When it opened more than a century ago, the Chatham Orpheum Theater, like most movie houses of the day, operated like a repertoire house – films were screened for a day or two before being replaced by new releases. Lengthy runs were rare. The Chatham theater, also like many other small hometown cinemas of the day, also doubled as a live venue for revues and staged plays, performed by traveling companies or loc...

It has certainly been a tumultuous few months, with Harwich Town Administrator Christopher Clark interviewing for a new position in several communities in Massachusetts. Clark was a finalist in four communities for positions of town manager and town administrator, but he did not land a job in those communities. He told The Chronicle this week “maybe they (the selectmen in those communities) see that my heart's no...

The winds had been strong for days; maybe that was why there was so much debris on our beach. A small section of the shoreline was littered with dozens of weathered boards and driftwood. Up ahead I spied what looked like a seal pup; as I got closer I realized it was a huge ball of tangled boat lines. The ebb and flow of tides is so predictable, yet so fickle in what they choose to steal from us and spit out later...

Cooperative Effort Warms The Heart Editor: It warmed my cold winter heart to read your Dec. 29 piece “Chatham Selectmen Back Eldredge Garage Purchase” and learn that there is such remarkable private/pubic cooperation on acquiring this property for the town.  I urge the selectmen to arrange the financing as soon as possible so that all Chathamites and visitors can avail themselves of this in-town treasure ...

Helen Hardman Krumpe               Helen (Schmidt) Hardman Krumpe, 102, of Brewster, passed away on Thursday, December 29th at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass. She died peacefully, surrounded by her children. Helen was born in New York, NewYork on October 16, 1914. She moved with her family to Williamstown, Mass. as a child. After graduating from Williamstown High School, she attended Simmons College in ...

Helen K. Katz                It is with sadness that the family of Helen K. Katz announces her passing.  Helen, 90, died of natural causes in her home in West Chatham on December 22, 2016.  She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Maurice Katz, of West Chatham; son, Geoffrey Katz, of Michoacan, Mexico and New Boston, N.H.; daughter, Dianne Oliver, of Simi Valley, Calif.; grandchildren:  Holen Katz Hirsh,...

      Eugene P. Salvati, M.D. of Martinsville, N.J. and Chatham, passed away on December 8, 2016. He was born in the coal mining town of Pursglove, West Virginia on September 7, 1923.          He earned a BS from West Virginia University, and an M.D. from the University of Maryland. He was a die-hard fan of West Virginia University football. His hobbies included making wine and pizza. He loved fishing the r...

Arthur “Skip” Hall December 13, 1934 – December 31, 2016               S ORLEANS - “Skip” Arthur Dudley Hall II, 82, of Orleans, passed on the eve of Dec 31, 2016 surrounded by family.               Born in Cambridge, Skip lived in Medford, Winchester, and summered in Yarmouth Port, where he developed a passion for sailing.                At Kimball Union Academy, he excelled in hockey ...

Charles K. Tuttle      Charles K. Tuttle of Palm City, Fla. and Chatham died peacefully on Jan. 7, 2017. Charlie, as he was known, was 66 and born in Chatham.  Fran, his beloved wife, friend and care giver was by his side as he departed on his spiritual journey.      Charlie was the son of Charles L. Tuttle and Norma M Stackhouse. He was the beloved husband of Fran Tuttle and brother of John, Susan and J...

Amos H. Mumford      Amos H. Mumford, 88, of Chatham died peacefully with many of his family members present on Dec. 29, 2016 at Cape Cod Hospital after battling pneumonia.      Born in Wayne, N.J. in 1928 and son of Harry Mumford and Fredrika (Steinke) Mumford, graduated from Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and spent 40 years as an art director in advertising for various firms in New York City and New...

Newly minted Chatham Historical Society Trustee Stuart Green has been hard at work recently, seeking historic preservation funds to help restore Chatham's circa-1762 Atwood House Museum. Nevertheless, he wants to make one thing clear. “It's not just about the buildings,” Green explains. “It's the people.” Green's passion for nonprofit work, for “giving back as much to the community as I receive,” began when he...

ORLEANS — With significant borrowing for capital projects on the horizon, there was good news for the town from its independent auditor last week. Tony Roselli, managing partner of Roselli, Clark & Associates, said a recent audit and a conversation with Standard & Poor's indicated that the town would maintain its top-rank AAA bond rating. “You've managed to increase your reserves the last three years...

ORLEANS — A smoky fire in an electrical panel at Comcast's facility on Locust Road Wednesday, Jan. 4 led to a temporary service shutdown on the Lower Cape. Deputy Chief Geof Deering said the department got the call from Comcast employees at 5:22 p.m. The building was evacuated as firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the basement for the fire. One Comcast employee was evaluated for smoke inhalation...

John J. Schumacher, 76 years old, of Chatham and Naples Fla., died on Tuesday December 27 th at Cape Cod Hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home.                Born in Boston, the 2 nd son of August and Mary Schumacher, John was the beloved husband of Judith Blake Schumacher for 49 years.  John was also the devoted father of Michael and his wife Gayle of Sherborn, Jennifer Harper and her husb...

Margaret Dexter Towne      South Hadley-Margaret Dexter Towne passed away at her home in South Hadley on Dec. 22, 2016 at age 76 under the care of her family and Cooley Dickinson VNA Hospice after a months long battle with cancer.      She lived her life completely by nurturing her children, caring for her husband for over 50 years and was at her happiest during shared conversations with friends during and ...

Janice Lee Wilson               Janice Lee Wilson, 77, passed away unexpectedly on December 15, 2016 at Brookdale Spruce Wood in Durham, N. H.               Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, she was the daughter of Ralph W. and Helen (Bayne) Deppe.  For 23 years she lived in Durham, and 15 years in Madbury before moving to Newmarket in 2004.               Janice graduated from the University of New H...