is currently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils.-Playing career:Oates' break came when Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offered him a scholarship...
, retired Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
player. - Gene RayburnGene RayburnGene Rayburn was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the popular American television game show Match Game for over two decades....
, host of the popular 70's game show "The Match Game". - Andy HallettAndy HallettAndrew Alcott "Andy" Hallett was an American singer and actor best known for playing the part of Lorne in the television series Angel. He used his singing talents often on the show, and performed two songs on the series' 2005 soundtrack album, Angel: Live Fast, Die Never.-Early life:Andrew Alcott...
, actor and singer who appeared on the WB's Angel (TV Series)Angel (TV series)Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. - Bob VilaBob VilaRobert Joseph "Bob" Vila is an American home improvement television show host known for This Old House , Bob Vila's Home Again , and Bob Vila .-Early life:...
, former host of This Old HouseThis Old HouseThis Old House is an American home improvement magazine and television series aired on the American television station Public Broadcasting Service which follows remodeling projects of houses over a number of weeks.-Overview:...
. - Lee RemickLee RemickLee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
, actress - Richard B. SellarsRichard B. SellarsRichard Beverland Sellars was an American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson as part of 40 years with the healthcare product firm...
(1915-2010), Chairman and CEO of Johnson & JohnsonJohnson & JohnsonJohnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
.
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