"CHRONICLE." >> MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ARE FANATICAL ABOUT THEIR BEACH TOWNS.
ON THE SOUTH SHORE, LOCAL’S PRIZED SCITUATE FOR ITS HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE, AND ENDLESS BLUE VIEWS.
>> ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> HERE IS A SCITUATE SECRET.
THE VILLAGE ALONG CAPE COD BAY.
>> IT IS LIKE A SHOESTRING AND IT IS ALL WATER, SKY, BEACH, AND BOATS.
YOU GET A LOT OF THE AMBIENCE OF THE CAPE BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT THE TRAFFIC.
>> FAMILIES HAVE BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS.
>> I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE I WAS FOUR YEARS OLD.
THAT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE 1960’S.
MY FAMILY HAS A HOUSE DOWN THE STREET, AND NOW MY BROTHERS AND I HAVE IT.
>> HE MOVED HERE IN 2017.
. >> THIS COULD BE GOOD.
>> HE WORKED IN ADVERTISING, ALONGSIDE GREATS INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHER ERNST HAAS.
THAT EXPOSURE ENCOURAGED HIM TO GIVE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY A SHOT.
HE’S TAKEN SOME OF HIS BEST PHOTOS HERE.
>> I COULD NOT THAT.
THE SKY, THE COLOR ON THE WATER.
IT HAPPENED ON A PERFECT WAY, WHICH HAPPENS A LOT IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
A LOT OF TIMES ACCIDENTS HAPPEN.
PEOPLE SAY, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?
I GOT LUCKY.
>> HE LIKES TO SHOOT DURING THE HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE AND AFTER SUNSET.
>> THE BEST SHOTS ARE ALWAYS TAKEN JUST BEFORE OR AFTER A STORM.
>> STORMS CAN REALLY RATTLE.
>> THE RAFT GOING DOWN TO THE DOCK WAS RUNNING UPHILL.
MUST’VE BEEN AN 18 FOOT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOW AND HIGH TIDE.
IT WAS SCARY.
>> BUT HE TAKES THINGS IN STRIDE.
>> THEN YOU SIT OUT HERE ON THE DECK IN THE SUMMER AND YOU TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT THE STORMS.
>> STORMS HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED A DRAMATIC ROLE HERE, SAYS FRED, A FORMER SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND WRITER OF HUMAROCK HISTORY BOOKS.
LONG AGO SHIPWRECKS WERE COMMON IN THE AREA.
IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS BUILT SHELTERS ALONG THE SCITUATE COAST WITH LIFEBOATS AND OTHER PROVISIONS.
>> LIFESAVING SERVICE MERGED WITH THE REVENUE SERVICE IN 1915 INFORMS WHAT TODAY WE KNOW AS THE U.S. COAST GUARD.
>> IN 1898, ONE STORM HAD AN EPIC IMPACT, LITERALLY CREATING A MAROC.
-- HUMAROCK.
>> HUMAROCK IS SCITUATE, SEAVIEW IS MARSHFIELD.
THIS IS THE SOUTH RIVER BUT UNTIL 1890 EIGHT YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE NORTH RIVER.
THE STORM WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
>> THAT WAS WHEN THE PORTLAND GALE PUMMELED THE COAST.
>> UNTIL 1978 THAT WAS THE STORM BY WHICH EVERYONE MEASURED STORMS IN NEW ENGLAND.
>> NEW PORTLAND GALE SEPARATED WHAT IS NOW HUMAROCK FROM THE REST OF SCITUATE, CREATING A NEW OPENING TO THE SEA, CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE NORTH RIVER.
THE RESULT?
AN ISLAND-LIKE OASIS STRAIGHT OUT OF A VINTAGE POSTCARD.
ON THIS STEAMY SUMMER AFTERNOON, A LINE FORMS OUTSIDE THE VOYAGE, AN IRISH PUB THAT IS ALWAYS BUSY.
POPULAR FOR A MENU THAT BOASTS ENORMOUS DRINKS.
THE VOYAGE IS IN THE HEART OF HUMAROCK, WHICH LOCALS REFER TO BY ITS OLD-SCHOOL NICKNAME.
>> THAT’S WHAT EVERYONE CALLED IT.
WE ARE GOING TO THE SQUARE.
HE WENT TO FERRIS’S DRUGSTORE FOR FRIED CLAMS, AND LARK’S GENERAL STORE, WHICH IS TODAY THE VOYAGE.
>> IT IS MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD.
>> HUMAROCK NATIVE CHRISSY IS A MATH TEACHER AND A STANDUP COMIC.
HER FAVORITE PLACE?
HUMAROCK BEACH.
HER FAVORITE TRADITION?
THE ANNUAL HORRIBLE’S DAY PARADE.
>> KIDS PUT ON THE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FROM THE YEAR BEFORE AND WE HAVE A PARADE AND THROW CANDY.
>> THEY MAKE SURE THEIR FAMILY COSTUMES ARE WACKY AND ELABORATE.
>> WE ALWAYS JOKE WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND DOZENS OF MAN-HOURS TO WIN A $2 TROPHY EVERY YEAR.
>> LIVING IN A SMALL VILLAGE HAS OTHER QUIRKS, TOO.
>> THERE WAS A HUMAROCK REUNION AND THEY SAID OH, DIRT ROAD GIR L, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY ONE OF MY NICKNAMES.
DIRT ROAD GIR