Simes House and St. Catherine's Chapel Park, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I live near the Simes House in Manomet and often pass by. It changes dramatically depending on the light. These images were just before sunset one recent spring evening.

The Simes House Foundation states that, "Our mission is to restore and maintain the 150-year-old Simes House and Manomet Commons as self-sustaining historical landmarks in the Village of Manomet within the Town of Plymouth. For the public benefit, we hope to enhance cultural focus and identity, provide education and encourage community service."

"Simes House Foundation's goal is to create a mixed-use structure that will accommodate a self-sustaining historical community center, affordable housing and offices for local businesses, as well as becoming the cultural center of the Village of Manomet with an open space common."

"The Simes House Foundation now owns St. Catherine’s Chapel Park, located at 95 White Horse Road in Manomet. The site, formerly home to St. Catherine’s Chapel, was sold by the church to Good Properties Realty Trust, which built a beautiful, pastoral two-acre park. The park has been given as a gift to the Foundation, along with a $90,000 maintenance endowment. Historical village signage has been designed and is scheduled for installation. The public is welcome to enjoy the facility." (Source: The Simes House Foundation).

Here is an example of one of at least a dozen informative panels installed within the park providing fascinating details about the history of Manomet. It's a living museum of Manomet's history and I found it really cool.

It's a beautiful space and getting better with each passing season.

So let me be clear I understand this: Good Properties Realty Trust, a private entity, which according to public town records, purchased the former church property in June 2012 for $379,000. they then demolished the structure, dug up and disposed of almost two acres of asphalt parking lot, reconditioned the soil, landscaped, planted trees, graveled walks, built an entrance driveway, added fencing, lighting, and signage - and then DONATED the entire completed park to the town?  WOW, what a wonderfully altruistic act!  I don't know who the Good Properties Realty Trust people are but I for one, commend and thank them for their kindness and generosity.

And as if the donation of the property wasn't enough by itself, they also provided a maintenance endowment. What a wonderful gift to us all! What a thing of beauty!

Here's what it looked like a year ago. (Panorama - click on it to view in full width).

Simes House, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, and can use help with financial support to continue the building restoration and to stage community events.  Please consider making a donation and/or join the Foundation as a member at this link.