18 Alden Street. [2012, Dunlap]
Constructed before 1850, this was owned in 1910 by M. Dewager. From 1952 to 1970, this was the home of Jocelyn M. Lewis, one of the legendary ranks of Provincetown operators who kept the town connected before 1966. Lewis was the supervisor on the night of the vast Northeast blackout of 1965, when the operators at 100 Bradford Street were the town’s only link to the outside world. As recently as the 1980s, a retired fisherman, John Gomes, and a retired Coast Guardsman, Edward Cook, were living here. Khristine C. Hopkins and Clarence D. Beal III bought it from the Cook family in 1996. “We live here full time,” Beal said in 2022, “raised our son here, and I have a painting studio in the back where I spend as much time as possible.”
Details of the house at 18 Alden. [2012, Dunlap]
Ellen O’Donnell wrote on 29 July 2013: I was the director [1983-1986] of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. I have started reading your blog. I am only on Alden Street and I just wanted to add a few comments: The very talented sculptor Lila Katzen lived on Alden Street, as well as Arthur Cohen, painter, and his wife, Elizabeth [Rodgers], pianist. Also the Rilleau family, who for years designed the best custom-fit leather sandals anywhere. These people were all in Provincetown long before Khristine Hopkins and Donny Beal and should be mentioned. Good luck. This is a great project.
Donald Beal wrote on 4 March 2022: With fondness and respect to Ellen O’Donnell, I need to correct the information provided above. She has confused Alden Street with Allerton Street. The latter is in the East End of town and is where the Rilleaus and Arthur Cohen used to live. (I helped rebuild the Rilleau house years ago.) I am, along with my wife, the current owner of 18 Alden Street, which we bought in 1996 and is located near the center of town. We live here full time, raised our son here, and I have a painting studio in the back where I spend as much time as possible.
18 Alden Street on the Town Map, showing property lines.
¶ Last updated on 7 March 2022.
With fondness and respect to Ellen O’Donnell, I need to correct the information provided above. She has confused Alden Street with Allerton Street. The latter is in the East End of town and is where the Rilleaus and Arthur Cohen used to live. (I helped rebuild the Rilleau house years ago.) I am, along with my wife, the current owner of 18 Alden Street, which we bought in 1996 and is located near the center of town. We live here full time, raised our son here, and I have a painting studio in the back where I spend as much time as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Beal. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t catch that error myself.