Siasconset, Massachusetts

Siasconset
CDP

Post Office, Siasconset Massachusetts

Location in Nantucket County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°15′45″N 69°57′58″W / 41.26250°N 69.96611°W / 41.26250; -69.96611Coordinates: 41°15′45″N 69°57′58″W / 41.26250°N 69.96611°W / 41.26250; -69.96611
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Nantucket
Elevation 52 ft (16 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 205
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 02564
Area code(s) 508 Exchange: 257
GNIS feature ID 616962[1]

Siasconset is a census designated place (CDP) at the eastern end of Nantucket island, Massachusetts, United States with an elevation of 52 feet (16 m), and a population of 205 at the 2010 census.[2] Although unincorporated, the village has a post office, with the ZIP code 02564.[3]

The various spellings of its name, 'Sconset, Sconset, Seconset, Siasconsett, or Sweseckechi led the Board on Geographic Names to designate its official spelling in 1892.[1][4]

History

The area was settled as a fishing village in the 17th century. The core of one of the older fishing shacks known as "Auld Lang Syne" is believed to date from the 1670s, but was moved around several times from its original foundation. Various other cottages date from the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the houses were haphazardly added onto contributing to the unique look of these Nantucket cottages.

In the nineteenth century a whaling station was present in the village. In 1877 Edward Underhill from Wolcott, New York bought land in the village and constructed cottages in the fashion of the original fishing shacks and then rented them to summer tourists.[5]

In the early twentieth century it was a summer retreat for an Actor's Colony which included Digby Bell, George Fawcett, Joseph Jefferson, Charles Penrose, Hassard Short, William H. Thompson and his wife Isabel Irving, DeWolf Hopper, Frank Gillmore and his daughters Ruth and Margalo Gillmore, among others.

Etymology

Siasconset is a Wampanoag Algonquian term for “place of great bones.” Si from missi, meaning “great;” ascon from askon, meaning “horn or bone”.

References

  1. 1 2 "Siasconset, Massachusetts". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  2. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Zip Code Lookup
  4. ↑ Karttunen, Frances Ruley (2005). The Other Islanders: People Who Pulled Nantucket's Oars. Spinner Publications. p. 304. ISBN 0932027938.
  5. ↑ Karttunen, Frances (July 3–9, 2008). "Sconset's Sanguine Genius". Today's Nantucket. Yesterday's Island. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
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