Historic Nantucket, April 1962, Vol. 9 No. 4

Historic Nantucket

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Reprint by Bill Haddon

The Ocean House, 1862. See page 40.

APRIL, 1962 Published Quarterly uy

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice-Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, Burnham N. Dell, Stokeley W. Morgan, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert Egan, Jr., Mrs. William Mather.

Secretary-Treasurer, Miss Ethel Anderson.

Auditor, Ormonde F. Ingall.

Councillors, George W. Jones, Chairman; Robert C. Caldwell, Alma P. Robbins, term expires 1962; Mrs. Joseph King, Mr. Herbert I. Terry, term ex­ pires 1963; Mrs. Francis W. Pease, Mr. H. Errol Coffin, term expires 1964; Alcon Chadwick, Norman P. Giffin, term expires 1965.

Publicity Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman.

Honorary Curator, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Curator, Mrs. William Mather.

Finance Committee, Albert Egan, Jr., and Alcon Chadwick.

Editor, Historic Nantucket, Miss Alma Robbins; Mrs. Margaret Fawcett Barnes, Mrs. R. A. Orleans, Assistant Editors.

Exhibits' Publications Committee. Burnham N. Dell, Chairman; Mrs. John Bartlett.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Fair Street Museum, Mrs. William Mather; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Oldest House, Mrs. Francis W. Pease; Old Mill, Robert Caldwell; Old Jail, Oswell Small; 1800 House, Mrs. Joseph King; Gardner Street Firehouse, H. Errol Coffin.

The recent change in Postal Regulations has greatly increased the cost of remailing any Historic Nantucket copies which have been incorrectly addressed. Please give us your change of address as early as possible.

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 9

April, 1962

No. 4

CONTENTS Officers of the Nantucket Historical Association

38

Special Notice The Jared Coffin House, formerly the Ocean House,

38

by H. Errol Coffin

40

The Whaleship Edward Carey and Nantucket Ships' Signals .... 56 Recent Events Briefly Noted

58

Melville's Third Captain, by Dr. Edgar L. McCormick....

61

Civil War Memoranda

66

Report of the Publications Committee by Burnham N. Dell

67

Archibald Cartwright — 1885 - 1962

69

Clarence Alfred Bunker — 1866 - 1961

70

Charlotte Bunker Chase — 1872 - 1962

71

Diary of William C. Folger, Edited by Nancy S. Adams

72

Legacies and Bequests

75

The Ocean House — 1900 - 1960

76

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, 1962, Nantucket Historical Association.

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

40

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Reprint by Bill Haddon

41

The Jared Coffin House Formerly the OCEAN HOUSE

BY H. ERROL COFFIN I.

HISTORY

Mr. H. Errol Coffin working on the steps of the Jared Coffin House, 1962.

Through the gen­ erosity of the Nantucket Historical Trust the Ocean House has been purchased by it and is being restored to its former dignity and ar­ chitectural detail.

Jared Coffin, who made a fortune in whale oil, owning the ma­ jority of shares in the "M o n t a n o," "Ohio," "Reaper," "Ann," "Dan­ iel Webster," and "Cath­ erine" built in 1830 the lovely brick residence known as Moor's End on

the corner of Pleasant and Mill Streets.

Shortly after the erection of Moor's End other wealthy whale oil merchants built their stately brick neo-classic residences on Main Street. Among these were the Charles Coffin house (1831), 78 Main Street; Henry Coffin house (1833), 75 Main Street; Starbuck houses, Three Bricks (1838), 93, 95, 97, Main Street.

In the early part of 1845 Jared Coffin, having determined' to build a new residence, purchased the property on the corner of Broad and Centre Streets. This decision was influenced by his wife who felt that Moor's End was too far from the center of town and that the odors of her husband's near-by try works were objectionable. I strongly suspect that surpassing the Main Street merchants was a factor in the decision as the new residence when built was a story higher than the other brick houses and veiy impressive in mass.

42

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Their new residence had been completed Out a short time when the Jared Coffins, in the Spring of 1846, placed the property on the market for sale and moved to Boston.

Shortly after this the Great Fire of 1846 occurred, burning out completely, except some of the brick buildings, the center of the town. The Jared Coffin house with its brick walls and slate roof withstood and helped stop the fire. The Episcopal Church adjoining to the East was completely burned to the ground with the steeple toppling nearby.

The new house was surrounded by desolation extending from there to the harbor.

The courageous citizens, although disconsolate over the ca­ tastrophe, immediately started rebuilding and thinking about how industries, other than whale oil, could be established. Know­ ing of the success of Newport as a vacation resort they saw no reason why Nantucket would not serve equally or better as a resort if it had the proper accommodations, i.e., a first-class hotel.

They proposed that the Nantucket Steamboat Co. establish a hotel on the island on the theory it would promote travel.

In this same year (1846) the directors of the Nantucket Steamboat Co. voted to establish a hotel (public house as then called) on the island. They considered the purchase of the Jared Coffin house and appropriated 87,000 for the establishment of a hotel.

After more thought the directors decided why alter an exist­ ing residence into a public house — better purchase a site and erect a new building designed especially for its purpose.

On August 22, 1846, the Nantucket Steamboat Co. purchased the property at the junction of Main and Orange Streets owned

by G. H. Riddle and Dr. N. Ruggles; had plans and specifications drawn and received bids for a new hotel. The lowest proposal was for $10,300. As this exceeded the $7,000 voted, this project was abandoned.

The Steamboat Co., on October 17, 1846, decided not to erect a public house and to dispose of the land acquired. Instead the directors agreed to pay a bonus of $300 to any person who would establish a public house accommodating 75 persons.

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

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Apparently there were no takers of this offer for in April of 1847 they purchased the Jared Coffin house which had been placed on the market for sale at less than one-half the original cost.

The directors of the Steamboat Co. had previously voted to expend $7,000 to establish a public house. To this they added $700 to convert the building and purchase equipment for use as a public house or hotel and to lease to a suitable person with the understanding that no spirits were to be sold on the premises and that the best rooms be reserved at all times, at liberty for tran­ sients.

There were many applicants to manage the hotel. From these Robert T. Parker and Lady were chosen. Mrs. Parker had been manager of the Mansion House on Union Street and was organist of the Unitarian Church. Many of the prominent and wealthy citizens of Nantucket were members of the congregation, at this time, and meetings of the stockholders of the Nantucket Steam­ boat Co. were frequently held in the vestry of the church. The gossip spread about town (as rumors still do) that Mrs. Parker had been selected primarily because she was organist and influen­ tial in the church.

Inquirer — April 28, 1847 — Quote — ''We do not know what in particular induced the Committee to lease the house to Mrs. Parker but we feel very certain that her connection with the Unitarian Society in this place as organist did not influence in the slightest degree any vote of a single member of the Commit­ tee."

Note that reference is made only to Mrs. Parker. In subse­ quent advertisements and public notices they were most frequently signed by Mrs. Parker only who was actually the manager. The difficulties of management apparently had no effect on her health as she died at the age of 97, the oldest resident in Nantucket at the time of her death.

Upon leasing the building to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parker on May 22, 1847, the hotel was named the OCEAN HOUSE and has been run as a hotel so-named since then to date. The site has an even longer history for serving the public as Jared Coffin de­ molished an old inn on the site to erect his new residence.

In the early 50's there was an interest in clairvoyance and magnetism as indicated by the following advertisement:

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

NOTICE THE MYSTERIOUS LADY MADAME BUCKLEY Whose fame has spread throughout the New England States, would respectfully inform the inhabitants of Nantucket and vicinity, that she will be LOOKING ON A SELENITE STONE, give information relating to the PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE. Also, REVEAL MYS­ TERIES and foretell coming events with astonishing accuracy. — She is also a CLAIRVOYANT, and in that state will examine patients, detect disease, and prescribe remedies, without a failure, as great numbers can testify to her remarkable power and skill in cure of all diseases of the human system. She has met with great success in all the principal cities of New England where she has traveled for the last four years.

She may be consulted in her rooms NOS. 25 & 26 OCEAN HOUSE At any time between the hours of 8 o'clock A. M. and 9 P. M. Those who wish to avail themselves of her remarkable power and skill in the cure of disease, should visit her soon, as she remains but a short time.

Pi'ivate Room for Ladies. Consultation free. Examination of Disease, $1.00. For fifteen minutes Interview on the Selenite Stone, 50 cents. Sept. 25, 1850.

The Nantucket Steamboat Co. decided that its principal func­ tion was transportation and if possible would get out of the hotel business. The Company, through its agent, C. B. Swain, publicly advertised the hotel for sale in 1853 and 1854. In 1855 the Com­ pany again advertised the Ocean House for sale, together with a 12-horse stable. The notice was signed by Mathew Starbuck, Fred W. Paddock, and Isaac Macy.

It was not until 18o7 that the Ocean House with furniture was sold to Eben W. Allen for $5,000.

For several years the Nantucket Steamboat Co. had been urged to build an addition to the Ocean House to provide more rooms but no action was taken. The new owner, Eben W. Allen, built the addition to the north connected to the Jareid Coffin resi-

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

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dence comprising a large dining room and kitchen on the first floor with two floors of bedrooms above.

In 1858, Mr. Allen had gas installed in the parlors, halls, dining room, and principal chambers. In the same year the host, Jevis Robinson, had a 700 lb. hog slaughtered which dressed, weighed 652 lbs.

As early at 1859 women's street attire was the subject of criticism even as today. The editor of the Boston Herald on a visit to Nantucket remarked in that journal: "Sitting one pleasant afternoon at the hotel window, The Ocean House, we heard a slight commotion in the street, which was the nearest approach to an excitement we had noticed on the island. On looking out we saw a bloomer in full sail followed by some 20 boys, hooting and shouting in full cry, 'There she blows! — Hurrah!' But none of these things moved the Bloomer."

In 1860 band concerts were given from the balcony of the Ocean House and hops (dances) held Fridays. Price — twentyfive cents.

Mr. Alleni erected a bathing house on the Cliff Shore for use of the Ocean House guests in 1864.

Prices as advertised in 1872 were: transient boarders $3.00 per day. Permanent $2.50.

The following number of guests were entertained at the Ocean House: Year 1870 Year 1871 Year 1872

1040 guests 1441 guests 1700 guests

During these years many eminent persons were guests of the hotel, among them. Ezra Cornell, who had founded Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., a few years previous, and whose mother was Eunice Barnard, a descendant of many of the Island's founding families.

Messrs. Howe and Elmer, of Boston, in 1872 bought the Ocean House from Mr. F. C. Allen for $15,000 subject to a mortgage held by Mr. Allen. At the same time they purchased for $2,000 the house and land adjourning belonging to Samuel Swain, Esq. Howe & Elmer were the proprietors of the Evans House in Boston and had great plans for the Ocean House.

46

Picture courtesy of The Inquirer and Mirror Press

The Ocean House, now the Jared Coffin House, 1874, when President Grant was entertained there.

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

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In Sept., 1873, they bought for the use of the Ocean House the yacht "Salus," 6U2 tons, slcop-rigged, fitted in black walnut with silver mountings. She was for charter not only for trips locally but made cruises to Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. She was in service in July, 1874, with Captain Thomas Brown in command.

Sailing was very popular at that time. The employees of the hotel, in September of the same year, presented to the skippers, Wm. Jernegan and Geo. A. Veeder, each a very elegant silver cake basket. This was done in appreciation of the pleasant sails up the harbor afforded to the hotel employees by the captains.

One of the memorable events in the history of the Ocean House was the visit of President Ulysses S. Grant on the 27th of August, 1874. F. C. Sanford, Esq., was in charge of the Presiden­ tial party who were assigned to carriages and made a brief tour of the town then alighted at the Ocean House to partake of a collation.

The party came in headed by Councillor Macy and Mrs. Grant followed by the President and Mrs. Macy. Besides the President and his wife there were over forty others in the party.

As the party was leaving the Ocean House for the boat, the horses of Mr. Sanford, becoming a little uneasy from the demon­ strations of the crowd, caught one rein under the harness and before it could be gotten out the animals were under preitty good headway down Broad Street. Mr. Sanford, on getting control, promptly reined up to a tree and Mrs. Grant and Councillor Macy alighted, preferring to trust to their feet the remainder of the distance. The President retained his seat, however, and was with­ out further trouble, carried to the boat.

Eben W. Allen died March 26, 1876, a distinguished citizen of Nantucket, hotel proprietor, host, Collector of Customs in 1853 and Selectman.

Notice of sale by auction May 1, 1878. Mortgagee, Clarissa G. Allen, Executrix.

From time to time there were unusual occurrences at the hotel.

Mrs. J. S. Doyle, the wife of the proprietor in 1883, had in her room for a pet a young crocodile brought from Florida. At the

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

time few on the island had ever seen a crocodile and it created great interest.

Upon opening the vault on a Friday afternoon in July, 1885, the dead body of a 12-lb. child was discovered. An inquest was held, the verdict rendered being substantially that the child was born of Ellen Ryan on June 28, 1885, and came to its death in consequence of neglect (through ignorance) on the part of the mother who was subsequently brought before Trial Justice Alien Coffin for a hearing. Upon motion of her counsel, the case was dismissed in accordance with the verdict of the inquest.

Mr. Charles H. Robinson purchased the hotel in 1887.

It is interesting to note that prices as advertised in 1872, after a lapse of 20 years, were identical to those in 1892, i.e., Tran­ sient boarders $3.00 per day, Permanent $2.50.

From the turn of the century to date there was very little of interest to report; there were a succession of owners among them W. P. Carpenter and Frank Worth.

In 1926, the Ocean House Orchestra was advertised. In 1932, Contract Bridge Tournaments were held. The mural? on the walls of the Dining Room were painted in 1929 and frequently men­ tioned in subsequent advertisements.

Under proceedings for foreclosure of mortgage, given by Frank Worth to the Nantucket Institution for Savings, the Ocean House and Annex were sold at public auction by Henry Coleman, auctioneer, in May of 1934. There were no bidders other than by the Treasurer of the Nantucket Institution for Savings, holder of the first mortgage and the property was sold to the bank on its bid of $5,000.00.

The Ocean House Hotels, Inc., in 1937, was granted a charter of incorporation by the Secretary of State. Incorporators were Thomas A. Moloney, Mary J. Crowley, and Anna T. Coffey.

The Nantucket Institution for Savings, in 1944, sold the hotel to the Boston banker, Eben Hutchinson, who later gave it to his wife. It was advertised as the only brick hotel on the island.

In 1955, the hotel was sold to Mr. and Mrs. A. Preston Man­ chester, They, in turn, in the Fall of 1961, sold it together with the Annex to the Nantucket Historical Trust. The property had deteriorated, greatly needed repairs and restoration at the time the Nantucket Historical Trust purchased it.

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

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II. BUILDING

Now the Annex across 4he street — porches, additions (warts as they are called in Siasconset), sheds, and servants' quarters have been removed; the hotel will comprise three connected build­ ings: (A) The Jared Coffin Residence.

(B) The Eben W. Allen Brick Addition.

(C) The 18th Century House.

(A) The first floor plan of the Jared Coffin Residence is not original but similar to those on Main Street, i.e., the Her­ bert Terry House (1820), the Henry Coffin Carlisle House (1833), the Three Bricks (1830's), and others.

Each has on the first floor a central stair hall with two rooms on each side connected with large openings containing sliding doors. In each house the service portion containing the kitchen and pantries was in a wing at the rear. The kitchens, for unknown reason, were called porches. This service wing on the Jared Coffin House was removed at the time the Allen addition was built. The foundations have been encountered under the dining loom.

The Jared Coffin Residence varies radically from the Brick Houses on Main Street in that it has an additional story and is built with a hip roof.

The Residence when built had a wooden roof parapet or bal­ ustrade which was removed some time after President Grant s \isit as a photograph of him on the front steps shows it indistinctly.

There are still in the roof the stubs of the parapet braces. By studying and measuring the roof parapets on Main Street, together with the photograph and an early lithographic drawing, we are able to reconstruct the parapets pierced with balusters over the windows and with solid panels between. As the balusters are only seen from the street side, they were turned full and with Yankee thrift, sawn vertically in half and placed with the rounded side out, thereby getting two balusters from one turning.

The roofs of both the Jared Coffin Residence and the Allen Addition are of slate imported from Wales. Both have exterior walls of fdce brick laid with a close buttered joint, five courses to 12 inches. They are similar to the bricks in the Three Bricks, most of which were purchased by Joseph Starbuck from John Page, Danvers, Mass.

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The Architectural Drawing of the Restored Jared.Coffin House is by the author, H. Errol Coffin, Architect, 1962.

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

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The front, or South facade, has undergone various changes.

Originally there was a simple iron railing on either side of the main entrance steps extending up to the columns and then from columns to pilasters at the wall.

The railings from columns to pilasters were removed for access to narrow wrought iron balconies built across the front on either side. These balconies were built prior to President Grant's visit as they show in the photograph taken at the time. Also the photograph indicates iron railings at the sidewalk line. The ex­ istence of these railings is also evidenced by sockets in the gran­ ite steps and curb where the iron pickets were leaded in.

The iron balcony was demolished and a porch erected in front of the building which, in 1879, was extended along the West side.

In 1904, a large sun parlor was built on the East side of the Hotel, the front porch removed and a new one built extending to the sidewalk matching the new East porch.

In 1847 the basement was converted into a billiard saloon and a gentlemen's smoking room with direct entrance to the East side. At the same time a ladies' entrance to the Hotel's first floor was provided on the West side.

The main entrance door with its carved panel was of such interest that a drawing of it was made by J. A. Schweinfurth and published in "The American Architect" in the issue of November 15, 1916, with the following quote: "The front door of the Ocean House is remarkable for its Greek feeling of design and the rich effect of its simple flat mouldings about the panels, heightened by an incised line in the panel itself, and its curious carved panel in the Greek feeling."

(B) The Eben Allen Addition, with its large Dining Room on the first floor with two floors of Bedrooms above, is of unique construction. There are no columns or girders in the Dining Room.

This is accomplished by hanging the floors above by means of iron rods concealed in the partitions suspended from heavy wooden roof trusses.

No money was spared by the wealthy Jared Coffin in the construction of his house. However, the Eben Allen Addition, being entirely a commercial undertaking, was built differently in some respects. There is no cellar under the Addition, consequently the first floor wooden beams have rotted out. The Jared Coffin Resi-

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

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built with free standing 2 inch by 4 inch stud construe-

had been attached. These furring strips have rotted out so that all of the plaster and lathing is to be replaced.

(C) The Old House, connected at the rear to the Addition, has been so altered over the years that it can hardly be recognized as having been built much earlier than the brick buildings. The pitch of the roof, the central chimney, the post and girt construc­ tion and the two-plank frame windows are proof of its early con­ struction.

The Old House originally had a wing to the North with a shed roof. Some of the shed roof rafters were still incorporated in the construction when a second floor was built over the shed with a two-pitch shingle roof over. On top of this, without removal, the present hipped roof was superimposed. In this wing, therefore, are incorporated simultaneously three roofs.

III.

RESTORATION AND REPARATION

Upon completion of the alterations the building will contain 26 bedrooms, each with a tiled bath.

Fortunately the first floor of the Jared Coffin Residence has been little changed since building and will be retained for public rooms and office.

It has been necessary to take down the murals in the Dining Room. Some of them were painted directly on the plaster, others on muslin mounted on the plaster. As the plaster in both cases had to be removed the murals could not be saved. It is hoped that new murals or suitable scenic wallpaper may be obtained. A service bar is to be installed in a corner of the Dining Room.

The Kitchen will be reconstructed with quarry tile floor and the walls of ceramic glaze structural facing tile and modern stain­ less steel equipment installed.

The basement of the Jared Coffin House which in 1847 was a billiard salon and gentleman's smoking room will be converted into an 18th Century-type taproom with old pine side walls, exposed beamed ceiling, quarry tile floor, and furnished with

THE JARED COFFIN HOUSE

53

trestle tables, settles, and captain's chairs. Nantucket Ships Signals in color will be painted on the pine walls as a decoration.

A modern hydraulic passenger elevator, running from first to third floors, will be installed between the Jared Coffin Residence and the Eben Allen Addition.

The Old House is to be used as a Manager's Residence and the Wings for help.

All plumbing, electrical, and heating installations throughout are to be new.

A new brick Boiler Room is being built north and adjacent to the Kitchen.

The site of the Annex is to be developed into a public park and the grounds about the hotel are to be suitably planted with parking space at the rear and a landscaped Sidewalk Cafe at the East side. Among the plant materials to be used will be plants of similar variety introduced to the island under interesting cir­ cumstances and which have thrived under the climatic and soil conditions of the island. Among these are the boxwood (Buxus sempervirens suffruticosa), and English ivy (Hedera helix), cut­ tings of which were brought to Nantucket by Henry Coffin on a special trip to Medeira in 1733, and the Japanese Euonymus (Euonymus Japonica) introduced also by whalers from the Pacific.

The Euonymus is now very prevalent on the island and is most attractive with its evergreen glossy leaves. There are also the Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergi) which were planted in quantities by the late Bassett Jones and his father. 1hen there are the Heathers found on the moors. In 1875, Henry Coffin imported from Great Britain 30,000 Scotch pines and firs and 10,000 larch trees for planting on the island. Dr. Will Gardner's theory is that the heathers came to Nantucket with this shipment. These heath­ ers have been identified as Erica cinerea, Erica tetralix, Calluna vulgaris L. There is none of the furniture suitable for reuse except possibly a buffet, bureau, and bedside table all of walnut with marble tops. This furniture is Victorian of a type which might have been in the Hotel at the time visited by President Grant.

Every effort will be made to obtain furnishings and lighting fixtures in keeping with the early character of the building but still suitable for hotel usage.

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Photo by Bill Haddon

One of two large oil paintings, gifts of Mr. Robert W. Waggaman to the Nantucket Atheneum, loaned to the Nantucket Historic Trust to be hung ir the .Tared Coifin House.

A start toward that end has been made. The Nantucket His­ torical Trust has obtained a rare lithographic portrait of President Grant. The Atheneum has been presented with two large framed pastel portraits of groups of handsomely gowned Nantucket young ladies. The Atheneum proprietors have offered to loan these for an indefinite period to the Hotel. These portraits were by George Fish, born in Nantucket ca. 1825. He had studied in Paris, had a studio in New York and one in what is known as the Reading Room of the Atheneum.

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Photo by Bill Haddon

One of two large oil paintings, gifts of Mr. Robert W. Waggaman to the Nantucket Atheneum, loaned to the Nantucket Historic Trust to be hung in the Jared Coffin House.

The Nantucket Historic Trust has decided that the house shall be more appropriately named "The Jared Coffin House."

Thus the Ocean House, which had a long and unique history in former days, ceases to exist, and The Jared Coffin House returns to its former charm and glory.

Acknowledgment, with thanks, is made to Miss Grace Brown Gard­ ner for the use of her scrapbooks of newspaper clippings from which so much of the information relative to the Ocean House history has been obtained and to Dr. Will Gardner for his kindness in reviewing this article and furnishing useful information.

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Recent Events Briefly Noted This year the Nantucket Historical Association has been very fortunate in the unusual interest taken by members. Mr. Norman Joy Greene, who is Governor of the Society of Mayflower De­ scendants in the State of Pennsylvania, and also a descendant of Moses Joy, one of Nantucket's well known citizens of earlier days, has done a splendid piece of work for us. He has arranged in loose leaf books, the pages protected by plastic covering, the most interesting papers of Moses Joy. The other papers have been indexed, arranged alphabetically, and chronologically in suitable filing boxes.

This proper indexing and filing is one of the needs of the Association. It is such a great asset to all members, and persons who may wish to use the material for study and reference, we can only hope for more help of this kind.

We are indeed indebted to Mr. Greene and most grateful to him for this work so well done. *

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Early in the year we had a request from The Valentine Mu­ seum, "A Museum of the Life and History of Richmond" (Vir­ ginia), for a number of our Quilting Blocks for a special exhibit which they are having this Spring. We have received word from them that the blocks have proved to be most interesting and an added attraction appreciated by many viewing their exhibit.

These Quilting Blocks, several of which are in Fair Street Museum, are patterns cut in wood much as the old butter stamps were, and transfer paper must have been used before the cloth patterns were cut. They are in excellent condition, almost as though new, and have interesting designs.

Our Curator, Mrs. William Mather, made arrangements for shipment of this loaned exhibit, assuring its prompt and careful return, as is done in all such cases. *

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The Folger Family Reunion Round Robin Letter is contrib­ uted to the Association by its author, Franklin Folger Webster, and is gratefully received.

RECENT EVENTS BRIEFLY NOTED

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Cranberries have been given a good, bit of space in the trade publication of the Schrafft's Restaurants. This magazine, Volume 19 - No. 5, nicely put together and reaching a wide audience across the country, has pictures of a Nantucket cranberry bog, and a feature article by a staff writer who came to Nantucket for authentic material. $

$

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Free publicity was extended to our Island by Associated Press reporter, Saul Pett. This article, not exactly "square," has some splendid pictures. Main Street with the snow on the little firs which decorate the street for Christmas; Archie Cartwright, our last whaler, who, in the past, so industriously watched over the Whaling Museum in summer; the Captain's Club with several members enjoying a quiet pipe by the stove; bicycles on the cob­ bles; an especially good shot of Aletha Macy in her shop on Main Street, carving an ivory piece; a small and most effective shot of a couple looking to the sea. %

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Other better known writers have devoted good space to Nan­ tucket. Nathaniel Benchley, in his most recent book, "The OffIslanders" did the Island proud but a bit snide when he let the Enemy land. Of course, he names no names but across the moors to the wharf was a familiar trip.

Jan de Hartog in his most recent and very splendid book, "Water Ways of the New World," has final chapters about Nan­ tucket. This was the end of his water journey which started in Texas. Mr. de Hartog is from Holland. The Sea and Water Ways have engaged his attention from early youth, and writing; a long and impressive list of books and plays is to his credit. But how many of those old Quakers would turn over in their graves if they knew he had given them stones to mark their final resting place!

Row on row of Crosses! Five thousand Quakers rest in that old burying ground and less than twenty crosses mark the rebellious few who succumbed to "worldly ways"! He is a little naughty when describing our haloed ground, "The Hidden Forest," but we can easily forgive, and accept such a splendid "log." ^

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The "gold rush" Folgers who remained in California to make a great and good success of Coffee (rather than panning gold)

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

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have sent us a copy of their most attractive booklet, "The Folder Way." This small hard cover publication tells a simply, accurate, and quite charming story of the three young boys of the family who went to California to make their fortune and did just that!

The illustrations include a small print of the Nantucket "Fire of 1836" which hangs in Fair Street Museum, as well as many of San Francisco in the Civil War period. "Folger Coffee" is a house­ hold word not only in Nantucket but all across the middle and Far West. The book, added to our Library, will attract many in­ terested readers. The sub-title is "Coffee Pioneering since 1850," and the author, Ruth Waldo Newhall.

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Jane Litten who wrote a fine article for us, "Lahaina Anchor­ age" (Jan., 1961), has sent a copy of the Lahaina Historical Guide, Published by the Maui Historical Society, composed by several members of the committee, one of whom was Miss Litten. It is a booklet describing: "the Landmarks of its days as Playground of the Alii; Capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom; Anchorage of the Pacific Whaling Fleet; Producer of Sugar and Pineapple." It is nicely illustrated. *

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The Council of the Nantucket Historical Association has re­ ceived the Deed of the property at 1 North Water Street, Nan­ tucket. This piece of property, which is on a corner of Whalers Lane and adjoins the Whaling Museum site, is a most valuable addition to Historical Association holdings. This gift was an­ nounced in the newspapers in January. The Nantucket Historic Trust was the donor of this especially desirable land and the coun­ cil members intend to show their appreciation by using it to great advantage for the Association. You will hear more about it at a later date. *

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If anybody doing research on the Whaling Industry, or South Pacific shipping (or any nautical topic), has missed the Na­ tional Archives Publication No. 62-2, they will surely need to ob­ tain this from the General Services Administration, Washington, D. C.

61

Melville's Third Captain

BY EDGAR L. MCCORMICK KENT STATE UNIVERSITY Leon Howard's description of John B. Coleman, the exper­ ienced captain of the whaleship Charles & Henry, as "young and nervous about his responsibilities'" is not borne out by the facts.

Melville, in Chapter 82 of Omoo, sized up his third whaling captain as being "in the prime of life," and the record of Coleman's voyages shows that he was a highly qualified master. His twentythree years in the whale fishery are summarized tersely in his obituary in the Ravenna, Ohio, Portage County Democrat, Sep­ tember 20, 1871: Captain Coleman was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, in the year 1800.2 At a suitable age he was apprenticed to a carpenter, and by the time he was of age had acquired his trade. In the year 1821 he left his native place and went to Nantucket, and in a few months commenced a sea-faring life, which he continued until the year 1845. He made his first voyage on the good whale ship "Boston," his second on the "Golden Farmer," of which he was second Mate; his third and fourth voyages were on the "Zenas Coffin," he being first Mate on his third and Master on his fourth voyage. His fifth and sixth voyages he sailed as Master of the ships "Ca­ tawba" and "Charles & Henry."

All six voyages were to the Pacific, and the first five were successful ones of average duration." Alexander Starbuck records that the Boston, a relatively small ship of 187 tons, left Nantucket December 18, 1822, and returned May 9, 1825, apparently unload­ ing its 1144 barrels of sperm oil at New York. The Golden Farmer, out from August 14, 1825, until April 4, 1828, returned with 1685 barrels of sperm oil. The Zenas Coffin on its original voyage boiled 2732 barrels of sperm oil between September 1, 1828, and No­ vember 15, 1831, a highly successful voyage at a time when most whaleships returned with fewer than 2000 barrels. As master of the same ship, Coleman returned from a slightly longer voyage (June 24, 1832, to October 21, 1835) with a respectable cargo of 1720 barrels. He did nearly as well as master of the Catawba which put 1698 barrels of sperm and 139 of whale oil through its try-works from January 14, 1836, to September 20, 1839.

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The John B. Coleman House Ideated on lots 146 and 147 in original Ravenna village, now the corner of "Walnut and Cedar Streets. Captain Coleman's farm was two miles east of the village. He retired to this house, 1866, died here, 1871, twenty-five years after migrating to Port­ age Co. His wife, Susan Coffin, died here, 1875.

But circumstances were against John B. Coleman on his last voyage as master of the luckless Charles & Henry* Although this voyage lasted over fifty months, from December 20, 1840, to March 8, 1845, it yielded only 689 barrels of sperm and 146 of whale oil." According to Captain Coleman's letter from Eimeo to Charles G. and Henry Coffin, the owners for whom he had sailed since 1825 as mate and captain, the whales were wild and the crew inept." Twenty-one months out, with but 850 barrels of sperm oil in the hold, he protested the stipulation that the Coffin brothers must have made that he stay close to the Line in search of sperm whales. Belief in his own ability to make the proper decisions about his course — as most captains did — was surely the reason for his protest. His annoyance can scarcely be attributed to inex­ perience. But his assertion of his independence did not alter his

MELVILLE'S THIRD CAPTAIN

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luck — the right whales of the stormy Northwest Coast also eluded the Charles & Henry on its six months' cruise there in 1844. The New Bedford Whalemen's Shipping List and Merchants' Tran­ script (II, 1844) reported that the Charles & Henry left Maui for the Northwest Coast on March 15, 1844, and returned on Sep­ tember 18, 1844. The cruise netted, in round numbers, only 200 barrels of whale oil.

This wearisome voyage concluded John B. Coleman's long career at sea. Following the example of many of his fellow cap­ tains who lamented the "hard old times," he migrated from Nan­ tucket. A number of his townsmen, led by Captain Isaac Bray ton, had already moved to Portage County, Ohio. He joined this Nan­ tucket settlement in 1845, purchasing a farm near the Lesser Mahoning River, two miles east of Ravenna, Ohio. Little is known about his career as a farmer, except that he lost his barn and all its contents by lightning in October, 1856.7 By 1850, according to the Portage County tax duplicate, he owned five lots in the town of Ravenna, in addition to three parcels in the township that totaled 98.54 acres.

Shortly after retiring from farming and moving to Ravenna, he suffered a paralytic stroke in November, 1866, a second one in 1869, and a fatal attack on September 16, 1871. He was survived by his wife, Susan Coffin, the sister of his fellow citizen, Captain Frederick B. Coffin; his son, William B.; and his adopted daugh­ ter, Elizabeth C., the child of his brother James, a Halifax, Nova Scotia, shipwrights His wife Susan died August 4, 1875, also at the residence on the corner of Cedar and Walnut Street, Ravenna.

Both are buried in Ravenna's Maple Grove Cemetery.

The adopted daughter, Elizabeth C., married D. C. Coolman, of Ravenna, on December 18, 1849. When Mr. Coolman retiied in 1869 as chief engineer for the Atlantic and Great Western Rail­ way, he bought the property on Clinton Street in Ravenna known as Clinton Terrace. This large, imposing house had originally housed the Tappan Female Institute, a school founded in 1849 by Benjamin Tappan, the original proprietor of the township. Mr. Tappan brought William Hegeman from Nantucket to conduct the school. Despite the support of the local Nantucket group, it "failed" in 1854 and Mr. Hegeman returned to Massachusetts.9 The Coolmans had six children, James E. and Horace Y. (twins) ; Clinton H.; Mary, who died when she was five; and Blanche and Bertha (twins). Only Clinton H., who had lived in

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This stairway in the Captain John B. Coleman home leads to two up­ stairs rooms; a parlor with fireplace, and sunny kitchen (just beyond the door at the foot of the stairs) add to the charm and comfort of the house.

Pittsburgh and Cleveland before moving to Texas, survived the parents. Elizabeth Coffin Coolman died March 8, 1911, five days before her 81st birthday;10 her husband died October 4, 1917, aged 89. Elizabeth had attended the Coffin School in Nantucket and was one of the original members of Ravenna's Grace Epis­ copal Church.

The Captain's son, William B., married Mary E. Humphrey, of Orangeville, Trumbull County, Ohio, on Christmas Eve, 1857.'

They resided in Ravenna at the corner of Prospect and Cedar streets until about 1873, when they moved to Cleveland. William B. operated coal mines at Wadsworth, Ohio, and at his death on November 17, 1894, "a large delegation of miners was in attend­ ance at the funeral."11 His wife Mary died April 7, 1903

MELVILLE'S THIRD CAPTAIN

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William B. had two children. A daughter, Susie, graduated from Vassar in 1882 "with the proud distinction of receiving all the honors of the institution."12 She married H. P. Crowell and lived in Chicago. A son, Frank Humphrey, a resident of Cleveland, was Secretary of the Imperial Plantation Company of Mexico.

These are the facts presently available in Portage County about Melville's "Third Captain," John B. Coleman. His obituary makes clear that he was respected by the landsmen with whom he spent his last days as "a man of pure life, exemplary walk and conversation." The robust, fine appearance that Melville noted apparently stayed with him to the last.

i Herman Melville: A Biography (Berkeley and Los Angeles, [1951]), p. 64.

2These facts about his nativity correspond with the findings of Wilson Heflin as noted by Jay Leyda in The Melville Log (New York, 1951), I, xxiv. For E. A. Stackpole''s account of the 17851786 Nantucket migration to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, see the Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror, December 26, 1958.

3See Alexander Starbuck, History pf the American Whale Fishery from Its Earliest Inception to the Year 1876 (Waltham, Mass., 1878), pp. 242-243; 254-255; 266-267; 292-293; 326-327.

4Will Gardner in The Coffin Saga (Cambridge, Mass., [1949]), points out that the' Charles & Henry "made only four voyages, her total catch was about three thousand barrels and on her fourth voyage she was wrecked and burned at Carvo, the Azores." p. 201.

5History of the American Whale Fishery, pp. 366-367. &The Melville Log, I, 155-156.

7The Ravenna, Ohio Portage County Democrat, October 29, 1856.

8The Ravenna, Ohio Republican, October 11, 1917.

Hbid., March 5, 1925. mbid., March 9, 1911. n/feid., November 21, 1894.

12Ibid., June 21, 1882.

Dr. McCormick, a native of Ohio and Associate' Professor of English at Kept State University, became interested in the Nantucket migration to Portage County while' collaborating with Professor Edward G. McGehee, also of the Kent State English Department, in editing Life on a Whaler (D. C. Heath, 1960). He is currently writing an account of this migration to Ohio.

66

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67

Report of the Publications Committee

BY BURNHAM N. DELL

Some time ago the Council of the Nantucket Historical As­ sociation appointed a Publications Committee to supervise the issue of the printed material sponsored by the Association. This material is varied in character, but this report deals only with those publications designed to interest the summer visitor who wishes something more than a casual view of the island, and of the surviving relics that so graphically recall the history and traditions of its fascinating past.

Even before the appointment of the Publications Committee, several important contributions to this type of informative litera­ ture had been undertaken. Mr. W. Ripley Nelson had prepared a booklet of 42 pages entitled "The Nantucket Whaling Museum" published as Bulletin No. 2, Vol. 4, of the Association and revised in 1959. This excellent work sketches the history of whaling on Nantucket, the establishment of the Museum itself, and a de­ scription of the main exhibits of interest displayed there. The same author also prepared a pamphlet on "Main Street" under the joint auspices of four civic groups, including the Historical Association. This pamphlet, placed in the hands of the summer visitor, serves him as a guide to the brief history of the old houses as he strolls up Main Street from the Pacific Bank to the Monu­ ment.

When the Publications Committee first began its work, it is­ sued a small eight page pamphlet giving a brief description of the old buildings on Exhibit by the Association with instructions for their location. This work was followed by a revised edition of "Rambles in the Nantucket Historic District" by Dr. "Will" Gard­ ner, in which short walks or "rambles" are recommended, with a description of what is to be seen of historical interest on either side of the roadway. The "Rambles" have proven to be very popular — many are purchased by the local Information Office from the Historical Association, and distributed free to incoming visitors.

Besides these publications of a general character, the Pub­ lications Committee has prepared booklets or "guides" to its own exhibits. The guide to the old Windmill gives a clear description of the operation of its wooden machinery, accompanied by photo-

68

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

graphs of its various parts. "The Old Gaol" reprints an article

by Edouard Stackpole, Nantucket historian and former President of the Historical Association; the guide to "The 1800 House," re­ counts its history, describes its construction, and calls attention to the more important items among its rich collection of furniture and furnishings contemporary with the period. The Fair Street Museum, joined to the Friends Meeting House, is introduced in a large booklet designed to help the visitor to view articles of the greatest interest and historical importance from among a large collection of items connected with the history of the island.

The latest activity of the Publications Committee is the preparation of a 12-page guide to the "Oldest House," the only exhibit of the Society not hitherto adequately provided for. This work gives the history and traditions connected with the Oldest House, together with a brief discussion of the character of its construction. The material is based on an old publication of 1929, now out of print, by William F. IVIacy, the Nantucket Historian.

This guide will be ready for distribution this summer.

With the completion of this undertaking, and including Mr. Nelson's booklet on the Whaling Museum, the summer visitor has available a complete set of descriptive booklets and pamphlets for the exhibits of the Historical Association.

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1 8 8 5 - A R C H I B A L D C A R T WRIGHT - 1 9 6 2 A native Nantucketer, the son of Benjamin and Agnes Ham­ ilton Cartwright, Archie (as he was familiarly known) Cartwright was the last Nantucket whaleman. He sailed on the Sunbeam from New Bedford in 1902. Returning after three years, he en­ gaged ini the carpentry business in Nantucket, and was a crew member of the fishing boat Petrel. He was Assistant Fire Chief for many years and became Chief of the Fire Department in 1946.

He retired from that position in 1954. Since retirement "Archie" has been a member of the staff of the Whaling Museum where he has given authentic stories of the whaling days with a genuine personal touch to the hundreds of summer visitors who spend many hours there.

All his life he participated in community affairs of the Island serving several organizations, giving of his time and efforts.

He was Past Sachem of the Wauwinet Tribe of Red Men; a Past Noble Grand of Nantucket Lodge of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Island Rebekah Lodge. This past year he appeared in a TV program, and has been the MC of many a newspaper and magazine story of Nantucket.

Surviving are three sons, Archibald, Clyde, and George, and a daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Belden. Four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren survive.

Mr. Cartwright's cheery presence, his droll manner and stor­ ies, often salty, reminiscent of the early whaling Captains, will be sadly missed. Not only the Nantucket Historical Association but all Nantucket has suffered a loss in the death of "Archie" Cartwright.

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1866 - CLARENCE ALFRED BUNKER - 1961 Mr. Clarence A. Bunker was the son of Alfred and Cordelia Mitchell Barker Bunker, and was a direct descendant of the first Nantucket settlers, and of several whaling captains. Mr. Bunker graduated from Harvard Law School, 1892, cum laude, and also received an M.A. degree, after which he practiced law.

In recent years he maintained his offices in Barristers Hall, retiring in 1959. During these years he commuted to the family home in Wellesley, Mass. He was a member of the American, Massachusetts, Boston, and Norfolk County Bar Associations, the Association of City Solicitors, and Town Counsel, and the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association. In 1920 he was ad­ mitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Bunker was an active member of the Wellesley Hills Unitarian Society, an enthusiastic worker for the Boy Scout Or­ ganization, and continued his interest in Harvard Law School and Fraternity all his life. He never stinted in his efforts to serve his community. He had also traveled widely, patterning his days after those early whaling ancestors who were citizens of the "World."

In 1897 Mr. Bunker married Mary Hawthorne White. She died in 1960. There are three surviving children: Raymond T., Lau­ rence E., Miriam H. Bunker. There are two grandsons surviving.

The families continue to reside in Wellesley.

Mr. Bunker was for many years a member of the Nantucket Historical Association, each year visited Nantucket, frequently spending several weeks here. Mr. Laurence E. Bunker carries on his father's interest in the Historical Association, and is also President of the Bay State League.

One more of our interested, older members has left us.

It has been, and is now, the enthusiasm of these direct de­ scendants of the Fiist Settlers who have built the Nantucket Histoiical Association to its present position of being one of the Town's most worthy and valuable institutions.

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1872 - CHARLOTTE BUNKER CHASE - 1962 For more than thirty-five years Charlotte Bunker Chase was a faiithful and interested member of the Nantucket Historical Association. She was born in Nantucket, a direct descendant of the firsit settlers, and continued visiting the Island, and follow­ ing the activities of the Association until her recent death at ninety years of age. Her niece, Mrs. Catherine Chase Hornby, requested the omission of flowers, all Memorial Gifts to be sent as Donations to the Nantucket Historical Association.

This Memorial to Miss Chase, her love of Nantucket, and her interest in all things pertaining to the Island, will help preserve for others who love this place those things which mark its special historical significance. Many gifts have been gratefully received.

M L-

zael Nantucket Harbor — 1910.

72

Diary of William C. Folger EDITED BY NANCY S. ADAMS

(Continued in each issue of "Historic Nantucket," starting October, 1960) 1837 Feb. 26—I received this evening by mail the Nantucket Inquirer including 19th of Oct., 1836, and the 14th of Jan. 1837, being 23 numbers and all the numbers with the exception of one or two which the editor wrote me would send as soon as he could collect them. I paid 60 cents postage on them.

Feb. 27—I began to copy off the Parma School District a lecture on school houses delivered before the American Ins. Inst'tn. at Boston by William A. Alcott.

March 1837 March 1st—Finished copying off the lecture. Received by postage a letter from Father of the 17th. saying they were all well.

March 2—I wrote letters to Father and to uncle Aaron Folger to send by mail. Paid washerwoman for washing and ironing 9 pieces. I received by mail, postage 25c a letter from Aunt Phebe Coleman of the date of 23rd. stating they were about as well as when I left, a very satisfactory letter.

March 3—I bot 6c worth of gingerbread. I left Cleveland this afternoon by foot for Munroeville, Huron Co.; Ohio to visit cousin Alexander Folger and wife. I walked to A. Sperry's Inn in Dover, ten miles from Cleveland crossing the bridge over the Rocky River on my route. Stopped, took tea and lodged.

March 4 Started about 6 a.m. in company with two men from Portage Co. Stopped and took breakfast on the border of Lorain Co. paid 25c., arrived at the bridge across the Black River and entered Elgria the County Seat of Lorain about noon, stopped and rested a while and then went on. I saw a wild turkey in Lorain that had been killed this morning. Got a ride of three miles with a man named Hall from Vermont who had been to Barn­ stable & Yarmouth, Mass. Stopped at the Tavern in Lorain Co. and bot 3 cts worth of cakes. Crossed the Vermillion River and entered Huron Co. parted with my two travelling companions, went on to Florence where I arrived after dark and stopped at Bakers Hotel, got a bowl of bread and milk, and lodged.

March 5—I shaved, greased my boots, took a bowl of bread and milk, paid 371/2C and went on again. I had travelled 32 miles yesterday. Strolled 9 miles from Florence & got doughnuts and

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

73

paid 9c at a log Tavern. I passed through Norwalk in the after­ noon, a pretty village the County Seat of Huron Co., situated on a plain with a sandy soil has several churches, public buildings, steam factory, and a number of good buildings. Passed a mound and then a branch of the Huron River and short time before dark got to the village of Munroe, 18 miles from Florence and learnt my cousin lived at Standards Mills 1% miles south of Munroeville. I reached there very much exhausted after dark having walked nineteen and three quarters miles to-day. I found that John Davis and wife lived opposite to cousin Alexander in a house that John had built last summer and that Henry W. Standard who married Ann Gardner daughter of Grafton lived on the other side of the Huron River also Phelps who mar­ ried a man of Auburn, N.Y. she was daughter of Capt. Alexander Drew of Nantucket. H. W. Standard has a large flour mill & saw­ mill, distillery, blacksmiths shop, coopers shop &etc. I took tea with my cousins, once at Standards, once at Phelps, once at John Davis and another time at Davis' alone and at Standards alone and they were all at my cousins to tea.. I read Ulloas Adventures, 1st Vol. History of Florence by Lorenzo L. DaPonte, 2 vols, and History of Nantucket by Obed Macy, 1 vol, duo. One day I took a ride through Munroeville on horseback with cousin Alexander Folger, bot 2 oz. of snuff. We stopped to warm at Cooks corners and at Lyme. At Lyme I paid for our dinner and horses fare 37VoC. We returned by another road over the prairies of about 71/2 miles, had been 9 miles from my cousins. The prairies were very wet and the ride a cold one.

March 15—I left my cousins hospitable roof about noon and tak­ ing leave of my friends bent my course eastward, the roads were muddy. I reached at night Roberts Inn in Berlin. 13 miles where I took 3c worth of crackers and lodged.

March 16—Shaved and took breakfast and paid SIVa cts. and started anew. I fell in with a student of Oberlin who had taught a school in Berlin and concluded to go with him to that place, we stopped at the house of one of his friends and took dinner and in the afternoon resumed our route, very muddy, after walking some miles we turned off from the grand route and went four miles over the worst road I ever travelled through, a new country and a part through woods and arrived at Oberlin after dark. I put up at a Temperance Hotel & had a bowl of bread and milk for supper.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

March 17—I cleaned my boots and clothes which were very muddy.

Saw R. L. B. Clark who had taught at Parma last winter next to my district. Bot two catalogues of the scholars etc. of Oberlin @ 6V4.C each. Then walked out and saw the village, its steam saw mills etc.

The people of the village and vicinity engaged in making maple sugar. Oberlin has been settled but about four years and has nearly a thousand inhabitants of which three or four hundred are connected with the Institute. It is situated on plain recently cleared of trees and is a wet muddy place.

March 18—1 settled my bill after breakfast with J. Pelton the landlord paying him one dollar and started for Cleveland. I ar­ rived at Elyria, a pleasant village in Lorain Co. about noon, crossed the Black River, got a ride of three miles for 12 Cw, stopped at Humphreys Inn in Ridgeville and got 7 cents worth of pie and cheese, and then walked from thence to Dover and stopped at A. Sperry's Inn. had some pie and cheese. A cold night.

March 19—I settled with the host this morning paying him 25 cents and started for Cleveland distant 10 miles. I had travelled yesterday 24 miles, Stopped at the Inn at Rocky River & got 6 cents w. of Gingerbread and arrived at the city of Cleveland about 12 m. Spent the evening at Richard Husseys with his family and Charles W. Hussey & family. Got at post-office Nantucket Inquirer dated Feb. 18.

March 20—1 got at post-office some papers from Father. Paid Reu­ ben Champion 2 dollrs being for the weeks board from the time I left Parma till I went to Huron Co. Bot some gingerbread and apples.

March 25—I paid 25c for washing & ironing and bought and sent to Father some papers.

March 27—Took a walk out to Brighton village saw J. K. Freeman and David Huntington, gave David my plans for school-houses.

Bought some pie and some maple sugar. I exchanged my Beauties of W. Irving for Mitchells pocket map of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois & part of Michigan.

March 28—1 saw Capt. Robert B. Chase of Nantucket now of Belvidere, .Mich. Spent the afternoon and evening with him, a snow storm.

March 29—Took a walk with Charles W. Hussey and bot some maple sugar.

(To be continued)

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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 affected 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.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR CHANGE OF ADDRESS AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE.

Picture courtesy of The Inquirer and Mirror Press

The Ocean House as it has appeared in recent years, now restored to the Jared Coffin House,