Our View: A Fair Exchange

We’re intrigued by the prospect of the Exchange Building returning to Harwich. Developer John Carey has suggested building a replica of the iconic structure on the corner of Route 28 and Depot Road in West Harwich which would house commercial space as well as apartments. It’s one alternative he’s proposed for the land, and one that the planning board and other town officials should examine seriously.

 Two versions of the Exchange stood on the corner of Main Street and Pleasant Lake Avenue in Harwich Center from 1855 to 1964. The first iteration of the building burned to the ground in 1876. It was rebuilt by Charles Snow in 1855 and was considered a masterpiece of Victorian architecture. One of the tallest buildings on Cape Cod, it stood 100 feet high and had four floors, with shops and town offices on the first floor, an 800-seat theater with a balcony on the second and third floors, and a roller rink on the fourth floor. The attic was used to build sets for the theater, which was the birthplace of the Harwich Junior Theatre. Its cupola served as a lookout post during World War II. Town meetings, high school graduations and many community events were held at the Exchange.

 By the early 1960s the building was in dire need of extensive work. Harwich High School, built in 1964, included a larger and more modern auditorium. That year voters were asked if they would rather spend money on repairing and upgrading the Exchange or purchase the Bell’s Neck conservation area. They chose the latter, and the building that had defined Harwich Center for generations was razed.

 Replicating the Exchange won’t be a simple matter. It was a sizable structure measuring 58 by 100 feet, and to get close to its original height would require variances from the current zoning bylaw. And yet, the idea of replicating such an important building, even though it would not be in its original location, is attractive, especially since it would be right in the middle of Captain’s Row, a stretch of Route 28 in West Harwich containing numerous historic homes built by Harwich sea captains. They are a testament to the town’s seafaring past, just as the Exchange is a symbol of the central role Harwich played in the Cape’s social and economic culture from the late 19th century to the mid 20th century. With so much of our built heritage falling victim to the drive for expensive modern homes and convenient commercial spaces, bringing back a much-loved slice of the past would be a small, albeit meaningful, victory.