Benjamin D. Baxter Sr. was a local sea captain who was born in Hyannis in 1834 and went to sea at the age of 11. He later became the captain of the ship Gerard C. Tobey. His son Benjamin D. Baxter Jr. and his wife Elizabeth purchased the property at the end of Pleasant Street, where Baxter's is now located, around 1919 for their primary residence and for his business ventures.

The original business was the offloading and packing of fish from local and transient fishing vessels. They had two sons Benjamin D. Baxter Jr. and Warren T. Baxter. The boys grew up on the property and as young men were involved in all the operations of the fish packing business such as unloading the boats’ cargo, restocking the boats with ice and supplies, and packaging and delivering the fish to the Boston fish markets and other retail markets.

During the 1930’s, Benjamin D. Baxter Jr. started a trucking company from the Pleasant Street property and shipped goods from Provincetown to New York and Boston. At that time, Warren T. Baxter had started a family, and his own business called Baxter’s Fish Market in the building which is currently the Boathouse Club. After World War II Benjamin D. Baxter Sr. and his wife passed away, and the two sons split the property at the end of Pleasant Street into two halves. Warren continued to operate the fish market and his brother Benjamin (Uncle Ben) continued to offload the fishing vessels and began selling fuel.

In the 1950’s, Warren T. Baxter Sr.’s wife, installed a fryolater deep frying machine in a shed on the dock that was located next to the fish market. There she made her own coleslaw, and peeled and cut potatoes to fry along with the fish she purchased from her husband next door. In 1957 she opened what is now known as Baxter’s Fish & Chips a seafood restaurant featuring the freshest local seafood around.

Next door to the Fish & Chips, Warren T. Baxter Sr. and his son Warren T. Baxter Jr. were busy keeping the Fish Market going. But as time went by they were not as enthusiastic about cutting and packing fish, so he and his son, Warren Jr., came up with an idea to turn the Fish Market into a Bar and Restaurant, and on July 4, 1967 they opened what is now known as Baxter’s Boathouse Club.

They integrated the two buildings that are built entirely on pilings into one building and used the same kitchen to operate Baxter’s Boathouse Club and Baxter’s Fish & Chips. Baxter’s Boathouse Club and Baxter’s Fish and Chips is still family owned and operated, and it runs much the same as it did when it opened in 1967. The building is still built entirely over the water and customers can still tie up in their boats and have lunch or dinner.

There is also a commercial dock where tourists and sightseers can watch the charter boats and commercial fishing boats unload their daily catch. The Boathouse Club is decorated with authentic memorabelia from Captain Baxter's Ship. Come on down to Pleasant Street and enjoy a piece of Cape Cod History and the freshest seafood around.