Marshfield: Ownership of Rexhame Beach remains a 14-year mystery

Rexhame Beach residents were hoping to leave court Monday with a trial date set, but the 1998 ownership dispute will continue.

Everyone in the Boston courtroom, including the land court judge, agreed the private vs. public ownership debate between Marshfield neighbors has gone on too long.

But when the judge tried to schedule a February trial date they reached another road block.

Marianne McCabe, a homeowner who’s been a leader in keeping the beach public, says they won’t have enough time to prepare a full case against Rexhame Terrace, a group of residents who say they own the roads, dunes, and beach from Waterman Ave to Ames Ave.

McCabe is a defendant and recently made a motion to add two more parties to the case. It also explained to the judge that Marshfield’s Town Counsel is retiring July 27th and his replacement will need time to catch up on the aging case.

The issue of trial length caused another issue. An attorney who defends a handful of homes in favor of keeping the beach public asked the judge for a ten-day trial as opposed to the original proposal of five-days.

“It requires a lot of testimony from people who’ve been doing this and talking about their predecessors who did it. I have people who are grandparents and only want the right to walk to the beach with their grandchildren as they did with their grandparents. This is what’s going to be foreclosed for possibly hundreds of Marshfield residents,” said Attorney Joseph Klements.

A possible February trial was discussed, though the judge did not give a final date. New motions were recently filed by both parties which are currently under advisement.

Marshfield: Ownership of Rexhame Beach remains a 14-year mystery Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (36)