Rebecca Locklear - The Surfmans Daughter: Growing up in a Cape Cod village 1904-1929

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Locklear, Rebeccaauthor.

The surfmans daughter: growing up in a Cape Cod village 1904-1929 / Rebecca Locklear.

Redmond, OR: Skaket Books and Art, 2022. | Includes bibliographical references.

LCCN 2021924607 (print) | ISBN 978-1-7335915-8-4 (paperback) |

ISBN 978-1-7335915-9-1 (ebook)

LCSH: Eldredge family. | MassachusettsHistory20th century. | MassachusettsBiography. |

LifesavingMassachusettsCape CodHistory. | Chatham (Mass.)History. |

BISAC: HISTORY / United States / State & Local / New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) |

BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Historical. | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women. |

HISTORY / United States / 20th Century.

LCC F72.C3 L63 2022 (print) | LCC F72.C3 (ebook) | DDC 974.4dc23.

The Surfmans Daughter

Copyright 2022 Rebecca Locklear

Map, schooner, ornament illustrations 2022 Ven Locklear

Ernest S. Eldredge homestead illustrations 2022 Jack Dolan

Front cover photo Christopher Seufert Photography

Photos used by permission.

Book cover and interior formatting: Melissa Williams Design

Publisher: Skaket Books and Art skaketbooksandart@gmail.com

Notice: The information and details in this book are true to the best of the authors knowledge. Nevertheless, the contents are offered without guarantee. The author and Skaket Books and Art disclaim all liability to any party in connection with the contents or use of this book.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, put on the internet, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Brief quotations are allowed in articles and reviews.

COVER PHOTOS: Roxane Eldredge c. 1926

Hardings Beach, Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Praise for The Surfmans Daughter

Enjoyed by adults, teens, families

In eight charming and poignant vignettes, Rebecca Locklear evokes life in the sweet and harsh Chatham of over a century ago....

Debra Lawless, author of Chatham in the Jazz Age

Delightful, true stories with wonderful historical and everyday life detail.

Alice Reader, editor

Fabulous presentation of life at the time.... Its interesting to know what life was like for a kid: chores, dangers, expectations. Charming stories that leave you wanting more.

John Chamberlain, author of Finding Things (A Joe Martin Novel)

The Surfmans Daughter explodes with information youve never even considered... along with meaningful and engaging discussion topics.

Carol Smathers, university faculty

If you like Anne of Green Gables , you will enjoy these true-story cameos of Roxanemischievous, bright, and full of fun!

Beth Lambright, historical speaker/reenactor

Each chapter is filled with personal stories that reflect life in the early 1900s when people lived without electricity, provided their own food, and their transportation was by horse or boat. The Surfmans Daughter provides students with many hands-on activities. A must-read for all who love to learn about history through literature.

Susan Reed, Homeschool Life Magazine

A girls life is beautifully portrayed in these thought-provoking glimpses into an oft-forgotten past.

Celia Martin, author of A Bewitching Dilemma

You feel like youre really there on the seashore, living that life of struggle, family connection, and support.

Linda Jones, educator

I like these stories very much. Theyre a window into a gentle, loving family in a much different America from now.

David Greenberg, author of A Tugging String

My only request is that I want more stories! This is a peek back into a little-known part of our history through a first-hand account. Roxane is so REAL. My family was drawn to her because of her hilarious exploits.

Jenny Underwood, educator

Dedicated to

Descendants of

Ernest Sanford Eldredge and

Mehitable Gould Eldredge

History-loving cousins who descend

from Roxane Eldredges ancestors:

William Eldredge, Revolutionary War patriot

William and Anne Nickerson, founders of Chatham, Massachusetts William Brewster, Stephen Hopkins, John Howland,

and Thomas Rogers, Mayflower passengers

and to

Barbara Eldredge Stevenson

Contents

Introduction

• Do you wonder what it was like to live back in the days before computers, electric lights, electric washing machines and dryers, indoor running water, and indoor bathrooms?
• Can you envision having to provide your own food? This could include hunting and fishing, having a milk cow and chickens, as well as growing and canning vegetables and fruit. How difficult was it to cook on a stove that burned coal or wood?
• What would it have been like to walk to everything within a five-mile radius or to travel farther mainly by horse and cart, or boat?

Roxane Eldredge grew up in that era. She was born in 1904 in the fishing village of Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

As an adult, Roxane entertained guests with stories and remembrances from her childhood and years as a young teacher. She also shared stories about her sea-faring ancestors for nearly thirty years when she served as a docent at the Atwood Museum in Chatham. It wasnt until 1991 that Roxane spent a year and a half writing her recollections in a small 44-page journal, focusing on incidents that shaped her life. Part of that journal, along with personal letters and postcards, photo explanations, family interviews, and in-depth research, combine to accurately portray events in this book.

This early biography of Roxane, revealed through stories, provides a glimpse into the early 1900s while addressing mistakes, loss, perseverance, and love.

Eldredge Family

Ernest Eldredge Homestead 1904

Prologue:
Outhouse

Octobe r 9, 1909 ~ Roxane, age 5

Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

A grunt and beastly holler stopped Roxane and Oliver in their tracks. The deepened dusk made it difficult to identify the dark shape advancing toward them.

Whos that? cried 5-year-old Roxane as she tugged on her brothers sleeve. They were nearly back to their house after playing with neighbor children.

Oliver pulled Roxane with him behind the nearest tree. Stay hidden, he whispered.

Roxane tucked her skirt between her knees and stood still.

Peering around the trunk, Oliver scanned the homestead. Looks like the Reverend. Comin from the outhouse.

Roxane gasped.

Now hes at the back door. Mothers coming out, wringing her hands on her apron like she does. He paused. Hear him yelling? Hes rightly mad. Oliver shook his head. Doggonit. By the way hes rubbin his backside, I bet he got his bum pecked.