Harwich

Harwich, or its Indian name, Satucket, was originally settled as an eastern parish of the town of Yarmouth. This was in 1670 but later broke away and incorporated in 1694. It was a quiet town of farmers and fishermen. Because of the many bogs, the soil lent itself to cranberries. Soon, cranberries growth was in such abundance that, in 1846, some considered Harwich to be the birthplace of the cranberry industry. Many productive bogs still remain.

Villages that make up the town of Harwich are: East Harwich, Harwich Center, Harwich Port, North Harwich and West Harwich.

Harwich today is primarily a quiet, residential community. It is also home to many retirees. There are beaches on the Nantucket Sound side of the Cape and three active harbors. Long Lake is the largest fresh water lake of the Cape and is used as a private landing place for seaplanes. Cranberries are still grown in the many bogs and Harwich celebrates with a Cranberry Festival at harvest time.

The “Sail Around the Cape” starts and finishes in the waters off Harwich. Participants said counter-clockwise around the Cape and go through the Cape Cod Canal on the way back. Harwich is also the hometown of the Harwich Mariners, one of the teams in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Their home field Whitehouse Field.

Town Departments

Accounting

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7518
Fax: (508) 432-5039
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Assessing Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7503
Fax: (508) 430-7086
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Building Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7506
Fax: (508) 430-4703
Office Hours: Building Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m.
Plumbing/Gas Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m. M-W-F
Electrical/Wiring Inspector 8:00-9:30 a.m. M-T-TH

Engineering Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7508
Fax: (508) 432-5039
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Health Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7509
Fax: (508) 430-7531
Office Hours: Health Director* / Technical Staff – M – F 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Administrative Hours – Monday 8:30 am – 8:00 pm, Tu/We/Th 8:30 am – 4pm, Fri 8:30am – Noon

*Check with office, Health Director’s schedule is posted weekly.

Natural Resources

Location: 715 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02646
Telephone: (508) 430-7532
Fax: (508) 430-7535
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Planning Department

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7511
Fax: (508) 432-5039
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Recreation Department

Location: 100 Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7554
Fax: (508) 430-7579

Town Clerk

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7516
Fax: (508) 432-5039
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:3 0 am – 4:00 pm

Treasurer/Tax Collector

Location: 732 Main Street, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 430-7501
Fax: (508) 430-7504
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Water Department

Location: 196 Chatham Road, Harwich, MA 02645
Telephone: (508) 432-0304
Fax: (508) 430-7520
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Last updated: January 13, 2008

Privacy | Legal

Visitors: 15,186 | Last Updated: October 3, 2007

Hosting • Design • Development: Community Internet