Tell Me a Story: From Spring Hill Farm to African Safaris with Ellen Swain

In this episode of Tell Me a Story, Ellen Swain shares a remarkable life filled with Cape Cod history, memorable careers, community service, and adventure. Ellen recalls her family’s purchase of Spring Hill Farm—a historic 1790 saltbox at 246 Route 6A—in 1946. She recounts life on its working dairy farm, delivering raw milk around Sandwich, picking wild berries, working at the Old Mill tearoom, and watching the terrifying Otis fire from across the Cape Cod Canal. Her story then travels from Sandwich to the fashion world of Boston, New York, and Paris, where she built a career as a department-store buyer and merchandise manager. Ellen also describes her enduring love of Africa, including eight safaris, encounters with elephants, gorilla trekking, and the friendships that kept drawing her back. Along the way, she remembers the Yesteryears Doll Museum, Sandwich’s beach-plum “jelly man,” and her volunteer work with the Sandwich Active Living Center and Flower Angels. Hosted by John Osgood, Tell Me a Story is presented by the Friends of the Sandwich Town Archives in collaboration with Sandwich Community Television. #SandwichMA #CapeCodHistory #OralHistory #LocalHistory #TellMeAStory #AfricanSafari