http://www.seascapemotorinn.com/FlyIn.html

In 1928 a glider pilot, Peter Hesselback, stood atop Corn Hill in
North Truro on Cape Cod. Before a large crowd he readied himself to launch into
the ocean breezes, excited by the fact that he could break the Wright Brothers'
duration record of 9 minutes and 45 seconds set in 1911.

Little did he realize that his historic attempt was taking place from a ridge
that would be the future hang gliding flying site for our Annual Halloween
Fly-In which began in 1974. This site had also played a significant role in
American history in the year 1620. In 1620 the Mayflower left England filled
with Pilgrims bound for the Virginias. The ship was blown off course by a
vigorous storm and found shelter in the harbor of a peninsula shaped like a
fishhook. This peninsula stretched out into the ocean 40 miles from mainland
Massachusetts and was called Cape Cod. Finally, anchored in the safety of the
harbor, the captain announced that the ship was damaged and would be unable to
continue to the Virginias.

The Pilgrims went ashore to search the new land for food and water. Plenty of
fresh water was found, but as winter approached their rations diminished. In
late November, during their search for food, they climbed to the top of a hill
on the shore in north Truro. This much is fact. What followed depends on who is
telling the story.

Most accounts tell of the Pilgrims finding a large cornfield on a hilltop in
Truro that they harvested to supply them through the winter months. But further
research revealed another story.

The Pilgrims discovered sand mounds on top of the hill. The mounds were on top
of graves in a native Indian burial ground. The Indians believed that giving a
portion of the harvest to their ancestors would guarantee a plentifully harvest
the following year. Buried in the sand mounds on top of each grave were large
pots that were filled with corn at the end of each harvest and covered with
sand. The Pilgrims uncovered the large pots, finding the corn. Since that day
the Pilgrims called the site Corn Hill.

It was recorded at a later date that the Pilgrims admitted taking the corn. They
stated that because of the food shortage they were desperately in need of seed
for the following year and that they vowed to make restitution. In part, that
restitution came in the autumn of 1621. The corn they had taken from the graves
was used for seed the following spring and produced a huge, flourishing crop.
The Pilgrims and the Indians, sitting side by side, celebrated with a week-long
feast. We still celebrate this feast in November - Thanksgiving. There is a
plaque on Corn Hill commemorating the historical event of the Pilgrims finding
the corn.