Historic Nantucket, January 1959, Vol. 6 No. 3

Historic Nantucket

Macy-Colby House—1654 — Amesbury, Massachusetts.

(See Page 6) From an etching executed by Russell M. Pierce.

NANTUCKET'S 300TH ANNIVERSARY

1659

—

1959

JANUARY 1959

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice-Presidents, Howard U. Chase, Burnhami N. Dell, Stokeley W. Morgan, Everett U. Crosby, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson.

Secretary-Treasurer, Miss Ethel Anderson.

Auditor, Ormonde F. Ingall.

Councillors, George W. Jones, chairman; Mrs. Cyril C. Ross, Albert Egan, Jr., term expires 1959; Mrs. William L. Mather, Mrs. William Perkins, term expires 1960; Richard J. Porter, Oswell J. Small, term expires 1961; Robert C. Caldwell and Alma P. Robbins, term expires 1962.

Publicity Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, chairman.

Honorary Custodian of Collections, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Custodian of Collections, Mrs. William Mather.

Finance Committee, Stokeley W. Morgan, chairman.

Editor, Historic Nantucket, Miss Alma Robbins, Mrs. Margaret Fawcett Wil­ son, Assistant Editor.

Exhibits' Publications Committee, Burnham N. Dell, chairman, Mrs. John Bartlett, Mrs. William Perkins, Miss Ruth Haviland Sutton.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Fair Street Museum, Mrs. William Mather; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Oldest House, Mrs. William Perkins; Old Mill, Robert Caldwell; Old Jail, Oswell Small; 1800 House, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

2

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

JANUARY 1959

VOLUME 6

No. 3

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CONTENTS

V-VvjEl) J\N> Nantucket Historical Association Officers 2 Deed to the Island—1659 4 Events of 1659, by Dr. Will Gardner 5 Peter Folger, Able and Godly, by Babette M. Levy 9 A Whaler's Certification, by W. Ripley Nelson 15 The Town Seal, by Charles Clark Coffin 18 History Making Events 20 A Call, by Matthew Barney 24 Nantucket Historical Association, President's Message .... 25 It Pays to Advertise, by Grace E. Hutaff 26 Vanished 'Sconset Houses on Nantucket 34

By Henry Chandlee Forman

History of the Nantucket Fire Department

44

By Fire Chief Irving T. Bartlett

The Siasconset and the Cataract (Keziah Coffin Fanning's Diary will be continued in April) Legacies and Bequests -

46 47

Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies $.50 each.

Membership dues are — Annual-Active $2.00; Sustaining $10.00 ; Life—one payment $50.00.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July, 1953, at the Post Office, Nantucket, Massachusetts Copyright 1959 Nantucket Historical Association.

Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

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5

Events o f 1659 Four Mind-Pictures

BY DR. WILL GARDNER

The 300th celebration of the sale of Nantucket Island to the Coffin settlers from Merrimac Valley is now six months away, and the rereading of the few documents starts the imagination and pictures begin to appear in our minds.

The first picture arises from the deed signed by Thomas Mayhew conveying the Island to Tristram Coffin and his company.

The deed is unusual in that Thomas Mayhew's price was "30 English pounds and 2 beaver Hatts, one for myself and one for my wife."

Why did Thomas want beaver hats? 300 years after the event only the imagination can picture an answer to that ques­ tion. The scene is in Mayhew's homestead at Great Harbor (Edgartown). Besides Mayhew there are present Tristram Coffin, Edward Starbuck and others. The wiry and puckish-faced man sitting at the table writing with a quill is Peter Folger, teacher, interpreter to the Indians, a mechanical genius and employed

by Mayhew as a kind of "overseer" and general helper.

In the midst of discussing the details of the legal terms, Thomas Mayhew speaks: "Tristram, when I was in Salisbury last, to visit my cousin, Thomas Macy in his new house, I bought some things at your son, Tristram's, tailor shop. At that time I saw the new beaver hats so many people in the colony are talking about. Now I want two of those hats, one for myself and one for my wife .... sup­ pose we make the price of the Island: 30 pounds and two beaver hats?"

Something like this must have been behind that strange re­ quest for Tristram, Jr., was doing a good business so that he never changed his residence, rarely visited Nantucket, and left the management of his share to his father.

The more difficult question is the shape of the beaver hats.

There may have been some vanity shyly at work. "One for my wife"—certainly the style could not have been the bag-shape

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

beaver that rolled up above the ears in warm weather and could be pulled down in cold to protect the ears and back of the neck.

No, "one for my wife" meant the "vanity beaver hat" with its low crown, the flaring top edging and a stiff brim, worn by both men and women with satisfaction. One style it could not have meant: the pointed top beaver hat of the Puritan.

The second picture flashed before our minds, raised by the deed, is why did these Merrimac Valley dwellers choose Nan­ tucket? Where and how did the first suggestion of this bargain come?

One answer might be a visit by Mayhew to his cousin Thomas living in the new "Macy House" built in 1654 and still standing and visited in the town of Amesbury (once a part of Salisbury).

Years before in England a marriage between the Macys and Mayhews had brought the two families together and a cousin relation­ ship took on more intimacy in the early colonial days in barren America.

It takes little imagination to think of relatives talking very intimately when the demands of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were becoming too intolerant for many colonists. Macy would wel­ come his kinsman outside the colony with whom he could speak his mind freely.

So the picture comes: Macy, host to his cousin Mayhew in the new house—the venison pastey and beer loosened tongues and the warm fire and the glow that comes when men with the same blood meet and talk. Macy tells of the growing difficulties with the ministers and magistrates of Salem and Boston and of the wish that they had some of the freedom of the little colony on Martha's Vineyard. That may have been the moment when Mayhew may have said: "Well, Cousin, I have another island, Nantucket. I certainly would like to sell it and see another English settlement near me."

So there is a possibility that the very room may be seen today in which were uttered the words that started the chain of events that ended in this deed.

Florence Bennett Anderson, writing in her "A Grandfather for Benjamin Franklin," page 96, raised the question: How was the idea of a purchase of Nantucket kindled? Her answer is "A

EVENTS OF 1659

7

reasonable conjecture is that Thomas Macy, Mayhew's cousin, made the initial suggestion."

The third picture concerns the question: Can we have a mindpicture of the first meeting of Tristram with the first group he selected to be "purchasers" with him?

What a fascinating picture that would be!

Perhaps it was at Carr's Island where Tristram had an "ordi­ nary" and Dionis made excellent beer. We may be sure that Tris­ tram had Macy and his intimate friend, Edward Starbuck, both suffering persecution by the magistrates and any others present would have been of Tristram's own family. The meeting must have been years before 1659, for a long time must have passed for Tristram to have brought nine men to the conclusion that they would leave the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The difficulty of making a mind-picture of the first meeting will be seen by visiting the Nantucket Registry of Deeds and read­ ing in Thomas Macy's hard-to-decipher memoranda, the only know­ ledge we have of the beginnings. An easily-read transcription may be found in Henry Barnard Worth's Land and Land-owners, pages 53 to 55.

The absence of records is a testimony of the difficulties and the long time given by individuals in making up their minds.

This picture must remain in a fog.

The fourth picture is more easily composed and seen in the mind's-eye. We are at the wigwam of the Sachem, Nanahuma.

The location is recorded on the Ewer map; printed on the apron extending into Hummock Pond, and the area is marked ' Nanahuma's Neck." Somewhere in this area Nanahuma had his wig­ wam, a structure probably of the wigwam vines woven around stakes and partly made of drift wood.

Standing in front of this curious structure were Indians, among them another sachem, Nickanoose, and an important Indian to whom all gave the name of "Mr. Harry." With them are Tris­ tram Coffin, Thomas Macy, young John Coleman and Peter Folger.

They are in the act of signing a deed to which the Indians have consented after long deliberations and conferences with theii trusted friend, Peter Folger. We watch them as they make their

8

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

marks on the paper prepared by Folger and see Tristram, Thomas, John Coleman and "Mr. Harry" sign as witnesses.

This is a notable moment because it is the first deed signed

by Nantucket Indians. Thomas Mayhew had tried vainly to buy land but only now, by the persuasion of Peter Folger, was it accomplished.

Here is the main statement of the deed: "This doth witness that we Nickanoose Sachem and Nanahuma Sachem have sold unto Thomas Mayhew of the Vineyard the plain at the west end of Nantucket etc. etc."

(Worth, Land Owners, pg. 112) The result of this act outside the wigwam of Nanahuma on the 20th day of June, 1659, was an assurance that in time, the English could buy land from the Indians and ultimately possess the Island.

Twelve days after, Thomas Mayhew signed the Nantucket deed.

Do you ask: When did the English move to Nantucket?

Nobody knows.

Although the deed was signed in 1659, the records show them all living in Salisbury in 1661. It must have taken many months and a vast amount of labor to make all the arrangements for the move; shelters must be constructed, cattle, sheep and hogs trans­ ported, land planted and harvests gathered.

Probably the migration came late in the spring of 1661, for records show that the first meeting of the settlers on Nantucket came July 16, 1661. The record states: "Mr. Thomas Mayhew being present and Peter Ffoulger."

(Worth, Land Owners, pg. 59) As Florence Bennett Anderson writes: "Peter Folger was the 'indispensable man'."

9

Peter Folger, Able and Godly

BY BABETTE M. LEVY

ALL GOOD NANTUCKETERS know the story of Peter Fol­ ger, the hard-working early settler who not only surveyed and laid out their island but also found time to serve the community in any number of other ways, now using his knowledge of Indian dialects to act as an interpreter and peace-maker, now relying on his prac­ tical common sense to perform duties as varied as those of miller, party politician, and town clerk. Peter Folger is also known to historians and to devotees of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiogra­ phy" as the worthy ancestor of a more illustrious patriot, for Franklin uses a few well-worded lines to pay tribute to the simple and manly virtues of his maternal grandfather; students of col­ onial American literature are also familiar with "A Looking Glass for the Times," Folger's longish rimed protest against the evils of his day.

Considered in greater detail, the life and work of Peter Fol­ ger have a two-fold interest that is more than antiquarian. Here is the typical seventeenth-century New Englander, courageously venturing from settlement to settlement in his search for material and spiritual independence, turning his hand to any number of trades and occupations, but always serving God and his fellowmen.

And here is the man who rises above so many of his better con­ temporaries in his passionate belief in toleration, religious liberty, and the separation of church and state.

Peter came to the New World in 1635, as a lad of eighteen.

Presumably he and his parents listened on board the Abigail to the preaching of their noted fellow passenger, the Reverend Hugh Peter (s). After the way of young men on shipboard Peter also fell in love, with Mary Morrill, bound in service to the minister's wife. Some nine years later, in 1644, the couple were finally able to be married. In after years Peter was wont to boast that the twenty pounds he paid the Reverend Mr. Peter in order to free Mary from her indentures was the best money he had ever spent.

While he accumulated the necessary sum, Peter lived on the main­ land, principally in Dedham and Watertown. It was from the lat­ ter town that the Thomas Mayhews, father and son, in the early

10

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

1640's started the development of Martha's Vineyard. By the mid­ dle of the decade Peter was on the island and beginning an active life of real service.

Despite the difficulties of the first strenuous years on the Vineyard, Peter Folger found time to acquire his very extensive knowledge of Indian dialects. Soon much of his time was devoted to teaching the natives and instructing them on the Sabbath.

For some years, moreover, Peter held office in the colony. With the first semblance of government on Martha's Vineyard, seven men, among them Peter, were chosen "to stand for a year," with their duties—at least as far as the records show—left indeterminate.

Two years later, in 1655, Mr. Mayhew (always a controlling factor on the island) was chosen "Magistrate" and four men, again in­ cluding Peter, were to be his assistants. Unfortunately these early attempts at democracy, in which Peter Folger actively participated, came to an end by 1656; Thomas Mayhew, Sr., remained in full and lone authority. The varying political situation obviously did not keep Peter from teaching and converting the Indians. At various times he was assisted in his labors by from four to eight Indian teachers. In this field of endeavor the years also brought rapid changes. The Islanders' very conscientious missionary work originally was under the general supervision of the younger Thomas Mayhew, the "Dr. Mayhew" of the records. After the latter's untimely death, the senior Mayhew, now an old man, tried to take his son's place, always with the help of the more experi­ enced Peter.

The late 1650's and early 1660's brought much greater changes to the Folger family. By 1659 Peter had discovered that he and his fellow workers on the Vineyard were not in complete agreement on all the tenets of their faith. These leanings on Pet­ er's part toward Anabaptist beliefs were frankly avowed. Never­ theless he did not leave the island immediately, but he did gradu­ ally free himself of his various holdings. Perhaps the possibility of a change of sphere of action was made easier by the death of his father in 1660. At this turning point in Peter's life, a new opening arose for him. As early as 1658 he had gone with Tristram Coffin to start surveying Nantucket, the other important island then owned by Mr. Mayhew; again in the summer of 1659 Coffin came with Edward Starbuck and Isaac Coleman, a lad of twelve, to the Vineyard to call for Peter Folger, and all four sailed on to

PETER FOLGER, ABLE AND GODLY

11

explore Nantucket. Although Peter retained his Edgartown home, he spent much of the next few years in the new settlement.

According to the custom of all honest settlers in America, Nantucket, which already had been granted by the Crown through the Royal governors, had to be purchased from its original owners.

It was Peter Folger who negotiated and witnessed the Indian land deeds of 1660 and 1661. In May of the latter year five surveyors were appointed: Tristram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Edward Starbuck, Thomas Barnard, and Peter Folger. Of these Peter was the chief inasmuch as three out of five might do business with the Indian sachems if he was one of the three. In addition, Peter acted as clerk for the land divisions and other early transactions among the English settlers.

Despite his usefulness and prominence in this first develop­ ment of Nantucket, Peter decided that he should go to Rhode Is­ land. Since this colony had been founded by Roger Williams and other dissenters from the Massachusetts theocracy, he might hope to find in this new haven many who shared his theory of religious tolerance and its necessary corollary, the separation of church and state. Interwoven into the Rhode Island constitution was Roger Williams' firm belief that all men are equal in their political rights, a principle that was to loom large in Folger's later life. Then again, in this colony Baptist and Quaker influences were dominant. Accordingly, he moved his wife and eight children from Martha's Vineyard to Newport and then on to Portsmouth.

Although the Portsmouth community welcomed him, he re­ mained there only a little over a year. The lure of the islands was too strong for Peter Folger. He had left a good reputation behind him for usefulness; the Nantucketers, cognizant of his beliefs, wanted him back. On the fourth of July, 1653, most of the twenty shareholders went on record as offering him a half share if he would return and act as an interpreter between the Indians and them. Soon the Folgers were on the island, with Peter agreeing to serve as "Surveyor, Interpreter, and Millar."

For the next ten years Peter Folger was, as usual, serviceable in community affairs. In addition to his duties as miller, Peter also acted as the island's surveyor, both of individual lots and of a land division of the salt marsh. On July 21, 1673, he was made

12

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Clerk and Recorder of the Court. Two years later the Islanders decided to send an emissary to Sir Edmund Andros, the New York Governor, for affairs were still in confusion after the events of 1664 had brought the islands under New York's jurisdiction. Cap­ tain Gardner was chosen to go on this diplomatic mission, with Peter Folger assisting him. Peter's diplomacy was also called upon at home, for it was he who kept the natives peaceful and content even during the Indian wars on the mainland.

All was not going smoothly, however, in Nantucket politics.

After 1670 two parties arose. The "half-share" men or smaller land owners believed that every man should have equal political rights; that is, each man's vote should have the same value. The Gardner brothers, Captain John and Richard, with Peter Folger, headed this party. The wealthier settlers who owned more property contended that the weight to be attached to a vote depended on the amount of property or number of shares held by the voter.

At first the half-share men, Peter's party, were in the majority.

When the balance of power shifted, Peter found himself in trouble.

Because he felt he had to obey the law as he understood it, to protest against irregularities in the new regime, Peter was dis­ possessed from office and imprisoned on the charge that he re­ fused to give up the deed and court order book. At least theoretic­ ally he spent the next year and a half in jail, but there is good evidence that his neighbors allowed the aging man some freedom.

Eventually, Peter was vindicated as public opinion shifted back to the side of democracy.

During this enforced retirement from immediate service to his fellow settlers, Peter devoted himself to writing a warning to them, "A Looking Glass for the Times." Here is to be found, in the old common meter and with many a homely similitude as well as a more than occasional Biblical citation, the verbal expression of the creed by which Peter Folger lived. Conventional Puritans, steeped in the Old Testament, believed that war and other calam­ ities were the visible manifestation of God's wrath with his erring

PETER FOLGER, ABLE AND GODLY

13

children; thus far Peter went along with his fellow New Engend­ ers. But, said Peter, the sin of New England was not laxity in upholding her pristine ways, as the clergy would have everyone think; the outstanding sin lay in her persecution of such sincere Christians as the Quakers and Baptists. The duties of magistrate and minister must be separated; there must be no political med­ dling with the church of God. Although he was not "such a Fool" as to deny the value of education, he believed that the Spirit of God should not be second to "School learning." No slaying of the Indians, no hypocritical repentance on New England's part would help; the Peace of God must be in everyone's heart, and there would be peace on earth.

The last years of Peter Folger must have been comparatively tranquil as he resumed his normal enterprises in the settlement.

Only one important event deserves some notice. Peter's last child, Abiah, had been born on Nantucket in 1667. On November 25, 1689 this daughter was married to a widower, Josiah Franklin, of Boston. A few months later Peter died, apparently of old age. His famous grandchild could know him only through family tradition and the "Looking Glass."

The influence of such a man as Peter Folger is hard to meas­ ure. The next generations, remembering his diligent work among the Indians, called him "learned and godly"; the eighteenth cen­ tury praised him as an "able, godly Englishman." To later Ameri­ cans he is more than the faithful missionary and teacher, however worthy his devotion to the unfortunate natives may have been.

The seventeenth-century spirit of adventure was there as Peter made his way from Old England to the New World; from Dedham to Watertown to Martha's Vineyard and on to Nantucket; to New­ port and Portsmouth and back to Nantucket. No rigors of pio­ neering, no necessity to provide for his wife and growing family, preoccupied his energy to the point that he could not serve in whatever place he found himself, in humble but important com­ munity tasks. Scorning the overmeek as cowards at heart, only

14

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

afraid of losing some carnal benefits, he had the courage to be candid about his own beliefs and to defend the unpopular minori­ ties of his day. In a period of theocratic theories of government, he offered the radical idea of complete separation of church and state as one solution to man's very evident distress. Nor was it only the openly persecuted and oppressed that had his active sym­ pathy. In an age that was still aristocratic, even feudal, in many of its ideas, he fought for the political rights of the average man, the small property owner.

In other words, Peter Folger had the true New England inde­ pendence of soul, that powerful combination of self-trust and very real faith in God. Editor's Note: [Miss Levy wrote her Master's thesis in 1929, the subject: "The Life and Work of Peter Folger." She has M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University, and is presently Associate Professor in the English Department at Hunter Col­ lege. The American Society of Church History published her book, "Preaching in the First Fifty Years of New England History," articles and reviews of Miss Levy's have appeared in "Cblophn," "The New England Quarterly," and "College English." She wrote this report of Peter Folger especially for our 300th Anniversary issue, and she states, "thankful to turn my thoughts back to Peter."]

15

A Whaler's Certification How a Young Swain Proved His Worth

BY W. RIPLEY NELSON

Tradition has it that no whaleman was expected to ask the girl of his choice for her hand until he had "killed his whale."

These are the words of William F. Macy in "The Nantucket Scrap Basket"— a collection of stories and sayings of the people of Nan­ tucket. But Macy does not, nor in fact does anyone else, say what, if any, proof was required by the Nantucket maidens as to a suitor having killed his whale.

In 1829, however, a young man who sailed from Nantucket, although not a resident of this Island, decided to take no chances and so obtained an all inclusive certificate as to his taking a whale and as to the privileges he would be entitled, to wit; "We do hereby certify that T. D. Winship, mate of the Brig Fame, during a passage from New York to Gibralter, Au­ gust 8, 1829—Lat. 38.54 N., Long. 55.52 W.—did assist in taking a whale which was towed along side and regularly tried.

Therefore The said T. D. Winship is entitled to all the privileges of a Nantucket man and we do recommend him to such good citi­ zens, as worthy of dancing with any of their wives and daugh­ ters—and that he is entitled to all the privileges granted anyone under similar circumstances.

James H. Clark U. S. Navy Raymond H. Perry U. S. Navy"

According to Alexander Starbuck's "History of Nantucket, "The Fame" sailed from Nantucket on June 13, 1828 and returned May 9, 1831, John Ramsdell, Master. It would seem entirely justi­ fiable, therefore, to say that it was on this voyage that T. D. Winship got his whale.

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

AUTHENTICITY VOUCHED The authenticity of this certificate is vouched for by Ray­ mond B. Case of Norwich, Connecticut who recently forwarded to the Whaling Museum of the Nantucket Historical Association a photostatic copy of the certificate and of a portrait sketch of T. D. Winship who was Mr. Case's great-grandfather. Mr. Case states he found the certificate in his great-grandfather's sea chest and that he evidently valued it as long as he lived.

WINSHIP HISTORY T. D. Winship, according to his great-grandson, was a privateer in the War of 1812 when in his 'teens.

He fought in the battle of Fayal in the Brig, "General Armstrong" which defied and fought three Brit­ ish ships, "Carnation," "Rotas" and "Plantaganet" which were carrying troops for the battle of New Orleans, delaying their arrival so much as to insure General Jackson's victory at that battle. Winship narrates that when his ship could hold out no longer, those aboard directed the

*

.

Photo by Bill Haddon

CAPTAIN THOMAS D. WINSHIP From an engraving by Mount

muzzle of the "Long Tom," their big cannon, into their own deck and blew the bottom out of the brig and escaped to shore.

Latei in life he shipped on the reported whaling voyage from Nantucket during which he earned his certificate. Still later he became Captain of the "Wellington," said to have been a packet ship and finally commanded the Brig "Carrier" from which vessel he was "Lost at Sea" in the September gale of 1849. Winship dur­ ing his seafaring career, according to his great-grandson, sailed "around the Horn" and traded with the natives of the South Pacific.

17

A WHALER'S CERTIFICATION

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Photos by Bill Haddon

A WHALER'S CERTIFICATION

The certificate and the picture of T. D. Winship are being framed and hung in the Library of the Nantucket Whaling Mu­ seum. Classified as the first and only known exhibit of its kind, it is proof that at least one man took seriously a reported custom of the time but which today has been looked upon only as one of the many quaint and interesting traditions of Nantucket.

18

The Town Seal

BY CHARLES CLARK COFFIN, NANTUCKET TOWN CLERK

In the Town Building on the wall of the office of the Town Clerk hangs a water color of the Seal of the Town of Nantucket.

This was painted by Alexander H. Seaverns who, in the year 1893, was instructor cf drawing which was for the first time taught in the public schools of Nantucket.

(Mr. Seaverns was also the first treasurer of Nantucket Historical Association.) It pictures a sperm whale, mostly submerged, but showing dimly through the blue-green water whose waves have small white crests on the surface. The whale, swimming from starboard to port ap­ pears to be spouting, though rather half-heartedly. The sky is a pale blue with white clouds, and around the edge is a double circle of red and black lines with the words, "Town of Nantucket, Mass., Incorporated 1671."

It has been said that the design upon the seal of a town or city should be unique, that it may not resemble that borne by the seal of any other town. It should, if possible, be characteristic, so that it could not fitly be borne by the seal of another town. It is an enduring link between the past and the future, and may bear upon its face an epitome of the town's history which it car­ ries clown to a remote posterity. While books perish and monu­ ments crumble, the seal is among the most imperishable of mem­ orials.

A great majority of the seals of the cities and towns in Massachusetts are round in shape and among them are very beau­ tiful and interesting designs. Manchester pictures the flagship of John Winthrop's squadron, the "Arabella"; Marblehead shows an enterprising fisherman in his dory on the banks; Barnstable carries a vessel of the Mayflower type; Gloucester a schooner under sail; New Bedford a view of around 1857 when her whaling fleet numbered three hundred and twenty-nine vessels; but it remains for Nantucket to simply show the solitary whale, which in the rich tradition of the island, speaks for itself.

Allan Forbes, in "Town and City Seals of Massachusetts" printed for State Street Trust Company, Boston, 1950, wrote, "Of

THE TOWN SEAL

19

course the seal of Nantucket shows merely a figure of a whale.

Nothing could be more expressive of the Island's history unless it would have been possible to add these two appropriate lines: 'There was a rich reward for the look-out man, tobacco for every sail, And a barrel of oil for the lucky dog who'd be first raise a whale'."

to

Editors' Note: We are indebted to the State Street Trust Company, Boston, Mass., for the loan of this picture of the Town Seal. In 1950 they published "Town and City Seals of Massachusetts" and with their interesting article about Nantucket's Seal used this picture.

20

History Making Events of 1959 Schedule of Birthday Events for 1959 on Nantucket Birthday

July 30: Coast Guard Air-Sea Rescue Dem­ onstration.

April 15: Start of special exhibit of Nan­ tucket arts and crafts in Northeast Airlines' terminals.

July 30: Concert by Community Orchestra.

January 15: Start of Nantucket Card Contest. Ends February 28.

April 20: Start of Nantucket exhibit in New England Council window, Grand Central Station, N. Y. May 1: Governor's

Proclamation.

May 2: Nantucket Night at the Boston Pops.

May 8: "Nantucket Day" in Massachusetts public schools.

May 15: Start of Nantucket Photo Compe­ tition. Ends November 18.

June 1 30: Exhibit of Nantucket arts and crafts, National Shawmut Bank, Boston ; Nan­ tucket exhibit South Station, Boston.

June 1: Joint resolution of State Legislature.

June 12: Concert by Community Orchestra.

June 15: Street decorations and signs go up ; Lighting of outdoor birthday cake (t) ; Public display of congratulatory telegrams and let­ ters.

August (?): Barnard Family Reunion.

August 1 -2: Rally of America.

Sports Car Club of

August 3: Concert.

August 4: Square Dance.

August 5 6: Firemen's Muster.

August 7 9: Navy recognition of Nantucket's 300th Birthday: a. Visit of destroyer and destroyer escorts; b. Dedication of plaque to Robert Inot.

August 11: Main Street Fete.

August 11: Yacht Club Ball.

August 12 14: Whaling Seminar.

August 15: "Made in Massachusetts" Fash­ ion Show.

August 17: Concert.

August 19: Navy Helicopter demonstration.

August 20-21: Bunker Family Reunion.

August 22-23: Fly-In of Antique Airplane Association.

June 16: Press briefing.

August 25: Square Dance.

June 20-21: Macy Family Reunion.

August 26-27: Conference on "Man in June 20: Opening day of reception booths Space." at airport and boat landings; Beginning of August 31: Concert. distribution of Nantucket "endless" birthday September 2-3: Conference on Water Re­ cake; Start of daily guided tours; Start of sources. daily rides in horses and carriages.

September 4-5-6: Swain Family Reunion.

June 21: Commemorative concert Boston September (?) : Parade by Ancient and Hon­ Symphony Orchestra in Nantucket. orable Artillery Company.

June 20-21: Meeting of Veteran Motor Car September (?): Nantucket Commemorative Club.

Parade.

June 22: Dedication of new runway lighting September 10-11: Meeting of Governor's system (t).

Travel Advisory Committee.

June 24: Atlantic Fisheries Conference.

September 10: Concert by Community Or­ June 25 26: National Conference on Historic chestra.

Districts.

September 11-13: Round-Up of 99's.

June 26: Floral tribute to Nantucket by September 11-13: AOPA Air Tour.

F. T. D. A. September 12: CAP Fly-In. July 1: Dress rehearsal of birthday celebra­ September 12-13: Worth Family Reunion. tion.

September 12-13: Hussey Family Reunion.

July 2: THE BIRTHDAY. September 14: National Conference on OJuly 2, week of: Gardner Family Reunion. ceanography.

July 4 (?): Parade.

September 15: Academy of Arts and Sciences July 6: First of five concerts. honors Maria Mitchell.

July 7: First square dance.

The following dates are undetermined: StarJuly 7-8 9: Coffin Family Reunion. buck Family Reunion ; Folger Family Reunion ; July 15-17: Whaling Seminar.

Coleman Family Reunion; Oil Industry Con­ July 20: Concert. ference ; Foreign Trade Conference; Special July 21: Square Dance.

Flower Shows; Conference on Retirement; July 24: Visit by Navy Blimp.

Conference on Area Development.

HISTORY MAKING EVENTS

21

"Lucretia Mott" a recently published biography written by Mrs. Otelia Cromwell (Harvard University Press) tells the story of Thomas and Anna Coffin's daughter of Nantucket, who made her name renowned both here and abroad together with many of the country's notables. This biography gives evidence of extensive research and contains a complete bibliography at the end of the book. Lucretia Coffin Mott was a "native" Nantucketer and many of you will wish to learn something of the details of her active life and real contribution to growth and change in this country. o Reported in Volume 10, No. 3, 1958 issue of "Historic Preser­ vation" by John A. Hussey, regional historian in the National Park Service's San Francisco office: "Fire swept the Old Hale Paahao, or Old Prison, on the Island of Maui late in the summer.

The old jail, made of stout wooden timbers in 1851, was erected primarily to keep the drunken and disorderly seamen from the whaling ships from molesting citizens of the town. The prison (the report continues) and its courtyard were surrounded by a high wall of coral blocks. * * * A plan for the restoration * * * under the sponsorship of the County of Maui and the Maui Histor­ ical Society will be carried forward. Lahaina, Hawaii." o We are indebted to Mr. Robert Stark for this timely report of one project which is of special interest to all members of the Historical Association and to those many persons who may be doing research on historic events.

Through the efforts of F. X. Houghton, a member of the Association (New York and Nantucket), two permanent, longplaying records of the tape recordings by Mr. Chester Pease, one of Nantucket's elder citizens, are available and may be borrowed by responsible organizations.

These records give accounts of many incidents of life saving in the waters around Nantucket. These are personal and dramatic reports of actual events.

The records can be played on any record player having 33 1 3 r.p.m. speed.

22

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Whaling Museum News SEASON'S RECORD Closing date for Museum visitors was October 12th which ended a season well above the average in attendance for 17,755 paid admissions were recorded. Compared with an all-time high of 20,118 in 1957 and the next previous high of 18,328 in 1956 but more particularly, an average of 16,273 for the past 10 years, the 1958 attendance is an excellent record, bearing in mind it was a poor business season for the Island. Coincident with the date of closing to the public, the Museum became and will be during most of the winter, a scene of constructive activity in preparation for Nantucket's 300th birthday celebration in 1959.

NEW EXHIBITS Plans for the creation of extensive new exhibits were ap­ proved by the Council at its September meeting. Work was begun promptly on complete alterations of a large area of the first floor of the Museum, previously used for storage, to provide the re­ quired space. When completed there will be a series of bpoths, each of which will present in a small but authentic way, an industry collateral to the whaling industry. There will be included a ship smith's or whale craft shop with its forge, anvil, bellows and tools; a cooperage with casks in-the-making and completed; a sail loft; a rigging loft; and last but not least, a boat-builder's shop with a whale boat in the making. The booths will be constructed of old planking and studs and with old brick for the forges and fire places. A wealth of material heretofore not displayed for lack of space will be used to fit up the exhibits. Work will be completed so that with the opening of the Museum for the 300th birthday celebration the Association will have ready a major offering with respect to the history of the Island, not only for the celebration but as a permanent exhibit. A generous and unsolicited donation of $1,000 towards this project was received from the Trustees of the Nantucket Historical Trust.

LIBRARY RESTORED Interested members have donated sufficient funds to pay for redecorating the Whaling Museum Library, the only room in the building not heretofore restored. Promptly started, the repainting has been completed. Rearranging and recataloguing the books and records is now under way.

HISTORY MAKING EVENTS

23

INDEXING LOG BOOKS Visitors engaged in research work from all parts of the world are growing in number at the Whaling Museum Library.

This focused the attention of the Librarian, Mrs. Ellen D. Chace, on the desirability of indexing the log books and journals for data other than the routine reports on weather, position, etc., a practice heretofore never followed. A few figures prove the magnitude and importance of the project. There are 158 whaling log books and journals. Among them 14 contain 2 voyages; 6 contain 3 voyages; and 3 contain 4, 5, and 6 voyages respectively. And there are other records including 3 merchant vessel logs; doctor's journals and engineering and deep sea sounding surveys. Not daunted by having to take care of over 17,000 visitors plus children under 12 years of age who visit the children's corner in the library, Librar­ ian Chace set promptly at work and has read and indexed already 28 log books covering 31 voyages, which covered periods of time varying from 1 year to 6 years for a voyage. Completion of the project will include cross referencing the index which will provide an accurate and ready reference for about any type of question for which the answer may be found in the library log books and journals.

WHALING LECTURES The 300th Anniversary Committee has listed July 15-17 and August 12-14, 1959 as the dates for Whaling Seminars. The Coun­ cil have designated the Museum Committee to arrange for a series of six lectures to be held in the evenings in Sanderson Hall of the Whaling Museum which will lend considerable atmosphere to the lectures. Arrangements are progressing satisfactorily. The names of the lecturers and their subjects will be announced later.

W. R. N. o If you have never read Peter Freuchen's "Book of the Seven Seas" (published by Julian Messner, Inc., N. Y., 1957), you may be interested. It pictures, among many fine illustrations, the first chart of the Gulf Stream drawn about 1769 to the order of Benja­ min Franklin, who had his information from Nantucket skipper, Timothy Folger.

24

A Call

BY MATTHEW BARNEY

(Ed. note) These verses were written in 1895 for the Inquirer and Mirror inviting all Descendants of the original settlers to Re­ union. We have taken liberties with the verses.

Come, gather at the Old Hub, dears— Three Hundred Years have passed away Since landed the pair of Macys; Now that stock can show today A troop of smiling faces Old Tristram Coffin's name, we find, A regiment could furnish; And Mary Starbuck's strength of mind Lives, other lives to burnish.

Come, Rays and Russells, leave your trade, Come, Coleman, Gardners, Hussey, on wing, Come Folgers, wise and staid, You'll see Reunion is the thing.

Come, Mitchells, Barkers, Swains, Come, Bunkers, Barneys, Brocks, Come, let us say, "They came!

They're good old Puritan stock."

Come, Mooers, Myrick, Baker, Brown, Come, Pinkhams, Morris, Austin, leave Your work or play, head for Nantucket town, The Spirit of Ye Olden Days retrieve.

Come, Barnards, Dunhams, Cartwrights, meet With Carys, Crosbys of the Bay State Clan, Come, Grants, come Worths and Greenleafs greet, Come, gather for our celebration plan.

Your whalemen forebears never asked For either blame or praise, But now has come the time, at last, To celebrate those Whaling Days.

Come, gather at the Old Hub, dearsThree Hundred Years have passed!

25

A Message from the President It Happened Three Hundred Years Ago A group of people already settled on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, after due consideration, and undoubtedly inspection by some of their number, decided that Nantucket was the most suit­ able place of any they knew in which to settle and raise their families.

We of this generation believe they showed great courage and high type of wisdom in selecting this Island on which to live for the remainder of their lives.

The earliest settlers and those who followed them were hardy pioneers both on land and later on the oceans of this earth.

They chased and captured the largest mammals the world has known and in so doing became more familiar with the oceans and surrounding lands than any such body of men from any one port had ever been before.

They made the name of Nantucket as familiar in the Hawaiian Islands, in Tahiti, and in the ports of France and England as it was in New York, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

Think of it—A bit of land less than fifty square miles in area known and recognized as a place of importance around the globe.

We, living here today, and our friends who come to live with us during the summer season, are proud of these facts, as we rightfully should be.

It is several generations between centennial celebrations and we are the ones fortunately living at the time of one of these great milestones. The work of formulating and executing a proper cele­ bration of this event is in the hands of those of us now living. Let us each and every one as the occasion arises give willingly of his effort that this year's celebration will be remembered with pleasure for years to come.

George W. Jones, President

26

It Pays To Advertise

BY GRACE E. HUTAFF

Just as true a hundred years ago as today—It Pays to Ad­ vertise. But what would the Quaker merchants and small shop keepers of Nantucket have thought of our Sunday papers fairly bursting with advertisements!

In 1835, or 1840, the "Daily" or "Semi-Weekly Inquirer" used less space but possibly more finesse. For instance, one Mr. Hinckley of Centre Street broke into verse in order to catch the eye of his lady customers thus: "Ladies, have you heard the news That I am selling splendid shoes At prices that will suit you all, I hope that you again will call To get another handsome pair, The last did such a long time wear.

Now, Ladies, I invite you all, When you're in quest of shoes, to call, You'll find a pair both strong and neat At Luther Hinckley's, Centre Street."

The shrewd Mr. E. D. Ives at the shoe store on Main Street facing Centre, advertises: "250 pairs of Ladies shoes at 50 cts. each, Where a nimble six pence will buy more than a slow Shilling."

Our grandmothers were certainly well shod. Grandpa also was not neglected. If he was going to California to dig for gold he could buy "Boots for Gold Digging."

"The subscriber has received a quantity of the above boots which are superior to anything else and preferable to any other kind.

With these boots the wearer will be sure to get from one to three ounces more of the precious stuff than he would with any other kind. For sale at the Shoe Store, Main Street, facing Cen­ tre."

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

27

The following was at least encouraging; "50 pairs of long rubber boots at $4.50 a pair.

The same article was selling in San Francisco at last accounts from $75 to $95. For sale, N. A. and A. K. Sprague."

Facetious and politically-minded Mr. Olin inserted this gem: "All boots and shoes repaired at the shortest possible notice in style, especially rubbers mended very neatly and with dispatch.

Come Whigs, Democrats, Abolitionists, Nonresistants, Come all and I will be glad to give you A good understanding."

I see no ads for permanents or manicures (terrible

thought) but they dyed their hair, especially if it was red!

"Give red and grey hair and whiskers another color.

Who is there, young or old, who likes red hair?

The questions applies to both sexes and should be remembered if they feel inclined to change the color of their locks.

Red cheeks are pretty, not red hair, The latter shames complexion fair."

The dear gentlemen would use Bear's oil on their hair. No wonder every chair had to have an antimacassar!

"Bear's oil highly scented and fine for the hair and whiskers. Nothing equals oil prepared from bear's grease. Messrs. A. B. Sands have spared no expense in getting the genuine bear's grease from Canada and elsewhere."

WENDELL'S

HALL.

Commencing Monday Eve., July 21st, l >»<t 4 nollMHillK Oil. l*>#h.

P. T. BARNUM

V'

, . p

v

;i.8W 1

Offer* |ji.'BB for thoir duplicate*.

TUB

OZIZGINAIJ

fili Men of Borneo,

eaptured wild U|*.n that 1-laud Thirty V«**r* IIl ight, i l«l nigkt. «" pound*; nasi. »b«>ut 70 year. Tt»ey lift twelve Ui.ies IMtf own WOtJfhi with prrfict cane. $1'M thai Ik')' Ue the *uia!li-?t of their age ami »lt"u:jftrt of their »lns in th.i world.

yf:-\ •

•

"

-

-<\'i 'J~r

- M

PROF. EDWARDS' TROl l'E OF 1979

Glass-Blowers I'Ktft'. f. I*. IIISKIVS, the champion of the world, in hi>: wonderful Marion A Iniissi *n, I"el*. Poor* from to J and 7 to 10. P. M. Clergy admitted free.

11. A. VV A RN' K R. Proprietor. 1 V. I.. Stevens.Treasurer. _ )y!0—It j

Real Estate For Sale.

,v_\ TIIK large and valuable—twte, very pheasantSpiM ly located on the corner of Fleamnt am! Mill ^' streets, formerly the le'elenw- of the Intodared Coffin, K»|., iui*I recently occupied hy Lloyd Mint urn, K««l.: oomlctiiig of the large ami eomnWlCtttly ar­ ranged brick h"us*', which is well supplied with ail the ©ouVvuletWr*—Furnace, Range, lists Fixtures, Bath Room, pit nty of cltwnls ami clothes presses, a large cistern, and a well of excellent water. Is in ev­ ery way a W)' desirable r—»«*-. There Is also a large garden. well supplied with fruit trees and hush* es, grape vine*. Ac. in the rear of lb" garden, •* * largo ham, carriage house, and go»i sued yard, with entrance at the rear of the house. At lite south of. and adjoining the bouse, U a good clothes yartl or grass i»l«t. all of which will be sold very low if ap­ plied for soon.

I >S * 7 7 I •' ' A. M MYBICK.

Betting Old ani Feeble GOING TO DUST. AND

AVIKtl bee* politely muted to vacate the store I have "Ccupli ! several years, J have come to the c iiclii'ion 'ell and wind up the business. 1 am grit'ir- "Id and »<"«» "«'• I !,**e Ktita lew week* time t«. dnpi-se ol my stock I would fay I hall sell everything 1 have got In wy Store, at one price or an* ther. rather thai, have tou»..*e it. This is W<>*b*W . it is business. Everything will be sold U anywiy

U

"'"ham got a new lot ..f Cook and Purler stoves, s* .-an be found on the Is la ml, which wdl u. s.*|.| a< rvluced urico . al,o. 1 shall sell my horse ami Or- carriage*. «„n.-i«i»g of one family horse, t!*r* e scaled carriage, bench wagon, one box wagon. t-ck wagon and one Kxpresswa^. nRRy

•i. tf

t h '•> i

"Codfish Aristocracy" everybody lias bean! of, but

OODPISII

; {it- Itiir.i u 1" lull" I'M! on- lino (}'!• It' "Moils, and tlia{ a pftW. T !in*rt'jVtrf, «h ' o'ln hH-" ifww8- "t Will „,p|..,.twnltbat i'n't :-r.' 1" - tito f-M »Ik sai.pt li" ^'».T liis Mi . wltfthfr it l«." two. four t»r six mattllls.

I he .Mit«i*rtlw» trusts thai, tins uhotc will •.*••• AA«hthMI|.J...^d.«nt'.» \ml be AVt.oW -ay t-'i hU I-d-tomwrt I'««l till" f«ini3it»lltA iUruo. that 1m* m ill rc!l«tit»i«g , ui P> ml- i!t<l 5Ui« - «f v< rv pru't-iiswer than can !«• at nuy frtiit ' .«„« in Town Tip. -dock witw «»i— I,!Adi«s» bisck. .Ittd- Sirottvo .••nth k'aitt-r-; hlk MiirowiKul Uifokiiw, yj.ritis wHl; -,»riti': 1'nnii - .!» '1 > », •"- •'» aadhrnma : Ki<lbu>kin*, mnts; Utw , nnd zreen Kid " C 1 I A 0 J A U G A i t - Nittifm-het.

Tow, il'iito stont i.i-ntlit-r trtfokiiw: Jm-w it,,! by Di-.itersi j*cRCralty is the vietBtty.-York fiaiivrs i<..il.tiski»s; it ^i>knub.|article Vh-k-nti: in |> ;.y v- c.'k* o' I'otti-r. ailof black n»a tc'im/c KW b«t4si«#k ijn ,'ilp,M,r.

III ti'» Mnr.i«"o, Kit! hfitl I.nathor hti-kiii -ditto kootw-. 'hick afol ! dsili solo. , r , , IDmtltsiaea's Fcrtn'h mW !u> >ts; 1 air Stib'i nd; ditin \Y , , l'i.-nf tlitto • if \t .«:• .1; <i(ft» IDdstf Soils! : SYnltc A'tm Wn r !'r and k «|» !,ik'"H,sot(YKHSi\ cbildrynS" T . d »'if\T:>fti".D \> . at! sorts, f. isri.v.

S m v?

PRANK .1- CltOSUY, <>H\\«.I. s i ni t r.

OppiislTF. slIKRBCUNK llOl'SE.

j" "-'•J'y/s

"V'unv

"iTJREKA"

Fflunrtliiu Barrels Discarded.

To tho Public! >' • -

•

IN im.st hoiisnli- ids "WashiiiEj .

Dav" is kiokwl forward, to will, ? dread and many sighs, awl when

which, with a boiler attache!, . keeps the water hut. with little , fuel: saves two thirds the time * in w-ashing. and doe* the wt-rto w well. Fot sale at the house "< ALBERT EASTON, North Water Street, where they :

IH)KAB11EA8T0N

•: .-r.': ,''tiber bavins a h-rrse acd ©svermi eat•i i« iirepared t« take passengers and baggage . 1'itrl of the town, lie trill also be wrepatcd ke oasaea«"rv to anv part ofrthe ts!ii"l. «m ,fiimi. i'ni Ni Ac, Orders left en the date, at .ic ..r E. !!. iktrker, corner of Main and teatre WOIU promptly an ' ^ m ,.,TM tN-_

THE

Eureka "Washing Machine,

„.ta

.11. L : trl.-d :: and

;

Washing Machine.

FARINA

TS .-mwthlwr new. alee, ami <*e»th»mic*l; 30 cent* i buy enough for a vreelD* break Bute for four: call and »•-*• IT. Ala*, vpw llanir. «!>>"cd al«i Whole . now I. t *.f St»..k.n H:»|ihut aii'l IWf: Mapfo Syrup t,y ill- I,(Mil. New t'r I tine Mixod PlCklr* hy mca-ur<-; Kl..ur i-ver, way g • <1. for *1.1" a hit; t'fodc-st Table Buttir in tin market !••%•»» iiostoii Cracker* for morula every time a l-'r-*ri trie* my pure Java ground Coflec I gain a cu-fomer : and you can buy a Japan or Ah*i«.iig • f in it 7 • cents a pound. that you will be entirely *ati»:.ol with.

Frr-b '.o! >*f !>*;• s and I'* anut candy. My -'"re is crsmu.* <! with "Inno frwh gro ceries 'or the mil trade;

jnr.r

OIHAW1S01I.U trTTFiiS.-S

|

For Sale.

-pleasantly sitnatw! Dweliisg llnaseeo North Shore UUl, known as the he

ISAAC H. FO LCER.

Owner of the right toruakc and sell for U«»ceunty. l OHllikNIOYiat <»1 }.S37

WIUK ltY

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

29

Following I find a literary item from a peevish gentleman: "Chesterfields' Letters" "Whoever has a book of mine of this title will confer a favor by returning it as soon as may be convenient. I should think he had possessed it long enough to have acquired a full knowledge of all the aphorisms, maxims, and instructions there-in contained."

How the dears simply wallowed in long words! Time was no object to them. Just look at this: "Wanted! A lad of 10 or 12 years of age to at­ tend store and do errands.

The best recommendation will be required and a corresponding compensation given."

If you wanted a good dish of chowder, and what true Nantucketer didn't, you could go to Elizabeth Abrams of 27 Orange Street. A good chowder maker, Elizabeth, I'm sure, and particular about her patrons.

"The subscriber grateful for the patronage which her friends have already extended her, respectfully informs them that she will continue to have chowder, of different kinds, six nights in the week from 8 to 10 o'clock. She will set a table to accommodate all respectable ladies and gentlemen. She will also make chowder suitable to set before any party by having timely notice at 12 cts. a quart."

Oysters seemed to have been plentiful in the eighteen-forties.

"Oysters will be sold by the measure and opened and sold by the quart or cooked up and served up in any style every day and evenings at Lower Pearl street. Charles Almy."

? ro

Tobatfa. Snuff,

and

Cigar

i

.

If

:

MANUFACTORY.

: lilli i THE subscrib­ " • "s!s5,-.r I'-i .g* : er would inform hi# friends ami r A!Il!l« the public. getv-|Ift ' orally, that he ry « f ? i TP" • h»* takm the! V;?ef i< Ryreg»fc.- Son e on the cor-; i ^ i wSSBSm ril.«Tiv, ^ IJSli A Vtt Mru in- the vans Of f)4-Wharf, where be intends carrying on the| v/~y|i* ;I */ Isl| Ntaetwu. i monofaeture and sate of Tobacco, Snuff and '/ |5 s £t £ , j manufacture and sale » of Beit \ Ft .§£.-? s 1 «:« ft ' ignr#. Dealers in the article# and Per • k>m on going to cca wilt find it to their adt I'fftV DM; time leaching n imtage to give llitu o Call. with, Its# been <nb*h \VM. M liFSSF.FF. >•. when he wtH la Corner of Waterat. and Old North Wharf. g*-s|*i - ,v 08—if tufts Fveur -lh about has no 1 m.'tus high. MUSICK COOKS MISSING. 1 fee

AI.MON T. M roic s % i.i'.

-,r\k. j&s

35:'

ti f

V>V SI.W.SS .Hi - .N't N the Sulw<-t ii«t offer* bi» «ers ke» to she imbiirk as »«» MXTIOMKR .1X1) BROKER* Properly consigned to htm !';-r jiultlia or ;'m« 'V sale, wilt be su'-neted '.i no charge for commWSfon, broker? <;e, orad, viTtisiog, unit's* sales afe actually effec* • i« •!("« !>«•;! light eoinjilt-MoH. dork P £ KSONS having JWaafckABoetes! !i J ' 8. H. J F-N KH P mtoons. fpisttlCtHany t'ne tiao.iel »«...» i.aydn I in dark coloured C..,{ N i til urUet. July I h he laielv Siw.iety's Collection) belonging to the j and had a new »<'«!»

Now South Congregational Society, or.'• pureh.o"! o! !> INsd.jh' Any |.-i Positively Tvro Nights Oyly «oit who can gar inform tint «»f iiitu to She i'ieyel Society, are desired to * will confer a favour OtrhF anxious ft FT C ft N the same immediately, either T. lit the meeting bouse, to Sir. S. SHORT, friend*'s Communicating the at this office.

July 2U. 31 if Jdhio MtUhtll, in MiddlHon.., ... . m Bttijanun Shvitfii in South-Kingstown. < , .? Printers throughout the FN i X Slates would confer a great favour 'distressed Father, by copying the above ' Advertisement in their papers.

I .him: do, 1823.

31.

m fA

pa:

'

ji Tilt

rviixal

PEAK y.i, \t,jsT>, t!.v!;i'K!;s, ami LAX'

I sittRi. ItL I.I. MMlKll

82 FT A Athoneum •,V.

4,1, &

• ;l,Z£* £'~7»

FOR SALE,

•" Ilall,

*$&. Is

1 iiBfsBSSS&SSUVtBSSi aBXm #n.t oaflsa-rttaateU sp !J4i4aB 2 riding »'"< pt'iratTOBle street, roramson-

3„

m the l?S."'.'S

fitu! f. tuti »nil otlwe i'i

I

It *ww»«<« aewroer

M'-il!-' — Pine Land* For SbU>•» Vtim ia She »«»****** i*"***in

I rrgs S K W I N <; Pratt's P .ten;

I all*"'

JOSEPH B MACV.

App,yW

DEf>H ATOKV SEUMON. wi% • •

f

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I if «d wlHil"! i'sa m 2 Afi*M

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; stand# « f Misc he!I

WILLI 1AI COFFfX. 4.# sis:, ort <',

"HENJAMl N W . HAN 1 I > RTH. VirOCLD ' i'.rir, imcs^or, : - . od (r.

TV BO«vr &.MIOE MAM I Af TOI v reoe.se! to the -I. ••. » m •• rh n od !W.«tl t. i bur. I • :--.hne »i the S l it. •' ' M"1! where ho c.iniinueeto< res mfthe .

Inn- oi It^ s .it >h. . • • i ill F • ri

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IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

31

The dentists of that day were both accommodating and cheap!

"Teeth extracted at Rowland Pollards' dwelling house, Centre street, corner Chestnut street, for .25 cts. Those unable to pay, teeth extracted gratis. All operation pertaining to the dental profession performed in the latest way."

Another dentist, Dr. Sanborn, had a sense of humor.

"The gold foil for which Dr. Sanborn has been so long atime awaiting is now received and will be served up to the very teeth of those who ap­ ply soon."

This rich gem follows: "Mr. T. N. Fitzgerald wishing to settle up his accounts for the year requests all who are in­ debted to him to call and settle the same by cash or note. Ecclesiasticus—Chapter 29, verses 4 and 5."

I suppose the debtor didn't dare not to look it up because of course all his friends would at once take down the old Family Bible. And this is what they found: 4—"Many, when a thing was sent them reckoned it to be f ound, and put them to trouble who helped them."

5—"Till he hath received he will kiss a man's hand and for his neighbor's money he will speak submissly but when he should repay he will prolong the time and re­ turn words of grief and complain of the time."

I wonder if this good gentleman's efforts to shame his debtors into paying up had results! But anyway, he had a good time.

A lighter touch was given by the following: "Mr. Morse respectfully makes known to the Ladies and Gentlemen of Nantucket that he proposes to open a school of dancing, waltzing, etc. Mr. Morse also teaches the new and much admired dance La Polka as taught by Mr. Ga­ briel de Korpanay of European fame."

n\T. II.HS. jwh Intent

SUKKHT - - V!.K

M

vi i i,i„s k m \rv Howe: v. N« »' V.-rk

n

F'arkhursl is'

f )IHI(N\

\ \ UyuM rcreived by the t i j>:.« k<•%%.

1'iurii (tfMiuft. a targe anil • >«. itit av - itim ui '•! Il'i 't-v So"iifij < iSfttg' a! newt <vcry :.t'»-itOn- btftj that i« u-o:i!!V called for—all ol which will he x>Sd as !• w .»» can he purchased tn tin* placeDec V< If

* ?

- -v.;'

'*-•*-

Wtishhiiiton < Lurtl .i.VJi ClOTHIJVV liJtRE NOR.s

5000

Iff \<>Y V MM". <

rum it.ur

W

F.II.XI

i.w.

\1 s\A A iV, tyilb gratitude for pa-* favour-. r««pectf"Hj' *ol« its < vmiimii.utce •>!' (.afriMtsge, liu r*.»orm are m the house tonneriv occupied hv Mi -i»oh:n.i Barnard.ncnrfy opposite the St- n uO unti V V.folic He .

41— i

BEBF— %-^i j , f,.„ half s.hh Ml DS J HtKC. p«t tip esptt • } I >r family aial he -add at a fotr jxs'.e, AppU (•< liAkl.H A. HAlii.FTT Ih-c. -i'-Oi, St—-I

'L\I be

Sold,

k LEW „ He second <'o»gr<?j*-:d»im ,! . V <ie< un Hotre. AppH »o JusT.LH CHASE Der. ii. »sv m

TO LET,

'.PER i/f'

.» o t i c

f|111F i. • foo l> occufiifeii t«y Mr- it*-.

I • • ia ,i *. ixlnt-r deceased, Said house i• |,a :u'.v .smaft-il art Male -tret ', opj-.js.itf-1no .M„r.ui.«- timer* A- Mechanic*" Hank, Me) ,<t a very i-uvenieel tenement Appl* t„ tniifXCJ OAHDNKK. Dec ?2.

II'.

*:?..

T'

SKI.I.IM. OFF. frii'lK -iihwriher um •. Ur»g t<- make 1. iter, arrangement »rt his luwififtw. <•*feis his -lock ufgtswfo at reduced price* WILLIAM IIADW |' V Dr. a.-vVtn

unction. rhi •Hence «» a »«

RJl YKITN Uy lTs*cution .-ml « ° s..UL a' l'n'dif -VtwiHsti. «m S .jtn i!'V !'!ic i • ..j-iv-'hin! -d' Vagi'sU in*'ant, • t <>'• lock r. M ;; n«»t before rc-U > i-<l < M»«- liittliiiiio call*-'! a HD» I.OI 1* :uh"itiHts !ti< New Nttr'h Whart'. > «;• it anil ticciipii ti Uy

sal*.*

<L- -'/V

XMUWKFI, A«g«)»f T'".s. 1823. FI­ LM \ GOODS.

kJ W.i'lA. N (' Vl.t.LN ftKU !: • IT * • -ale, rpcvtvgtS Uv rrcent nrrtvale from HttAfOii a •.;< to ; •! ass'trfomM -4 A-,,. I '! a.ai \ ul-.-O DfV -lit

U-.UOH

oi <vatrh itrc > '•'.*/ ^t>r i for n-.'i <»r''aixib*. i; fill-lt> f hi? log of • •riptipa 'ui' sa'c !«bo it t i r<. chaip Ai!;-. I j.

'»

i'er

'fi'1'

y icjX'J X \ V per-at. having tn his (H/sen £»stttt any Of oiiitcr <-!' the f>.'!-ovi«g; BOOKS. iicioRghig H> till! soliatathvris fijicctfnSly tcfitj<»«t«l to return the satin.*, s««>n ; may he eon-caiettl, --viz.— Watt's Logic. fliesterfieiil's {.-' Hers to ht« Sao, Leake's Law of EvMeooo.

Look's Voyage's, L'tck' *- L.-' iys.

Hi rvcy's MetlMations, The Sorrows of Werter.

JOHlAil lirSSF.V. NflOtm kef, Amy. 12th, Ih'-'A.

\

TI*

W

AUCTION.

ILL be «ohl at I'nhlic Auction ort Thursday the 1 Mil day of Key tentber next, in froftt of tny store, at Jo o'clock M. all the lamia ami tene merits Ue longlog to the estate of Jethro Dunham, tleccasetl, on 'fookomiook.

JOSIAll I! RID DELL «af Aug 15».

A.

VIAKCti 19. ISIS.

JfV.

in IS

Matthew*,

to !a* on the i>rcmi«ts SlUAi? ilAliDNBR y. H.JKN

•• rvliT* li.a I a loir k* < he following •am vnmiii L. AL'Ll.'STtS MDHSf', JOHN |'.U\f>r.E. PR INI"I. I.ARDNTR J?I III «I:.\RP.

V 7»TI., entfattce lo «ot <llt.ee- >. ns.t- h;

FIRST

:t.e «t:oi* l«-aJ up ff.uu ibe Uoor i« she ' <•« builJiitj }u*t erected hv J. V t-.n*veu but it luile north of the ftitintr entrance

1

I'HII'.rt'E

scitoou

11ID. >N'DW proposes to <»j»eo a private • *I S-',-•>>! f'»r s ••.us Alt—< s in hi-r •D.-dtn-y hoii«.tv«0>tf the Rev. Mr. SwtllN. i >t.« wiil hoc m M.o foll«>*ei»sr • !.i„-« it - >•>:. f'.iiy-ii.ii <»r.«ttttn;tr. AtisUmctu-,' i.ct.o.,tj 1 t. Pi .01 and OfitatnctiMl Need'e-1 Di ivcag. PaiattBj on velvet atid pa- J l« , IU.auc. Rhci.ou:. i.'t»irtiuisi!:i>a. Natural| rio!.is.,|t|.t A;c, S'ttjktis ran attend f.> Point-1 'and iit ..tt!<3 .-ih , tf Aisj«is<-1. TiKYlS.. »f. jicr «ju srfci, To eotariW'tirre 0» Al«u-!at ,i ! v..i -a, cakolim; W. svow j Nov U. 48—(f. (

tf >K -S \l.l Apphc! f.M »mtn.) yyjh* A 6'. -.-rate seeeel now on the etock* i~ifiTrp.«' »t the follow.ng <liuiensier>* — I rtiglh on deck, 115 Del. breadth of I-ettfiS 2* ft, depth of hold, 13 ft; between deck.*. f tiOKIND Ui UN At f 6 Mi. rrgKter about 41»i lou* M.nn , rnJH*. Suhv has jo-t re n/ti 3 fiewj tramoin, and apron.

I i*e tiak. Hewaej I • aucut to Fi UN ACf> «>f various I j. < t. . ouutr: tiinb. r*, and ataiKheotw, »re ' p -!t rns and sizeJ». JOSf I • mt She m IteaviU copperAiistrued thro'Vantucbfcr Um. -rs }g2t otit. |u fact, matenal, and workmanship are ol the »en t>„i kuvd The ship i« cafmisted . f..r Whaling or the I'lcighting bualttea,- i'lta be launched the i.vil of April Appiv to K» U Y. ANDRl 1VS. & N. - Bedford, Feb 15,1545 flT

"HER

CO

pHO.AD'B.MTas, {•t.vwwriMi. Rsttiwti,. «!»i Vertihs*. imw ' pi ainz at very 11» j»aSe#.*; Br.i fLKnld-U'*, c»fn»rof Main in-1 Mrangs «<-.»• c jt»in!,'«n*n e4e :l|ims»i.-.l « Hi. tillIt., V.-»t-. to ill . >« l» Ui»- . a! l-.-SiM i I. It f- »ifr,i. i „ fit. a n d a t l b " v e r y l u i v . - v p t ' • it; - .tut <>l »»•?>! aittcU;., w i ! eer! >»« * ea! i itiid irr scga «p«» :. DiPUbU. tt.1:S

HE

i

.XOTICE

" bcrc'iy givirti. tli,if the ' «ed «. .. ucc.i . iniiHUtu*. at *(«• last arum.-; I own Aleettng.to,impact all d»«ger««>> pSssees <iO isCcnit M{ of ftre. vrithi* the a lit power So e.-m~e ibeoj to fee remediesl. r .I'mni to the ttiune ohjeei, they : ret}neat di pdMins It ivi'tghittjwledge nf *«ch pbicek, to give iMfemtnairtm to either ti the . n&mtlUe that !Ue danger msv tie reawv-.

- 5 PETER t H ASL AARON MirollEJ.lt.

MlTfHKU Ml HICK, i PRINLK iMRDNER. Ui HORDE EASI'MN. THOMAS MACV N .unmke!, til h m» 2?. 1821,: $1—AS f

.

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

Can't you just see the ladies all in a flutter ing gowns, going to,

33

to get their danc­

"Gardner and Hallett who are now opening a large assortment, straight from Paris, colored, figured, and black gro de naps, colored Poults de Soie, black and blue-black Italian Lastings, black and colored Sarsinet, and colored Flor­ ences."

Who hears of such fabrics today!

Gently I fold the little faded brown paper, a record of a day that is gone, and put it away in the old sea chest. Before me— I see a street in the heart of a town Leading down to a sapphire sea, A busy throng treads its cobbles worn, Green Elms arch over me.

There are Quaker merchants in sober gray And Captains from foreign parts, An old chaise lumbers over the stones, There are creaking two-wheeled carts.

There are little white shops with shutters green, There are little old ladies fair Who sell you ribbons, needles, and pins With a faded genteel air.

I smell sweet spices and sandalwood Prom the Injy store over the way, The color of the Orient Transforms the street to gray.

It is twilight beneath the arching elms, There's a fog stealing in from the sea, Only shadowy forms tread the cobbles worn; Silence broods over me.

[Mrs. Hutaff, a descendant of Nantucket whaling skippers, makes the Island her home; has written short pieces and published poems about her native Island.

The advertisements which Mrs. Hutaff quotes were published in the Inquirer prior to the year 1843.—Ed. Note]

34

Vanished 'Sconset Houses on Nantucket1

BY HENRY CHANDLEE FORMAN WITH DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR

On the occasion of this three-hundredth year of the English colonization of Nantucket Island, it is appropriate to survey briefly how much of the original Siasconset has changed and what parts of it have disappeared. For the chief value of 'Sconset lies in the village being our only example on the Island of a surviving settle­ ment of the period of the founding fathers—that is, the seven­ teenth century. Early Sherburne and Sesachaeha have gone.

It is pretty safe to assume that since Siasconset was first established as a fishing stage around the year 1676—one hundred years before the American Revolution—changes have been made each year in the buildings of the village. Especially in recent times have the destruction and despoliation of the ancient structures been worse than anyone has hitherto realized. All the more reason, therefore, to find out what has gone with the wind.

At first, in or about 1676, the 'Sconset fishing stage had a tall mast for a lookout, from which to spot whales or fish out at sea, and a cluster of huts and cottages around the mast. A very old drawing of 'Sconset shows the hamlet looking like this in a schematic sort of way: How large was the settlement in the early years can only be guessed, but at least we know that the older parts of Auld Lang Syne (c. 1675), Rose Cottage (c. 1675), and Shanunga (c. 1682)2 —and probably Nauticon Lodge as well—were in place by about 1682 upon the thoroughfare later 1 © 1959, by Henry Chandlee Forman. All rights reserved, includ­ ing the right to reproduce this article and illustrations, or parts thereof, in any form.

The author would appreciate any supplementary information, textual or photographic, about the buildings described, and may be addressed at "Myacomet," P. O. Box 334, Nantucket, Mass.

2 E. F. Underhill, "The Old Houses on 'Sconset Bank," in Nan­ tucket Inquirer and Mirror, August 25, and September 1, 1888, hereinafter referred to as "Underhill."

VANISHED 'SCONSET HOUSES ON NANTUCKET

35

named Broadway. There were also a few other cottages in the two blocks east of these four habitations: on the other side of Broadway, on Front Street which was then not "front" at all, and on the "highway" along the edge of the Bank or Bluff. That "high­ way" unfortunately caved in when the great ocean waves of the storm of October, 1841, and of other gales undermined the Bluff— except for a small piece of road at the North Gulley opposite "Nauma" and the Robinson House.

Early 'Sconset was a tiny hamlet with boat's-crew lodgings "big enough to put your head in," as one noted colonial has quaintly put it. The Pump Square antedated the Pump of 1776 and was simply the place where no buildings had been erected. There was another, smaller square, on the edge of the Bluff just south of the Middle Gulley. By 1791, the supposed date of the crude en­ graving from a copper plate entitled, "A View of Siasconset, a Fishing Village on Nantucket," in the Fair Street Museum of the Nantucket Historical Association, it is evident that there were at least thirty dwellings and a few outhouses in the village. Then, by 1835, the individual lots on which the original buildings stood were surveyed and laid down. These lots were mostly small, av­ eraging two and a half rods by three in size. And there were over seventy dwellings.

Nevertheless, year by year throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century and down to the present day, the vast majority of the old habitations underwent structural or decorative opera­ tions, so that some of them, still in situ, have just about been completely changed inside and out. "Driftwood" and "Nonantum" on Broadway are specimens of how unrecognizable the local car­ penter could make an original fisherman's homestead. It is no exaggeration to state that old 'Sconset went chameleonic.

For nearly three centuries the villagers and summer resi­ dents have amused themselves by putting on a wart here, taking off a projection there; removing a shed here, putting on a "porch" there; moving a partition here, raising a floor there; and making the roof mushroom upward here, putting in larger windows there, so that much more than three-quarters of original 'Sconset has been altered or been destroyed.

It has taken detective methods reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes to track some of these lost examples, and archaeological and technical knowledge to reconstruct others on paper.

36

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Below are described eleven such domiciles, but they scarcely comprise one-third of all the old buildings which have disappeared from 'Sconset. Remember that nearly a whole length of street, that along the Bluff, which was lined by a row of structures, has gone.

Near the north end of Broadway there stood before i t s destruction about 1910 a picturesque cottage o f medieval as­ pect — the PinkhamGardner House (Fig. 2), located between Ea­ gle Cottage and Colum­ bia Cottage.

Fig. 2. The Pinkham-Gardner House, now We have destroyed, with Columbia Cottage beyond. found that dwelling was in 1835 the John C. Coffin house; before that time, according to Underhill, it was (1814) in the possession of Eben Gardner. And at a time previous to 1814 that gentleman and Tristram Pinkham held the place jointly. It is Underhill's amusing story of how Pinkham sold out his share of the property to Gard­ ner for one quintal and a half of fish—that is, some hundred and fifty pounds' worth.

Old photographs and drawings show the Pinkham-Gardner House as having had the usual "T"-plan arrangement with the two "warts" at the south end sweeping low to the ground. There was also a low north shed. The residence was unusual in its preser­ vation of the original front door on the Front Street side. In other words, the owners for generations were too conservative to change the front door over to Broadway, as became fashionable after 1800

VANISHED 'SCONSET HOUSES ON NANTUCKET

37

in practically all the other habitations on the east side of Broad­ way. On the interior there was not the usual stepladder going up to the little garret, but merely cleats nailed to the wall—about as medieval as you could get.

Further on down Broadway, Shanunga or the Betsy Cary House no longer preserves in the yard its little barn, a tiny oneroom tenement which, according to Underhill, was probably all that remained of a dwelling once owned by a man named John Beard. But one doubts that he ever actually possessed that cottage, which stood on the Betsy Cary House lot. Be that as it may, our drawing (Fig. 3), taken from the Pump Square side, shows what a primitive, rain-barrel snuggery was the John Beard quarters.

corn

Fig. 3 Between that place and Auld Lang Syne there once existed the Rose Cottage, a site now occupied by the ungainly Victorian General's Quarters. Underhill thought that the Rose Cottage was more ancient than Auld Lang Syne (c. 1675), which would have made it pretty old for 'Sconset, but within the realm of possibility.

We do know that the four-room "tumble-down" habitation was so small that it had been removed twice from 'Sconset Bank by rolling it upon spars. In 1814 it was the property of Benjamin Paddock, and in 1835 belonged to an individual whose initials were "W. P."—probably another Paddock.

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

38

In 1881 the Rose Cottage went through its third removal, this time to Morey Lane outside the old village at 'Sconset. Not only that, it went through Victorian and modernistic alterations, so that only the overall size of the house—18 feet by 28—remains to inform us about its early appearance. The floor heights had been increased. On the other hand, Miss Eva Channing in a sketch made of Broadway before 1877 showed a little corner of the Rose Cot­ tage (Fig. 4), which indicated a "wart" at the north end of the dwelling.

-ifi — " v ^ -

ix.•* r* \

<

<

<

•

.

' \ JL-X

-.

i T"T

••

tf/eadn.chz: J/ou.5e (gone) * . ~ v ofro zz 2r Street, ScoUSef JZes to ratio zz 2)ra uH. zz $ by the -A. ulh > ' C&ltagd Hczmiof Fig. 4 Headache House, named for its incurably smoky chimney, is presented herewith (Fig. 4), showing smoke oozing out from door and window cracks. The indefatigable Underhill stated that this abode belonged to Jonathan Chase and once stood on the site of the Gardner barn, now also destroyed, on the George C. Gardner House lot. On the location of Headache House today stands Miss Mildred Burgess' new cottage.

Old photographs of what purports to be Headache House show a long narrow messuage with a bowed or curved ridge line and with its main gable flush with Front Street. The rear gable stood well back from the Broadway line. The house was obviously

VANISHED 'SCONSET HOUSES ON NANTUCKET

39

erected in two sections, the later addition being toward Broadway.

On the South side was one small window and a door. We have shown in the drawing an early type of roof—"clinker-built" or clapboarded. Further, it is possible that all or part of the Gardner barn was made out of Headache House.

Another interesting specimen, High Tide, situated between Casa Marina and the George C. Gardner House, went through many a battle with the elements and with owners who wanted to change it, and gave up the ghost some time in the seven years between 1893 and 1900. They say that when High Tide suffered its final ebb, it was loaded on a wagon to be re-erected somewhere else, fell down like a pack of cards, and was of no further use to mankind.

Underhill noted that High Tide was owned in 1814 by Charles Nichols, and we have found out that in 1835 one Job Coleman held it. In 1888 and thereabouts it was the home of Harrison Gardner and his wife, Susan Folger Gardner. The early photo­ graph (Fig. 5) shows the unique zigzag fence which Harrison

Fig. 5.

High Tide, once the home of Harrison Gardner.

40

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Gardner put up in a kind of Victorian "Norman chevron" style.

Inside, the most interesting item appears to have been the small ladder in the Dining Room which was hung in nautical fashion by a rope from the ceiling.

The next vanished dwelling along Broadway was Big Enough, known in the 1880s as Tuckernook (Fig. 6). Its site is now occupied by the garage of Big Sunflower, and there is the possibility that some of the framing of the garage may have been left over from the original house. In 1814 the habitation stood, according to Un­ derbill, in position on Broadway and was owned by Abijah Swain.

In 1835 it was Joseph Sheffield's place, with drying racks for cod­ fish in the yard. Our sketch shows the Broadway side after the

Fig. 6 front of the domicile had been changed around from Front Street and after the kitchen wing, located to the left of the chimney, had replaced an earlier shed-roof kitchen. The large wrought-iron lamp on the wall is of interest as showing how 'Sconseters of the nineteenth century lit up the front of their dwellings at night.

Just south of Tuckernook was a quaint place called The Wood­ bine, the site of which has been taken by the barn-like Big Sun­ flower. That The Woodbine was brought from Sesachacha village about 1820 and rebuilt at 'Sconset is related by Underhill. In 1835 it was owned by a man or woman with the initials "0. B." Then,

VANISHED 'SCONSET HOUSES ON NANTUCKET

41

in 1884 the little edifice was taken down, moved to Hill Street out­ side the old village, put up again, and much changed. On Broad­ way it appears to have been a typical "T"-plan cottage. But its curious feature was that the kitchen shed or "porch" stood not to the north, but fronted on Broadway. In other words the struc­ ture, like Headache House, was set at right angles to the street.

Immediately across Broadway from Tuckernook and The Woodbine and on the southwest corner of Main Street once rose a mighty bungalow known as the Frederick C. Sanford House, which was in existence as late as the 1880s. Underhill thought that it stood on its site in 1814, was "clinker-built," was painted a redochre, and was owned by Peter Myrick. At any rate by 1835 it held probably the James Macy household. Our view (Fig. 7), shows

Fig. 7 the picturesque rear side with sheds and a "wart." To the right of the Sanford House lay a small housing, no longer existing, which looked something like the Treasure Chest, but which it was not. We have temporarily labelled it as an unknown house.

Except for George C. Chase's dwelling—about which nothing is known—all the buildings on Centre Street are in situ: not one has vanished. But the canvassing of Shell Street indicates a differ­ ent situation. For one thing, the little hut called The Anchorage (Fig. 3) has gone from the spot at the corner of Main and Shell

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

42

streets. Before its disappearance it had a central chimney, an ell at the rear, Greek "attic" boards on the roof, and a small Victorian front porch.

But it was the next place northward on Shell Street which had some architectural interest. It was a picturesque ensemble called facetiously the Waldorf-Astoria, Jr. Underhill pointed it out as a little, dark, odd-shaped house (Figs. 3, 8) ; and, in truth, the lodging did look as if it had been formed of two ill-fitting fabrics put together, the south or lower part being the earlier in date. In spite of Underbill's statement that the place was built about 1820 by Obed Luce, there is room for doubt that it was standing on the site by 1835. Always interested in personal touches, Underhill told of "Aunt" Keziah Luce going forth from the dwel­ ling at night and stripping boards off fences and other structures.

In the morning the boards would be found neatly piled beside the Waldorf-Astoria, Jr., ready for the use of her carpenters.

A third habitation on Shell Street has disappeared—the Thomas Brock house (Fig. 3), which once graced the Pump Square directly opposite the pump. This dwelling is believed to have been ..... _

^

:<•

'

^

j •.

_

; •>

'

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Fig. 8. The Waldorf-Astoria, Jr., gave up the ghost some time ago.

HISTORY MAKING EVENTS

43

brought from the edge of the Bank to keep it from falling into the sea, but its architectural details are not yet fully known. In the 1870s and 80s its site was occupied by a vertical-board cabin known as "Uncle" Nat's shanty, used as an Ice Cream Saloon with a Victorian flavor.

As noted in the beginning of this essay, these are but eleven of a far greater number of early buildings which have disappeared from their original sites in 'Sconset. Then, too, considering what has been done in the way of alterations and additions to almost all of the other early buildings there, it is high time, upon this three-hundredth anniversary celebration, to take stock of the situation and to make serious plans to lessen any future chameleon­ like playfulness with historic Nantucket architecture. In our opin­ ion it is well worth while to preserve the remnants of what once must have been the most unique village in all New England.

44

History of Nantucket Fire Department

BY IRVING T. BARTLETT, CHIEF

No records of fires prior to 1736 have been found, but it can be assumed that there were fires then. Fire is a friend and foe.

We have to have it on the domestic and manufacturing side but when it comes to destruction, that is when the prevention side should be well studied. Property losses were quite serious in the early days as they were almost always total. The wood fire and fireplace were in common use and the old pump in the back yard or water barrel with the fire bucket were the only means of checking and putting out the fire.

In 1838, the harbor front suffered a fire loss of $300,000. In 1846 the business section of the town along with many private residences was reduced to ashes. This was called "The Great Fire." Loss at this time was over $1,000,000. With the exception of the two above fires and grass fires, Nantucket has been fortu­ nate in being able to confine the fires to the property on which they started. Let us hope this record will never be broken, as it takes considerable time to get help from the mainland. Grass fires have burned over many acres at different times but without too much property loss. Help was brought in on the 1949 grass fire by plane and boat.

Times have changed. The department has progressed from the volunteer and buckets and no alarm system to the present day modern pieces of apparatus with its paid drivers, fire alarm superintendent and chief. It might be well to take one thing at a time as there are about four basic elements of a fire department.

1. Personnel. It has changed several times from the unpaid volunteer prior to 1830 to $3.00 per year. Around 1886 the pay was increased to $10, each. Varying on different systems until now there are three paid drivers, fire alarm superintendent, chief, and extra night men. The rest of the department comprises a call assistant chief, captains, lieutenants, and call men. The men today have drills in actual fire practice which is conducted at the pit of the Nantucket Construction Co. The latest movies on new fire-fighting tactics are available. The men also attend demon­ strations on the mainland, and an instructor from the Falmouth Fire Department gives courses in fire fighting on the island.

2. Machinery. This has come a long way from the old fire bucket to the modern pumper which carries 750 gallons of water, large quantities of hose of various sizes from 1 in. to 3 in., lad-

HISTORY OF NANTUCKET FIRE DEPARTMENT

45

ders to 35 ft., a 1000 GPM pump, along with foam and "wet water."

There is always the question "What is wet water?" "I thought water was wet." When an additive is mixed with water, it breaks the surface tension and lets water more easily penetrate the sub­ ject. Along with the necessary assortment of tools, a portable light plant and a portable pump are also on this truck. A new modern hydraulic aerial ladder will help bring the department up to date.

The old hand tubs "Cataract" and "Siasconset" are going to be overhauled and put into operation for this coming summer and it is hoped that some mainland company will be able to partici­ pate in a real old-fashioned muster. After the hand tubs, there were the steam pumpers in 1882, then the auto-chemical and then the pumper.

3. Alarms. The system of sounding alarms has gone from the old way of calling "Fire!" and each person hearing it and passing it along to the next one. In 1787 watchmen were employed to patrol the streets at night and about the year 1800, men were in the church towers to watch for fires and ring an alarm on the church bell. This was continued until 1907 when an electric fire alarm system was installed. This same style system is in use now. The transmitter which was installed in 1912 for sending out alarms from the Central Fire Station is still in use.

4. Water. This has changed from the old fire bucket which either received the water from the backyard pump or the rain barrel to the hydrant system and tank truck. In 1769 the Select­ men voted to buy 5 dozen leather buckets. In 1803 the first cistern was built and through the years more were built until the total came to 15 ranging in size from 500 bbl. to 1297 bbl. Several were built in 'Sconset. The water system was installed in 1882 which gave Nantucket hydrant protection. It took considerable showing to get the fire wards to see that water would "run up hill" as they put it. The system has been increased both in the size and length of pipe installed along with more pumping capacity being available with a modern diesel engine coupled to the pump.

This is a short resume of the many changes which have taken place over the years. One of the old sayings as seen on the Rules and Regulations from the Governing of the Nantucket Fire De­ partment was "The great secret in extinguishing fire is expedience and plenty of water." Today we are using less water by using fog which dissipates the smoke and heat much quicker and with less water damage.

Both of these well-preserved old fire engines have found a safe resting place in the Pair Street Museum. Please notice the fine row of fire "buckets" which are also in the Museum collection.

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Legacies and Bequests Membership in our Association proves that you are interested in its program for the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage and its illustrious past, which so profoundly alfected the develop­ ment of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by naming the Association to receive a legacy or bequest under your will which will help to insure the Association carrying on in the future. Counsel advises that legacies or bequests to the Nan­ tucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law.

Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as di­ rected by the donor. A sample form of bequest may read as follows: FORM OF BEQUEST "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly in­ corporated by the Commonwealth of Massachu­ setts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of dollars."

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

Please send all communications to Miss Ethel Anderson, Secretary, P. 0. Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Office, Fair Street Museum.