In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Heights, Jim Tyng, a fourth-generation resident, chronicles its history and spirit in a new book, “Nauset Heights: A Cape Cod Community by the Sea.” Published by the Nauset Heights Association, this 125 page, the hardbound book traces the community’s history from its early settlements to the present day, with vintage photographs, maps, and eyewitness accounts.

One hundred years ago the area known as Nauset Heights in East Orleans was a windswept thumb of farmland stretching northward, overlooking Nauset Inlet and marshes. Formerly known as “Stage Head” and “Stage Field”, and with about a dozen homes and fewer trees, the area already had a rich history, tracing back 8,000 years.

An early survey in 1900 provided the basis for the subdivision of Nauset Heights, and the “Plan of Land at Nauset Harbor Heights” was commissioned in August 1915. Today, Nauset Heights is a dynamic neighborhood of approximately 200 year-round homes and seasonal cottages.

“The story of Nauset Heights is also the story of Orleans,” said author Jim Tyng. “It’s the story of farmers and fishermen, hurricanes and shipwrecks, rum runners in the marsh, and the only place in the United States to receive enemy fire during World War I. It’s about quaint cottages and a spectacular and ever-changing seascape. Early families came to this area to enjoy the ocean and the beauty of the beach. Writing this book offered a chance to tell the story of a special neighborhood, as well as to celebrate the qualities that our town and community hold dear.”

“Nauset Heights: A Cape Cod Community by the Sea” is available at the Orleans Historical Society gift shop, and at all Orleans bookstores. Books may also be ordered directly from the NHA at P.O. Box 12, East Orleans, MA 02643, or by calling 508-255-2881.