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A Peaceful Place

Falmouth has always been a peaceful place. Except on two occasions…

In 1773 the oyster beds of Falmouth were struck by an epidemic. How to cope with the malady aroused great controversy. But argument died with the oysters, which to this day have never again flourished in these parts.

A few years later controversy again arose, this time over alewives. (Alewives are a course kind of herring; which runs up streams in the spring.) The alewives had always had the run of a brook leading to Coonamesset Pond. Someone proposed to block the stream. Others said if he did, he’d have to suffer the consequences.

To protect his dam the anti-herring man set up a cannon. But the first time he pulled the lanyard, the cannon blew up, erasing both the dissident and the casus belli.

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