Jeremiah's Gutter facts for kids

Jeremiah's Gutter Location in Cape Cod

Jeremiah's Gutter was a special waterway, or canal. It was built on the edge of Orleans and Eastham, Massachusetts. This canal was the very first one to cut across the Cape Cod area. It connected Cape Cod Bay on the west side to the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Jeremiah's Gutter was used for over 100 years. Over time, it was used less and less. Eventually, the much bigger Cape Cod Canal took its place.

The Story of Jeremiah's Gutter

The eastern coast of Cape Cod was always a tricky place for ships. On April 26, 1717, a big storm helped create this waterway. It made a 1.5-mile passage deeper. This passage connected Boat Meadow Creek on the Cape Cod Bay side to Town Cove on the east.

How the Canal Changed Over Time

At first, the new canal was very shallow. Only small boats, up to 20 tons, could use it. In 1804, the canal was made wider and better. This allowed it to be used during the War of 1812. This was important for moving goods and supplies.

A New Canal Takes Over

Later in the 1800s, people started talking about building a new, larger canal. Because of this, Jeremiah's Gutter began to fall apart. In 1916, the modern Cape Cod Canal opened. This new canal was built between Bourne and Sandwich, Massachusetts. It was much bigger and better for shipping.

What You Can See Today

Today, not much is left of Jeremiah's Gutter. You can still see a river and a cut through the marsh. These parts can be seen from the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Look about 0.3 miles north of the Rock Harbor Road parking area. The eastern end of the canal near Town Cove is gone. Homes and a traffic circle for U.S. Route 6 were built over it.