Ever heard the Patti Page hit, “Old Cape Cod?” “If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air, church bells ringing on a Sunday morn, you sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod..” First penned as a poem by a Boston housewife on a Cape Cod beach during her summer vacation, it soon became part of Patti Page’s famous song. Not long after in 1962, Ted Williams, the famous Red Sox player, was the guest of honor at our 250th anniversary, throwing out the first pitch at Chatham’s 4th of July baseball league game.
It doesn’t get much better than what we have to offer in Chatham. Family BBQs, friends visiting to make memories for life, digging clams, winter sunsets at the town landings, boating, fishing, or just walking the beach in the morning with coffee collecting shells. I know the feeling exactly.
"When I cross the Bridges at the Cape Cod Canal and feel my blood pressure drop, I take a big deep breath of salt air and say…yes I have arrived!"
Life is good, Cape Cod is a world unto itself…and YES, that is good!
As a Chatham native and 12th- generation direct descendent from 1600’s Nickerson founder of Chatham, this song is in my bones and salt water runs in my blood. I grew up in North Chatham running through the fields and salt marshes, swimming, fishing and sailing around Chatham harbor and Pleasant Bay. When I hear Patti Page’s ‘Old Cape Cod,’ I think of my “great-grand-grammas” stories of sailing with her father, Captain Taylor on his China Clipper in the 1800’s. Grampa Edwards digging in his specially-deeded quahog bed or riding his bike to Boston on dirt roads. Gramma and Grampa Nick running the old Harbor Inn, a summer hotel with timeless family recipes being served in the dining room, probably by me or one of my cousins. My Dad played saxophone in the Chatham Bank for 60 years. Chatham is “(Norman) Rockwellian” to it’s core.
As for my 12th-generation family history, I am the building chairperson for our Nickerson Family genealogical Society building. We have a nonprofit Nickerson Family Association, with reunions every year where they come from all over the country. Our library of genealogical records was in a private home of an elderly member and we had to find a permanent building to house it all. So as a realtor, I did a search and back in the early 1990's we bought a piece of land in Chatham Port, near the original cabin of William and Anne Nickerson. We built a house which is now a working library and another antique home houses the working museum and garden, both on this property. We have recently been part of an archeological dig that has gleamed clay pipes and blacksmith artifacts and Indian pieces, so we realize we are now actually housed on the original land of the founder. Quite amazing! It is very exciting. They were the progenitors of over 50,000 Nickersons now because they had 10 children that lived, 8 of them boys.
Featured Listings
401 Beacon Street, #PH, Boston (Back Bay), MA
$18,500,000
This one-of-one Back Bay penthouse presents a rare combination of scale, privacy, and design. Spanning the top two floors of a corner, boutique building, 6,132 SF is framed by 38 windows on three exposures with sweeping Charles River, skyline, and sunset views.Designed by Eric Roseff, the residence offers direct elevator access from three garage spaces, a grand duplex layout, and private internal stair. A suburban-scale kitchen anchors expansive living spaces seldom found in the city.The rooftop retreatfeaturing pool, spa, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and landscaped green roofoffers exceptional privacy with no adjacent terraces. A primary suite with fireplace, dedicated office suite, and flexible layout complete this exceptional, trophy-caliber offering.
20 Crowninshield Road, Marblehead, MA
$21,000,000
20 Crowninshield Road is set on 2.25 oceanfront acres in one of Marblehead's most coveted waterfront settings. This exceptional estate offers approximately 7,013 square feet of finished living area and 8,620 square feet of gross area, combining timeless coastal elegance with modern luxury. Completely rebuilt to the highest standards, this six-bedroom residence features six full baths and three half baths, sweeping ocean views, 10-foot ceilings, radiant heat, and central air conditioning. At the heart of the home, a dramatic ribbon staircase serves as a stunning architectural centerpiece, rising gracefully through all levels and complementing the seamless coplanar design. Remarkable craftsmanship is on display throughout, anchored by extensive millwork in old-growth white oak and a continuous installation of large-format stone running both inside and outside the home. A full-size elevator serves every floor, and the threshold-free design offers full accessibility to all living spaces. An intuitive, easy-to-use home control system governs the property, engineered with multiple layers of redundancy for reliable performance and security.The primary suite serves as a private retreat, featuring two gas fireplaces, dual walk-in closets, direct access to an expansive Ipe deck, and an outdoor shower. An extensive wine cellar offers precision climate-controlled display racking. Spa-inspired amenities include a sauna, steam room, an outdoor hot tub concealed beneath a retractable Ipe deck, and a pool surrounded by granite and Ipe decking.A separate staff or guest suite provides flexibility for extended family or live-in assistance. The four-car garage offers substantial vehicle storage capacity.The beautifully landscaped grounds frame expansive panoramic Atlantic ocean views and provide exceptional privacy. Ownership includes access to a neighborhood beach, dock, and mooring field, offering a rare opportunity to enjoy Marblehead's renowned boating and waterfront lifestyle. Just minutes from Marblehead's historic harbor, yacht clubs, shops, and restaurants, this rare legacy property offers exceptional craftsmanship in one of New England's most desirable oceanfront settings.The dwelling is not located in the FEMA flood zone.
119 Eel Point Road, Nantucket (Dionis), MA
$36,500,000
Waterfront on one of Dionis's most coveted stretches, the North Shore run from Brant Point to
Eel Point. This 2+ acre estate opens every day overlooking Nantucket Sound and closes every
evening with sunsets bursting withbands of orange and gold giving way to dusk. Located
across from 275 acres of untouched land owned by the Linda Loring Foundation.
This New England coastal style home, was completed in 2021. The main house and guest house span 8,820 square feet combined. The first floor is open and airy, anchored around a NanaWall, which dissolves the line between the living room and a large, covered porch built for entertaining. Beyond the porch, lounge poolside at a 20 x 40 Pebble Tec pool and spa with a covered cabana, full kitchen and wraparound veranda. A staircase leads down to a private beach with a mooring, creating an unmatched outdoor living experience. The kitchen - double islands, Calacatta Borghini marble, a dedicated coffee and wet bar - is designed to run a full house of guests without missing a beat. The property has multiple spaces to gather. A lower level creates the ultimate recreation room with an adjacent bunk room, while a serene second floor sitting room steps out to a balcony with 180-degree Atlantic views. A widows walk crowns the property delivering sweeping ocean views that few properties on the island can claim. Design details carry through every room a glass-enclosed wine cellar in an expansive dining room, custom drapery and lighting, statement wallpaper, and en-suite baths, each with its own
distinct character. A separate two-story guest house makes this a true multi-generational retreat - room enough to gather, spread out, and take in Nantucket at its best.
