The History of Days Cottages in North Truro

Recently we listed for sale the iconic Days Cottages on the beach in North Truro. Ask any visitor to the Outer Cape if he or she is familiar with Days Cottages, and the answer will be a resounding YES. Each with the name of a different flower, these green and white cottages are a symbol of the region.

While many recognize them, few know the history behind them. In the mid 1910’s. an enterprising young man named Joseph A Days bought the waterfront strip with the idea of moving his home from Provincetown to sit on this new location. In the 1930’s, after the depression, and after dismantling his house, Joe changed his mind and decided it wasn’t worth it to move his house, and he burned the sections in a massive bonfire! Instead, he envisioned a colony of cottages. Since he ran a construction company, and there was no work for his people due to the Depression, he put them to work building his vision. In 1931, Days was open for business with 9 cottages! And what a success it was. By 1933, there were 22 cottages built and being rented out and finally a 23rd cottage was built across the street next to the market. At that time, it was Joe’s wife Amelia who brainstormed the names of 23 flowers to give each cottage its own identity. The cottages weathered a few hurricanes in the 30’s and 40’s and in mid 1940’s, a sea wall was built to protect them from erosion. Throughout the years, they have been lovingly maintained by the Days family.

The cottages have been a popular tourist destination for decades, with the same visitors returning year after year. Now, for the first time, private ownership of individual cottages in this colony is being offered. New owners can use the cottage themselves, or continue to rent the property through the on-site management.

For more history on the Days Cottages, visit here.

For more information about purchasing a cottage, visit here.

For a VIDEO TOUR, click here.