A.D. Makepeace opens cranberry history display

Cranberry grower A.D. Makepeace launched a display of cranberry history on Monday, June 22 dubbed "Abel's Place," honoring the history and artifacts of the cranberry industry. 

In the 1850s, Abel Denison Makepeace began building the company that would earn him the moniker, “The Cranberry King.” According to the Barnstable County History published in 1890, Mr. Makepeace was “recognized by all New England as the foremost man in the cranberry business.”

Dubbed “Abel’s Place,” the display is housed in a room of what was once used as a machine shop, built by Mr. Makepeace in the early 1900s.

“We saw this as a way to recognize the family legacy and introduce the general public to the details of the cranberry industry,” said Christopher Makepeace, a fourth-generation descendent of Abel Makepeace and a member of the A.D. Makepeace Company Board of Directors.

The display is arranged by season, tied together by a mural designed and painted by Christina Antoniou of Kingston, then a college student majoring in fine arts. Here, visitors can view how maintenance in the winter and spring, blossoms and pollination in the summer, and of course the picturesque fall cranberry harvest has changed over the years.

“Whether you grew up in the industry and know some of the people shown in the old photos, or are new to cranberries but are interested in history, innovation, agriculture, or new technology, you will find this fascinating,” said James F. Kane, current president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.

Abel’s Place is located at 146 Tihonet Road, Wareham. It is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment. The regular business hours coincide with those of Makepeace Farms, the cafe and gift shop located next door.

“It’s so perfect to pop into with kids, or with anybody,” said Brittany Anne Burgess of Wareham, a social media guide, following a recent visit. “Honestly, this feels like one of those hidden gems that even people from Massachusetts don’t always know about.”