The return of The Fo'castle
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Photo by Nan Turner
Waldron
The Outermost House Playhouse, built by Cape Associates of North Eastham. Proceeds from the 2006 raffle will benefit the construction of a new version of Beston's Outermost House in Eastham.
(Photo by Jon March)
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We here at the Henry Beston Society are often
asked a series of questions about Henry Beston's Outermost
House, or as he called it, "the Fo'castle."
It usually begins with "where is the
house?" The answer: "It's gone."
These are then followed by:
* "What happened to it?" Answer:
"It washed out to sea in the great storm of February
1978."
* "Where is the site?" Answer: "That's
under water now, too."
* "Are they ever going to build another
one?"
For the last 30 years, the answer to that
last question has been "no." But now, the Henry
Beston Society is looking to change that. The Beston Society
is now forging ahead with its plans to open a museum with
Beston and Outermost House artifacts and exhibits, which
will eventually include a replica of Henry Beston's famous
"Fo'castle," the 20x16 house that he built on the beach
in Eastham and used as a base to write the Cape Cod literary
classic The Outermost House.
The plan to rebuild Beston's famous house has been met with great enthusiasm during recent Beston
Society presentations. Much in the same way that Thoreau's cabin at Walden, the Mayflower, the Boston Tea Party Ship and Lincoln's birthplace cabin have been replicated, the Beston Society plans to take the utmost care in returning Beston's Fo'castle to a spot overlooking the outer beach of Cape Cod. We'll be working out every last detail, down to the last nail.
Cape Associates Inc. of North Eastham and Barnstable, builders on Cape Cod for 37 years, were the proud sponsors of the sixth annual Windmill Weekend Charity Raffle in 2006. Cape Associates built the 6x8 wood "playhouse," guided by building plans provided to the Beston Society by the late Nan Turner Waldron, author of the book "Journey to Outermost House." Cape Associates donated the funds raised by tickets sales, which totaled $2,275, for the Henry Beston Society's efforts
to reconstruct
Beston's "Outermost House" in Eastham. Cape Associates has also volunteered its services to construct the new "Fo'castle" when the time comes.
Momentum continues to build for the project,
especially in Eastham and other towns on the
'Outermost" reaches of Cape Cod. The Beston Society is now in the process of
trying to locate a site for the house. Once a site is secured,
we will then be seeking funds and resources to complete
the project.
Your tax-deductible donation can help us to
fund the establishment of the museum, or to sponsor a shingle,
the chimney, the fireplace, or other part of the new Fo'castle.
We're also looking for more people to help
us out in fund-raising efforts; several have already come
forward, but more help is needed. Those interested in seeing
this becoming a reality are also urged to contact the Beston
Society -- ideas and input are always welcome.
The Beston Society also produces media projects,
publishes literature, and presents slide lectures about
Henry Beston and his philosophies.
Eight decades ago, Beston wrote that
"the world is sick to its thin blood for the lack of
elemental things, for fire before the hands, for water welling
from the earth, for air, for the dear earth itself underfoot."
The Outermost House has given many of us, as one
Beston / Outermost House enthusiast recently told us, "an
anchored base of perspective."
Consider a bequest, or donation of property,
stocks, bonds, or services. Send your
tax-deductible contribution, payable to The Henry Beston
Society, today to:
Rebuild The Outermost House, c/o The
Henry Beston Society,
P.O. Box 1343, South Dennis, MA 02660;
OR
Call us at (508) 246-7242;
OR
E-mail us at henrybestonsociety@yahoo.com
