Historic Nantucket, July 1953, Vol. 1 No. 1

Historic Nantucket

NANTUCKET TOWN From an original lithograph by Ruth Haviland Sutton.

JULY, 1953

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASS.

Price per copy, $1.00

Per Annum, $3.00

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VOL. I,

JULY 1953

No. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial

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Edouard A. Stackpole. Nantucket to Mystic.

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The Melhado Gift. ------------- 10 "1800" House

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The Folger Clock Restoration

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The Old Mill Catastrophe ----------- 22 "A Whale of a Sale" ------------ 25 Gifts and Donors, 1951-52; 1952-53 The President's Report

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Proceedings — Annual Meeting 1952 - -- -- -- 49 Finances -:- Financing :-: Future

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Buildings and Museums -

81

Officers and Staff

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Membership — Application Legacies and Bequests

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Entered as second class matter June 1953 at the Post Office at Nantucket, Mass., under Act of August 24, 1912.

Copyright 1953, Nantucket Historical Association.

Editorial and Features

HISTORIC NANTUCKET Published quarterly and devoted' to the preservation of Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heritage and its illustrious past as a whaling port.

VOLUME I

JULY 1953

No. 1

EDITORIAL Born with this issue "Historic Nantucket" will be a quarterly parade in which three centuries of Nantucket will pass in review.

It will tell by word and picture the story of the Island's antiquity— its "Pot of Gold" — unalloyed even today.

Its old rambling streets and lanes are still just as they "grew", some paved with their original cobblestones. The stroller finds Traders Lane, India Street, Tattle Court, Whale Street, Stone Alley running from Union Street "below the bank" to aristocratic Orange Street on the hill, and many other tell-tale names. Its hundreds of homes, many over two hundred years old, are not only perfectly preserved but truly livable today.

Where else in the world would one find a "Pacific National Bank" and a "Pacific Club" at opposite ends of the main business street of a town on an island in the Atlantic Ocean? You find them in Nantucket. Its Whaling Museum, Friends Meeting House, Old Mill from which signals were flashed to returning whalemen warning them of the presence of English privateers lying in wait, the old Jail, the Jethro Coffin House built in 1686 and the "1800" House together with thousands of exhibits greet the visitor.

Such is Nantucket today, famed in American whaling history and a vital chapter in the larger maritime history of the world. Its simple unspoiled antiquity still offers hospitable living, happiness and health.

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Our Nantucket Historical Association is the organization de­ voted and pledged for more than fifty years to the preservation of the Island's famed heritage and its illustrious past as a whaling port. Through these pages it will strive to keep alive the "urge" in residents and visitors to preserve Nantucket town, its buildings, its streets and lanes, its customs and its spirit so that generations to come may still enjoy them and understand the great part Nan­ tucket has played in the founding of our nation and our freedom.

"Historic Nantucket" will print the "Proceedings of the Asso­ ciation" but they will be preparatory for the Annual Meeting to build up the interest of members to attend the meeting. This first issue includes the "Proceedings for 1951-52". Subsequent issues will contain special articles and news of current activities of the Association.

"Historic Nantucket" will be mailed without charge to all members of the Association. It will be on sale also through public subscription or by individual copies.

Edouard A. Stackpole After 15 Years as Nantucket Historical Association President and Navigator He Weighs Anchor And Sails for a New Home Port—Mystic.

BY MISS GRACE BROWN GARDNER

When the Council of the Nantucket Historical Association learned that our President had been chosen Curator of the Mystic Marine Museum reactions were decidedly involved. There was pride that our President was qualified for the position and that his ability had been determined, partially at least, by the prestige that he had gained as head of our Association. We were pleased that such a promising career was opening before our friend and fellow worker and that his future was to be along lines in which he had proved himself so able. But there was also the feeling, shared by many of our townspeople, that the removal of Mr. Stackpole would be a real loss to Nantucket as a whole and to our Association in particular.

The Nantucket Historical Association is not accustomed to having its Presidents either resign or retire. Mr. Stackpole is our seventh President in over fifty years. Dr. J. Sidney Mitchell, the first President, died while in office. The same was true of Mr. William F. Barnard, the second, of Mr. Arthur H. Gardner, the fourth, and of Mr. William F. Macy, the fifth. Mr. Alexander Starbuck, the third, did resign, but only after over twenty years of service and at the age of more than four score. And Dr. Charles E. Congdon, the sixth, retired on account of failing eyesight. Our Presidents have seemed contented and happy in their work, and I feel sure that Mr. Stackpole has been no exception.

In 1938, Edouard A. Stackpole was elected our seventh Presi­ dent, although some of our older members felt dubious and thought that he was very young for such a responsible position. Young he still is, yet he has to his credit fourteen years of able leadership during which the Association has prospered beyond the dreams of its founders. The Old Jail, the House of Correction, and the 1800 House have been added to its exhibits; accessions have increased 7

EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE

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in every department; the loft of the Whaling Museum has been converted into the Archives; its Library has been remodeled with many improvements and with an ever growing collection of valu­ able books. All buildings have had necessary repairs and the Old Mill once more spreads its sails to the wind. The number of visitors to our various exhibits for the year 1951 reached the astonishing total of over 27,000. All of our property is free of indebtedness and each year the Treasurer has reported a small surplus. Truly his youth has proved no detriment.

From Mr. Stackpole's facile pen, in addition to four juvenile books of adventure and many pamphlets, have come historical articles galore, so valuable that in 1951 he was granted one of the coveted Guggenheim awards which enabled him to publish the re­ sults of his research into the whaling industry of Nantucket's palmy days. This is to be a two volume edition of a complete history of American Whaling, of which the first volume has appeared.

It is published by the J. B. Lippincot Co. and is eagerly read So as Mr. Stackpole leaves us for a field of wider service he leaves with an honorable and outstanding record as our President.

We wish him similar success in his future work, and trust that in the not too far distant future when his days of retirement ar­ rive, that he may once more "come on from off" and continue the Nantucket researches with which he has made such valuable contributions.

The Melhado Gift A Dream Comes True in a House That Lives

BY EVERETT U. CROSBY

Something unusual, but most pleasing, happened to us last year. We had felt for a great while the need of owning an old Nan­ tucket residence of the period of Nantucket's wThaling prosperity.

We had at the Fair Street Museum endless possessions, furni­ ture, pictures, curios, dresses, children's playthings, and much else, given to the Association during past years by Nantucket families.

Some were in storage because of lack of room and others were in cases and exhibits, but none of them located for use as they had been from 100 to 150 years ago.

And then out of the blue came the offer as a free gift of the house built in 1800 on Mill Street. Louise and Allan Melhado, who own and live in Moors' End, the adjacent mansion on the corner of Pleasant Street, had of late years acquired the old James resi­ dence, did not need it for their own purposes, and would be glad to think of its being permanently used for the purposes of our Association.

Needless to say this generous gift was quite promptly ac­ cepted and we went to work to restore the house which had not been changed in any of its main structural features, and then to equip it appropriately. Fortunately the restoration was aided by financial assistance promptly offered by Mr. Melhado. So few people making a gift of property realize it can become a liability unless accompanied with funds to put it and keep it in condition for the intended use.

This gift produced a result which is unique and attracts pleasurable consideration from the numerous summer visitors. No­ where else is there a house 100 per cent of this 1800 period, with­ out detractions, and with furnishings, just as it could have been at that time,—not with reproductions but with originals. Any of 10

us owning and occupying such a property just naturally and prop­ erly must have many modern comforts which seem essential for living: plumbing, central heating, electric lights, over-stuffed fur­ niture, family photographs, perhaps an abstract painting if we run to such things, and a Steinway grand. But not so with the 1800 House which must be seen to be appreciated.

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Now it happens that there are certain other physical assets which our Association needs to more nearly complete the picture of Old Nantucket. They cost money—(which any of our executives would be glad to explain). It is hoped that this example of the Melhado gift may cause others to do likewise, thus giving our public more to appreciate at Nantucket and giving themselves the gratification of having permanently added to the perpetuation of Old Nantucket.

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"1800" House A Ramble Through, a House Reborn

BY EVERETT U. CROSBY

To give a general picture of one's experience in visiting "1800" House we will enter the front door and immediately cross the narrow hall to view the open closet under the stairs. There is no back to this closet, so that one may see the large area at the ground level which is covered by the typical six-flue chimney serv­ ing three fireplaces on each of two floors. It is eight and a half feet square and you see the back of the bee-hive oven. Ask the Custodian to show you the pamphlet explaining the portrait hang­ ing in the stair hall, known by us as "The Mystery Woman".

Jeremiah Lawrence, High Sheriff for the County, acquired this property in 1807 and he and later his widow owned it for forty-nine years during the early part of which it was an out­ standing building for this community and the scene of much social activity.

From this front hall we turn to the left into a parlor where every item of its contents is old, and generally of historic associa­ tion. Your attention is called to but a few: the portrait of Rev. George Bradburn on north wall, painted in 1840, was rescued from the Atheneum at the time of the Great Conflagration of 1846. This was a time when Nantucket had a population of nearly ten thousand which is some three times the population of recent years.

Franklin at the Court of France on south wall was engraved in 1853. It shows the interior of the palace of Versailles in 1788 where Franklin is offered a bouquet by a princess whose arm four years later was torn from her body and fired from a cannon by the revolutionists. Franklin's mother was a Nantucket woman.

The silk tapestry on east wall is a mourning piece made in 1807 about the time this house was first occupied.

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On the north wall is the crewel work picture known as The Fishing Lady. It was worked on Nantucket by Susanna Colesworthy in 1756. The designs for this work were brought from abroad and were copied at the time in and about Boston. Antiques Magazine records something like a dozen of the subject known to now exist.

The camphorwood desk and chest of drawers was built in China for a Nantucket sea captain, 100 years ago, for use in his cabin on the steamer which ran from Shanghai into the interior of China, despite the pirates.

You probably know Willard clocks. The tall one in this room was made by Aaron, one of three brothers working in Boston before and after 1800.

The small piano was made by Winter at Bremen for the young lady who owned it in Nantucket. Note under the case above the left knee of the player the wood lever damper.

The heavy mahogany roundabout chair had an amusing his­ tory. It belonged to the pastor of the North Congregational Church of Nantucket and when his effects were sold in 1839 it was bought for 50 cents by a Mrs. Coffin who got Georgie Brock, then a lad of thirteen, to carry it home from the auction on his head. Then she changed her mind, decided she did not want it and gave it to Captain Kelley to split up for firewood. He changed his mind, repaired and used it. After the death of his widow it came back to Mrs. Coffin and after the death of Mrs. Coffin's daughter, it went to George Brock, now a sea-captain, and the owner took pride in telling that in August, 1910, he refused an offer for the chair of $100.

Do not fail to view the collection of sheet music on the piano and in the rack under it, including the colored illustrations. The book of sacred music is dated 1804. The miniature mahogany bed and sofa were both carried in a procession in New York in honor of Lafayette in 1824.

"-R a°?k °ne °f the hooked ru£s which bears the inscription Brad, 1806", and see if you can decipher the more than twenty-six items shown, many of which are faded by passage of time.

"1,800 HOUSE"

The large rear room is known as "the keeping-room", a word used in early New England to designate the family living room which was the common dwelling or sitting-room in which the family also cooked and ate their meals. From this room in due course the cooking was transferred to a kitchen in the ell, which was not a part of the house when first built. We omit mention of the items in this room in this brief description. They are too numerous. Many have special interest.

When this house was first built, according to the then custom, all raw wood in the trim was immediately stained or painted. In this "keeping-room" when we restored it we found six superim­ posed coats of paint on the panelled wall. The first coat was a brown stain, the second a green much like the present restoration.

It is interesting to observe what may have been somewhat unusual, viz., the fourth coat, which was of a light blue color.

The boards over the fireplaces in the two parlors are pine, probably from Maine, and are 31 inches wide.

"Borning room." Here at Nantucket there was generally in the old houses a small room adjacent to the "keeping-room", or at another location easy to keep warm in cold weather. This is what we have named the small bedroom adjoining the "keeping-room" at the west. The use of this name for such a room was a custom at Deerfield, Mass., but was not general.

Also to be observed, is the "Clothes-press Room", the "Spin­ ning Room", the "Summer Kitchen" in the ell with the round butter or root cellar beneath it, and the genuine old pump in the yard, at the rear of which is the old back-house 'which is a two and a half holer.

The Folger Clock The Mystery of Time and The Universe as Solved

by Walter Folger, Jr., Once Again Will Tick Out His Answer

BY WILLIAM E. GARDNER

This tall and ancient "grandfather clock" made by Walter Folger, Jr., and set in motion July, 1787, is an astronomical time­ piece.

Walter, who came from Peter Folger, as did Benjamin Franklin, was a curious but very accomplished personality. He was self educated but highly regarded by scientific men, especially astronomers and navigators.

He began making this remarkable clock when he was twenty years old. His workshop was the front room of "Miss Molly" Starbuck's house at 8 Pleasant Street. In this house he spent all the years of his long married life.

The clock worked perfectly for years, but after Walter's death in 1849, it missed the master's hand and some of the astron­ omical mechanism was removed and the clock kept only the daily time.

In 1943 it came to the Historical Association through the generosity of Miss Annie Alden Folger, the great granddaughter of Walter. This marvelous example of a masterly horologist has been a constant challenge to many who believed that the original might be restored if a clockmaker could be found who was also an astronomer and capable of almost achieving the impossible.

In 1952 Brooks Palmer, President of The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, wrote to me for information about this clock. He desired to use it in the second edition of his very complete and beautiful "The Book of American Clocks", published

by Macmillan Company. He also wished to feature it in a lecture lthe Yew York University in the James Arthur Lectures on 'Time and Its Mysteries".

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THE FOLGER CLOCK

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I immediately appealed to Grenville Curtis, a Nantucket clock and watch repairer, for technical advise, and to Louis S. David­ son for photographs of the works as well as the tall case. In a short time I was able to send Mr. Palmer not only the interesting story about the clock but also a technically accurate description with photographs.

Mr. Palmer became so interested that he visited the island in the summer of 1952 as guest of the Gray Perrys. After a careful inspection he expressed the belief that the clock could be restored and that he would be able to suggest a craftsman with the proper knowledge and experience.

The horologist he suggested was Dr. Arthur L. Rawlings, con­ sulting engineer of the Bulova Research and Development Labora­ tories, Inc., President of the New York Chapter of the National As­ sociation of Watch and Clock Collectors and the author of "The Science of Clocks and Watches". Dr. Rawlings not only accepted the proposal that he study and restore the Folger clock but expressed in very tangible ways his great enthusiasm in being entrusted with the restoration of this ancient timepiece.

In January, 1953, the works were carefully packed and shipped to Dr. Rawlings. Since January there has been much research and considerable progress in remaking parts and in regulating. [At least 30 days are needed to regulate this clock and one wheel makes a complete revolution only once in eighteen and two-third years.]

Dr. Rawlings plans to bring the works back to the island and with the help of Mr. Curtis set the clock in motion in time for its first viewing at the annual meeting of the Association Tuesday, July 15.

At this meeting he will make an address giving some of the inter­ esting discoveries and observations about this remarkable time­ piece.

I gave much of the above report at the annual meeting of 1952 and at that time I was asked to add some preview of the book I am writing, a kind of portrait story of the interesting life of Walter Folger Jr. I have been urged to add here my notes of that

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preview. It was & most informal little speech but many have spoken of it and I am glad to add it to the report for this first issue of "Historic Nantucket".

Walte. Junior, as a boy must have been oppressed by the commonplace. He tells us that he attended many of the island schools, such as they were before the Revolution, but only for a short time. It is reported that he soon embarrassed the teachers by beginning to teach them. In his adolescence he had a sickness; certain evidences show that it may have been a type of hysteria because he thought life commonplace; according to his own ac­ count he went to bed for a year and was unable to secure enough books to read. One day his father brought him a copy of Maskelyne's British Mariners Guide. After long search the Boston Atheneum Library loaned me a valuable copy of this book. It didn't arouse much intellectual enthusiasm in me, but it did arouse Walter in 1778, and he jumped out of bed and had little sickness the rest of his life. You can now understand why I am moved to call my first chapter: Was He a Problem Child?

If Walter did not like the commonplace his mind was captured by the mystery of the universe. I have come to think that his constant query was: How Are Things Put Together?

The sun, the moon, the planets of our solar system and the constellations of the celestial sphere became a compelling study; also the mystery of angles and triangles in astronomy and navi­ gation and surveying delighted him. When the captain of a whaleship told him how a sailor found his way over the vast ocean with the aid of the North Star and a good chronometer, the value of the heavenly bodies and a timepiece took on new meaning and he began to dream of making a clock that would show some of the features of the mystery of time as they guided and con­ trolled man's daily thought and life. In this way I found a good chapter-title: "The Mystery of Time — Walter Made an Astro­ nomical Clock".

Walter's marriage and nine children are hard to reconcile with his absorption in the mysteries of the universe. An estimate of how he occupied his time leaves little room for intimacy with girls. We have over two thousand documents of one kind and an-

THE FOLGER CLOCK

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other and when we reckon the time he spent on calculations, read­ ing and making mechanical gadgets—putting things together—he had little time for parties and no evidence of any desire for them.

Of course no one really knows how he proposed to Anna Ray—if he did! But after my few years of intimacy with Walter I think I know how it all came about!

I think the fathers managed this marriage as many fathers did in those days. Anna had a hand in it—probably—but the fathers were the forceful factors; Alexander Ray had twelve chil­ dren, mostly girls; Walter, Sr., had five girls and Walter, Jr., was the eldest boy who should "carry on the family" and considerable property. Alexander and Walter, Sr., were close business friends and they could have manipulated circumstances to bring a mar­ riage about.

My personal opinion from studying Walter Folger's type of mind, is that Walter saw another enticing phase of the universe; the mystery of marriage took hold of him as did the mystery of an asteroid or a comet and when the father sweetened the idea with the promise of a house and shop on Pleasant Street and finally an escape from an over-crowded home, Walter fell for the idea and entered upon marriage with considerable success, but Anna must often have faced some questions and situations hard to meet.

Walter's study of how a family was put together led him into the whole social problem. According to the evidence, he early began to receive various calls from the community which enticed him to see the mystery of how things were put together in the town, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the nation.

This chapter is entitled The Call of Community and its Mys­ tery. For about twenty years Walter moved from one thing to another and each move was in response to a call; he never sought any position for himself, but he picked from many calls the one that magnetized his interests and then after a time he dropped that interest and moved on as though the spring in the well had dried up for him.

First he became a selectman of Nantucket. He was only twenty-four years old and the other members were twenty to thirty years older. Then he was sent to the Massachusetts Legis-

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lature, first as Representative and then as Senator. Soon we find him in Washington as representative of the Cape and Island District.

During this period he read and practised law and the Gov­ ernor of Massachusetts appointed him Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas of the island—it is said that he never had a decision reversed by the higher court.

During these same years he kept up an amazing amount of mechanical work; the five inch Gregorian telescope now in our museum is an interesting evidence of his quest to see how the celestial sphere was put together. A bundle of memoranda, little notes to "Cousin Walter", as most of the islanders called him, are evidences that he not only made a remarkable clock and telescope and repaired clocks and watches, but he fixed quadrants, compasses, surveyors equipment, spyglasses, locks, spectacles, tin pans, frying pans and put a heavy iron tire on a cart wheel. In all this mechanical work there seemed to be no manifested interest to help people—if there was a problem of putting things together he was interested, but there is no trace of a "do-gooder" in any of the material he left for us to study.

The chapter on the Call of Community and Its Mystery tries to display this unique character and the evidences for the unique­ ness.

Approaching sixty years of age we find Walter back in Nan­ tucket and at work in his Pleasant Street home and shop on the telescope. This calls for a chapter on The Mystery of Space. He also opened a little shop down on Main Street" where more people could diop in than on Pleasant Street. This shop became a kind of philosophical center—in fact Walter organized the Philo­ sophical Institute which continued for a number of years and had a membership of the best brains in town. We have some records of the scientific discussions that went on, of the books for the Social Library bought, the first encyclopedia brought to Nantucket and some of the papers and magazines subscribed for and passed around.

THE FOLGER CLOCK:

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This portrait story of Walter Folger will end with a scene that fascinates me: two years before his death at eighty-four, when he was living quietly in the Pleasant Street house; Anna was dead and all the children in their own homes on or oif the island. Ralph Waldo Emerson came to Nantucket to lecture in the rebuilt Atheneum Hall. He called on Walter and saw the clock and the telescope and talked—and most of their talk must have been about how things are put together.

The title of the last chapter will be a Feiv Faculated Folgers, reviving an old Nantucket saying. There will be short sketches of Benjamin Franklin, Timothy Folger, Lucretia Coffin Mott, Thomas Mott Osborn, Henry C. Folger, donor of the Shakespear­ ian Library in Washington, and other members of this distin­ guished family.

THE START

HALFWAY

ALMOST IN PLACE

REPLACING THE MAIN SHAFT 22

The Old Mill Catastrophe Age and Weather Take Their Toll But Loyalty and Generosity Restore

BY EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE

When the great blizzard of February, 1952, swept across Nantucket, it brought the full fury of its onslaught on Nantucket's historic Old Mill. Just before midnight on that night, the main shaft of the Mill was broken. The vanes, under the tremendous weight of the wet snow, which clung to it like a white protecting blanket, sagged, and the rushing wind completed the dangerous strain until the breaking point was reached. The stout shaft splin­ tered and snapped, and the vanes collapsed to fall in ruins and be partially buried by the snow.

On the following morning the wreck was surveyed. There was no gainsaying the extent of the damage. This was no single, crippling blow; this was a complete disaster. Several meetings of the Council were held, one at the scene of the disaster. It was unanimously agreed that the work of restoration must proceed as soon as the proper material could be obtained. But, due to the size of the shaft and the approach of a busy summer season, it ap­ peared that at least a year would elapse before the work could be accomplished.

However, your President was empowered to go ahead with the plans. An appeal for funds to promote the restoration was first in order. The urgency of the work was duly brought forth in a letter of appeal prepared by Vice-President Everett U. Crosby and sent out over your President's signature. This letter had a heart-warming response and on the sixth monthly date after the Old Mill's disaster, it was announced to the Council that the funds had been raised.

But the completion of this happy set of circumstances came with the cooperation of Joseph Senecal, the local contractor who has cared for the Mill's physical well being for the past decade.

The question of obtaining the proper kind of wood was solved 23

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by the prompt action of the Island Service Company, through its President, Sidney Thurston. Within six weeks a piece of white oak was located at Portland, Maine. White ash and spruce were also purchased for the arms and vanes.

The highest praise must be accorded Mr. Senecal for his excellent work of restoration. There was no lathe large enough, locally, to handle the 18 by 18 inches square by 22 feet long piece of oak which had to be shaped for the main shaft. But Mr. Senecal had a wealth of experience to draw upon. Back in 1937, he had worked on the restoration of the Mill's wooden machinery. And so, he constructed a 25 foot lathe in his shop on William Street, using parts of a Model T Ford, an electric motor, belts from the old power system of The Inquirer and Mirror and other odds and ends. When he had completed his work, Mr. Senecal had turned the rough oaken timber into a main shaft which was the exact duplicate of the old, splintered shaft. It was a remarkable achieve­ ment.

During the mid-weeks of August, a large crane operated by Walter Glowacki swung the huge shaft into position. As the inner fitting was snugly placed in the drive-wheel hub, completing the most critical phase of the task, Mr. Senecal could not suppress an exclamation of relief and satisfaction which was promptly echoed by all present on the occasion.

The cost of the work of restoration did not exceed the sum raised by the response of members and friends to the well-worded appeal. Entailing the purchase of the lumber, the carpentry, the trucking, the fitting and the painting, the cost in round figures was not in excess of the $2,300 which was raised.

There, then, was a notable achievement. In less than six months the job had been successfully accomplished. This, in itself, revealed two important facts — first, the Council of the Nantucket Histori­ cal Association was keeping faith with those who have worked so hard in the past to perpetuate, through its practical aspects, the symbolic worth of the Old Mill; second, the public (as a minority group), are interested enough to lend financial support to the preservation of one of our island's most beloved landmarks.

"A Whale of a Sale"

A Whale of a Sale Nantucket's Whaling Museum Steps Out to New York for a Brief Broadway Cavort

Who, of all who saw it, will ever forget the "Sea Serpent" caught off the Island of Nantucket and landed on the bathing beach for all to see. A monster indeed, but one produced by Tony Sarg as a forerunner of Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Pa­ rade, now so popular with old and young alike.

But few, if any who saw it, knew that the real "father" of Nantucket's Sea Serpent was none other than Paul Hollister of R. H. Macy's Executive Staff. It seems his imagination never stops running riot but then that is not surprising for apparently he gets paid to run riots, sales and what ever else will produce business. So when in February, 1953, R. H. Macy & Co. of New York decided to hold "A Whale of a Sale" what could be more log­ ical than for Hollister to again head for Nantucket for after all "Sea Serpents" and "Whales" are both mammals, or at least are said to be by hearsay, and so it was that the Nantucket Historical Association received a letter from Paul Hollister which read in part as follows: "Confidentially, in early February, we are having a substan­ tial sale here in the store which we are calling 'A Whale of a Sale'. This title is peculiarly ours because our founder, Rowland H. Macy, went to sea in 1857 from his native town of Nantucket, as a boy of 14, and for four years was whaling in the Emily Mor­ gan out of New Bedford.

"So we think it appropriate, if it is at all possible, to exhibit in our windows during this sale such examples of whaling lore or gear, with full credit to the loaning institutions, as would in­ terest our customers. Needless to say, any Nantucket loans would be entitled to front row positions, as 'members of the family'.

"Unusual prints, models, tools, facsimile of log-pages—each with adequate material for a caption-card, are the sort of thing that will make interesting 'side-shows' to the merchandise in our 27

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windows—which have, as you probably know, the highest spec­ tator-traffic of any store in America. I hope the exposure of Y011^ Museum in those windows may seem to you good for the Museum.

The Council of the Association approved loaning selected ex­ hibits because of Rowland H. Macy's Nantucket birth and because of the unusual opportunity presented for desirable Nantucket publicity. Hollister visited the Island and selected the desired ex­ hibits which were then packed with great care and shipped air freight to New York.

Mystic Seaport of the Marine Historical Association of Mys­ tic, Conn., also was touched for exhibits and most appropriately so if for no other reason than that our own President Edouard Stackpole had been made Curator at Mystic only a few weeks before. Thus Nantucket and Mystic went together to Macy's "Whale of a Sale", and as it was about to "blow" Paul Hollister flung to the winds a news release which being a classic in itself for originality of expression is quoted in full.

"WHALE OF A SALE" "Thar she blows!" in Herald Square, N. Y. New Yorkers who react to the call "Thar she blows!" as a Georgia Tech halfback leaps at a rebel yell, will be turning next week to the show-windows of their "big store" for a glimpse of unique whaling relics from the marine museums of Nantucket and Mystic.

For in three of Macy's 34th Street windows starting Feb. 9 they'll see among other treasure, the very spyglass owned by Captain (then Lieutenant) William Bligh, of the ill-fated H.M.S. Bounty—pretty certainly the glass he used when his mutinied crew set him adrift in 1789 in an open boat to fight his epic voyage of 4,000 miles by oar and sail to safety on a Javanese beach.

They'll see original pictures and models of whaleships, a miniature diorama of a harpooned whale taking a boatload of whale-hunters for a "Nantucket Sleighride", towing the boat at desperate speed in his effort to "get off the hook". All told there are more than 70 unique exhibits, seen for the first time in New York.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Why Whales in Herald Square?

It seems that the great minds at Macy's reasoned thus: 1. The size of the store makes it a whale, so 2. Why shouldn't it now have a whale of a sale? And 3. Since N.antucketer Rowland H. Macy, the store's founder in 185,8, had sailed from New Bedford in the whaler Emily Mor­ gan round the Horn across the Pacific and back as a boy of 15 to 19, in 1837 to 1841, maybe now the store ought to collect and show some whaliania-macyana during the sale.

The priceless exhibits are not for sale. They are the loan of the Nantucket Whaling Museum, and the Mystic Seaport of the Marine Historical Association of Mystic, Conn., both famous shrines for all Americans born with a love of sea, sail, pioneer adventure and enterprise-the-hard-way.

Keystone of the exhibit is a scale-model of the Emily Morgan herself, made by Capt. Hall of Flushing, L. I., last of the great model-builders, after exhaustive research by Prof. Ralph Hower of the Harvard Business School in collaboration with Edouard Stackpole, then curator of the Nantucket museum, and recentlyappointed curator of the Mystic Seaport. Complete to her last de­ tail, this $5,000 model will incite envy and despair in the hearts of all model-makers.

"Saucy Sally" — 1810 Cheesecake Loaned jointly by Mystic and Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Morgan (Morgan Stanley & Co.) of New York is a unique hand-carved, hand-painted rudder-post figure "Saucy Sally". Sally is a Copacabana babe in a tall beaver hat wrapped in ribbons and flowers, with the deepest plunging neckline ever seen on the Seven Seas. Sally sat on top of the tiller on the ship of her name—a British brig of 1810. She faced forward, so every time the helmsman looked be­ hind him, she took his mind off his navigation.

Other rare original ships' figureheads include a magnificent 6-foot slanting eagle, his wings furled, in red, white, black, and gold, from an unidentified vessel, and a little lady fully-clad, but plucking at her kirtle, named Lydia. She was, in fact, Lydia Mit-

A WHALE OF A SALE

31

chell, daughter of Captain Mitchell of the Whaleship Lydia. In later years Lydia herself married Captain Barrett, and in the fire of 1846 in Nantucket their house was menaced by the flames.

Fire wardens wanted to dynamite the mansion, and planted gun­ powder and told Mrs. Barrett to scram. She would not budge. The kegs of powder were removed. The wind shifted. The Barrett house was saved, and is one of the 300 architectural jewels of rich Nantucket Island today.

"Home-Away-From-Home Work"

Off watch at sea, Yankee whaleship men clever with their hands and knives fashioned all sorts of gifts for the gals they left ashore, using whale's teeth, walrus ivory, whalebone, and even beefbone for their medium. The result, called "scrimshaw' work, is liberally shown in Macy's windows: whale's teeth engraved with patriotic symbols, whale-killings, nude sketches of Dream Girl, whale - ivory pie - crimping - wheels, corset busks, fancy walking sticks, and even a desk-pen holder of whale ivory that is the direct precursor of Mr. Tycoon's fountain-pen-holder on his Wall Street desk today. The Mystic exhibit, however, was made to hold a goose-feather quill.

Unique Refugee Liner

From Mystic comes a photocopy of the only known painting of the ship American Eagle, which in 1800 set down on the shore at Newport, Rhode Island, the first immigrant members of a ref­ ugee French family from the town of Nemours, not far from Paris, named duPont, founders of the duPont industrial free-enterprise empire. DuPont executives have had it copied for their homes, at great cost.

There's a water color, too, of another ship in a gale, an eye­ witness spot-picture of Acushnet made by a whaleman named Macy on a companion ship in the hurricane.

And to keep Acushnet company, there's a replica of her hand­ written ship's roster. The eighth name from the bottom of the list is the sign-on of a young sailor from Fairhaven, Mass., name of Herman Melville. On this voyage in Acushnet, Melville gathered the first-hand experience that inspired him to write the classic of

A WHALE OF A SALE

33

all sea classics, "Moby Dick, or The White Whale". (Folks in Nantucket say "The Cruise of the Cachalot" is much better whal­ ing-reading, but visitors to Macy's windows will judge for them­ selves. And the Mystic authorities say the book "Whale Hunt" is better than both the others, and I'm inclined to agree.)

What Is a "Ship's Waif"?

A "ship's waif" is a small flag on a long spear. The flag bears the house-symbol of the owners of the whaleship that "fastens", or harpoons and kills, the whale. While the mother-ship is moving up into position to lash the whale, then take it aboard, cut it into blubber and oil and whalebone and ivory, the boatmen who have killed it plunge the spear-flag into the whale to warn other neigh­ boring ships to lay off, and abandon all ideas of high-jacking the quarry.

In Macy's window is the only ship's waif that really belongs in 34th Street.

For it bears the symbol of the famous Macy whaling-fleet, which operated five historic whaleships out of Nantucket. The last and greatest of them was Mohawk. Her master, Captain Charles Grant, was regarded as the most efficient whale-skipper who ever sailed. This may have been because his bride sailed with him.

Her first child was born at sea. Her second was born on Pitcairn Island, where the Bounty mutineers had fled and made their own lives—he was the first white child born there. Her third, George Grant, was born in Samoa, and lived to become curator of the Nantucket Museum, and his grand-daughter Mrs. Nancy Adams is today the curator of exhibits there—a "ship's waif" in her own right, saying "lay off" to any and all who would dim the island's aristocratic sea-going pedigree.

Harpoon Corkscrew

Not only is shown in Macy's window a 27-pound gun made by Eben Pierce of New Bedford (pronounced peerce or purse) to fire a dart into a whale and explode a killing charge within him, but also a unique harpoon.

Somebody somewhere stabbed the whale with it. The whale did not approve, thrashed in spirals, broke the line, escaped, with the harpoon still inside.

34

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Years later another crew killed the whale, and in cutting him disclosed the harpoon, bent into a zigzag lightning-struck spiral by his antics to survive. You won't believe it, and neither did the boys along the Mystic and Nantucket waterfront saloons. But there it is in Whaler Macy's window.

Rip Nelson, new curator of the Nantucket museum, also loaned a hand-colored log-book of a great whaleship, a panel of the signal flags of the whalers (including the Macy vessels), and two carved miniature models of desirable types of whale: the sperm, and the sulphur bottom, whose bottom is in fact sulphur yellow.

He sent, too, a multiple-wick whale-oil lamp used in the dark depths of the ship in the blubber-room where the non-fragrant animal (a whale is an animal, remember) was cut up for oil, ivory, corset-stays, and other by-products. The Nantucket Museum itself is housed in an ancient red-brick building which for years made whale-oil for lamps and whale-oil candles—whose light went out only after John D. Rockefeller and his pals discovered and de­ veloped coal-oil.

Mystic-al Magic kiom the Mystic Seaport, with its fantastic congress of 20 buildings and Live ' sailing ships, life-size, in sea-water, includ­ ing the Charles E. Morgan (sister-ship of Emily) the last of the whalers extant, the square-rigged Joseph Conrad, the coasting schooner Australia, and the late-Victorian Sound ferryboat Brinkenhoff, Mr. Stackpole loaned Macy's windows a hand-carved walrus-ivory cribbage-board, a pocket-matchbox of ivory, and a miniature scale-model of a 28-foot whaleboat including all her intricate miniature gear—the most maneuverable cedar smallboat ever designed, especially for getting away from an angry whale in a hurry. And Mystic also sent a brass-studded ship's wheel, from an unidentified vessel.

Whether the sale at the store is a whale of a sale we wouldn't predict, but Macy's windows will give any landlubber "a whale of a sale".

Gifts and Donors

38

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

dren, so when Job Thurston's widow died, the clock was in the house of her nephew, Capt. James Henry Barnard, at 8 Darling Street. Capt. Barnard died in 1883 and after the death of his widow, the clock was sent, according to his will, to Miss Helen McCleary, the youngest grand-child.

We regret to say that the hood of this beautiful clock was damaged in transit from Boston to Nantucket, but the experienced hand of Earl S. Ray has perfectly repaired it and we are happy to announce that it is in running order and keeping good time.

Simon Willard made no tall clocks after 1800, so this clock is at the present time over 153 years old.

Another outstanding gift has been that of Dr. William E. Gardner who has given the sum of five hundred dollars, the in­ come of which is to be used for the binding of the Proceedings of the Association for the Historical Association, Atheneum, Maria Mitchell Library and Academy Hill School.

Numerous log-books and books have been added to the col­ lection at the Whaling Museum and one of the outstanding ac­ quisitions is the model of the whaling ship Morning Star.

We would welcome any early American furniture for the Old­ est House and period furniture for the 1800 House.

A complete list of accessions for the years 1952 and 1953 to date will be found in this publication.

Accessions at Fair Street Historical Museum The following is a list of donations received from August 1, 1951, to April 1, 1953, for which the Nantucket Historical Asso­ ciation expresses sincere thanks and appreciation. The accession number follows the name of the donor.

Anderson, Mrs. Florence Bennett — 51-6,8. Copy of "A Nantucketer Remembers".

Baker, Maude (estate of) — 51-65. Silver Spoon with Old Mill Handle.

Baker, Frank C. — 52-19. Large collection articles belonging in Shubael Coffin family.

GIFTS AND DONORS

39

Backus, Mrs. Alma Gibbs — 51-66. Citizen's News Room Record —1875 to 1878.

Boyd, Dr. Walter W. — 52-47. Photograph of Mr. James E. Gardner.

Burchell, Mrs. Gilbert — 52-35. Child's Rocking Chair.

52-36. Wicker Bassinet of early date.

Cash, Miss Helen — 52-27. Old Fire Bucket, marked P. V. F. A. 52-28. Silver Pitcher and Tray.

Ceeley, Mrs. Lincoln — 53-5. Duffle Bags; pudding bag; woven on old hand loom.

53-6. Old Photograph.

53-7. "Rules of Rope Making"—1767.

Coffin, Mrs. Edward F. — 52-48. Braided Rug. 52-49. Book, "Phebe Hanaford".

Coffin, Henry (heirs of) — 51-63. Gold Watch made in London, 1833, with bill of sale. Belonged to Mr. Henry Coffin.

Coffin, Mr. R. L. — 52-9. Photograph of Brant Point, Sherburne.

Congdon, Mrs. Charles — 51-48. Three photographs, framed, of Emily Barker Swain, mother of Miss Annie Alden Folger.

Crosby, Mr. A. M. — 51-62. Funeral Sermon of Miss Sarah Coffin Whitney.

Crosby, Mr. Everett U. — 51-61. Copy of Address of Prof. Heflin on subject of Herman Melville & Nantucket.

Cummings, Mr. Lawrence (estate of) — 52-43. Second Edition of "American Historical & Literary Curiosities". Contains let­ ters and autographs of famous people.

Coolidge, Mrs. Richard B. — 51-50. 10 Photographs of Nantucket.

51-51. Spoon found in pond near Saul's Hills.

Dean, Father Bartholemew — 53-4. Original Bill for Jared Coffin Candle House — 1837.

Drake, Dr. Thomas E. — 52-31. "Slavery & the Woman Question"; Lucretia Mott's Diary — 1840.

Fisher, Miss Lila — 51-64. Old Spoon Mold; found in Quidnet.

Fitzgerald, Miss Elizabeth Coffin — 52-24. 14 Pieces of Canton China, Marked G. S. Friebus, Mrs. Beatrice — 52-39. Hand Blown Water Glass.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Frost, Mr. Joseph W. P. — 53-14. Incomplete description of a visit to Nantucket. From the Estate of Dr. Moses V. Safford.

Gardner, Dr. William E. — 52-5. Notes on Cyrus Peirce.

52-6. Notes on Daniel Webster.

52-7. Stereoscopic views of Siasconset.

52-8. Volume of "Letters of William Pitt" formerly in the Library at Portledge Manor in England, owned by Pine Coffin.

52-15. Statement about Indians.

52-44; 52-45 ; 52-46. Collection of Books and Papers.

Green, Mr. Norman J. — 52-26. Certificate of Membership in Pil­ grim Society belonged to Hon. David Joy. Hosmer, Mr. S. — 51-56. Letter from Germany to Frederic Sanford concerning the Ship Newton and the burial of her crew whose bodies came ashore after the wreck of Dec. 25, 1865.

Howard, Frank E. (estate of) — 52-23. Portrait of Keziah Coffin Fanning, painted on wood.

52-30. Portraits of Robert Fanning and Phebe Swain Fan­ ning — 52-29.

Inquirer & Mirror Office — 51-45. Photograph of Naval Force at U. S. Naval Base, Nantucket, Mass., Sept. 12, 1918 — Thomas J. Prindiville, Commander.

Jerome, Mrs. Everett — 51-67. Small Bible and Prayer Book.

Lederer, Mr. Richard M. — 52-18. Subscription to magazine "American Heritage".

52-22. John Townshend's Diary, 1786.

51-57. Photostat of appointment of James Shaw as a Pilot for Harbor or Port of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Locke, Mr. John — 52-2. Mahogany Chair known as the "Tea Party" chair.

Lord, Miss Harriet — 52-32. Box of Assorted Shells.

Mitchell, Misses Florence and Josephine — 51-49. Charts of Shoals.

51-58. Work Box. 51-59. Collection of Books and Papers.

Nichol, Miss Ellen Hazelton — 51-47. Memoir of Hon. Walter Folger.

GIFTS AND DONORS

41

Osborn, Mr. William Edgerton — 51-57. Old Coverlet formerly belonging to Lydia Worth Osborn.

Pease, Mr. B. Chester — 51-55. Collection of Civil War Relics belonging to Benjamin B. Pease.

Potter, Mrs. Lucius — 52-17. Share Certificate, New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket Steamboat Company.

Reed, Mr. Colin McF. — 52-1. Collection of Daguerreotypes.

Rule, Mrs. George C. — 52-3. Collection of Articles from the CobbRule Families.

52-10. Collection of Books and Papers.

Sanderson, Mr. George A. — 53-10. Photographs of Capt. and Mrs. George F. Joy. Sayle, Mr. Charles — 53-1. Newbegin Bible, English Edition of 1752.

Shurrocks, Mrs. Alfred — 51-46. Nantucket Central Railroad Time Table.

Snelling, Mrs. Samuel — 52-37. Chest containing old World War Posters with donation of money to have them backed with cotton cloth.

52-38. Small piece of Ancient Egyptian Pottery from near the Pyramids.

Starbuck, Mr. Walter — 52-42. Collection of Papers from the Estate of Mr. Alexander Starbuck. Through Mr. Edouard Stackpole.

Stiles, Mrs. Clifford — 53-13. Shaker Rocker, formerly belonging to a Nantucket lady.

Stollnitz, Master Fred — 52-25. Old Butter Churn.

Sylvaro, Mrs. Ferdinand — 53-11. Oil Portrait of Hannah Macy Gardner, painted in Hong-Kong, in 1812 by portrait painter Lai Suns.

Tice, Mr. Edward P. — 52-33. Four Old Nantucket Street Signs.

Waggaman, Mr. Robert M. — 52-41. Old Fire Hose Nozzle.

52-40. Small Chest filled with Papers and Poems, including the original Hand Written Manuscript of Alexander Starbuck's History of Nantucket from the Estate of Mr. Alex­ ander Starbuck.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Winslow, Mrs. Bessie C. — 51-52. Rag Doll, made on board Capt.

Samuel Wyer's Whaling Vessel "The Young Hero".

52.4. Hand Embroidered Petticoat belonged to Mrs. Eliza Ann Chadwick.

Accessions at Whaling Museum — 1951-1952 Gennett, Mr. Clarence—Piece of old iron, found at the site of Brant Point shipyard in August 1952.

Gardner, Miss Grace Brown—Book "South Sea Bubbles", by the Earl and the Doctor.

King, Mrs. Charlotte Giffin—Collection of garments worn by Mary Palmer Nye on board her father's ship Alto, and the basket in which they were carried.

Excerpts from a journal kept by Mrs. Mary Harris Nye, on board ship Alto in 1864.

McCleary, Miss Helen C.—King's book of Chanties.

Parsons, Mr. A. K.—Photograph: Old North Wharf.

Purchased—"Log Book for Grace", by Rubert Cushman Murphy.

Rule, Mrs. George C.—Log Book of "Spring Grove" and ship "Fanny" of London—1818-1821; 1821-1824; Ship "Clarkson" —1838-1841; Papers of ship "Spring Grove", Capt. George Cobb Rule.

Runk, Mr. B. F. D.—Three fine Tappa Cloth Mats from South Sea Islands.

Sanderson, Mr. George A.— (loan) Model of whaling Bark "Morn­ ing Star".

Small, Mr. Oswell—Collection of Charts. Sword Fish Sword.

Stackpole, Mr. Edouard A.—Books; "Five Hundred Sailing Rec­ ords"; "The White Star Journal".

White, Mr. Robert—Oil Portrait of Timothy Folger, painted by George Fish.

Accessions at "1800 House" 1952 Adams, Mrs. Walton H.—Old Copper Hand Pump; Feather Mat­ tress and Pillow; Boot Jack.

Backus, Mrs. Alma Gibbs—Two Pot Holders.

Blackburn, Miss Elizabeth M.—Wool Blanket made in Nantucket.

GIFTS AND DONORS

43

Ceely, Mrs. Lincoln—Four Old Framed Pictures.

Clapp, Mrs. George—Blue Glass Vase belonged to a Nantucket family.

Coffin, Mr. and Mrs. C. Clark—Brass andirons; Book of Old Music.

Crosby, Mr. Arthur—Old Settee.

Crosby, Mr. and Mrs. Everett U.—Five Hooked Rugs; Green Glass Bottle; English Crimean Bowl; Two Framed Currier & Ives Prints; Three Large Platters; Three Lustre Bowls; Two Chine Beau-Beches; Pennsylvania Dutch Bench; Antique Clock; Old Pine Table; Light Ship Clothes Basket.

Curtis, Mr. Grenville—Elex Electric Battery open face Clock Movement.

Fulton, Miss Elizabeth—Two China Platters; China Pitcher.

Gardner, Miss Grace Brown—Two Mahogany Leather Slip-out Seat Chairs; Muffin Tin; Cookie Cutter.

Gould, Mrs. Anthony—Spinning Wheel in memory of Miss Marjorie Ashley.

Guibord, Mrs. Melissa—Black Taffeta Basque.

Johnson, Mrs. H. Linsly—Queen Anne Mirror.

Kolle, Mr. John L. Jr.,—Two Quaker Bonnets; Pin Cushion.

May, Miss Edna—Chair, of an Early Period.

Monaghan, Misses—Four Old Bonnets; Flax Wheel and bunch of Flax; Kitchen Clock.

Norton, Mrs. Nicholas—Two Old Indian Baskets; Braided Rugs.

Snelling, Mrs. Samuel—Hooked Rug. Heavy low-poster bed made of San Domingo mahogany. Rare type of corded bed with heavy canvas laced in, with arrangement whereby the foot roll turns like a drum or windlass held by a ratchet to tighten the canvas.

Oldest House Barber, Mr. Howard—Old Boards for use in Reconstruction.

The President's Report

President's Report

BY EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE

The year 1951-52 has been a most unusual one for your Presi­ dent. In September, 1951, I began a year of research and writing in preparation for the writing of a two-volume history of the American Whale-Fishery. This project was made possible by grants from the Guggenheim Foundation and the American Philo­ sophical Society. It was the fulfillment of a dream long conjured —the realization of hopes formulated over a period of two decades.

After twenty-six years of service on Nantucket's century-old newspaper, The Inquirer and Mirror, a leave of absence was ob­ tained and the voyage begun.

Visits were made at the outstanding museums and libraries throughout the New England area and at St. John's, New Bruns­ wick; Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the National Archives and Library of Congress in Washington, D. C. Upon returning to Nantucket, the work of correlating the material found and of compiling the records was the first task. This was followed by combining of material collected over the years with that gleaned from the research of recent months. The whole was shaped to form the first volume of the study—a book titled The Sea-Hunters, to be published by the J. B. Lippincott Co. It will endeavor to cover the first two hundred years of American whaling—from 1635 to 1835.

Through the months spent in search of pertinent information, an effort was made to learn how other Historical Associations function. This survey would make a chapter in itself. It was ac­ tually an historical pilgrimage. Perhaps the oustanding factor, one which made itself principally felt, is the realization of the basic qualities which underly the formation of all such societies.

But there is a great difference in the presentation to the public on the part of historical associations. While it is their primary purpose to preserve the relics of the past, it is equally important to perpetuate the ideals for which these relics stand—ideals which were natural attributes of those who founded our town, our state and our nation.

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PRESIDENT'S REPORT

47

Considering the importance of Nantucket in the full of American maritime history, it is of paramount importance that our Association consider its role of a protector of the ideals of those Nantucketers who helped launch America's deep sea whaling as well as to preserve the visible relics which represent those island sea-farers.

With such a medium in mind, your President broached a proposition to the Council. He offered to serve as Librarian at the Whaling Museum and as Lecturer at both the Fair Street and Whaling Museums during the summer season of 1952. The offer was accepted and the program was launched. There was no in­ crease in the regular price of admission to the buildings. During the season the following lectures were delivered: Wednesday, July 9; Monday, July 14—"The Sea Kings of Nantucket".

Wednesday, July 16; Monday, July 21—"A Quaker Kingdom".

Wednesday, July 23; Monday, July 28—"Whale Oil and Gun Powder".

Wednesday, July 30; Monday, August 4—"Mutiny at Mid­ night".

Wednesday, August 6; Monday, August 11 — "Nantucket Ghosts".

Wednesday, August 13; Monday, August 18—"A Chapter in Maritime History".

Wednesday, August 20; Monday, August 25—"Melville and Nantucket".

Wednesday, August 27; Monday, September 8—"Nantucket Whalemen as Discoverers and Explorers".

Besides these, your President gave a series of Sunday night talks at the White Elephant Hotel, introducing a number of Nan­ tucket's more recent historical features as part of his program.

During July and August, talks on old Nantucket were illustrated by the old stereopticon slides from the Harry Turner collection.

The public reaction in all cases was most gratifying.

As an added event to the busy 1952 season, he was also called upon to conduct "walking tours" throughout the center of town.

Most of these groups came from New York City and vicinity, and

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

one was a band of Sea Scouts. On one occasion, a party of 42 left Steamboat wharf, and when the group disbanded on Main Street at the conclusion of the tour, it was amusing to note that the party had increased to 58 persons!

Among the year's acquisitions, all of which will be detailed in the report of the Curator, Mrs. Walton Adams, the acquisition of the model of the whaling bark Morning Star and the log book of the whaleship Spring Grove held an especial welcome.

The year 1952 has also been marked by the appointment of a Finance Committee composed of W. Ripley Nelson, Earl S. Ray, and Robert M. Waggaman. During October, a meeting of the Council voted to call a special meeting of the Association for the purpose of revising certain articles in the By-Laws. These pro­ posals increased the membership fee from $1 to $2 per year, in­ creased life membership dues, provided for the appointment of an Executive Committee, and the election of a Chairman of the Council. The special meeting of the Association was held on October 29, 1952, at the home of Dr. William E. Gardner. Thus the new ByLaws which the Association had voted to change were legally incorporated.

Before closing this report, it is necessary that I should com­ ment on the decision to retire from the Presidency after eighteen years of service. This came about through my acceptance early this year of the appointment to the Curatorship of the Marine Historical Association in Mystic, Conn.

In assuming my new position, there is no diminishing in my devotion to Nantucket and its storied past and ever-changing present. Rather, by working as best I know in the role of Curator of Mystic Seaport, I trust I will be able to acquire a larger knowl­ edge of things maritime. The continuity of interests is a factor which will always be a medium for future planning.

Proceedings Annual Meeting 1952

Proceedings Annual Meeting 1952 The fifty-eighth annual meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association was held on Tuesday afternoon, July 29, 1952, at the Friends Meeting House on Fair Street. Edouard A. Stackpole, President, presided and over fifty members and friends were in attendance.

SECRETARY'S REPORT Mrs. Oscar B. Eger, Secretary, gave her annual report. It showed that while the total membership now stands at 495, Annual members number only 351, and Sustaining 11, with the remainder, 133, as Life members. The importance of increasing the number of Annual and Sustaining members was emphasized as two fold; to increase annual recurring income and to broaden active partici­ pation and interest in the Association program.

TREASURER'S REPORT The report of the Treasurer, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth, re­ vealed that paid admissions at the various exhibits, 1951-1952, accounted for a total of 27,759 visitors. The Whaling Museum had a banner season with 16,053 admissions, and the Oldest House es­ tablished an admission record of its own with 5,368 visitors. Fair Street Museum was next with 4,340 visitors.

The Association's financial position, both with respect to proper maintenance and future activity, has been the subject of much discussion at Council Meetings. It is of such importance that it is discussed separately in this issue under the caption "Finances, Financing, and the Future" and readers are urged to study care­ fully the picture presented.

CUSTODIAN OF COLLECTIONS Mrs. Walton H. Adams, recently appointed to the newly cre­ ated post, Custodian of Collections, gave an interesting report on the outstanding accessions of the past year, the most important of which was "The Melhado Gift" of the 1800 House. Mrs. Adams' 51

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

report is presented separately in this issue under the heading — Accessions 1951-'53 — and the Melhado Gift is described under its own caption because of its significance and importance in the program of the Association.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The report of the Nominating Committee was presented by Mrs. Samuel Snelling summarized as follows: President: Edouard A. Stackpole.

Vice-Presidents: Mrs. Walton H. Adams, Everett U. Crosby, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, Dr. William E. Gardner, Bassett Jones, Burnham N. Dell.

Secretary: Mrs. Oscar B. Eger.

Treasurer: Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth.

Albert E. Marshall's term as Councillor would have expired with this meeting. His death occurred since the last Annual Meet­ ing and has been covered by resolutions but the vacancy was not filled. In his place Mrs. Lewis Edgarton was nominated for a four year term to expire in 1956.

John H. Robinson, whose term expires in 1952, is a Councillor who has given valiant service, but under the By-Laws, is not eligible to succeed himself, having served four full years. In Mr. Robinson's place, Mr. John W. Grout was nominated to serve for a term of four years, to expii-e in 1956.

By vote of the meeting, after one ballot had been cast by the Secretary, the above named officers were declared duly elected.

It was then voted that the President send a letter of appreciation to Mr. Robinson for his fine work while a Councillor.

THE FOLGER CLOCK

Dr. William E. Gardner, author of "The Coffin Saga" and Thiee Bricks and Three Brothers", gave a thoroughly delightful resume of his research for his forth-coming book on Walter Folger, Ji. The mystery of things and life", he pointed out, seems to have intrigued Walter Folger, Jr., to the point it became the motivating foice for many of his remarkable accomplishments. The "mystery of time probably led to the building of his famous, but completely

ANNUAL MEETING

53

impractical commercially, astronomical clock, one of the priceless exhibits in the Fair Street Museum. Dr. Gardner then spoke of the plans for the possible restoration of the clock, which it has been said— "would be entirely out of the realm of pay".

Dr. Gardner's talk, not only fascinating in content but amus­ ingly told, received lengthy applause. "The Folger Clock", an ar­ ticle in this issue, tells in some detail the unusual story and the progress made for its restoration.

WHALING MUSEUM

Mr. W. Ripley Nelson, the new chairman of the Whaling Mu­ seum, was then introduced. Having been in his post for only a short time he had no formal report but he spoke briefly as to his first impressions. Mr. Nelson said that in visits to other Museums of a similar nature he had never seen anything like the collection in our Whaling Museum. He also spoke of the possibility of ex­ hibiting many of the Museum's items which at present are stored in the basement.

One of the most important things to be done at the Museum, it was pointed out, is to provide proper fire protection for the building and its irreplaceable contents, for at present the fire haz­ ard is very great. While the Association's present financial posi­ tion will not permit the installation of a modern sprinkler system, a survey will be undertaken to determine what should be done and what would be the cost.

OLD MILL

Mr. Stackpole described the damage done to the Mill during the February gale accompanied by snow and freezing sleet, which left the Mill a "very serious wreck". The extent of the damage, the raising of funds for the cost of restoration involving a number of unusual construction problems are aptly described in the article, "The Old Mill Catastrophe", which appears in this issue.

The Chairman of the Old Mill, Mr. Howard C. Barber, spoke also on the plans for restoration. He spoke of the Mill as being the source of smallest income but one of the larger expense items.

While the Mill is one of Nantucket's landmarks, it is difficult to

54

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

induce the type of visitor to pay admission to see the inner works, which are interestingly explained by the Custodian. How to en­ hance the revenue is a problem still to be solved.

LOANING PROPERTY

After speaking briefly about the "New 1800 House", the several gifts received and the needs if the remaining rooms are to be furnished, Mr. Everett U. Crosby, Vice-President, made two motions which were voted.

The first recommended that requests from any outside group or individuals for use of the Historical Association's property be referred to the Council for decision.

BY-LAW AMENDMENTS

Mr. Crosby then suggested that the By-Laws of the Associa­ tion should be amended with respect to the charges for Membership and certain other provisions which would be acted upon by the Council prior to the calling of a meeting of the Members for final action. It was voted thereupon that this advice should be con­ sidered as notification of the intention to amend the By-Laws at a subsequent meeting.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Stackpole presented his report which was well re­ ceived. An elaboration of this report embracing also the activities of the past summer which included a successful series of lectures at the Whaling Museum, the Friends Meeting House, and at one of the Island Hotels, will be found under "President's Report" in this issue.

Finances - Financing - Future

Finances - Financing - Future A Review of the Past — A Picture of the Present Plans for the Future

BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

The Nantucket Historical Association is entering a new and even greater era of useful and constructive value to Nantucket but an era which will require greater participation both in work and financial support by many more residents and friends of Nan­ tucket than ever before have joined hands.

To understand the Association's real operating problem one must become at least somewhat cognizant of the Association's remarkable growth despite the most limited financial aid received as compared with that enjoyed by many younger and even smaller societies. Truly it can be said — never was so much done with so little and by so few.

A REVIEW OF THE PAST "In accordance with the sentiment so widely spread and so deeply felt that a society should be formed at once for the purpose of collecting books, manuscripts and articles of any sort, to illus­ trate the history of our Island, a meeting was held on May 9th, 1894, at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Starbuck and the Nantucket Historical Association was organized then and there." Thus reads the opening paragraph of the Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the Association, held January 12, 1895, in Upper Brick" on Main Street. Two organizational meetings were held in quick order, May 16 and 21, 1894, followed by a fourth on June 25th, 1894.

The Friends Meeting House was the site for the fourth meet­ ing, a most memorable one. Dr. J. Sidney Mitchell was elected the first president. The Secretary reported 130 members, evidence of phenomenal interest and growth.

The president, losing no time, and despite no funds in hand, recommended buying the Friends Meeting House as an old and valuable landmark which would serve temporarily as Association headquarters. The Council was authorized to make the purchase at once. The purchase price was §1,000 which the Association did not 57

58

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

possess. Terms were arranged—$250 was paid in cash; $600 bor­ rowed on mortgage; and $150 borrowed on promissory note from an individual.

Incorporation was completed July 9th, 1894. Thus within two months the Association became a legal entity; owned a home; had over 130 members, and exhibits were increasing rapidly.

The second Annual Meeting, July 23, 1896, records that the mortgage on the Meeting House had been paid off by an unknown friend on the condition that the Association raise a like sum to be held in reserve for the purchase, at some future time, of a piece of property of special value to the Association. The proposal to devote to this fund Life Membership fees was adopted which was the beginning of the "Permanent Fund" still carried on the books.

Admission fee to the Historical Rooms was 15c or 10 tickets for $1.00 with each member given a complimentary ticket, not transferable. "Gate Money" being small in amount, was supple­ mented by profits from cake sales, Kaffee Klatch suppers, pam­ phlets, gifts and dues.

The third Annual Meeting found the Association with over 289 members, 1,115 exhibits, donated and loaned, $739.16 in its contingent or reserve fund and but $27.88 in its checking account.

Time and space do not permit an historical review through the years in such detail but the story of the initiative, daring and accomplishments of the first three years is indicative of the life story of the Association. It has acquired historic buildings, accumu­ lated thousands of exhibits, published pamphlets and papers on historic subjects and letters, incurring debt from time to time but always finding ways and means to pay up so that today it boasts of having no debt. In the same breath, however, it must be emphasized that the same statement applies equally to reserve and surplus funds. A brief summary of when and how its other buildings and museums were acquired, however, is of special interest and value.

The Old Mill: This landmark was bought in 1897-98 at public auction together with the lot of land it stands on and about four acres to the east. The cost was $885.00, paid for out of

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

59

the Life Membership Fund and through generous subscriptions.

The year end, however, showed free cash on hand of only $27.68 and no reserves.

Age and weather are two active enemies of the Old Mill with the result that extensive repairs have had to be made on four occasions. 1913-14 was the first but the cost was apparently kept to within several hundred dollars. 1935-36 almost complete reno­ vation cost about $5,000, including material and services donated.

A spar from the Skipper and the cost of moving it to the Mill site was given by Miss Prentice, which provided the necessary turning apparatus for the top of the Mill. Bassett Jones contributed his engineering knowledge as well as funds for repairs. The cash outlay of approximately $2,000 was provided by five members, Fred V. Fuller, William F. Macy, Thomas H. Giffin, Mrs. Walton H. Adams, and Mrs. Frederick Lee Ackerman, each of whom loaned the Association $250.00. The remainder of approximately $750 was taken from reserves.

Weather took its toll again, for in 1949-50 the vanes of the Mill had to be restored. Through the generosity of Mr. McMillan Clem­ ents in providing the wood, the cost of restoration was kept down to $617.65.

Tragedy stalked with real fury again in the winter of 1952 when the Main Shaft and all four vanes were completely destroyed in an unusual storm of snow, sleet, and high wind. $2,000 was raised by special donations which paid for the restoration as told in the story in this issue.

The Fair Street Museum: The need for a fire proof museum building soon was recognized. A fund was started in 1899. By 1904, $1,535.40 had been collected and it was decided to build, though it meant going into debt again as the ^ contract price was for $5,600. A vigorous campaign for donations was inaugurated which were sorely needed as the final cost of the two story fire proof building and moving the Friends Meeting House slightly to make room was $8,500. An unexpected $5,000 legacy received under the will of Susan W. Folger, added to the donations, paid for the building by the end of 1906 and again the Association was out of debt, but its General Fund held only $65.13.

60

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

All the exhibits were moved into the new building and the Friends Meeting House restored to its former status. Not many years passed before it was realized that the builders had paid so much attention to fireproofing they had failed lamentably in mak­ ing the building waterproof. The roof was patched year after year but conditions steadily worsened and by 1925-26 complete recon­ struction was required at a cost of approximately $1,000. Cash and reserves reduced to about $2,000 could not meet this and other demands but again the day was saved through the receipt of an unexpected legacy received under the will of our former Presi­ dent, Alexander Starbuck, in memory of his wife, Ella M. Starbuck. Thus the new roof was completed in 1926-27 with the cost charged to reserves.

The George Gardner House — Siasconset: Located on Broad­ way and one of the typical ancient 'Sconset fishing village cottages, it seemed a desirable addition to the Association's buildings, so it was purchased for $1,500 in 1910-11. It was fitted up, fur­ nished, and opened June 20th, 1910. Cash for the purchase, sub­ sequent repairs and refitting was taken from the Reserve Account which by the 17th Annual Meeting in June, 1911, had been reduced to $3,064.54, while the General Fund or checking account showed a balance of only $86.29.

In 1939 a direct descendant of the original owner made an offer for the old house and gave assurance for its preservation. As it had presented management problems for some years and as its future seemed secure, it was sold on this offer for $1,200—of this amount $1,000 was credited to Reserve. While the transaction as a whole had resulted in a loss of money, an old landmark had been preserved.

The Oldest House: Mr. Tristram Coffin, of Poughkeepsie, thiough loyalty to his island ancestors, had saved by purchase and preserved for many years the Oldest House, known also as the Horseshoe House and the Jethro Coffin House. In August of 1923 he offered the house on generous terms to the Association.

The property was promptly purchased for $3,500, the terms being $1,500 down and a mortgage of $2,000 at 6 per cent. While the cash payment had been taken from Reserve, it was decided before

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

61

the end of the year to pay off $1,000 of the mortgage by a further reduction of Reserve to save the interest differential between the 6 per cent paid on the mortgage and the low rate received on the Reserve.

In the year 1924-25 the mortgage was paid in full from Re­ serve. The 5 buildings of the Association were free and clear, the Association again out of debt but Reserve funds were reduced to $1817.28 and the General Fund or checking account to $110.84.

Having purchased the Oldest House; its restoration had to be faced. Early in 1925 William Sumner Appleton, an official of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities and more than an expert on old houses offered his time for the superin­ tendence of a certain amount of work which he considered of first importance. The Society had practically no available cash and was faced with other critical building problems, so his offer had to be declined.

In January of 1926 it was announced that Mr. Winthrop Coffin of Boston had offered to assume the entire cost of the res­ toration with the understanding the work was to be closely super­ vised by Mr. Appleton. Needless to say the offer was accepted.

The story of preliminary surveys and the work of restoration, in which Mr. Alfred F. Shurrocks participated also, is too long to recite but at the Annual Meeting of 1928 it was reported that the restoration had been completed with an expenditure of approxi­ mately $12,000, of which $10,000 was donated by Mr. Winthrop Coffin and the balance by others.

Very little money was spent in maintenance until 1948-49 when major repairs to windows and shingling of walls and roof, etc., could no longer be postponed. The cost was $1,507.21, taken from current earnings, reserves and special subscriptions. The major portion of interior restoration work still remained to be done.

The Whaling Museum: The Thirty-Second Annal Meet­ ing held in 1926 was informed that reserves were reduced to less than $2,500 and the checking account balance amounted to $75.23.

Grave problems were to be faced, such as a new roof at $1,000 for the Fair Street Museum and the restoration of the Oldest

62

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

House. But being in no way daunted by these financial problems, the meeting heard a report of the beginning of a movement to establish "a whaling museum" and learned of an offer by Mr. Edward F. Sanderson to make the Association the ultimate cus­ todian of a collection of whaling implements which he and asso­ ciates were planning to accumulate in the next few years. From this suggestion was born the idea to purchase the Old Candle House, now our Whaling Museum.

The 1927 Annual Meeting heard from President William F. Macy of the initial failure' of the plans and the fresh start with a new appeal for funds resulting in the receipt of cash, checks, and pledges totalling $13,660.00, practically all from Association mem­ bers. This, it was stated, was only about a third of the amount needed. An enlarged committee and a new drive for funds was inaugurated, for it was announced by Mr. Macy that the collection of whaling implements had been turned over definitely to the Association. The 1928 Annual Meeting was informed that about $30,000 had been pledged, but of which only $10,000 was in cash and so the drive for funds continued.

A Council Meeting held June 24th, 1929, was informed by Mr. Macy that he had told Mr. Sanderson, owner of the Candle House, that the Association was ready to purchase the property.

Authoiity was voted to the President and the Treasurer to make the purchase—"at a cost not to exceed $26,000 subject to a mortgage".

At the Annual Meeting, July 24, 1929, the President, Mr. Macy, announced that the deed for the property was being ex­ ecuted and in the minutes of the Council Meeting of August 24th, 1929, there is the following entry: "The President reported that the Candle House property has been purchased for $25,501.12, subject to a moitgage of $10,000.00 with accrued interest from April 9."

Alterations and equipment were essential so the campaign or contributions was continued but no accounting appears until Ju]y 28, 1932, which shows receipts to T 6 JIT1 "^ee^ng June 30th of $42,531.03 which included $5,000 received from the arnegie Foundation for educational purposes. $2,500 of the

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

63

latter was used to purchase the Whaling and Marine Library and other collections assembled by Edward F. Sanderson. During 1932-33, Mr. Winthrop Coffin donated $500 for the purchase of a collection of canes made on whaling voyages. The final published accounting shows total donations of $43,412.33 but with the $10,000 mortgage still outstanding on June 30, 1933.

During the year 1936 — $5,000 was paid off on the mortgage for which $2,500 was withdrawn from Reserve and the balance of $2,500 in the Carnegie Fund was applied. In October of 1939 a legacy of $8,312.50 was received from the estate of Sidney Mitchell and $5,000 was promptly used to pay off the balance of the mort­ gage. Once again the Association, but only after a long pull, was out of debt and the Association owned free and clear one of the most valuable sites in town because of its location at the head of Steamboat Wharf.

But major repairs and alterations continued to be costly. $2288 was spent in 1949-50 for alterations to provide suitable li­ brary space. 1951 proved the necessity of a new roof at a cost of $1769. Major maintenance repairs to brick walls, interior decora­ tion, etc., as outlined hereinafter cannot long be postponed for, because of lack of funds, it has not been possible to maintain the old building and its many exhibits as should have been done.

The Whaling Museum has proven and continues to be the outstanding attraction, based upon admissions, and its earnings always exceed normal operating costs.

The Old Gaol and House of Correction: The Town of Nantucket at the Annual Town Meeting held in February, 1946, voted to deed to the Association, free, the Old Gaol built about 1805 and the House of Correction built originally in 1826 at the Quaise Town Farm and removed to the Vestal Street site in 1854.

The restoration of the Old Gaol was placed in the hands of a committee headed by Mr. Burnham N. Dell. Owing to the unusually heavy construction, restoration was an arduous and lengthy task, completed finally at a cost of $1,042 and the Gaol was opened to the public in 1948.

64

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The House of Correction is another story and one still to be solved. To restore the building it is variously estimated will cost up to $8,000. The alternative is to tear it down but even its de­ struction will cost a considerable sum. A committee is now en­ deavoring to decide what the fate of the building shall be.

"1800 House": The acquisition and description of the Asso­ ciation's latest building has been told in two preceding articles in this edition so comments will be limited to the status of its restoration and cost.

Up to December 31, 1952, restoration costs for the building amounted to $6,619.62 against which has been applied Mr. Allen Melhado's donations totaling $2,700 leaving a debit of $3,919.62 paid for from Free Reserve funds. The outside restoration work is practically complete but inside it extends only partially through the first floor.

For the grounds $400 was contributed by Mr. and Mrs. Potter against which restoration costs of $348.25 have been incurred to date. For the restoration of furnishing donations of $100 from Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crosby and $50 from Mr. Henry Carlisle have been applied against costs totalling $336.25.

The net result as of December 31st, 1952, is a charge to Free Reserves of $4,054.12. Since the first of the year an anonymous donation in the amount of $1,000 has been received to cover restora­ tion of two second floor bedrooms and work is now under way but is limited to the amount of the donation. While the cost of restora­ tion has been a heavy charge against needed reserves it is felt that "1800 House" — "the living house" will more than justify the faith of its sponsors as a profitable and worthy exhibit of the Association.

Legacies and Gifts: It seems that many people are un­ der the impression that many legacies making a large sum in total have been received by the Association. Possibly that may be the reason for the contrary being true and why so few legacies and in such small amounts have been bequeathed and paid to the Association.

The staggering truth is that during the 59 years it has been m existence the Nantucket Historical Association has received only

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

65

18 bequests for a total sum of $39,106.01. Practically all have been unrestricted so have been all too readily available for acquiring properties, meeting yearly operating deficits and financing restora­ tions and major maintenance repairs.

Unrestricted donations or gifts have been large in number but total approximately only $2,000 which would seem almost astounding for a period of 59 years. Gifts for special purposes as heretofore described under each building have amounted to $62,700.36.

All gifts have been expended and of the legacies received only $12,031.57 in principal remains unexpended. Even so, the available resources used have never been sufficient to completely restore newly acquired properties, to effect major needed repairs, in fact, to even meet ordinary maintenance charges. Despite the strictest economy, operating revenues in most years have failed to meet expenses so deficits have been charged to reserves.

At no time have funds been available, except for special donations, to purchase exhibits offered which should have been added to our collections. At first glance some might question such management but when one considers the record of 59 years, the buildings and exhibits acquired, restored, preserved, and made available to the public who can deny the truth of the statement heretofore made— never was so much done with so little and by so few.

66

HISTORIC NANTUCKET A PICTURE OF THE PRESENT

When growth of buildings, museums and exhibits belonging to an historical association has completely outdistanced the growth of cash assets, without which the former cannot be maintained, a critical situation is faced as to the present but more especially as to the future. Such is the obvious conclusion to be drawn as to the present position of the Nantucket Historical Association.

Past history shows clearly that financial crises have fre­ quently arisen, have been met promptly and successfully but that at no time has any sustained program or effort been conducted to raise capital for an endowment fund of sufficient amount that the income therefrom would aid substantially to maintain and support the Association's property and exhibits.

Today the Nantucket Historical Association with its seven buildings and museums, its thousands of irreplaceable and priceless exhibits, its library of maritime, whaling and genealogical books and its collection of log books probably occupies one of the fore­ most ranks among the country's historical organizations. Were it possible to evaluate these treasures in dollars, its wealth would be astonishingly large. The opposite is true, however, with respect to endowment funds, free surplus and reserves for maintenance, extraordinary repairs, additions to plant and new accessions to exhibits — which truly may be captioned the life blood of every historical organization and as to which the Nantucket Historical Association is now and for most of its past has been lacking.

Glancing at the balance sheet hereinafter presented, one finds the same story as has existed year after year. Surplus (Free Funds) amounts to only $5,700.42, of which $3,000 is invested in U. S. Government bonds. $307.50 in stocks and bonds, $2,187.75 is carried in the general fund in the Nantucket Institution for Sav­ ings, and S205.67 in its Pacific National Bank checking account.

That is all that today stands between the Association and what might be said to be starvation.

But what of earnings ? That query is answered in the Treas­ urer's Statement of Income for the two fiscal years 1951-52 and 1952-53. The chief source of revenue is admission to buildings and

1i

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

67

museums. This is supplemented by membership dues, profits in the sale of postcards, pamphlets, and mementoes. Income from invest­ ments and savings accounts, which is small in amount, is part of the income reported for "General Account". This statement in­ cludes only current operating expenses with no charges included for depreciation, extraordinary repairs or restorations which will be found in the Surplus Account Statement.

It is anticipated and hoped that the net income for 1952-53 of §3,994.69 will be equalled if not bettered in 1953-54 but, even so, unless unexpected gifts and legacies are paid to the Association during the coming year, maintenance of buildings and exhibits can­ not be carried out properly and vitally needed extraordinary re­ pairs must be further postponed but not without danger to prop­ erty. Comments as to property conditions are made under "Plans for the Future".

A Finance Committee of three members appointed by the Council for the past year has been functioning actively, their recom­ mendations being subject to final approval by the Council. At the committee's instigation, operating budgets for each building and museum and for "general account" expenses have been approved, but only after the most careful scrutiny. They will be assiduously observed by the building and museum chairmen and the officials of the Association. Every effort will be made to increase earnings but again it is emphasized that an increase in current earnings is not the answer. That can be found only through obtaining gifts and legacies in generous amounts so as to establish a large and permanent endowment, the imperative need for which is even more clearly presented in the next section—"Plans for the Future".

Treasurer's Report ADMISSIONS INCOME AND EXPENSES 1951 -1952 No. of Admissions Whaling Museum 16 053 Fair Street Museum and Friends Meeting House 4 340 Oldest House 5 368 Old Jail 1 132 Old Mill 856 1800 House Total for Exhibits

$

27 749

$

27 749

$

General Account Total for Ass'n

Gross Income 4 223.95

Operating Expense $ 2 210.89

Net Income $ 2 013.06

1 127.98 1 342.00 283.00 219.50

1 365.79 493.52 243.74 437.40

848.48 39.26

7 196.43

$

1 067.03 8 263.46

4 751.34

237.81

217.90

$

1 948.71

2 445.09 881.68

$

6 700.05

$

1 563.41

$

2 766.39

$

3 321.72

1952- 1953 Whaling Museum 11 801 Fair Street Museum and Friends Meeting House 2 459 Oldest House 5 122 Old Jail 807 Old Mill 1 997 1800 House 700 Total for Exhibits

22 886

$

1 395.55 1 542.60 239.10 325.50 350.00 $

General Account Total for Ass'n

6 088.11

9 940.86

1 195.00 540.90 262.85 355.85 592.11 $

1 252.85 22 886

$ 11 193.71

5 699.10

200.55 1 001.70 23.75 30.35 2b2.11

$

1 485.92 $

7 185.02

4 227.76 233.07

$

3 994.69

Italics—Deficit

Analysis of Surplus 1952 - 1953 Balance May 31, 1952 Credits: Net Earnings—1952 - 1953 Total Credits

992.43 994.69 12 987.10

Debits: 1800 House Restoration Whaling Museum Extraord. Repairs Fair & Quaker Meet. Extraord. Repairs Oldest House—Restoration Total Debits Balance May 31, 1953

68

4 054.12 953.09 1 528.97 750.00 7 286.18

7 286.18 5 700.92

Treasurer's Report Balance Sheet

May 31, 1953

ASSETS Assets of Free Funds-.

Cash Pacific National Bank 205.67 $ Savings Bank Deposits 2 187.75 U. S. Government Bonds 3 000.00 300.00 Corporation Bonds 7.50 Stocks Assets of Designated Funds 72.65 Pacific National Bank Savings Bank Deposit 3 622.57 2 000.00 U. S. Government Bonds Assets of Restricted Funds: 11 531.57 Savings Bank Deposits Land and Buildings:* Fair Street Museum and 8 800.00 Quaker Meeting House 5 000.00 Old Mill 4 000.00 Oldest House 10 000.00 Whaling Museum 4 200.00 Old Jail 5 350.00 1800 House Collections—all buildings (nominal value) 10 000.00 Total LIABILITIES Designated Funds: Permanent Fund (Life Memberships) 3 843.22 Restorations: 5.61 Old Mill 67.04 1800 House Reserves Extraordinary Repairs 800.00 Fair Street Museum 629.35 Oldest House 350.00 Whaling Museum Restricted Funds: As to Principal only: 5 000.00 William Swift Fund 1 000.00 Susan E. Brock Fund 3 000.00 Ella M. Starbuck Fund 2 000.00 Emma F. Hayward Fund As to Principal and Interest: 531.57 William E. Gardner Fund Capital Account: 37 350.00 Invested in Land and Buildings 10 000.00 Invested in Collections 5 700.92 Surplus Total * Assessed value of property.

69

$

5 700.92

5 695.22 11 531.57

37 350.00 10 000.00 70 277.71

3 843.22 72.65

1 779.35

5 695.22

11 000.00 531.57

11 531.57 47 350.00 5 700.92 $ 70 277.71

70

HISTORIC NANTUCKET PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Old buildings, antique furniture, oil paintings, heirlooms, and the countless variety of exhibits in an historical society require, for their maintenance and preservation, what is aptly said to be constant and tender care". Such care is costly and time-taking for which assured income and full time service of experienced execu­ tives and curators are a necessity. Neither of these requisites can be supplied today by the Nantucket Historical Association be­ cause it has no endowment fund. So naturally one says: What of the future?

The logical approach for a discussion of plans for the future is a schedule of things to be done, presented in the order of rela­ tive necessity, but the Nantucket Historical Association's problem is so involved and of such magnitude it precludes following any such simple proceedure. Instead each building is discussed in turn as to its own special needs and problems and then those common to more than one building are presented. Thus a long-range plan of rehabilitation, reorganization, and financing is evolved and pre­ sented but with a minimum of details.

The Oldest House The frame of the building, the central chimney, and the ex­ terior of the building, for the most part, have been restored and maintained during the past few years. The interior is another story. A small start has been made this year to restore two first floor rooms for which $500 has been appropriated from surplus.

Furnishings are scant and because of its age almost unob­ tainable. Reproductions can be made from available records and the work could be done by island craftsmen ensuring able and interested workmanship and providing off-season work for island residents.

Only a vague guess can be made as to cost of restoration and furniture but roughly it is placed at approximately $5,000.

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

71

The Whaling Museum Brick Walls. Its four brick walls were built 106 years ago. No record has been found that they have been repointed or water­ proofed since then. Is it any wonder that the brick is now so porous and the mortar so worn that after rainstorms pools of water appear on the Museum floors and exhibits on the walls have to be removed because of moisture?

At two locations, all of the east wall inside covering of plaster and wood panel had to be removed and floor linoleum torn up this spring because of seepage. The temporary repairs will help for a time but are not the answer. Worse damage will occur unless ma­ jor reconstruction and rehabilitation are undertaken promptly.

The job should be done in two operations. First—East wall, starting at north corner, rebuild towards the south about 50 ft. to take out bulge and stop leaks, using same bricks over again. Esti­ mated cost, $2,500.00. Second—dig out all loose mortar and repoint the remaining four walls. Give entire outside of building two coats clear water-proofing. Estimated cost, $5,000.

Redecorating Interior. Twenty-three years ago the Whaling Mu­ seum was opened. The original burlap wall covering in second floor exhibition rooms and hallway is still on the walls, aged and dirty.

Ceilings are black from age and painted walls need resurfacing and painting. To redecorate the interior, exclusive of only the archives, it is estimated will cost, at a minimum, $3,000. This does not cover cost of removing and replacing exhibits.

Gutters and Leaders. There is a large roof area with no gutters or leaders and a very small overhang causes rain water to run down the brick walls, enhancing deterioration and porosity of bricks.

Estimated cost for leaders, gutters, and installing proper ground disposal system would be $500.

Linoleum. Twenty-three years ago the entire floor area was covered with linoleum. Lighter than present day floor covering, it is still on the floors but badly scarred and worn. Floors should be recovered within a few years' time but it can be done gradually at an esti­ mated cost at today's prices of $2,400.00.

72

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Exhibition Cases. South Sea Island mementoes such as priceless Tappa clothes, war masks, carved models and many whaling ex­ hibits have been on exhibition for 23 years without protection from moisture and dust but particularly from public handling.

Unless protection is promptly provided many exhibits in a few years will be beyond repair. The cost of needed exhibition cases and glass faced frames is estimated at $2,000.

Old Gaol and House of Correction

The Old Gaol needs no further work done but the House of Correction is a real problem. Built in 1826 it is interesting, not for its age, but as a chapter in New England correctional institution history. Only minor repairs have been made due to lack of funds.

Unsafe, unsightly, labelled a fire hazard to Gaol and neighboring houses, it is fast deteriorating as a useless shell.

Various estimates place the cost of restoration as high as $8,000, with demolition or removal the alternatives certainly at less cost than restoration. A committee has the problem under consideration.

"1800" House

Restoration work done so far has been heretofore described but complete restoration has not been accomplished or contemplated at this date. Further restoration might be undertaken in two steps—the first at a cost of $2,000 would in a sense complete that now in hand. The second step which would complete the entire job of restoration would probably require an additional $3,000, making a total of $5,000.

The Old Mill

Restoration work was completed in 1952 as described hereto­ fore in an article on that subject. No further work is required on the Mill itself. Attention should be given to the adjacent plot of land which should be fenced, and planted with low shrubs along its street borders and benches provided for visitors, developing it into a Mill Park area. Estimated cost $500.

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

73

Fair Street Museum

This building, constructed entirely of concrete except for the roof, is now inadequate for our needs and unsatisfactory as a modern exhibition building. Alterations are impossible due to lack of land to say nothing of being impractical because of the type of construction. Providing that a new museum building could be erected at some other location, a subject hereinafter discussed, the Fair Street building would readily serve as a sorely needed Library and Archives Building.

While its bare concrete walls and ceilings need decorating, such work can and should be postponed until the ultimate use of the building is determined. Window frames and windows were painted this year after seven windows had been replaced. Fourteen more must be replaced sooner or later at a present cost of $50 per window including painting, or a total estimated cost of $700.

Quaker Meeting House

The historical simplicity of this building must be retained which limits the type and amount of work to be done. Reserves have been set up to paint and repair the exterior, which work will be finished at an early date. As for the interior, wood trim needs one coat of paint and walls and ceiling need resizing and finishing.

Floor and benches need oil treatment for preservation.

It is roughly estimated that the interior work would cost $500.

Problems Common to More Than One Building Fire Sprinkler Systems. Fire hazard is an ever-present and serious danger. Historical buildings and exhibits such as those of our Association cannot be replaced in the event of fire loss irrespective of how much insurance coverage is carried. Fire protection within buildings therefore is essential but today our buildings are without fire protection except for a few hand extinguishers. Not even a watchman is employed for the periods our buildings are closed which includes all nights during the summer season but particu­ larly the eight and one half months when all buildings are closed night and day.

74

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The necessity of Fire Sprinkler Systems being- installed, whereever practical, is obvious. With this in mind a complete survey of all our buildings was made during 1952-1953 and detailed recom­ mendations and costs were submitted summarized as follows: Whaling Museum $ 5,700 Fair Street Museum & Quaker Meeting House 3,500 1800 House 3,300 Total $12,500 To this cost must be added that of water supply connections outside each building, electrical work and equipment within build­ ings, carpentry and masonry, to be provided by local contractors for which an additional $3,000 should be added, making total esti­ mated cost of $15,500.

Heating and Dehumidification.

Nantucket experiences high humidity the year round. The U. S. Weather Bureau reports four readings each day for 1951 averaged 81.2 per cent and for 1952, 80 per cent. Certain summer month averages are above 90 per cent. While the humidity is not oppressive as on the mainland, it causes heavy moisture condensa­ tion within buildings, especially when closed during the eight off-season months. Cement and brick walled buildings such as the Fair Street and Whaling Museums present aggravated problems.

Moisture condensation and seasonal changes in temperature play havoc each year with walls, ceilings, furnishings, books, pic­ tures and other exhibits in our buildings. It is impossible to prevent mold and mildew under present conditions.

Fair Street Museum and the Whaling Museum should have heating plants installed, but only if fire sprinkler systems have been or are installed simultaneously. It is roughly estimated that a suitable plant for Fair Street Museum would cost $3,000 and $5,000 for a plant for the Whaling Museum.

For 1800 House it is believed that dehumidification by machine rather than heat would remedy the winter month situation. Modern machines could be installed at an estimated cost of $500.

The Old Gaol, Old Mill, and Oldest House need neither heat nor dehumidification at the present time.

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

75

Museum Space

Good showmanship enhances real enjoyment and appreciation by the public of museum exhibits, which leads to larger earnings through increased attendance. Light, space and display facilities are essential to good showmanship. Exhibits in our two museums —Fair Street and the Whaling Museum—have reached the satura­ tion point but, even so we are happy to say, accessions continue at an increased rate, so plans for increased and improved exhibition space are imperative.

An addition to or reconstruction of the Fair Street building are impossible due to lack of land and the type of construction of the building. Added space could be obtained by finishing off the un­ finished section of the Whaling Museum cellar at an estimated cost of $3,000. But even then the facilities gained would lack daylight and at best could be considered only as makeshift.

A new building is obviously the only answer but as anyone can see, with so much to be done to our present set-up and no money with which to do it, thoughts of such a project would seem just an idle dream. But that is far from the truth for the will of the late Admiral William Mayhew Folger seems to provide the answer even though at an indefinite future date.

Under this will a trust fund was created which terminates upon the decease of two named beneficiaries. At that time the Nan­ tucket Historical Association becomes the beneficiary of the trust fund. But in accepting the bequest the Association will be obligated to establish a "Peter Foulger Fund, in order to perpetuate the name of Peter Foulger"; and to build a building "similar to that known in Nantucket as the Coffin School—adequately endowed as a His­ torical Association."

The Association now owns sufficient land on Broad Street directly west of the Whaling Museum to erect such a building should the Association decide upon this location.

The problem of exhibition space therefore resolves itself to making the best of what we have, even to the point of storing some exhibits until the future takes care of itself.

76

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Business Management and Curatorship The Nantucket Historical Association is a public trust which now has grown to such a size that voluntary workers cannot be ex­ pected to carry the burden of business management and curatorship. In fact, it may be truly said that the present condition of buildings and exhibits is the direct result of relying too long on voluntary service. The situation will become rapidly worse. In fact, the future of the Historical Association as a public trust is very evidently at stake today.

Few Historical Associations can pay salaries commensurate with the responsibilities to be assumed and the work to be per­ formed and by no means comparable to that paid by private enter­ prise. Many are fortunate, however, to find persons who have some independent income and are willing and anxious to help man­ age a public trust for reasonable although perhaps relatively nomi­ nal remuneration for full time service. It is with this thought in mind that the following schedule of needed personnel and salaries to be paid is presented: Executive Manager Curator Recording & Corresponding Secretary & Librarian General Assistant & Stenographer Total

$ 6,000 p/a $ 5,000 p/a $ 3,000 p/a $ 2,400 p/a $16,400 p/a

Definition of the duties of each is not discussed except to say that the Executive Manager would be responsible for all financial matters, business management, personnel, land and buildings. The Curator would be responsible for the preservation and proper ex­ hibition of all property other than land and buildings.

This salary expense and necessary operating expenses, esti­ mated at $3,000 p/a incident to the executive staff, cannot be met from current income. It can be met only by assured income from an endowment fund.

77

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE

Maintenance of Property Historical buildings need constant maintenance if they are to be preserved but this type of maintenance is costly, varying with the type of building rather than on any modern fixed depreciation or maintenance basis. Based upon knowledge of the Association's buildings, the following schedule of annual maintenance cost has been set: Quaker Meeting House Fair Street Museum Oldest House Whaling Museum Old Mill Old Jail 1800 House

$ 400 200

500 1,000

300 200

500 §3,100

Total

The present condition of the Association's buildings and the heavy charges for extraordinary repairs incurred in past years is due entirely to lack of annual maintenance, but obviously current operating income cannot support such a schedule. It can be met only by assured income from an endowment fund.

SUMMARY

Those who will have read this report and will scan this sum­ mary can be classified without doubt into three groups who will each in turn say: A. An idle dream; exaggerated; even if true, impossible to attain; never needed in the past; why now ?

B. A good story; probably could be compromised and cut in half; who thinks they can raise any such money ?

C. The survey recites minimum requirements; if the Associa­ tion, its property and exhibits are to survive, the program must be carried out. The goal is possible; it can and must be attained.

78

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The Finance Committee cannot emphasize too strongly that those who find themselves in the third group are alone facing the truth as to the Nantucket Historical Association. The Committee's survey and recommendations are summarized into two classi­ fications. (1) Needs calling for one time cash expenditures and (2) Required endowment.

One Time Expenditure Oldest House Interior Restoration

$ 5,000

Whaling Museum Brick Side Wall Work Redecoration Interior Gutters and Leaders Linoleum Exhibition Cases

7,500 3,000 500 2,400 2,000

House of Correction Maximum for Restoration or Removal

8,000

1800 House Partial Further Restoration Additional to Complete

2,000 3,000

Fair Street Museum Windows

700

Quaker Meeting House Redecorating Interior

500

Fire Sprinkler System Whaling Museum, Fair St., 1800 House Heating and Dehumidification Plants Total

15,500 8,500 $58,600

79

FINANCES — FINANCING — FUTURE Required Endowment

The quickest and most direct way to determine the minimum endowment needed is to assume that a 41/2 per cent per annum rate of income will be earned. Sufficient capital funds must be had to produce at that rate sufficient income to equal the annual recurring charges to be paid from endowment income. These charges are: Business Management and Curatorship Payroll

$16,400

Operating expense incident to above

3,000

Maintenance of Buildings

3,100

Total

$22,500

This amount is 41/2 per cent on $500,000 which therefore is the minimum endowment needed.

CONCLUSION

The management of historical associations and sites is gen­ erally recognized as "big business", requiring the observance of accepted modern business methods, especially as to finance, ac­ counting, and property protection. The Nantucket Historical As­ sociation is no exception for with its seven buildings and museums and thousands of irreplaceable exhibits housed therein, it certainly ranks among the largest and most important.

It is a "Public Trust" of substantial size and, while it is hard for the "family" to realize the child has grown up to a stature of such size, it is true. Of necessity our policy of management, ac­ counting, finances and future planning must be changed to meet recognized standards set for Welfare, Charitable, and Historical non-profit organizations publicly soliciting and accepting dona­ tions for maintenance.

To raise $58,600 in cash to pay for the non-recurring capital expenditures and a minimum of $500,000 for a permanent endow­ ment fund is an undertaking not just for the Finance Committee or the Council but one in which every member of the Association

80

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

should actively participate to the end that all who are interested in the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage also may be enrolled.

The $58,600 should be raised through cash donations, pref­ erably unrestricted, and at a comparatively early date, for every day's delay in rehabilitation causes further deterioration. The en­ dowment should be raised by cash donations, legacies, and be­ quests from individuals and by grants from Foundations, Trusts, and Societies. The goal set is well within reason as is evidenced by the accomplishments of many even younger historical associations.

The Nantucket Historical Association firmly established can and will be a leading force in making Nantucket a living and not just a sentimental memorial of the glorious past. 1954 will mark the Association's 60th birthday. What year could be more fitting to inaugurate a campaign for capital funds by holding a "Historic Nantucket Fete" in which the Town as a whole would participate?

The Finance Committee

by W. Ripley Nelson Earl S. Ray

Buildings and Museums

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

82

TOWN OF NANTUCKET MAP The inserted map of part of the Town of Nantucket, is a reliable guide for those who wish to ramble through the Streets and Lanes of the Town. The Nantucket Historical Association buildings and museums are located and numbered as follows: Broad Street

Whaling Museum

1

Fair Street

Historical Association Quaker Meeting House

2

(also Fair Street Museum) Mill Street

1800 House

3

Prospect Street

Old Mill

4

Sunset* Hill (off West Chester)

Oldest House

5

Vestal Street

Old Jail and House of Correction

6

Old North Cemetery located on New Lane, indexed 7, is a charge of the Town but by action of a Town Meeting the Nantucket Historical Association acts as agent for the Town to keep it in order.

The Old Siasconset Town Pump, not shown on the map or the insert, is located one block north of Post Office Square and one block east of Broadway in Siasconset. It is another Town charge entrusted to the care of the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion.

BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS

85

ADMISSION SCHEDULE FOR 1953 The various buildings and museums of the Association will be open officially to the public for the 1953 Season on the follow­ ing schedules: SEASON SCHEDULE Whaling Museum Oldest House Quaker Meeting House Fair Street Museum 1800 House Old Mill Old Jail

Opening Monday, June 15th Closing Saturday, Sept. 19th

< Opening Monday, June 22nd fClosing Saturday, Sept. 5th WEEKLY AND HOURLY SCHEDULES

Whaling Museum Oldest House Fair Street Museum Quaker Meeting House

Week Days and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Week Days Only 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1800 House Old Mill Old Jail

i

Week Days Only 10 a . m . to 12 n.; 1-5 p.m.

ADMISSION FEES To all Buildings and Museums, except as hereinafter noted, 50 cents per person.

To Old Mill and Old Jail—Admission free but everyone is asked to make a contribution toward the upkeep of these old buildings.

All Association Members presenting 1953 and Life Membership Cards admitted free.

All Children under 12 years of age admitted free.

THE WHALING MUSEUM

86

BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS

87

THE WHALING MUSEUM

It is housed in an "Old Candle House", a 40 x 90 foot brick building built in 1847, afterward operated as a sperm candle manu­ factory. A "Spermaceti" press still stands intact. Its massive up­ right posts extend upward three floors from the basement. The beam, sixteen inches square, is over thirty feet long. Candles made here were shipped all over the world.

A replica of brick try-works, used on a whaleship deck, is set up with bailers, skimmers, forks. A whale boat, veteran of voyages, is rigged, fitted and ready for launching.

The revolving lens and turning mechanism, removed from Sankaty Head Lighthouse, is assembled and operates.

A collection of whaling implements donated by Edward F. Sanderson, is one of the largest and best. It includes harpoons and lances, found in Hull, England, taken from Nantucket whaleships captured by British privateers during the American Revolution.

Rare whaling log books containing accounts of early Pacific Voyages and the discovery of the Bounty mutiny survivor and the mutineers' descendants living on Pitcairn Island, are in an ex­ tensive collection in the Library. The Admiral Folger collection of sea prints, books on whaling, South Sea explorations are other interesting items.

The South Sea Islands' room shows weapons, headgears, orna­ ments, hand carved models of war canoes, and samples of coral and plant life, relics of voyages.

Whaling Masters' portraits, ship pictures, sea and medicine chests are in another room.

The originality of thought, ingenuity and craftsmanship of many a sailor is evidenced in a collection of scrimshaw and canes carved from whalebone and ivory during idle hours on long voyages.

Many exhibits have come from Old Nantucket families includ­ ing an original Macy ship flag and "waif", Pierce guns, "gamming" chairs, giant whalebone jams, and ship figure heads.

Ship models, carved models of whales, sextants, quadrants, spy glasses and blubber room lamps are shown. The exhibits which number over 4,000 items cover the whaling era of Nantucket.

THE OLDEST HOUSE

88

BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS

89

THE OLDEST HOUSE The Oldest House, also known as the Horseshoe House and the Jethro Coffin House, was built in 1686 as a wedding gift for Jethro Coffin and Mary Gardner from the two fathers—Peter Coffin and John Gardner. Mary's father is said to have given the land and Jethro's father the lumber.

It was at that time somewhat unusual for a young couple to commence married life in a house of their own, it having been customary for the old folks to spare a couple of rooms at the homestead, which married children occupied till they could build for themselves. But in the case of Jethro and Mary they stepped into their own home which for elegance and comfort surpassed all around them.

Built of heavy oak timbers the main building occupied a space of about eighteen by thirty-five feet. The roof is very steep; the back roof runs down over the lean-to which extends across the whole back of the house.

Interesting features of the old house are the huge central chimney with an inverted horseshoe in raised bricks; the enormous fireplaces; the heavy ships knees used in the construction; the clay mortar used in the masonry and which also compactly fills the space between the boarding and lathing, and the famous "Indian closet".

The Nantucket Historical Association acquired the house in 1923 from Tristram Coffin of Poughkeepsie who some years earlier had, by purchase, rescued the old house from a tragic end fast approaching through neglect and rough usage by the occupants.

Through the generosity of Winthrop Coffin of Boston, much of the frame and exterior have been restored. Restoration of the inteiioi is now slowly progressing without interfering with its being open to the public for inspection.

BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS

91

THE OLD MILL It was built in 1746 by Nathan Wilbur, a Nantucket sailor.

Holland's use of the windmill to grind corn, gave him the idea of using Nantucket's winds similarly.

The framework is of hewn oak beams, taken largely from wrecks of ships; pegged together with hickory pins. The grind stones weighing approximately 1% tons each, are six feet in di­ ameter and one foot thick. The shaft to which the vanes are con­ nected, is 20 feet long and weighs 2,500 pounds.

Another shaft, 50 feet long and 12 inches in diameter extends diagonally from the cap (third floor) to the ground. This shaft is used to turn the cap and vanes to the four points of the compass to catch the prevailing wind.

Explanatory cards are posted throughout the Mill so visitors can comprehend how the original curious wooden machinery works.

A series of pictures taken by Professor Oswald Camman, showing in detail the machinery and explanatory notes, made by John E. Greene, Custodian, insure an understanding of how the machinery operates and how to make replacements.

There were four other wind mills on Nantucket and for many years this Easternmost on the range of hills was known as the Timothy Swain Mill. In 1828 it narrowly missed disaster when Jared Gardner purchased it for $20 intending to tear it down for firewood. Its durable qualities redeemed it in its new owner s eyes and it continued to be used as a mill.

The Association purchased the Mill and its site in 1897 to­ gether with approximately four acres of land to the east and Northeast thus assuring an unobstructed view of the Old Mill from the harbor and town. From the southwest, Mill Hill Park has to date assured an open view to and from the sea over the South shore.

It was from that direction returning whalers looked for signals from the Old Mill which warned them during the Revolutionary War of British Privateers lying in wait to capture them upon their return home to the Harbor of Nantucket.

The Old Mill still grinds corn when the proper type is avail­ able and the meal is placed on sale.

BUILDINGS AND MUSEUMS

93

THE "OLD GAOL" Built in 1805, the Gaol represents the oldest type of New England penal institution. It is constructed of oaken logs, placed cabin style, then bolted with iron and sheathed with pine and shingled.

The building is 26 feet long and 16 feet wide. Two stories high it contains four cells, two on each floor, the upper reached by outside steps, the lower by a heavy door of oaken planks, iron bolted and barred with iron rods.

The cells, approximately 14 feet by HVa feet, are entered from vestibules on each floor, the doors being two planks thick of 2-inch bolted oak with iron cross bars. Each cell has a privy of strap iron frame work covered with plank.

An alcove in each cell provided two bunks, one above the other. One cell, sheathed with iron was used for the violently in­ sane or dangerous felons. Two windows in each cell, varying from 8 to 16 inches square, are sheathed with iron and covered with massive iron bars. Two of the cells have fireplaces.

Lost for years, the huge lock and key were restored in 1948.

The lock weighing 20 pounds is I6V2 inches long by 8 inches wide.

The key is 91/2 inches long.

Used for over a century and a quarter for confining a wide variety of prisoners, the goal's construction was such that during the first century of use, no escapes by force occurred. Escapes by ruse, subterfuge and assault of the gaolers took place in the present century. The last escape, that of a dangerous criminal, took place in 1933, after which the gaol was never utilized again.

On May 29th, 1946, the Old Gaol was deeded to the Nantucket Historical Association. Restoration of the old structure required hours of careful application to match and refit rotted timbers but it was completed in the Spring of 1948.

J

94

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

OLD QUAKER MEETING HOUSE Built by the Society of Friends in 1838 this old building was used originally as a Friends School, in charge of John Boadle, an outstanding leader of his time. When the Society of Friends sold the large Meeting House then next door to the south, the little school house became the last house of worship on the Island of the once numerous Quaker sect.

It is preserved today in its original condition and is used each summer for services by many of the Members of the Society of Friends who spend their summers on this Island—once a Quaker stronghold.

FAIR STREET MUSEUM Over 2,000 listings comprising over 10,000 items make up the exhibits displayed not in a manner modern or modernistic but savoring more of the "Old Curiosity Shop" or as so aptly described "the glorified attic". Here one finds mementos of every kind and description preserved because they belonged to a Nantucketer.

Indian relics found on the Island are displayed in two unusual collections including every type of Indian artifact dating prior to 1659 when the white settler first arrived.

The century old fire engine, "Cataract", old wagons, sleighs, calashes, and farming equipment tell Nantucket history. Ancestral china, glass, silver, furniture, fireplace and kitchen utensils tell their story. Samplers and Mourning pictures evidence the patience of women and children.

Garments and fine linens made by Nantucket women show their fine art of sewing and embroidery. Quaker bonnets are stern reminders of the past. Toys, dolls, and children's chairs, cradles and stools interest the youngsters.

The Walter Folger, Jr., alcove contains numerous articles made by this most unusual man. Lawyer, philosopher, astronomer, and inventor, he lived in Nantucket between 1765 and 1849. The "Clock" made by him, one of the most complicated time pieces on record, is the outstanding exhibit.

Maps, pictures and portraits tell much of interest about the Island and many other items far too numerous to mention add to the story of Island history.

T ;

Historic Sites

96

HISTORIC NANTUCKET "OLD NORTH" CEMETERY

The second oldest burial ground on Nantucket, "Old North's" historical story is only vaguely known for until 1923 no church or other organization had jurisdiction over it and no records were maintained.

Authorities seem to agree that "Old North" was originally the private burial ground of the Gardner family and that the first interment was that of Abigail Gardner, wife of Nathaniel Gardner, who died March 15, 1709. One of the oldest tombstones standing is that of Margaret Hussey, wife of Obed Hussey, bearing the date of December 14, 1746. As she was not a Gardner by birth or marriage it must have been at or perhaps before this date that persons other than Gardners were buried in "Old North". From the latter date until the last interment, that of Robert Ratcliff in 1882, among the many hundreds of the early settlers laid to rest in this peace­ ful spot are a generous number whose names are prominently iden­ tified with the history of Nantucket and our Country.

Without a known custodian and with no interments after 1882 it is easy to understand why by 1923 "Old North" had re­ verted to almost a jungle. Public sentiment, finally aroused, caused an article to be submitted to a special Town Meeting held August 14, 1923 with respect to which the minutes read: "Article 3 was then taken up, relating to the Old North Ceme­ tery and it was voted: That the Town accept the provisions of sec­ tion 18 of Chapter 114 of the General Laws and take charge of the Old North Cemetery and appoint the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion its agent to keep the same in order."

Clearing and cleaning up the grounds and rebuilding of boun­ dary fencing was followed by the resetting of the old gravetones.

Inscriptions and Epitaphs on all the stones were copied and re­ corded in an alphabetical card catalogue at the Historical Associa­ tion s Fair Street Museum. This permanent record is of inestimable value to genealogists and students of the Island's history.

Old North, in addition to being an historic spot, offers much to those interested in old burial grounds. The Epitaphs — informa­ tive, homely and unusual are well worth reading. Its location—west of New Lane is shown on the map at the beginning of this chapter.

HISTORIC SITES

97

THE 'SCONSET PUMP Most visitors know and have seen the 'Sconset Pump located in the Village of Siasconset, one block north of Post Office Square and one block east of Broadway. However, few persons know much about its history even though it is a venerable and interesting landmark.

R. B. Hussey's historical sketch in "The Evolution of 'Sconset" tells the story briefly—"when a social life at 'Sconset became an assured fact, more homelike and further conveniences were a ne­ cessity. Rain water was found insufficient for the needs of families.

So, in 1776 when the Representatives of the rebellious colonies assembled in Philadelphia were only able to declare their inde­ pendence of King George III, the 'Sconset fishermen, in a substan­ tial form, achieved their independence of casks placed under the eaves to catch the rainfall from the roofs. They passed around the hat, and from the collection taken they were able to sink a well more than six fathoms deep, and its pump not only lifted the water from the earth and slaked the thirsts of four generations, but honored a daily newspaper printed on Nantucket Island by giving it a name. In 1887, 'The 'Sconset Pump', the organ of local news and society gossip, was operated by Gusta Kobbi, the maga­ zine writer, and published by him and Roland B. Hussey, of the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror."

Finally through age, use, and misuse this venerable land­ mark's enfeebled existence was endangered but more particularly by the threatened and destructive advance of what is popularly known as progress. The Nantucket Historical Association promptly took action and inserted an article in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, February 12th, 1923, asking that the care of this ancient landmark be given over to the Association.

The Committee of Ten recommended "Under Article 25 that the Town delegate to the Nantucket Historical Association care and custody of the Siasconset Pump and grounds immediately sur­ rounding, subject to the supervision of the Selectmen". The recom­ mendation was accepted by the voters. Under this guardianship the Pump is preserved today as nearly as possible to what it was in olden days.

Officers and Staff

Officers 1952 - 1953

Chairman of the Council Dr. William E. Gardner

President Edouard A. Stackpole

Vice Presidents Mrs. Walton H. Adams Everett U. Crosby Miss Grace Brown Gardner

Dr. William E. Gardner Bassett Jones Burnham N. Dell

Secretary Mrs. Oscar B. Eger

Treasurer Mrs. Elizabeth B. Worth

Councillors Term Expires

Earl S.Ray Howard U. Chase Henry B. Coleman Robert M. Waggaman Mrs. Stacy Knopf W. Ripley Nelson Mrs. Lewis S. Edgarton John W. Grout

.

1953 1953 1954 1954 1955 1955 1956 1956

Custodian of Collections Mrs. Walton H. Adams

Finance Committee Earl S. Ray

W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman Robert M. Waggaman

Editor of "Historic Nantucket" W. Ripley Nelson

100

Staff THE WHALING MUSEUM W. Ripley Nelson Edouard A. Stackpole Wallace Long Mrs. Herbert W. Foye

Chairman Librarian and Lecturer Custodian Receptionist

QUAKER MEETING HOUSE and FAIR STREET MUSEUM Everett U. Crosby Mrs. Walton H. Adams Mrs. Alma Backus Mrs. A. T. Winslow

Chairman Custodian — Office Custodian — Genealogist

OLDEST HOUSE Mrs. Lewis S. Edgarton Miss Ethel Clark

Chairman Custodian

OLD MILL Earl S. Ray John Greene

Chairman Custodian

OLD JAIL Burnham N. Dell Ray Eger

Chairman Custodian

'1800 HOUSE" Everett U. Crosby Mrs. Nellie Evans

Chairman Custodian

Mrs. Charles Amey Mrs. George Clapp Miss Grace Brown Gardner Mrs. Frank E. Lewis Mrs. Marcia Loring

Volunteer Receptionists

Mrs William L. Mather

101

Membership

Membership A Cordial Invitation to Join

To those who feel that Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heri­ tage and its illustrious past as a whaling port should be preserved for their historical, educational, and inspirational values, a cordial invitation is extended by the Council to become a member of the Nantucket Historical Association.

All who have membership cards find satisfaction in many ways such as: 1. Cooperating in preserving our Island's unique history, its rare buildings and its tales of men and women who, possessed of great courage and daring, took such an active part in the building of our country.

2. Enjoying free admission to the houses and museums we maintain: Fair Street Museum Oldest House Quaker Meeting House Old Mill Whaling Museum Old Jail "1800" House 3. Receiving free the Association's illustrated quarterly mag­ azine "Historical Nantucket" which presents articles on varied subjects of historical and antiquarian interest, proceedings of the Annual meeting and reports on new acquisitions, special exhibits, activities and lectures.

4. Participating in our "Winter Gam" when we give answers to many questions but particularly to the one most frequently asked "what do you do in the winter?"

Membership is divided into three classes: ANNUAL

Active

$2.00

Sustaining $10.00 LIFE $50.00 in any one year and exemption from dues thereafter.

Annual memberships run from June 1st of each year. Mem­ bership taken after January 1st is good for the ensuing fiscal year as well as the unexpired portion of the current fiscal year.

An application for membership will be found on the succeed­ ing page.

105

Application for Membership Date To Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts Application is hereby made for membership in the Association. I enclose my check for the dues of the class marked X, made payable to the Association. (

)

Life — $50.00

(

)

Sustaining — $10.00

(

)

Active — $2.00

Name Permanent Address Nantucket Address

—

107

—

Legacies and Bequests

Legacies and Bequests The Nantucket Historical Association is authorized by law to receive legacies and bequests. There can be no better way of per­ petuating your interest in the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage and illustrious past as a whaling port than by making a bequest to the Nantucket Historical Association for general or specific purposes. Legacies will be used as specified by the donor.

Form of Bequest "I give, devise and bequeath to the Nantucket His­ torical Association, a corporation duly incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of dollars."

Note: Bequests may be made in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paintings, or any objects having historical value, in which event a brief description of same should be inserted instead of the words "the sum of dollars".

Ill