Pleasant Bay, a large estuary of the Atlantic Ocean located at the elbow of Cape Cod, has a rich history. When the first recorded European explorers came to this area in the early 1600s, they found sizable Native American settlements. The native peoples hunted, fished, and raised corn, and the surrounding areas were heavily wooded. Then, colonists from Plymouth began to settle in Nauset in 1644, and Joseph Rogers became the first white settler in the Pleasant Bay area in 1647. William Nickerson built a house along Ryders Cove in 1664 and a tar kiln was built a year later. Over the next 100 years, the forest was cleared by settlers and wood turned into houses, barns, boats, saltworks, and windmills. 

 

The maritime history that spans the 17th through 21st centuries in this region is continually fascinating, and many books were written that can be found in local historical societies and the Friends of Pleasant Bay. By the mid 19th century with the spread of the railroad, many vacationers began to come to the Pleasant Bay area to row, sail, and swim; and summer cottages started to be built along the bay. Then in 1900 with the popularity of pleasure boat sailing on the rise, the first Cape Cod summer camps were established. Children and young adults from around the world would come to five sailing camps along the Bay for the next 80 years.

 

Portanimicut Camp for boys was the first camp on Cape Cod established in 1900. Then followed Quanset Sailing Camp, Avalon Camp for Girls, Camp Viking, and Pleasant Bay Camp. These camps prospered for many years. The camps were a large and happy presence on Pleasant Bay for campers from 6 to about 14 years of age. Many people today who attended them recall the days when songs could be heard across the waters and the white sails of racing boats filled the Bay. Due to rising costs, the last of these camps closed in 1988.

 

At the end of WWII, there were still relatively few shore-front homes along Pleasant Bay. Then post-war development started, and the closing of the camps provided land and acreage for more cottages and homes. The land that now comprises the Quanset Harbor Club Association was originally acquired in 1920 by the prominent Winslow family of Boston. This family, with roots to the Mayflower, owned the United Shoe Machinery Company, as well as a Boston newspaper, a television station, and a radio station. Certain members of this family knew and appreciated the Lower Cape. They were sportsmen and enjoyed duck hunting in season.

 

In 1961 Lucy Hill Fay, whose mother was Lucy Winslow Hill, together with Hill Freeman, decided to subdivide and sell lots ranging in size from 1.5 to 2.5 acres each. The original name of the subdivision was 'Fayaway Hills". About this time, three families from Pittsburgh purchased and built homes along three adjacent lots on Pleasant Bay. Also about this time, Peter and Ruth Fleck purchased land with frontage on both Twining’s Pond and Pleasant Bay. On the lot on Pleasant Bay with the finest aspect, they built their own home.

 

Peter Fleck first realized the need for an organization to plan and maintain this development with its superb location and salt water access. Families started to purchase building lots at a time when it was common to get stuck in the sand on the rough unpaved roads. Some of the earliest meetings of the association were informal gatherings held in peoples’ garages, and many of the early residents were here only in the summer. A legal document to manage and maintain the development was drawn up on August 25, 1969 and approved by the residents at the time. It was officially recorded as a corporation, and it’s rules and by-laws were developed. The name Quanset Harbor Club is really a misnomer, as the organization has never been a ‘club’ per se with acceptance of members. The Association only requires dues from the member property owners to maintain the roads, beach, and common areas.

 

In 1972, the Association created a set of covenants for land owners to protect the quality of the neighborhood, while in conformance with zoning rules and conservation policies of the Town of Orleans. The covenants expired in 2012, but were concurrently replaced with a set of neighborhood  guidelines. Beginning in 1993, the Fleck Family donated large sectors of land around Twining’s Pond to the Orleans Conservation Trust, which now comprises a wildlife reserve with walking trails. These generous donations have had a significant impact on the quality of life in this community and an enduring effect on its natural character.

 

 

A number of famous persons have visited our Association over the years. Perhaps the most famous was Gerald R. Ford Jr., 38th President of the United States. President Ford's wife Betty had been a close and lifelong friend of Lillian Fisher who lived on Lake Drive. President Ford enjoyed playing golf with his friend Congressman Thomas 'Tip' O'Neil at Eastward Ho Country Club. He and former First Lady Betty Ford stayed at the home of the Fishers in the 1980s.

 

Another famous visitor here was Julie Harris, the iconic stage, screen, and television actress. Ms. Harris spent time here while planning and organizing some of her philanthropic work. At a QHC dinner party in 1984, Ms. Harris along with her friend Sally Wightman of the famous Wightman tennis family, arrived wearing a bone-white tunic and fascinating guests with her acting expertise. To the delight of dinner guests, at one moment she became Tennessee Williams' Blanche DuBois from "A Streetcar Named Desire", and then at another exhibited an Irish brogue from a Eugene O'Neil play.

 

 

Contributors:

 

Virginia Clarendon

Betty Twiss

Ronald Wysk