b'1948, The Town of Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Courtesy, Maps of AntiquityT he Chamber of Commerce published this depiction which shows most of the 1948 population in the Village and nearby shorelines.The end of World War II was the beginning of the boom in Chatham development for newcomers and summer residents, and it continues to this day.By 2010 approximately 60% of Chatham real estate taxes were provided by non-resident taxpayersmostly summer homeowners.Chathams fishing fleet had migrated from Old Harbor to Aunt Lydias Cove.Construction joined fishing and tourism as major contributors to the Chatham economy.In 1944 the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge was established, and since that time, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has administered what is now North Monomoy and South Monomoy Islands plus some acreage on the edge of Morris Island.The refuge has protected many square miles from development.The public can visit the Wildlife Refuge with proper respect for Wildlife Refuge regulations1954, Chatham Shorelines ChartCourtesy, Tiffany A. DoggettB y the mid 1950s, Nauset Beach provided a barrier as far south as Morris Island, which was then connected to Monomoy Island.From Stage Harbor there was a narrow cut between mainland Chatham and Morris Island (refer to 1948 map above).Small craft could transit from Stage Harbor to Chatham Harbor and Pleasant Bay.Chatham Yacht Club on Pleasant Bay and Stage Harbor Yacht Club could race in each others waters without using trailers.Also, Art Goulds small oyster barge could ferry woodie beach buggies (station wagons) to cross Stage Harbor cut then offload the woodies on Morris Island ($15) so they could be driven all the way down to Monomoy Point for fishing, hunting, beachgoing and camping.1940s, ALTAMAHA, a Woodie on MonomoyCourtesy, Mary Z. Olmsted7'