b'1961, Chatham Barrier Beaches looking South Courtesy Kelsey-Kennard PhotographersT he bottom of this aerial shows Nauset Beach and Tern Island.The center shows the new dike connecting the Lighthouse area to Morris Island.Beyond Morris Island is the Morris Island Cut for boats heading from Stage Harbor around Morris Island through Outermost Harbor to the ocean.At the top you see Monomoy Island running all the way from that cut to Monomoy Point. On August 7, 1961 the Cape Cod National Seashore was established as part of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.The Park Service had planned to manage all of Chathams outer beaches plus the undeveloped Stage and Morris Islands.Eager local developers won the battle to keep the two islands out of the National Seashore.Although North Beach, North Beach Island and South Beach are within Chatham, the first two are managed by the Cape Cod National Seashore while South Beach is managed by Chatham.Since the 1960s, Morris and Stage Islands have been heavily developed for residential use.1962, Dredging Stage Harbor Inlet Courtesy, Deborah EckerB y the mid-20th century, the outlet from Stage Harbor to Chatham Harbor and the Atlantic just south of Morris Island was filling with sand faster than the Town could keep it open.In 1962, a new inlet to Stage Harbor was dredged to allow larger fishing boats and keel boats an easier entry into that large anchorage and mooring area.This newspaper photograph shows the dredge chewing its way out of Stage Harbor toward Nantucket Sound.The dredged materials were pumped and piped east to form Crescent Beach nearby.1981, Southeast Chatham ChartCourtesy, Tiffany A. DoggettT he Blizzard of 1978 breached Monomoy Island at Hammonds Bend.Then there were two islands, North Monomoy and South Monomoy (see arrows).Note also the Stage Harbor inlet and the adjacent Crescent Beach at the former Harding Beach Point.9'