The Town of Wellfleet, formerly the North Precinct of Eastham, nicknamed Billingsgate after the famous London fish market, was incorporated in 1763. At that time our house had been here on the county road (now Main Street) for over half a century.

     Records of the Wellfleet Historical Commission say, of our home, "The house has always been a residence, but it is large enough for a dwelling and a business to be carried on in it. At various times it has housed Maria Higgins' Dry and Fancy Goods store; Eunice Ryder's Pin and Needle shop; Mary Freeman, dressmaker; and John M. Freeman, Asst. Agent Penn Mutual Insurance Company. By the early 20th century ownership of the house had passed out of the hands of the Higgins family, and in the 1920s when summer visitors were discovering the Cape, Margery Green Harrison, having inherited the house from her parents, opened a tea room which she called Blue Gateways. In 1946 Mrs. Harrison sold to Rachel Gordinier and Constance Seidler who continued Blue Gateways for many years as a small inn.

     Today, with the venerable house well on the way to its 300th anniversary, it is our pleasure to carry on the tradition as your hosts at Blue Gateways.