MGJ Postal History

Snow has requested a new order of merchandise and Masse has agreed to send it "as soon as you can send me the balance of your account." The full, red Fair Haven postmark is not listed in ASCC with the state identification as Mas. Note soiling at lower left. No tears or separations. Snow was a prominent citizen of Wychmere Harbor. See information below.

Wychmere Harbor

Wychmere Harbor used to have no opening to the sea. In the early times it was called Salt Water Pond. The fisherman of Harwich tried to dig by hand a passage for their boats where a trickle of water flowed between the sea and the pond. When this did not work, they plugged the little stream and built a 3/4 mile race track all-around the pond and raced their horses there.

In 1889 the state dredged a proper channel. It measured about 100 feed wide with jetties on each side and fishermen then had a safe anchorage. Fifty years later the big outer harbor was dredged.

Around 1891, Levi Edric Snow paid about $250 for land at the end of the dirt road on the west side of Salt Water Pond. He built an eight room seaside cottage and had so many relatives visiting the following summer that he built a 20 room addition and began charging rent.

In 1913 when Levi’s grandson Biddle was married, the hotel became a year round business. Biddie and his wife had three sons–The Clam Bar’s “Thompson Brothers.” The boys, all over six feet tall, grew up at the Inn and a place was built for them by the dock. They called it Hangover Inn or Spit ‘n Whittle. After World War II, the family began another business. Line Trawlers tied up at the dock and the fish was packed and shipped to Boston and New York. The new wholesale business had begun! Fish, clams and lobsters were unloaded on the dock. This brought many onlookers, whom all wanted to eat and purchase seafood. Thus from the top of a fish box or a barrel head, freshly opened clams were served. People started buying lobster retail, then wanted them cooked and opened. The family responded; away went the Spit ‘n Whittle and up went The Clam Bar. The fish you serve are probably direct descendants of the first ones unloaded here over forty years ago.

Over the years the dirt road was paved, the salt water pond become Wychmere Harbor, a long jetty curved out into the Old Inn and Channelside Restaurant grew yearly and became known far and beyond the small village of Harwich.

Thompson clam bar later was established at the Inn by Levi’s daughter, Clementine. In 1983 a developer purchased the inn, and closed it after 100 seasons in 1991.

Letter is from J. B. Masse. There are several Masse’s listed in Fair Haven (now condensed to Fairhaven) historic records.

Very nice cover with blue postmark.

Light but complete January 4 postmark with high "t" and scroll at the bottom.  Fancy PAID in scroll at top center. Legal letter from Sanford & Shelton regarding default on payment.

Edward Nelson Shelton, for whom the town of Shelton, Connecticut was named, founded Sanford & Shelton Company in Derby, Connecticut, in 1836, the first tack factory in the United States. Later he was president of the Housatonic Water Company.

Shelton is of the fourth generation in descent from Daniel Shelton. He was born in the home of his ancestors September 4, 1812. He had the benefit of the educational advantages of his native town, and of the more important academy at Derby; and also of Captain Partridge's Scientific School at Middletown and lectures at Yale College. He commenced business at Birmingham in 1836, manufacturing tacks, in connection with Mr. N. C. Sanford, under the name of Sanford & Shelton. Mr. Sanford died in 1841, and the business was continued under the name of E. N. Shelton until 1854, when it was organized as the Shelton Company.

Mr. Shelton has been president of the Birmingham National Bank since its organization in 1848. It is principally due to Mr. Shelton that the thriving village of Shelton, named in honor of him, with a business capital rated at $2,000,000, and employing 2,000 hands, exists. He was able in 1867 to see the first work done toward the construction of the great dam across the Housatonic, which was to develop the largest water power in the state, and one of the largest in New England. His long cherished project was brought to a successful completion in 1870, resulting in the founding and satisfactory growth of the village of Shelton. He has been the president of the Ousatonic Water Company, which built the dam, since its organization in 1866.

Though a member of the state senate in 1869, Mr. Shelton has not cared for political life or office. His interest has been principally in the development and growth of the two villages, Birmingham and Shelton. His public spirit and desire that whatever is best for the benefit of the many should be accomplished have always been marked characteristics, as well as his unquestioned honor and integrity. His energy, perseverance and business ability have been proved in various enterprises in his own town and elsewhere, and much success for others as well as himself is due to his keen business foresight. He has always been an earnest supporter of the Episcopal church, as his forefathers were.

N. C. Sanford was the brother in law of Edward Shelton. His son, Henry Shelton Sanford served as America's Minister to Belgium during the Civil War and helped secure armaments needed for the Union victory. He was also a very successful lawyer and businessman. After the war, he moved to Florida where he founded a city that now bears his name. He, David Humphreys (Ambassador to Spain) and Ebenezzer D. Bassett (Ambassador to Haiti) were all Derby residents who served in the highest ranks of the U. S. foreign service.

Oval customs inspection mark on this document from Zurich to Wohlen.