Chapter Events

This area of Pembroke was originally inhabited by the Wampanoag People, and in the1930s-50s, when the nearby streets of Wampatuck, Mattakeesett (“place of many fish”), Indian Trail, and Queensbrook were laid, they signified the previous inhabitants and the importance of the water here.  In the 1930s-40s, the neighborhood of Oldham Village was planned by Dana Pratt to be a summer community on Oldham Pond.  Many of the streets are named after his family members.  In 1938, this tiny cottage was built.  Patricia is the 7th resident to live here.  It was winterized in the 1970s, and in the 1980s expanded to 886 SqFt.  In 2005, Patricia moved in and named her home Comfort Cottage.  Immediately, Patricia began cleaning out the dumping ground (leaves, bricks, stone, junk) out back, saving the stones and bricks for future borders and hardscape.  Some brick hardscape was already here, but smaller.  Over time, five large Eastern White Pines, three Black Cherries, and three Pin Cherry trees were removed.  Then Rose of. Sharon, three wisteria (still battling one), Japanese honeysuckle, berberis, burning bush, ivy, lily-of-the-valley (still battling), and vinca were removed.  Little by little the lawn was removed to become paths and year-by-year, gardens were created and lined with the stone.  Compost from the dump was added to the beds, as well as sawdust and cow manure from nearby farms.  Since 2006, a lot has been learned about what works and doesn’t here, especially that native plants (in the right spot) do the best and attract the most pollinators.  So, a deliberate shift towards native plants began around 2018, and when Blue Stem Native Nursery was established, it has been easier to add.  Although this is a very small parcel of land (.10 acres), it has a positive impact on the environment.  No bird feeders will be found here, but over 100 varieties of birds visit, along with numerous pollinators, fireflies, bunnies, chipmunks, skunks, opossums, frogs, toads, and other magical things.  You will find some of Patricia’s favorite natives here, such as Clethra, with its “summersweet” fragrance, red columbine, with its nod to spring, boneset, with its appeal to many pollinators, and milkweeds, with their allure to butterflies.  In total, there are over 40 different native plants here.  Patricia hopes your visit to Comfort Cottage inspires you and provides you with a sense of peace and comfort.

*Space limited to 15 Chapter Members.

Parking for seven cars with additional three at the beach. People could carpool by parking at the Pembroke community center 128 Center St.

Address will be shared via email with those who Register.