Union Hall, built in 1897 — the birthplace of the Osterville Men’s Club.

Our story begins in the basement of one of Osterville’s most historic buildings — originally constructed in 1897 as Union Hall at the corner of Main Street and West Bay Road.

For nearly fifty years, Union Hall hosted minstrels, concerts, and plays. During World War II, Seabees of the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion created a gathering space on the ground floor for soldiers stationed in Crosbytown, now the site of Crosby Yacht Yard.

In 1947, local veterans formally incorporated the Osterville Veterans’ Association (OVA), transforming Union Hall into their headquarters — a place of camaraderie and service that continues to this day.

On the ground floor of Union Hall is a place many Ostervillians recognize — The Fox Hole.

The red fox painted above the arched canopy has watched generations gather there. Known affectionately by some as ranking “supreme in Osterville dives,” it has long been a summer crossroads — “swarmed with vets, Cape kids sporting Nantucket Reds, and all walks betwixt.”

But beyond its colorful reputation lies a deeper significance. It is here, in 1957, that sixteen men met in Veterans’ Hall with the idea of forming a men’s group dedicated to fellowship and community.

The Fox Hole - where OMC began in 1957