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Scarecrow on the Marsh: Real Places, Real History

            Scarecrow on the Marsh is set on Cape Cod, a peninsula that occupies the southeastern corner of Massachusetts. The Cape, which extends sixty-five miles into the Atlantic Ocean, oddly resembles an outstretched arm flexing its muscle. There are roughly 220,000 year-round residents, but the population more than triples during tourist season. The Cape lies less than twenty miles from Plymouth—site of the original Pilgrim landing in 1620. Vast areas have been left undisturbed, lending it an air of tranquil beauty. Author Don Weeks had a deep appreciation of Cape Cod and vacationed there dozens of times before his untimely passing in 2015.

            During his frequent visits, Weeks familiarized himself with the Cape’s geography and history. All of the places mentioned in Scarecrow on the Marsh are very real, though liberties were taken with the setup of various towns and landmarks. During the novel’s climax, the central protagonist (Thom Burroughs) attempts to rescue his love interest (Abby Rhodes) from an abandoned lighthouse complex at Stage Harbor, where she is being held hostage. In order to do so, Thom must use a series of subterranean passages dating back to the Underground Railroad. This part of the book is rooted in historical fact.

            The Stage Harbor lighthouse is located in Chatham, a picturesque community situated at the elbow of the Cape (using the arm analogy). Built in 1880, it is one of the youngest lighthouses on the peninsula. The harbor at Chatham is among the foggiest points on the coast. Stage Harbor Light was added to enhance another lighthouse already in service, known as Chatham Light. The Stage Harbor lighthouse was decommissioned around 1933, when an automated beacon was installed on a separate tower. Stage Harbor Light, which is visible from Hardings Beach, no longer has a lantern room. The complex has fallen into private hands.

            Though the passages beneath Stage Harbor Light are fictional, Cape Cod does have ties to the Underground Railroad. Connections to the Railroad are largely undocumented, but stories of daring maritime escapes have been passed down for generations. Cape Cod, with its coastal location and proximity to the abolitionist centers of Boston and New Bedford, is believed to have been an important destination within the network. Verifying this theory, trap doors, tunnels and false walls have been discovered in numerous historical homes on the Cape. Among the best known Underground Railroad “stops” are the Wing Scorton Farm in East Sandwich and the Alvan Howe House in Barnstable. The Isaac Davis House, another historical site with connections to the Underground Railroad, is also located in Barnstable.

The distinctive geography and alluring history of Cape Cod have captivated writers since the nineteenth century. In fact, the most famous nautical novel of all time, MOBY DICK, was set around the island of Nantucket, which is located off the southern coast of the Cape. Since the publication of Herman Melville's enduring classic in 1851, hundreds of fiction and non-fiction works have focused on the harming New England tourist haven. With an emphasis on terrorism, Weeks's novel is among the most unique.

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Pump Up Your Book

is pleased to bring you

Don Weeks'

SCARECROW ON THE MARSH

Virtual Book Tour

November 2-30, 2016!

Inside the Book

Title: Scarecrow on the Marsh: A Cape Cod Thriller
Author: Don Weeks
Publisher: All Things That Matter
Pages: 192
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

When the mutilated body of renowned cosmetic surgeon Randall Landry turns up at a secluded bayside marsh in the town of Sandwich, Police Chief Thom Burrough’s life is turned upside down. While investigating the murder, he and Barnstable County coroner Abby Rhodes will uncover a plot more sinister than anything they could have imagined. On the outskirts of Chatham, a group of terrorists has assembled to unleash destruction on Cape Cod.

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Meet the Author

For over thirty years, Don Weeks was among the most popular radio personalities in the Capital District region of New York State. He received a Marconi Award for radio excellence in 2005 and was inducted into to the New York State Broadcasters Hall of Fame four years later. He had just completed a rough draft of Scarecrow on the Marsh when he died of Merkle Cell Cancer in March of 2015. Author royalties from this project will be donated to the WGY Christmas Wish Campaign, which benefits a variety of charitable causes. Weeks worked tirelessly over the years to help raise money for the campaign.