History of Dennis, Massachusetts, USA

Dennis, Massachusetts
Barnstable county. This town crosses the cape, and was taken from Yarmouth in 1793. Population, 1837, 2,750. It lies 8 miles E. by N. from Barnstable and 7 W. from Harwich. The first salt produced by solar evaporation in this country was made in this town, by John Sears and others, in 1776. About 7,000 tons of shipping belong to this town, principally engaged in fishing and coasting, and all manned by natives of the town. Bass river, rising from a pond, affords a small water power. 150 ship-masters belong to this town, sailing from various ports in the Union. The products of the cod and mackerel fishery, in one year, amount to $50,899. The manufacture of common salt, Epsom salts, vessels, and lampblack, amounted to $25,975.

Dennis was named after its first minister; and was formerly the eastern part of Yarmouth.

The town extends across the peninsula, North and South Dennis being on the opposite sides.

Most of the inhabitants are concerned in navigation, the fisheries, or the manufacture of salt, which last important business is said to have been first attempted in Dennis.

The soil is sandy, and the highest hill in the county is in this town.

Distance from Barnstable, 8 miles; from Boston, by water, 60.

Dennis, a post-township of Barnstable county, Massachusetts, 60 miles S. E. from Boston. The fisheries furnish the principal occupation of the inhabitants. Population, 3257.

Dennis is a somewhat crescent-shaped town in the midst of Barnstable County, extending from one shore to the other of Cape Cod. Its east side is a straight line to near Cape Cod Bay, on whose margin the township has an eastward projection. Brewster and Harwich bound it on that side, and Yarmouth on the west. The assessed area is 6,864 acres. This includes 870 acres of oak and pine woods; the latter having been extensively planted here on tracts which would otherwise have been sandy wastes.

The Old Colony Railroad has a station near the middle of the town, and one at the eastern line. The post-offices are Dennis, Dennis Port, and East, South and West Dennis. Other villages are Searsville and South Village. The scenery is diversified by several beautiful ponds, which, in all, cover an area of about 450 acres. Swan Pond, of 179 acres, is the largest, and sends a little river of the same name southward into the sea. Bass River is the largest stream on Cape Cod, and furnishes some power ...

Dennis, a post-township of Barnstable co., Mass., is bounded on the N. by Cape Cod Bay, and on the S. by the Atlantic Ocean. It is intersected by the Old Colony Rail road, and contains villages named Dennis, Dennisport, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis. It is a part of the peninsula of Cape Cod. Pop. 3369.