Onset and Point Independence (Postcard History Series)

Inaugurated in 1877 as a camp meeting ground by eastern Massachusetts residents who believed in communication with the dead, Onset quickly emerged as the nation's leading spiritualist summer community. By 1900, however, spiritualism had been overwhelmed by an influx of tourists, and Onset subsequently developed as a secular summer resort noted for its scenic bluffs, recreational pursuits, and beaches. At this same time, neighboring Point Independence found wide appeal among middle-class vacationers interested in swimming, sailing, and relaxation.

As a southeastern Massachusetts historian, Michael J. Maddigan operates Recollecting Nemasket, a publishing press, blog, and newspaper column devoted to local history. Here, he has drawn upon his extensive collection of postcards, as well as that of Kenneth R. Maddigan, to capture the excitement of Onset and Point Independence's heyday between 1900 and 1960 as Buzzard Bay's leading tourist center.