The Bass River Bridge. The fishing in its many branches not proving as lucrative as formerly, the young men sought employment elsewhere, and in 1870 the population was 3,269; in 1880, 3,288; and in 1885 it had decreased to 2,923. During this time many of the Cape industries were abandoned as unprofitable.

Fishing continued to be the principal industry of the town for three quarters of a century. In 1889 the fishing and coasting vessels registered from Dennis had a total tonnage of 6,955. The fertile Atlantic and other waters have furnished broad maritime fields of labor in which Dennis has increased its wealth and importance more than in agriculture, but during the past twenty years the bogs of the town have been redeemed for the cultivation of cranberries, and the town now has a high position in this branch of industry. The town still had in 1889 over sixty vessels of various tonnage, including nine three-masters, engaged in the coast and fishing trade. History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts Edited by Simeon L. Deyo. 1890. New York: H. W. Blake & Co CHAPTER XVIII. pages 507-577 TOWN OF DENNIS.

Archives within this collection

• Artifacts of Unknown Provenance

  This is a collection of Artifacts belonging to the historical Archive of Dennis
• Baker Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Baker Family
• Bearse Family

  Items pertaining to the Bearse Family
• Bixby Family

  Contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Bixby Family
• Chapman Family

  Contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Chapman Family
• Child Family

  Items pertaining to the Child Family
• Crosby Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Crosby Family
• Crowell Family

  Archive of the Crowell Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Eastman Family

  Archive of the Eastman Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Elbow Pond Cranberry Company

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Elbow Pond Cranberry Company
• Eldredge Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Eldredge Family
• Hall Family

  Archive of the Hall Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Harrop Family

  Contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Harrop Family
• Homer Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Homer Family
• Howes Family

  Archive of the Howes Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Kelley Family

  Archive of the Kelley Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Ketcham Family

  Contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Ketcham Family
• Nickerson Family

  Items pertaining to the Nickerson Family
• Rogers Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Rogers Family
• Rose Family

  Items pertaining to the Rose Family
• Sears Family

  Archive of the Sears Family including letters, postcards photos and more
• Shiverick Family

  Collection of materials pertaining to the Shiverick Family
• Spindel Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Spindel Family
• Stone Family

  Items pertaining to the Stone Family
• Taylor Family

  Taylor Family Artifacts
• Thomas Family

  Items pertaining to the Thomas Family
• Town of Dennis MA.
• Winslow Family

  Collection contains material and artifacts pertaining to the Winslow Family
• Wixon Family

  Items pertaining to the Wixon Family
• Young Family

  A collection of historical material pertaining to the Young Family