Mid-Cape Home Centers celebrates 125 years of doing business on the Cape and beyond this year. We spoke with Marketing Director Crystal Pieschel about the organization’s past and its hopes for the future.
by Kelly Chase
photography by Michael Karchmer
Congratulations on the anniversary! One hundred and twenty five years is a long time. Can you share with our readers a little bit about how the company began in 1895?
Thank you. We do have quite a rich history. Our company, which now services the Cape, islands, and all of the South Shore, began as a small lumber yard in Chatham with only three team members. In 1895, Oscar C. Nickerson was captain of a schooner off the coast of Cape Cod, and he decided to settle down with his family and purchase a local lumber yard in the area. Oscar had previous experience with lumber as ship cargo, so he was knowledgeable about the industry. He and his family grew the business along the railroad, and passed the legacy on for generations.
Original location 1895
South Dennis; 1970s
Delivery truck; 1926
Today, Mid-Cape Home Centers has six locations—Orleans, South Dennis, Wellfleet, Falmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, and Middleboro. Tell us more about Mid-Cape Home Centers of today. What does it provide for the region’s home design community?
Simply put, Mid-Cape provides an “Experience that Builds.” We are committed to constantly evolving in order to better serve the local market. We currently offer everything from building materials, such as windows and doors, siding, and decking, to architectural support teams, product experts, first-class delivery services, and complete kitchens complimented by in-house designers. We regularly evaluate our services, as well as the products and brands we partner with, so we can make sure we’re always passing on the best to builders and homeowners alike.
From your team’s perspective, how has the home design industry changed on the Cape and islands in recent years?
Across the country, the Cape is a well-known style of home. The rectangular shape, steep roof for shedding the harsh New England elements, a centered door, and a central chimney in the heart of the home. While the classic shingles and large windows will always be a staple on the Cape and islands, the architecture and design in our area is ever-changing. We continue to be amazed at the quality craftsmanship and creativity of the builders and architects we work with. Local builders, architects, and homeowners are pushing the limits to create original works of art that manage to boast the traditional Cape Cod themes while encouraging growth and development among the building community.
Orleans; 1957
Standing left to right: Peter Furia, Jack Stevenson, Joe Solecki, Dale Simmons, Rich Grout, Stephen Zbell, Scott Romer, David Fetterman, Mark Stallsmith.
Front row left to right: Linda Hutchinson, Leah Fennell, Crystal Pieschel, Will DeMaida, Rene Lessard – Reiss, Carly Thielman
Mid Cape Home Centers
SOUTH DENNIS
465 Route 134
South Dennis, MA 02660
508-398-6071
ORLEANS
15 Main Street,
P.O. Box 99
Orleans, MA 02653
508-255-0200
WELLFLEET
30 Commercial St.
Wellfleet, MA 02667
508-349-3734
MIDDLEBORO
123 East Grove Street, Route 28
Middleboro, MA 02346
508-947-2353
FALMOUTH
81 Locust Street
Falmouth, MA 02540
508-548-3154
MARTHA’S VINEYARD SHOWROOM
20 East Line Road
Edgartown, MA 02539
508-693-3375