MacMillin Pier - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Jimbo · 07-17-2006, 11:48 AM

Last week I took my 16 year old to P'town (Disney as the Bomba's call it), to observe, well, let's say alternate cultures and lifestyles. Later on my dad whipped out his slides of Provincetown from the early 50's through about 5 years ago. Several were of my brothers and me at the huge anchor by MacMillin Pier, when it hit me that I didn't remember seeing that anchor earlier in the day. Maybe I was distracted seeing one woman walking an other on a leash or maybe the anchor went the way of the town crier that used to be right there, too. Can anyone confirm?

Backbeach Jake · 07-17-2006, 04:37 PM

Its still there, in the island between lanes on the way to the wharf. I remember the Town Criers. Too bad they don't have one anymore with all the "show-biz" types about. The last incarnation would shill restuarant's specials and what shows were on in town along with the local news. Local businesses would sponser him and his vocal adverts.

Jimbo · 07-17-2006, 04:51 PM

Thanks, I knew it probably was. Like I said, I was probably distracted. Funny how things change there. No more town crier ringing his bell, but kids on roller skates handing out coupons for henna tattoos and discounts. My dad showed us super 8 movies he took in the 60's there. We were in a restaurant and he took a lot of footage out the window of nice looking (by standards at the time) girls walking by. Now I felt like the shoe was on the other foot and I was being followed by ten sets of eyes from inside a coffee house. Oh well what goes around comes around, I guess.

Backbeach Jake · 07-17-2006, 05:03 PM

Yeah it feels weird when they "Undress you with their eyes"

pops02 · 07-18-2006, 06:32 AM

I think i remember as a kid, that people would throw coins off the warf, and the local kids would dive in and get them ? Do they still do that ?

BigFish · 07-18-2006, 06:35 AM

They probably still throw the coins in but the kids don't go in after them because they might get their I-Pods or hand held video games wet!!!

pops02 · 07-18-2006, 02:49 PM

sad but true

Backbeach Jake · 07-18-2006, 03:03 PM

Last time I saw anyone diving for quarters it was grown men diving for beer money.

Swimmer · 07-18-2006, 08:24 PM

I remember the town crier, the kids diving for change(they were great water treaders), and I remember the 6' 4" Barabara Eden wanabe that was always around. What a hoot.

Jimbo · 07-19-2006, 09:45 AM

For some reason I seem to remember those kids kept the change they got in their mouthes, but we didn't hang around watching them too long, because we had to go further out on the dock and see if there were any huge tuna heads or carcasses laying out on the raft after butchering, then about face and head back to the Army-Navy (aka headshop, now) while my folks went to some place called Napi's for a bite, we waited until the trip back and made my dad stop at Rookies for dopgs and ice cream.
Trivia question:What's "Rookies" named after?

Squid kids Dad · 07-19-2006, 05:23 PM

Thier last name was ORourke.....Great pizza there to

pops02 · 07-20-2006, 09:44 AM

rookies, i love it...still open, nice sail fish still hanging on the wall as well.....skd, i like thier pizza as well

Jimbo · 07-20-2006, 10:55 AM

I actually haven't been to Rookies since it upgraded from a short order and ice cream counter with a few picnic tables to a full fledged restaurant, but my reliable source for Cape lore has reminded me for nigh on 48 years now that "rookies" was the nickname for trainees at Camp Wellfleet when it was an artillary training facility during WW II and the restaurant got it's name from that.