Feds: Cape Cod Island Cottages Endangered, Must Go

CHATHAM, Mass. (AP) — The federal government is moving to demolish several rustic island cottages that have been a fixture on a Cape Cod town's horizon for decades, and some residents say it's not right.

The Cape Cod National Seashore says the five camps it owns on North Beach Island in Chatham are in danger of collapsing into the water within the next few years.

It says removing the camps at once will save money, and prevent any hazards from debris if the cottages get swept into waterways.

But Chatham residents say the government is acting rashly and overstating the dangers of collapse.

They say removing the camps is a needless blow to the town's heritage. One Chatham selectman called the camps "part of our collective soul."