Widow Town, with Phoebe Judge and Friends

“Who lives in that house?’ I inquired. ‘Three widows’ was the reply…”
—Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod (1865), “The Highland Light”

On the Outer Cape, the sea has always provided—and taken away. For generations, violent storms and catastrophic shipwrecks shaped the lives of Truro families, leaving behind grieving widows, orphaned children, and a community forever marked by loss.

Join acclaimed journalist and podcaster Phoebe Judge, Truro Historical Society President Tim Richards, and local writer and publisher Katherine Sullivan for an unforgettable evening that explores both the documented history and enduring legends born from these tragedies.

Through stories of devastating storms, infamous shipwrecks, and the resilience of those left behind, Widow Town examines the profound social and economic impact these disasters had on Truro and the Outer Cape. As the conversation unfolds, history gives way to folklore, revealing the ghost stories and lingering mysteries that have haunted these shores for generations.

Widow Town is an evening of history, storytelling, and mystery—where the true tragedies of the sea meet the legends they inspired.