Exploring #Bourne Farm for Inspiration #amwriting #Ghosts #CapeCod #Falmouth #Travel

Bourne Farm, or Crowell-Bourne Farm, circa 1775

You wouldn't think a ghost mystery would require much research--part of the fun of writing paranormal elements is using your imagination.  But I've had to do research for every one of my books...some more than others.  Haunted Souls, in particular, took a huge amount of research.  The initial inspiration for that story came from a visit to the Old Jail here on Cape Cod--the oldest wooden jailhouse in the country, built circa 1690 and reputedly haunted.  For this particular plot, historical research was necessary, and also a great deal of research into the military background of one of the characters, who was an EOD tech (Explosive Ordinance Disposal).  You can read more details about the Old Jail in Barnstable Village and researching EOD in this post.

For my recent ghost mystery/romance, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, I needed more information on historic farms located on Cape Cod.  The farm in my novel has been in the Turner family for generations, and Luke Turner is determined to save the property from development, despite financial struggles.  So I visited a few farms in person in addition to doing online research.

Crocker Pond on Bourne Farm

Crowell-Bourne Farm (in West Falmouth on Cape Cod in MA) probably served as the biggest inspiration, at least in terms of my vision for the landscape of Hillwood Farm.  The house was built in 1775 by Joseph Crowell, as you can see from the plaque on the building in the top photo.  Although there is no documentation to prove it, local lore says the structure on Bourne Farm was one of the first seven houses in West Falmouth.  This property is now owned by a private land trust, and consists of 49 acres of fields and woodlands.  It's listed on the National Registration of Historic Places, and visitors enjoy walking the miles of trails through the woods and appreciating the views.  We picked some apples from the orchards during our walk, and I'm sharing a few more pics below.

The cattle run...this used to be a passage for the
cattle to cross beneath the railroad tracks.  The
tracks above are now a bike path.

My hubby walking the trails (Otis the dog
must be further up ahead)

Otis posing in the cattle run

    

One other farm we visited was Taylor-Bray Farm in Yarmouth Port.  This farm was originally settled in 1639 when the area was still part of the Plymouth Colony.  I used some of the history of this farm as inspiration--specifically, Taylor-Bray was a working farm until 1941, harvesting hay and selling fruit.  The existing farm house there now was built in the late 1800s, and visitors are allowed to walk through when it's open.  The decor has been preserved, but in my mind's eye, my fictional farm house has had quite a lot of renovations throughout the years.

Sheep at Taylor-Bray Farm.  My fictional farm has horses.

While these two farms are now historic landmarks open to the public, there are a number of working farms on the Cape that still house families.  Those I researched online, or visited their produce stands to enjoy the fresh fruits and veggies!

All in all, this research was a fascinating look at some Cape Cod history, as well as inspiration for the setting.  But then my imagination took over.  Who is haunting Hillwood Farm?  And why?  You'll have to read the book to find out!  It's available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon, just follow the link below to read the blurb.  

THE HAUNTING OF HILLWOOD FARM on Amazon

Winner of Best Romantic Suspense 
at N.N. Light's Book Heaven Reviews!

And for more posts on historic sites on Cape Cod, check out a few of my other posts:  Historic Falmouth, Exploring Washburn Island (abandoned military base from WWII), Haunted Barnstable Village (deserted prisons anyone?), and Visiting Cuttyhunk Island (which is literally like time-traveling to a different decade!).  Thanks for stopping by!

Exploring Washburn Island #CapeCod #vacation #travel Cape Cod

A sailboat washed ashore on Washburn

I love exploring new places, whether far away or close to home, but it's especially exciting to "discover" the hidden gems in your own backyard (for me, that's now Cape Cod).  A few summers ago, we visited Cuttyhunk, a secluded oasis in the Elizabeth Island chain only accessible by private boat.  It was like being in another world.  People do live there year-round...about 86, to be exact.  This summer, we spent a day on Washburn Island, a completely undeveloped island located in Falmouth.  Again, this is an island only accessible by private boat, and there is almost nothing there except for some primitive camping grounds.  Well, not nothing, really.  There's history, beauty, and undisturbed nature.  In fact, nature has reclaimed the remnants of the human intervention of the past, and it's slightly eerie to walk amongst the "ruins" and imagine the structures that once carved out space on the island.

Washburn Island is located in Waquoit Bay, and has, at times, been connected to the mainland via man-made bridges or changes in geography.  The Native American name for the island was Menauhant, and in the 1700 and 1800s, it was used for livestock grazing and small farms.  In the late 1800s, the island was acquired by Henry Bryant, who built a house and facilitated the installation of a hand ferry for passage to the mainland.

A small part of the house that once stood on Collin's Hill

After Bryant's death, his widow eventually sold the island to a group of investors.  The only property developed was purchased by Fred and Fannie Collins, and the remains of their summer home is visible on Collins' Hill.

One of the investors, Henry Washburn, purchased the remainder of the island, and he and his wife Florence moved into the Bryant House.  A fire destroyed the property in 1926, and after Henry's death, Florence allowed the island to be used for recreational purposes.

Rusted remains of military vehicles

When the United States entered WWII, the need for amphibious training became tantamount to military success.  The Federal Government leased the area and reconnected Washburn Island to the mainland via a sand causeway and a wooden bridge.  The island was soon the home to roads, buildings, drill fields, parade grounds, obstacle courses, docks, and piers.  After the war, the island was returned to Florence Washburn, who again allowed locals to enjoy the location.  Eventually, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the island, and it's now part of the Waquoit Bay Reserve.  Visitors may enjoy the beach, hike the trails, and camp (with reservations).


The one time I did camp there, we had little time for anything but setting up camp and then tearing it back down for our one-night stay.  But during our recent day trip, I was able to see so much more of the island, and really appreciate this historic and pristine piece of Cape Cod. And, on our journey, we found an actual message in a bottle, washed up on the sand!  The letter inside asked for a response, and as a writer, I was thrilled to comply.  Already, ideas about a character finding a message in a bottle are providing the inspiration for a new novel.

In the meantime, my latest Work-In-Progress, tentatively titled Dangerous Currents, does involve the Waquoit Nature reserve, if not Washburn Island itself.  I love drawing from local history for my stories, as I've done with Gull Harbor and Haunted Souls.  If you'd like to visit Cape Cod via my novels (along with some steamy romance and spooky suspense), check out the links!  And if you get to visit here in person, don't miss the beauty and history of Washburn Island.  

My husband walking the trail that was once a paved road
used by army vehicles during WWII

Visiting Cuttyhunk Island ~ #Cuttyhunk #CapeCod #vacation

Living on beautiful Cape Cod comes with a lot of summer house guests, and I wrote a post last year on some of our favorite places to take our visiting friends and family.  Since then, we discovered another amazing location within an hour's journey.  It's not a particularly easy place to get to, which surely lends to the mystique and charm.  But it was on my bucket list, so we set up a plan with our neighbors to explore Cuttyhunk Island one day when the seas were calm.

Approaching Cuttyhunk

Cuttyhunk is the very last island in the chain of the Elizabeth Islands, which extend from Woods Hole at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod.  The Elizabeth Islands consist of: Nonamesset, Veckatimest, Uncatena, Naushon, Weepecket Islands, Pasque, Nashawena, Penikese, and Cuttyhunk.  All of these islands, with the exception of Penikese and Cuttyhunk, are privately owned by the Forbes family.  Penikese, the past site of Massachusetts's only leper colony, is now a bird sanctuary with no permanent inhabitants. Cuttyhunk is more accessible to visitors; but just because it's open to the public does not mean it's an easy exit off a turnpike!  You either need a private boat--and somewhere to tie up--or a ticket for the one ferry service out of New Bedford.

We had the boat part covered, and thanks to one of our friend's connections, we secured both a place to tie up and a golf cart, which is how most people get around the island.  We did not see many cars.  It truly felt like being in a different world.  About 86 people live on Cuttyhunk year round (that number swells to 400 in the summer), and at the time of our visit, the one-room school house only had 2 students enrolled - a pair of siblings.

Old Coast Guard Station

On our way in, we passed an old Coast Guard station, which I had to take a picture of, since my hubby was an officer in the Coast Guard.  The station has not been active since 1964, but there are still a few signs of military presence on the island.  Lookout Hill is the highest point of the island (154 feet above sea level), and it was home to one of the six defensive bunkers built by the Coast Guard in 1941 to watch the surrounding seas for Nazi U-boats.

Once we'd tied the boat off, we got our first look at the "Fish Dock", an adorable little boardwalk with a few shops dedicated to food or fishing.  There's actually only one "store" on the island, which we visited, plus another tiny indoor/outdoor boutique where I bought an old bottle that had washed up from the ocean.  Supplies and mail come in from the New Bedford ferry trips, and in many ways, that's the lifeline to the mainland.  There is no doctor on the island.  One church serves all religions, with time slots set up to accommodate all.

The Fish Dock

On the same street as the church, you'll find the Cuttyhunk Historical Society and Museum of the Elizabeth Islands, a treasure trove of information staffed with friendly volunteers.  A large part of the exhibit is dedicated to the history of the Cuttyhunk Club, an exclusive fishing club formed in 1864 by wealthy and powerful men from New York, who purchased a large portion of the island. The Cuttyhunk Fishing Club is now a tranquil Bed and Breakfast with eight guest rooms.

There are three beaches on Cuttyhunk: Barges Beach, The Channel Beach, and Church's Beach.  We got to see all three, courtesy of our borrowed golf cart.  We also brought our lunch up to Lookout Hill, which offers picnic benches along with a stunning view of the island and the surrounding water.

A view from Lookout Hill

It was such a memorable day, and a fascinating peek at life on a remote island paradise. Someday we hope to go back and stay for a few days.  If you ever have a chance to visit, it is worth the effort!  And until then, if you'd like to visit Cape Cod through the pages of a book, GULL HARBOR will bring you to our sandy shores as psychic medium Claire Linden struggles to unravel a mysterious haunting...and deal with the sudden appearance of her ex-boyfriend, who promised to love her forever, then abandoned her on graduation day without a hint of an explanation.  Steamy romance and spooky suspense combine to make it a page-turning read...and right now, this #1 Kindle Bestseller is on sale for 99 cents for a limited time!  Grab your copy, put up your feet, and come to the beach.

A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend
await Claire in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor...