Truro

Truro, or its Indian name, Pamet, has a legend that Pilgrims stopped in that area in 1620, a time when they were desperate for food. Though they decided not to remain, they did find a stash of water and corn left by Indians that saved their lives. True or not, Truro’s Corn Hill is so named for that event. Europeans finally settled there in 1700 and incorporated in 1709. The land was rather barren so fishing, whaling and shipbuilding became their means of existence. In October of 1841, a storm dealt Truro’s Pamet River harbor a severe blow. Seven or eight boats were lost and ten percent of their crews perished. After a brief recovery, another storm struck in 1860, closing down the fishing industry forever. The Union Company, the financial standard of Truro collapsed and many, many settlers chose to simply move away. The first lighthouse to be built on Cape Cod, the Highland Lighthouse, was built in 1797. It was rebuilt in 1857 then, in 1996, moved inland to avoid going into the sea due to erosion.

North Truro and Truro are the two villages in Truro.

Thoreau once took a walk from old East Harbor to Pamet Harbor that became legendary. He noted the desolation but that was his way of describing the vastness and perhaps starkness of the sand dunes and the water. Truro hasn’t changed much since then. Big business in most definitely discouraged and solitude is guarded closely. The oldest golf course, a nine hole Highland Light Golf Course, is in Truro. But it is the dunes, the ocean and bay, the walking trails and all the wonders of nature that makes Truro so special.