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Ship’s Light, corner of Cross and Shattuck Place, Chatham, MA
2009 Chatham Preservation Award
Captain Prince Harding was the sea captain who bought the house and thirteen acres from Gilman Ryder in 1854. Captain Harding and his wife Susan T. Higgins sailed together and were seldom at home in Chatham. Captain Harding's sister, Elizabeth G. Harding, and her husband David Mayo actually lived in the house while the seagoing Hardings were away. In 1867, Prince Harding sold part of the land to Thankful Stetson reserving the original 4 acres for himself. In 1876, Susan Harding sold the homestead and property to Love Maloney who lived in the house for six years until she sold it to Mary Elizabeth and Benjamin Gifford in 1882. Dr. Gifford had become Chatham's only doctor in 1871.
Dr. Gifford in front of Ship's Light (circa 1882)
Dr. Benjamin Gifford and his daughter Dr. Minnie Gifford Buck, dentist, and his grand-daughter Josephine Buck Ivanoff, educator, were among Chatham's leading citizens until 1992. Together they gave 110 years of leadership and service to Chatham from the corner of Cross Street and Shattuck Place.
Ship's Light has looked down Cross Street to the Village Center for over 180 years. A Ship's Light vacation allows you to explore the town and Oyster Pond on foot, and enjoy Chatham's favorite walking tour of "the loop" down Stage Harbor Road and back on Cedar Street. Leave your cares behind and enjoy Chatham's historic treasures.
Bill and Roz Coleman, Owners