Onset Massachusetts Cranberry Picking Workers on Hands and Knees 1906 Real Photo Postcard

Cranberry cultivation has been a significant agricultural industry in Massachusetts since the early 19th century, with the southeastern part of the state, including Wareham and its village Onset, emerging as a primary growing region. Early harvesting methods, often depicted as large groups bent over the vines, primarily relied on labor-intensive hand-picking, a practice central to the fall agricultural calendar.

This scene likely dates to the early 20th century, a period when manual labor was crucial for berry collection before the widespread adoption of more mechanized harvesting techniques. Such harvests often engaged local families and seasonal workers, providing vital income and solidifying the cranberry industry's economic and cultural importance to communities like Onset.