Dune shack ethnographic study

The Committee reviewed the Wolfe final report dated August 2005 (“Dwelling in the Dunes: Traditional Use of the Dune Shacks of the Peaked Hill Bars Historic District, Cape Cod”) and the Wolfe & Ferguson report titled “Traditional Cultural Property Assessment: Dune Shacks of the Peaked Hill Bars Historic District, Cape Cod National Seashore” dated May 3, 2006. The Committee endorsed both documents.

The Committee discussed the status of the study and criticized the Cape Cod National Seashore (and National Park Service) decision to dispute the conclusions of the Wolfe and the Wolfe & Ferguson documents and to forward materials to the National Register for ultimate determination.

The Committee criticized the CCNS decision to withhold the Wolfe & Ferguson document (which it had in its possession since May 2006) and to release it nearly six months later on or about November 1, 2006.

The Committee discussed and criticized the CCNS decision to treat the “informal opinion” by Patrick Andrus (of the National Park Service, National Register) as “privileged” despite that fact that it was transmitted to a non-privileged party (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Historical Commission) and the refusal to make the Andrus document available.

The Committee expressed the view that Patrick Andrus, having already offered an opinion that disputes the Wolfe and the Wolfe & Ferguson documents, should not be involved in further National Register determination of the dune shack status.

The Committee discussed proposed Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) approaches to further dune shack review.

The Committee voted (Adams and Thomas, with Tasha abstaining because he is connected with a dune shack) to forward a draft letter to the Board of Selectmen raising the Committee’s concerns addressed to CCNS Superintendent George Price, with copies sent to various interested parties.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:50pm.