History of Selcouth
Not much is known about the land before the Mayflower landed on the shores of Massachusetts. Settlements from Albenaki-speaking tribes have been found in the outskirts of town, but not much research has been done on them.
In 1620, Pilgrims from England settled in Massachusetts and established the Plymouth Colony, followed by the Puritans establishing Salem in 1629
In 1632, 16 colonists from Salem attempted to start a colony in the area where Selcouth now stands. This colony, known as the Pottersfield colony, disappeared mysteriously. Very little evidence has been found of the settlement, just a few metal pots, the outline of a fort, and 3 buried remains. The other 13 were never found.
The site was settled once again in 1742, and built into a small, but thriving farming town.
In 1755, an earthquake struck the settlement. There were no recorded deaths, but several people went missing.
No battles were fought near Selcouth during the Revolutionary War, but many families lost loved ones.
In 1811, a lumber mill was built, bringing prosperity to Selcouth and the surrounding areas.
Selcouth lost around 127 servicemen during the Civil War, and the lumber produced in the city was well used in the war effort.
In 1904, the lumber mill burned down, killing 34 workers.
In 1953, the notorious Mirror Lake Mental Institution officially shut down after reports of abuse.
In 1986, the town's most famous mystery occurred. The McFarlanes', a known family in the area, disappeared without a trace.