Historic Nantucket, October 1964, Vol. 12 No. 2

Historic Nantucket

Children's Beach

OCTOBER, 1964

Published Quarterly by NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F. Egan Jr., Mrs. William L. Mather, Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman.

Treasurer, Norman P. Giffin.

Secretary. Miss Ethel Anderson.

Councillors, George W. Jones, Chairman; Leroy H. True, Herbert I. Terry, term expires 1965; Mrs. Nancy S. Adams, A. Morris Crosby, term expires 1966; Miss Helen Powell, Albert G. Brock, term expires 1967; Mrs. Ernest H. Menges, Walter Beinecke Jr., term expires 1968.

Advertising and Publications, W. Ripley Nelson and H. Errol Coffin.

Honorary Curator. Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Curator, Mrs. William L. Mather.

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

Editor, Historic Nantucket, A. Morris Crosby; Assistant Editors, Mrs. Mar­ garet Fawcett Barnes, Mrs. R. A. Orleans.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Historical Museum, Mrs. William L. Mather; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Hadwen House — Satler Memorial, Albert F. Egan Jr; Old Mill, Henry B. Coleman; Old Jail, Norman P. Giffin; 1800 House, Miss Ethel Clark; Gardner Street Firehouse Albert G. Brock: Oldest House, Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION filed with Postmaster, Nantucket, Massachusetts, according to Act of October 23, 1962 ; section 4369, title 39, United States Code. DATE OF FILING: October 5, 1964. TITLE OF PUBLICATION: HISTORIC NANTUCKET. FREQUENCY OF ISSUE: Quarterly.

LOCATION OF KNOWN OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: Nantucket Historical Association, Fair Street, Nantucket, County of Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554.

LOCATION OF THE HEADQUARTERS OR GENERAL BUSINESS OFFICES OF THE PUBLISHERS: Fair Street, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PUBLISHER, EDITOR, AND MANAGING EDITOR: PUBLISHER: Nantucket Historical Association, Fair Street, Nantucket, Massachusetts. EDITOR: A. Morris Crosby, 6 Step Lane, Nantucket, Massachusetts. MANAGING-EDITOR: None.

OWNER: Nantucket Historical Association, Fair Street, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

OFFICERS: President, George W. Jones, Nantucket, Mass. ; Vice-Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F. Egan Jr., Mrs. William L. Mather, Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman, all of Nantucket, Massachusetts. TREASURER, Norman P. Giffin. SECRETARY, Miss Ethel Anderson, both of Nantucket, Massa­ chusetts. KNOWN BONDHOLDERS, MORTGAGEES, AND OTHER SECURITY HOLDERS OWNING OR HOLDING 1 PERCENT OR MORE OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS, MORTGAGES OR OTHER SECURITIES: None (Non-Profit Corporation).

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete, (signed) A. Morris Crosby, Editor.

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 12

October, 1964

No. 2

CONTENTS

Nantucket Historical Association Officers

2

Annual Report of the President

5

Secretary's Report of the Annual Meeting

10

Santa Catalina — a Comparison

12

Archaeology and History — Partners in Preserving Nantucket's Heritage — an address by Bernard H. Stockley given at the Annual Meeting, July 21, 1964

13

Island Education That Was, by Franklin Folger Webster

19

That "First" Nantucket Tea Party

21

Recent Events

24

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

26

Legacies and Bequests

31

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 $3.00; Sustaining $10.00; Life—one payment $50.00.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July, 1953, at the Post Office, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1964, Nantucket Historical Association.

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

I

The 1964 Sidewalk Art Show — probably the last to be held on the grounds of the Frederick C. Sahford House, which will be razed to make way for the proposed new Public Offices Building.

5

President's Annual Report DAYS FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER almost imperceptibly and soon a year has passed and it is again time to review our accomplishments, that the members may know the present status of the Association.

This is the seventh time I have had the pleasure of making my annual report. I say with pleasure because each time I have been able to report progress and growth in both financial assets and public and member interest.

Our membership grows and Miss Ethel Anderson, chairman of our membership committee, reports an all time high of 1,265 members in spite of the fact that our dues were raised to $3.00 this year. Our material assets have increased by $24,319.30 and now total $171,131.12 as shown by the Treasurer's report published in the July number of HISTORIC NANTUCKET. This tells only part of the story as you will note the item indicating value of our collections is carried as $10,304.00 a figure which we all know is far from realistic. Many of the figures shown under the heading Land, Buildings and Collections are of long standing and I anticipate by another year a review of these items may furnish a more accurate picture of the Association's true financial worth.

And now all those who have been sitting on the edge of their chairs or rather the edge of these old Quaker benches eager to learn if we were going ahead or astern may relax while I continue this rather lengthy report.

It has been customary in the past for me to start with our oldest exhibit and report on the others in chronological order. This year I desire to start with our newest acquisition.

We have been most fortunate in acquiring by the generosity of one of our members perhaps the most beautiful building in Nantucket. Mrs. Jean Satler Williams presented us the property at the corner of Main and Pleas­ ant Streets in memory of Mr. Charles E. Satler and his wife Maria B. Satler, parents of Mrs. Williams, who had occupied the property for some years.

It is a mansion originally built in the early 1840's by William Hadwen, a successful whale-oil merchant who had married Eunice Starbuck, the daugh­ ter of Joseph Starbuck, who had just previously built the three brick houses across the street for his three sons.

After our acquisition, a committee consisting of Mr. Albert Egan, Jr., Mr. Alcon Chadwick, Mr. Henry B. Coleman, and Mr. H. Errol Coffin was appointed to prepare this property for exhibit this summer. They in turn obtained the aid of three ladies, Mrs. Charles C. Coffin; Mrs. Robert Congdon, and Mrs. Albert Egan, Jr., to supervise the cleaning of the house and setting up of the furnishings. I am very happy to say that both the committee and these ladies have done a remarkable job in a short period of time and I hereby extend my thanks to them for their interest and the energy expended.

In addition I should like to express our further gratitude to the donor for the additional help both financial and by loaned material which has made possible this beautiful exhibit, about which the public by its attendance and comments has expressed pleasure and appreciation. A bronze plaque has been installed on the property near the sidewalk explaining the memorial.

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

This exhibit is now being displayed to the public by four able hostesses, Mrs. George A. Folger; Mrs. Lucille Barney Bell; Mrs. Irving A. Soverino, and Mrs. Harrison C. Gorman.

Fair St. Museum-Friends Meeting House continues to acquire more material and is now fairly bulging at the seams.

In spite of the work which Mrs. William Mather and Mrs. Walton Adams expend each year making this display attractive and although because of its historic importance, it should be a well attended exhibit, it still fails to draw the public in numbers. If anyone here has ideas how it might be made more popular the Council would be glad to receive them. It would be helpful if all you interested members would recommend it to your friends and ac­ quaintances who may be interested in learning more of Nantucket's past.

Mrs. Elizabeth Worth is again in charge of the receptionist's desk doing a commendable job as always.

A new member of the staff here is Miss Marjorie Burgess, who has assumed the duties of Librarian. As she is a Nantucketer born and raised, we feel confident of her ability to carry on here successfully.

The Old Mill and grounds looked as attractive at the season's opening as it has ever looked and with the Scotch gorse and wild roses in bloom was a favorite theme for color photography. Mr. Henry Coleman as Chairman, and Mr. John Greene as attendant have made this an exhibit of which we may all be proud.

The wheel at the end of the turning-beam has deteriorated badly and will be replaced as soon as it is possible to get the work done.

Mrs. Clinton Andrews has assumed the chairmanship of the Oldest House which Mrs. Francis Pease relinquished after a successful term in that capacity. Mrs. Andrews, a Nantucket Folger, is continuing the good work of her predecessor and her flower bouquets in each room are much admired by the visitor and give the house a lived-in appearance. Miss Ida Parker who has learned the ropes from three previous voyages is again in daily charge being relieved one day a week by Mrs. Reginald Hussey, an old hand also.

The Whaling Museum, under W. Ripley Nelson's watchful eye and prideful care continues its popularity and shows an increase in attendance each year. As his report has indicated, we were the recipients of a very extensive collection of scrimshaw under the will of Mr. Winthrop Williams.

Mr. Williams has worked for a number of years making this collection and it has some rare pieces. Our scrimshaw exhibit has been much enhanced by this valuable addition.

The Council following the advice of Mr. Nelson has found it advisable to more carefully protect our material at the Whaling Museum and has au­ thorized the installation of a burglar alarm system to protect us from loss by entry of persons during hours in which the building is unattended.

The staff here continues as of last year with Mr. Everett Chapel in charge of Sanderson Hall, and Mrs. Herbert Foye at the desk watching over the scrimshaw room, Mr. Bertram Morris overseeing the craft shops' display, and Mrs. Ellen Chace giving valuable services as Librarian. In addition, Mr. John Kittila and Mrs. Reginald Hussey are again acting as relief personnel during the days off of the regular staff. All are giving the

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

7

visitors a welcome and furnishing them with information about material exhibited. Last year attendance was a record breaker totalling over 29,000 paid admissions. In addition were the members who visited and a number of students, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who came during the off season or open house. The Fair St. Museum and Oldest House which were also open and attended by the Chairmen of these exhibits on open-house day received a gratifying number of visitors.

The Old Jail required a few repairs this spring to care for fences blown down and a chimney which needed re-pointing. The outside stairs also came in for attention. Mr. Norman Giffin who is in charge of this property foresightedly had a water line laid in the ditch which was open in the connecting driveway for sewer and water services to the adjoining property. We now have a sewer line and water piping nearly to our lot and should we in the future decide to install toilet facilities our expenses will be considerably less than they would be to run this 100 feet or so from the street.

Mr. William Garnett our attendant is again furnishing the visitors with a lecture on the history of this structure and I assure you it is a full and interesting one.

Many people think the 1800 House one of our best exhibits and, al­ though the number enjoying it leaves something to be desired, the enthus­ iasm of those familiar with such displays is marked and many compliments are given to the hostess. The chairman, Miss Ethel Clark, who has been the attendant there for several years was taken ill just before opening date and was confined to the hospital for some weeks. I am happy to say she is now back on the job and carrying on her duties conscientiously and ably.

We were most fortunate in obtaining the services of Mrs. Joseph Rounsvil'e for the first three weeks preceding Miss Clark's return to duty. She was familiar with the house and its furnishings, having worked as a relief at­ tendant for several preceding years, and was successful in holding the ship on a steady course for this period.

During the spring, while preparations were being made for our open season, it was felt by your president that the load should be spread over those willing to assume it and not overburden any one person with too much detail.

Mr. H. Errol Coffin had been appointed as chairman of Exhibits Publications Committee, assuming the work carried on previously by Mr. Burnham Dell.

In addition he had accepted appointment to the committee having the Hadwen House responsibilities. It seemed reasonable, therefore, to relieve him of the care of the Gardner St. Fire Engine House. Upon his agreement to the change, Mr. Albert G. Brock was appointed as chairman of this ex­ hibit and is currently carrying on in that capacity. It is not an easy assign­ ment, as it is a challenge to make this exhibit, which is unattended, of interest to the visitor to the extent that spare change may be garnered from his pockets to assist in supporting the property.

The Folger-Franklin Memorial continues to attract many people, es­ pecially those on bicycles, to the spot where Benjamin Franklin's grand­ parents lived three hundred years ago. Mr. Richard Swain and Mr. Bernard H. Stockley, with the members of the Shawkemo Chapter of the Massachu­ setts Archaeological Society, have been probing and photographing the ground at this memorial with the hopes of finding the foundations of the original

8

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

buildings here. They feel confident that evidence of two foundations have been located and possibly a "dig" will be made later to prove their belief.

The dwelling house at the corner of North Water St. and Whalers' Lane, which was presented to us by the Nantucket Historical Trust in 1962 has been leased each year to Mr. Parle, the former owner, and used by him as a lodging house. Mr. Parle bears all expenses incurred and pays the taxes on the property as well as maintenance costs.

As it is now planned to raze the Sanford House preparatory to build­ ing a new Town building, the Selectmen have requested us to consider rent­ ing this building to them for office space during the period required for the new construction. Your Council will give due consideration to this request and may act favorably on it.

The Nantucket Historical Trust continues to support the Association strongly and, in addition to log-books, valuable papers, books, letters, etc., has contributed many valuable pieces to the Satler Memorial furnishings.

We are fortunate in having such assistance and appreciate all that is being done by that organization.

Our growth as indicated has been both in finances and in accessions and exhibits. As the number of exhibits grow so do our expenses both in maintenance and salaries. We have now twenty regular employees during the summer season which means quite a payroll.

The Treasurer's work becomes more demanding and Miss Anderson, who had been acting as both secretary and treasurer for some years, found the two positions too arduous and wished to be relieved. She agreed to con­ tinue as secretary if a new treasurer could be appointed. We were fortunate in having on our council a member who had recently retired from the work which had been his for many years. Mr. Norman P. Giffin, the well known freight agent for the Steamship Authority, was agreeable to assuming the treasurer's position and was appointed to fill out the time ending with this annual meeting. I trust your votes will continue him in office.

Our Annual "Gam," held early in March was as successful as always.

The Maria Mitchell Library, always so generously loaned to us, was again filled with people ready and willing to reminisce on the topic, "Unforgetable Nantucket Incidents in My Life."

Our fine publication, HISTORIC NANTUCKET, continues to thrive under the tutelage of Mr. A. Morris Crosby. It goes to our membership of over 1,200 and I have been assured by many that it is. a quarterly that they anti­ cipate and read with a great deal of pleasure. It has been a quality publication since its inception and Mr. Crosby continues to keep it so.

Mr. W. Ripley Nelson, along with being chairman of the Whaling Museum and one of our Vice-Presidents, is also our publicity chairman and makes sure that news from this association is made available to the public that their interest may be continually whetted.

Your President and Mrs. lones attended the spring meeting of the Bay State League which was held in Dorchester. The attendance was greater than at any meeting we had previously attended and the enthusiasm was quite contagious. One feels an interest among these people to save our heri­ tage and to use our history, both local, state, and federal, as a staff to support

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

9

us through trying times and present-day problems, and a tremendous amount of patriotism is in evidence.

It is always saddening to recall the ones with whom we have worked and who have been taken from us by death. This last year we have lost three such members: Mr. Stokeley Morgan, a former Vice-President and council member; Mr. Burnham Dell, an active Vice-President and one who had worked in other capacities for the Association over a number of years; and Mr. Henry Carlisle, a most interested and helpful member of the Whaling Museum Committee, were all taken from us within the last year. It is through the efforts of such persons that our organization has been able to grow and prosper, and I feel privileged to have been able to work with them and most grateful for their help.

Dr. William E. Gardner, former chairman of the Council, is in the Nantucket Cottage Hospital recuperating from a broken leg. I am very sure that everyone here wishes him well and will rejoice in his recovery. Through his generosity we have been given the copyright to all his Nantucket publica­ tions and all profits from publishing and selling these now-famous books.

Currently we have reprinted and are selling "The Coffin Saga."

As always under the by-laws two of our council members must retire after having served a term of four years. Mrs. Francis W. Pease, formerly chairman of the Oldest House, and H. Enrol Coffin, who has filled several positions herein before mentioned, are those leaving the governing body.

They both deserve our thanks and well wishes.

However, Mr. Coffin is far from ending his voyage with us, as I feel certain he will again be appointed to the two positions he now holds, namely a member of the Satler Memorial committee and chairman of exhibit pub­ lications.

As I draw this lengthy report to a close, I wish to thank all the officers, council members, attendants, hostesses, as well as many interested members, not neglecting to mention Mr. Allen McGarvey our ever-helpful mechanic, for their continued assistance during the past year. Remembering that a captain needs a good crew to sail his ship well, I feel sure our crew rates very highly.

Thank you all for your attention and your continued and enthusiastic support of this valuable association.

Respectfully submitted, George W. Jones, President

10

Annual Meeting THE SEVENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING of the Nantucket Historical Association was held Tuesday, July 21st, in the Friends Meeting House at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. Jones greeted the members and friends present and expressed his appreciation that so many were present since the meeting was held the same day that the Garden Club was sponsoring a "Nantucket House Tour."

The report of the Secretary was read and accepted after corrections were made.

Mr. Nelson moved that the reading of the finance and other annual reports be dispensed with and that they be accepted as printed in the July issue of HISTORIC NANTUCKET. The motion was duly seconded and voted.

In his annua! report Mr. Jones gave an interesting account of the ac­ tivities of the Association during the past year, thanking members of the Council, all receptionists, relief receptionists, and Mr. McGarvey, our me­ chanic, for their cooperation and interest during the past year.

He also expressed appreciation for the generous gift of Mrs. Jean Satler Knopf of the house at 96 Main Street which is known as the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial. Also appreciation for the gift of the copyright of all Dr. Gardner's books to the Association.

Mr. Jones expressed regret for the loss of several members this past year, all of whom had worked diligently for the improvement and growth of the Association — namely Mr. Burnham Dell, Mr. Stokeley Morgan, and Mr. Henry Carlisle.

It was a very complete and comprehensive review.

Following the President's report the Nominating Committee gave the following report: President: George W. Jones.

Vice-Presidents: Miss Grace Brown Gardner, Henry B. Coleman, Alcon Chadwick, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F. Egan, Jr., Mrs. William Mather.

Secretary: Miss Ethel Anderson Treasurer: Norman P. Giffin.

Councillors: Mrs. Ernest Menges, Mr. Walter Beinecke, Jr.

By Nominating Committee: H. Errol Coffin, Dr. H. Brooks Walker, Mrs. Lewis Edgarton.

Mr. Ripley Nelson assumed the chair to proceed with the election of the President.

Motion was made, seconded, and voted that nominations be closed.

Vote was taken and Mr. George W. Jones was duly elected President.

Motion was made, seconded, and voted, that further nominations be dispensed with and that the Secretary be instructed to cast one ballot for the election of the slate of Officers and Council members as presented by the Nominating Committee.

The Secretary accordingly cast one ballot, as instructed, for the slate of Officers and Councillors nominated.

11

Mr. Jones introduced the speaker, Mr. Bernard H. Stockley of the Shawkemo Chapter of the Massachusetts Society of Archaeology, whose sub­ ject was, "Archaeology and History — Partners in Preserving Nantucket's Heritage." The Shawkemo Chapter was formed for the purpose of gathering evidence about the prehistory of Nantucket. Compared to the job confront­ ing historians this is a formidable task. Where historians are dealing with a period of 305 years the archaeologist is dealing with a period of several thousand years.

Because of the many limited factors, the prehistory of Nantucket can never be known with the precision that the events of the historic period are known. But with careful, painstaking research archaeologists will eventually be able to answer some of the unanswered questions about Nantucket's past.

What is known of the prehistory of Southern New England mainland indicates that there have been four major groups of people who occupied this area before the arrival of the white man. There has been, however, no definite evidence that these people roamed the area now known as Nantucket, for at that time Nantucket was a part of the mainland, with the last of the continental glaciers slowly retreating northward across New England and the rest of North America. All the continental shelf off New England was dry land, and Nantucket was just a short segment of a ridge of hills jutting above this now submerged coastal area.

It is hopeful that the Shawkemo Chapter will eventually find proof that these people did roam this area.

Mr. Stockley's lecture was most instructive and he held the rapt attention of his audience, and their appreciation was heartily expressed.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Ethel Anderson, Secretary [Editor's Note: The full text of Mr. Stockley's address will be found beginning on Page 13.]

12

Santa Catalina - A Comparison THERE IS A CERTAIN AFFINITY among all island resorts and it is interesting to note the come-back of Santa Catalina Island, described in the June, 1964, issue of "Travel."

This rocky and mountainous island, 22 nautical miles from the harbor of Los Angeles, was for years the big tourist attraction in Southern Cali­ fornia, drawing sightseers from all over the United States.

But when the last G. I. left Catalina after World War II, the Island having been converted to a training center for the armed forces, the age that had made Catalina famous, like that of Nantucket's golden era of whaling, had passed. Other attractions had sprung up along every highway in Southern California, and Catalina sank into a kind of Rip Van Winkle sleep.

Islands, however, have their own special, irresistable allure, and a few years ago the "new salts," and the old ones, too, with their modern craft, found that they could make the trip from the mainland with ease — and made it in constantly increasing numbers.

In consequence, Catalina experienced a rebirth. New motels, hotels, and restaurants were built and old ones modernized. Other attractions sprang up typical of an island resort — golf course, private airport, scheduled seaplane service, bus tours, an outstanding art festival, et cetera. "But," says the Chamber of Commerce of the island's town of Avalon, "the emphasis is on attracting family groups. Above all, we don't want the island to be a Coney Island type of thing."

During the summer season as many as 10,000-12,000 visitors jam into Avalon which has a normal winter population of about 1,600; and the tour­ ist trade for the whole year draws 300,000 people.

Santa Catalina Island was originally named San Salvador by its dis­ coverer, Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer, in 1542 and changed to its present name in 1600. Easterners always seem to have had a hand in far-western affairs and it is not surprising to find that California in 1846 granted the island to a Massachusetts man, Thomas Robbins.

In 1853 the Island was sold again for $1,000; and in 1860 to another family for $23,000. No beaver hats here! Through various owners Catalina came into possession of the Santa Catalina Company, the majority stock interest of which is held by William Wrigley, Jr. This company is engaged in building up the area in Avalon, while at the same time preserving the rest of the island and its wildlife unspoiled.

A final note: Through all of Catalina's somnolence and its awakening, the good ship "Catalina," a 301-foot steamer resembling (from her picture) our own "Nobska," and first put in service in 1924, has plied and still plies faithfully back and forth from the mainland. Sound your whistle, "Nobska," in a sisterly salute to another stout old timer!

A. M. C.

Archaeology and History Partners in Preserving Nantucket's Heritage

N

BY BERNARD H. STOCKLEY

ANTUCKET has been fortunate in having active and interested his­ torians almost from the time that there was a history to record. As a result of this, and of the fact that Nantucket's history is a particularly inter­ esting one, there is a large body of literature on the subject. But this literature, with few exceptions, is concerned only with the period of recorded history.

That is the years from 1659 to date. Some historians have made an attempt to project Nantucket's history back into the late prehistoric period. But, lack­ ing definite evidence on which to base their writings, these have consisted for the most part of recording legends and oral traditions of the historic period Indians.

The Shawkemo Chapter of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society was formed for the purpose of gathering evidence about the prehistory of Nantucket. Compared to the job confronting the historian, this is a formid­ able task. Where the historian is dealing with a period of 305 years, we are dealing with a period of several thousand years, exactly how many years we will probably never know. Where the historian has written records, deeds, genealogies and maps, the archaeologist has only a few durable remnants of the tools and utensils of prehistoric man. Where the historian's documents are frequently dated, the archaeologist must gather bits of charcoal or bone and send them to a laboratory for dating by analysis of their radioactive carbon content. And each one of these laboratory tests costs $100 to $200.

Because of these and many other limiting factors, the prehistory of Nantucket can never be known with the precision that the events of the historic period are known. But, by careful, painstaking research, we will eventually be able to answer some of the thousands of presently unanswer­ able questions about Nantucket's distant past.

It would be very easy to just assume that the prehistory of the Island parallels that of the nearest part of the mainland. And for the period up until Nantucket became an island, that would be a fairly safe assumption.

But Nantucket has been an island for about 5,000 years, and from that time onward the assumption becomes less and less tenable with each passing century.

To review briefly what is known of the prehistory of the southern New England mainland, there have been four major groups of people who oc­ cupied this area before the arrival of the white man. The first of these groups, known as the Paleo-American or Fluted Point people arrived in this area at least 9,000 years ago. The evidence of their presence here is sparse and scattered, but not because they were here for a short time. On the con­ trary they probably occupied this area for several thousand years. But the numbers of people must have been small. The few tools that they left behind indicate that they were a nomadic, hunting people, probably traveling in small groups of one or a few families. It has been assumed that they followed

14

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

herds of large game animals into this area. But there just is no evidence to prove or disprove this assumption. In the high plains of the western part of the country, as well as in other parts of the western hemisphere, the artifacts of these people have been found in direct and unmistakable association with the bones of such now extinct animals as the giant bison, mammoth, masto­ don, dire wolf, saber-tooth tiger, American camel, and giant ground sloth.

Their only known weapons were spears, tipped with a distinctive type of spearpoint made of stone. But they made up in ingenuity what they lacked in material culture. Several places have been found where a herd of animals had been stampeded off of cliffs. And a mammoth-kill recently discovered in Wyoming showed evidence that the giant beast had been driven into a bog and then killed by throwing boulders at it.

Unfortunately, the soil and climate of New England is such that the chances of finding the bones of the animals that these people hunted here is extremely slim. At the time that these people moved into this area, Nan­ tucket was a part of the mainland. The last of the continental glaciers was slowly retreating northward across New England and the rest of North America. So much of the world's total supply of water was locked up in these tremendous ice caps, which were as much as two miles thick near the center, that the sea level all over the world stood 300 to 500 feet lower than it does at the present time. All of the continental shelf off New England was dry land, and Nantucket was just a short segment of a ridge of hills jutting above this now submerged coastal plain. As yet there is no definite proof that I know of that the Fluted Point people ever climbed into the Nantucket hills. Although several people are said to have found specimens of the distinctive spearpoints here, none that I have seen is undoubtedly genuine. There is no reason why they should not have come here, and it is highly probable that they did. But in this as in any scientific inquiry, proof is required. Hopefully the Shawkemo Chapter will eventually find that proof.

The second group of people to enter the area we call the Early Archaic people. Their way of life was still largely based on hunting with spears, and they were probably semi-nomadic, following game for part of the year and then settling down in more or less permanent villages until the next year. They also improved on the way of life of their predecessors by gathering wild plant foods such as seeds, nuts, and fruits, and by fishing.

Probably this relatively stable food supply is what made possible the partial abandonment of the nomadic life. In place of the single distinctive spearpoint of the Fluted Point people, the Early Archaics used a variety of styles, although they all tended to be long and narrow. There is some evidence that they used a spear-throwing stick, similar to those which were used by the Indians of Mexico into historic times. While this device would throw a spear much fur­ ther than it could be thrown by hand, accuracy is lacking, even after long practice. So it probably did not prove to be much of an improvement over the hand-thrown spear.

They also used a peculiar type of knife which was not used by any other people in this area before or since. It was a thin piece of slate, half-circular in shape. The rounded half of the knife was sharpened to a keen edge, while the straight edge was either left thick to form a handle or else two or three holes were ground through it so that a wood or bone handle could be at-

ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY

15

tached. The Eskimos, even to this day, use this sort of knife, and on that basis it has been assumed that the Early Archaic people of southern New England were the ancestors of the present-day Eskimo.

The presence of Early Archaic people on Nantucket was proved be­ yond a doubt this spring, when Mr. Lloyd Nelson found a beautiful example of this type knife (which we call by the Eskimo name "ulu") while he was digging quahogs at Polpis Harbor. At the time that the Early Archaic people were in this area, Nantucket was still part of the mainland. So it is still fairly safe to accept mainland dates for this period as approximately correct for Nantucket. And the dates range from about 5,000 to 6,500 years ago. At about the end of the Early Archaic period, that is about 5,000 years ago, the glaciers had melted back and the sea level had risen to near its present level. At about this time Nantucket and the other offshore islands were cut away from the New England mainland.

The third group to enter the area, about 5,000 years ago, we call the Late Archaic people. The arrival of these people and the advanced ideas that they brought with them amounted to an early day industrial revolution.

They introduced the bow and arrow. For the first time a hunter did not have to approach almost within the range of an animal's horns or hooves to get in his fatal blow. These people also introduced durable pottery, in the form of heavy but serviceable pots made of soapstone. The Late Archaic people also introduced the smoking pipe, and presumably the use of tobacco, near the end of their occupancy, which lasted until about 100 A.D. on the New England mainland.

How long they occupied Nantucket is still not known with certainty.

There is no doubt that they were here, however. For the last two seasons the Shawkemo Chapter worked on a prehistoric site at Ram Pasture. And the oldest materials found on that site were those of the Late Archaic people.

A peculiar thing about these people is that they did not eat shellfish. It is known that shellfish were available to them, since a pair of quahog shells was found at a village site in Middleboro, Mass., at Assawampsett Pond.

But they were used as a container for red ochre, which was used in the burial ceremonies of these people.

Their burial practices were remarkably elaborate. A great stone paved area or crematory hearth was laid out and the bodies were burned on it, along with quantities of beautifully made stone spear points, arrow points, adzes, gouges, and other tools. Then some of the ashes, along with some of the burned stone tools, were taken a short distance from the crematory hearth and buried with more of the same sort of tools in unburned condition, plus stone pots. Usually the tools and pots which were not burned have been ceremonially killed by breaking them. Sometimes the stone pots have just a small hole knocked out of the bottom. And along with the ashes and the burned and unburned tools, great quantities of red ochre are spread through­ out the secondary burial.

The fourth and last of the prehistoric peoples to occupy this area were still here when the first white people arrived. They are commonly called Indians, but the archaeologist usually refers to them as the Ceramic-Agri­ cultural, or Woodland, people. They arrived in southern New England about 100 A.D. I should point out at this time that, when I speak of a people

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

arriving in this area, it is based on the recoverable evidence. What is un­ certain in each case is whether the people that were already here were pushed out of the area or whether they remained and mixed with the newcomers.

But the sudden appearance of new ideas and new ways of life seem to be a strong indication of the actual influx of new people.

The Woodland people introduced several new ideas, actually another industrial revolution. Ceramic pottery was a revolutionary idea in itself. It enabled these people to make pots at home, wherever they chose to settle, instead of having to make trips to the soapstone quarries of Rhode Island or central Massachusetts. Furthermore, the pots were nearly as durable, much lighter, and could be made in much larger sizes. At the same time, agriculture was introduced. Until now the prehistoric people had hunted, fished, and gathered wild seeds, nuts, and fruit. But only a relatively few people could live in any given area on the available food supply. Now, for the first time, man began to control his own food supply instead of being wholly dependent on the bounty of nature. Corn, beans, and squash were the staples on which these people were existing when the first white people arrived here. They were able to gather in a supply of food to last them through the winter months.

And, even so, they called the winter "starving time." Is it any wonder that the Pilgrims got into trouble with the Indians of Cape Cod by raiding the food caches on Corn Hill in Wellfleet? They were lucky ever to get to Plymouth at all.

The third significant introduction by the Woodland people was the use of shellfish as food. Where the Late Archaic people did not use it at all, pre­ sumably because of a dietary taboo, the same sort of thing that makes us turn up our noses at such perfectly edible and palatable things as eels, muskrat, horsemeat, and many other things, shellfish was highly important in the diet of the Woodland people, perhaps even more important than the agricul­ tural products which they also introduced, at least in coastal areas where it was available. The early explorers of New England reported that the Indians preserved all kinds of shellfish by smoking it in the same way that fish are smoked today. And the smoked shellfish were also an important part of the winter diet when other foods were unavailable. Evidence of the presence of the Indians, or Woodland people, is abundantly present on Nantucket.

Probably at least 75 percent of the many thousands of prehistoric artifacts which have been collected here were made by them.

Even though the work of gathering evidence has really just begun, it is already clear that the Woodland people of Nantucket and their way of life differed in some respects from their counterparts on the Massachusetts mainland. Man's outstanding trait, from the time he first began to rise above the rest of the animal kingdom, has been adaptability. He has adapted his ways of life to every climate from the Arctic to the Equator and from the rain forest to the desert. And, while stone age tools all over the world have some things in common, they also vary in the reflection of man's adaptation to his environment. Nantucket, once it became detached from the mainland, became a specialized environment. Exactly what this environment was, how it changed over the millenia, and how man adapted to it can be discovered by careful investigation of the evidence that lies buried in the ground. And the Shawkemo Chapter, through its research program is trying to obtain this

ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY

17

evidence and bring it to its proper place as part of Nantucket's unique heritage.

People who are unfamiliar with the methods of archaeology are often surprised at how much can be learned from the objects that are buried in the ground, if they are recovered in a scientifically controlled manner. The basic principal of scientific archaeology is stratigraphy. Freely translated it means the "message of the layers." And the basic idea is that if the soil in any given area consists of several different layers, the lowest one must have been deposited before the one above it and the second from the bottom must have been deposited before the third but after the first. By extension of this idea, if there are objects in each layer which were made by man, those in the lowest layer must be the oldest and those in the top layer must be the latest. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the case where holes were dug down through early deposits by later people; but careful excavation makes it possible for the archaeologist to tell whether this happened.

To extend the idea of stratigraphy even further, each layer must have been built up in the soil over a period of time. So, those objects that lie at the same depth in the same layer must be about the same age. And those at the top of each layer must be later than those at the bottom of the same layer.

By carefully measuring the exact position of each item and applying the principle of stratigraphy it is possible to determine with considerable accuracy the relative age of each item. It is possible to tell which types of tools were used at the same time, which types came into popularity and which types went out of style, and in what order.

But, up until this point, we have developed only a "floating chronology."

We know the relative age of each object and type, but still do not know how old any of them are. This is where the radio-carbon dating process serves a very useful purpose. Any object of organic matter, charcoal, shell, bone, wood, even bog peat, can be analyzed and the number of years since the organism died can be determined within 5-10 percent. Dating each of the layers by this method makes the chronology a fairly accurate historical record.

One of the things which yields the most useful information about prehistoric people is the trash that they left behind. Careful study of the bones, for instance, reveals a great deal about the animals that were here and the people who hunted them. I have been verty fortunate in having an excellent professional zoologist, Dr. Joseph H. Waters, of the University of Rhode Island, examine the bones that have been found in our excavations and identify the species of animals represented. He has already been able to identify three species of animals which are no longer found on the Island, muskrat, raccoon, and grey fox. Undoubtedly others will turn up.

Another way that bone and other refuse remains are valuable is in determining what time of year a certain place was occupied. At our exca­ vation at Ram Pasture the last two seasons we found teeth which Dr. Waters identified as of very young deer which had been killed in all seasons of the year. There were also bones of eider duck, which is available only during the winter months, and sand shark, which is available only during the sum­ mer. Also sea sturgeon, which usually comes into shallow waters only during the spring spawning season.

18

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

And Frank C. MacKeever, of the New York Botanical Gardens, was able to identify the charred vegetable materials as beach plum, wild cherry, and hickory nuts. All of these ripen in the late summer and early fall. On this evidence alone, it is clear that Ram Pasture was a year round village site during the Woodland period.

Careful study of the bones can also reveal something about the method of butchering animals. If knife cuts appear consistently on the same joint of a certain species of animal, it indicates that one of the steps in cutting up that species was to cut through that joint. If certain bones do not appear in the village refuse at all, it signifies that this species of animal was customarily cut up at the place where it was killed and some parts discarded on the spot.

These are just a few of the many ways in which careful record-keeping, close study, deductive reasoning and the assistance of experts in many fields are combined to turn mute objects into real historical documents. This is only possible when the evidence has remained at least largely undisturbed.

All too much of the evidence has already been lost by such things as erosion, plowing, and road or building construction.

But the greatest amount of irreparable damage, and the most senseless, is the deliberate destruction of prehistoric sites by misguided or selfish people who dig them up in search of "Indian relics." There are only a few of these vandals on the Island, but they are destroying the only record of Nantucket's ancient past about three times as fast as all the members of the Shawkemo Chapter are able to recover it. If this destruction goes on at its present rate, the evidence will soon all be destroyed and we shall have recovered less than 10 percent of it. This sort of senseless destruction would not be possible if every property owner would inspect his property at frequent intervals and vigorously proscute anyone found digging it up without permission.

Up to this point I have been speaking only about prehistoric archaeology.

But archaeology has its place also in recovering information about the his­ toric period. Although much is known and recorded, the written documents sometimes fail to tell the things we would most like to know. This last winter the Shawkemo Chapter decided to expand its research into the field of his­ toric sites, and Mr. Richard P. Swain, of Polpis, was appointed to act as Field Director for Historic Sites.

By applying the techniques and methods of archaeology we expect to be able to fill some of the gaps in the historical record. The exact spots where many of the old buildings stood is now unknown. We should be able to relocate them, determine the size and shape of the building, the approximate period when it was occupied, and many other things. We can recover and study the tools and utensils of the Colonial and Early American periods. Nantucket has had many fascinating small industries, such as candle factories, ropewalks, and fulling mills. While many of these sites have been built over by later structures, some could still be located and investigated.

In its efforts in the field of historic period archaeology, the Shawkemo Chapter is going to need the cooperation of the Nantucket Historical Asso­ ciation on many occasions. We will need access to documents which the Association has, and to the museum collections. This sort of cooperation can help us to fill in many of the missing details in recorded history, and recover much that has been lost.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY

19

Our first project in this field was to attempt to locate the exact position of the Peter Folger homestead by probing the ground with metal rods to locate the foundation stones if any are left. When we asked permission to trespass on the Association's property, Mr. Jones' response was prompt and favorable. We appreciate this very much and look forward to continued cooperation in the future.

For our part, Mr. Swain has told me that he plans to submit a copy of each report on historic period sites to the Historical Association for its records. We hope that they will be frequent and valuable contributions.

Nantucket's heritage is long and varied, starting with an unnamed hunter and his family stalking game on what is now the bottom of the ocean, and never really ending, because as each second ticks away, it becomes the history of tomorrow. Archaeology and history together can discover and record the events of the past and preserve them for the generations of the future.

Island Education That Was

BY FRANKLIN FOLGER WEBSTER

SOME aspects of the education of Nantucket children in the middle1800's are shown in the papers of Captain Joseph Mitchell, 2nd, who was a member of the School Committee during that period.

The questions asked in certain tests are particularly revealing. For ex­ ample, in geography there is a distinctly nautical, almost vocational, flavor to the knowledge expected of a Nantucket Island boy of that day who aspired to a sea-faring life. Some typical questions include: (1) How many ways are there to go to the Sandwich Islands, and through what oceans and by what capes do you pass?

(2) Name the seas in and around Europe.

(3) Name some of the principal islands and groups of islands near the coast of Asia.

(4) What cape is south of Hindustan?

(5) Describe a voyage from Nantucket to San Francisco, thence to St. Petersburg, and back to Nantucket.

(6) What countries of South America border on the Caribbean Sea? (7) Name some of the islands in the Mediterranean Sea. In arithmetic, also, who but a Nantucket Islander of the whaling era would be expected to come up with the answers to such questions as: (1) A merchant owning 4/5 of a vessel sold 2/3 of his share for $957.

What was the vessel worth?

(2) A ship had a leak which will fill it so as to make it sink in 10 hours; it also has a pump which will clear it in 15 hours. Now, if they begin to pump when the ship begins to sink, in what time will it sink?

20

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

(3) A note for $843.43, given 5th of July, 1817 was paid 14th of April, 1822. Interest 7%. What did the principal and interest amount to?

(4) Reduce 8, 17s, 6c, 3qrs to the decimal of a pound.

(5) A cistern has three pipes to fill it, and one to empty it. One pipe will fill it alone in 3 hours, the second in 5 hours and the third in 9 hours.

The other will empty it in 7 hours. If all the pipes are allowed to run at the same time in what time will the cistern be filled?

(6) If 4/7 of a hogshead of oil is worth $45. what is the value of 2/3 of the remainder?

However, a cultural background was also fostered in addition to the practical side of the school curriculum. But even this was sometimes in­ fluenced by the sea. The questions in grammar not only required a working knowledge of the English language such as "What is a sentence?" "Define Syntax," "Name the different kinds of pronouns," "Define the passive voice of a verb," but also such gems as: "Parse the underlined words: 'I hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be, The first low wash of waves, where soon Shall roll a human sea.'

And: 'Go forth to the shadowy future With a true and manly heart, And mountains shall dwindle to molehills, The going is only thy part."

And so it went. And is it any wonder, then, with these examples of Island erudition, that whaling was so lucrative a business for so many?

21

That " First" Nantucket Tea Party HISTORIC NANTUCKET recently received what used to be a rather hardy perennial — a mimeographed copy of the charmingly romantic "letter" purporting to have been written in 1745 by a young Nantucket belle, named Ruth Starbuck Wentworth, to her mother in Vermont describing, among other things, the first "tea party in Nantucket." The copy came from a member of the Nantucket Historical Association who had it from a friend, who found it among some family effects. That is the way it usually turns up. The letter, has never been authenticated and is now considered completely fictional.

Indeed, the letter offers internal evidence of its spuriousness, for "Miss Went­ worth" dates her letter "Starbuck Plantation near Maddasket," and there never was such a place. Moreover, the well rounded and mellifluous phrases the young lady uses are more consistent with a Thackeray or a Jane Austen heroine than with a simple lass of early Nantucket.

Nevertheless, the letter, of unknown authorship, was for many years considered authentic and was given wide currency. Many copies were struck off and sent broadcast to friends and business associates. Circa 1885 it was published as a pamphlet in New York with a foreword by Rev. Robert Collyer, a summer resident, describing the beauties of Nantucket. The Historical Museum has several of these pamphlets, bound in home-made covers and nicely ornamented with pen sketches.

The account of the "tea party" itself is preposterous, because, even if Nantucketers of the early 18th century did not know tea, they must have been familiar enough with the brewing of local herbs not to have concocted such a lethal brew as "Miss Wentworth" describes. For those who should know how not to make tea and would enjoy a bit of romantic whimsy, here is what happened according to "Miss Wentworth": "Cousin Nathaniel Starbuck, that is — "has returned to Boston, and yesterday he sent by a trusty messenger, another sea chest, in it a large box of tea, the first that was ever on the island; real Chinese tea which he himself procured in China. It is of greenish color, with little shrivelled leaves, and when eaten dry, has a pleasant spring taste We have just had tidings that Uncle Nat and his friend, Captain Na­ thaniel, say we will have a tea party and invite Lieutenant Marcey's family and Uncle Edward Starbuck's family, and a few others to meet distinguished guests to sit the old year out and the new year in. We cooked a bountiful dinner and our guests all came "Aunt Content had been much pestered in her mind because she knew not how to cook and serve the tea, and after our neighbors had assembled, she confided to them her perplexity, they all gathered about the tea chest' smelling and tasting the fragrant herb. Mrs. Lieutenant Marcy (sic) said she had heard it ought to be well cooked to be palatable and Aunt Edward

22

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Starbuck said, a lady in Boston, who had tea, told her it needed a good quantity for steeping which was the reason it was so expensive. So Aunt Content hung the bright five gallon bell metal kettle on the crane, and put­ ting a two quart bowl of tea in it and plenty of water, swung it over the fire. . . . While I was laying the table, I heard Lydia Ann say, 'I am fearful thy sister-in-law failed to put in a sufficient quantity of leaves.' So Aunt Esther put another bowlfull of tea in the bell metal kettle.

"When the tea had boiled an hour, my Cousin and Captain Morris arrived. The tea that had boiled down to about a gallon was poured into Grandma's silver tankard and carried to the table, and each guest was pro­ vided with one of her silver porringers, also with cream and a lump of sugar "When dinner was announced, the Captain took me out and made me sit by him. After Grandpa had asked a blessing on the food, Aunt Content said to her son and her friend, 'I have made a dish of tea for you but am fearful that I have not prepared it as it have need and would like to have your opinion.' Whereupon my Cousin and the Captain looked and sniffed at the tea, and my Cousin made answer, 'As my beloved Mother desires my opinion I must needs tell her that a spoonful of this beverage which she has with such hospitable intent prepared for us would nearly kill any one of us at the table.' The Captain then said Aunt could keep the decoction for a dye to color woolens. He further said he would, if she so desired, instruct her how to make the tea herself, 'and this young lady,' he continued turning to me, 'shall make the first dish of the beverage used in Nantucket'."

So he did, using the traditional rule of a pinch for each cup and "one for the pot." And if you, peradventure, discover among great-grandfather's old papers a copy of "Ruth Starbuck Wentworth's" letter telling about the "first tea party in Nantucket," keep it if you like as an agreeable bit of fiction; nothing more.

A. M. C.

1

23

Hither Creek, Madaket, from the bridge. The Massachusetts Depart­ ment of Public Works plans to dredge this area some time within the next year and, with the excavated material, construct a dike along the shore at the westerly end of the creek, large enough, it is hoped, to pre­ vent a breakthrough or any further erosion at that point.

24

Recent Events THE SAGA of the "Cross Rip Light Ship" has ended! The United States Coast Guard, during the winter, removed the last of the line of famous little vessels forever from its station and in its place installed two unspectacular buoys. One of these is known as the "Cross Rip Shoals Lighted Horn Buoy 9 CR," with an automatic flashing white light and horn; the other a spar buoy to mark the station. The Coast Guard was forced to make the change because the maintenance of the lightship was economically unjustified, what with the scant traffic through the Sound and the fact that the ship's radio beacon was very little used by passing vessels. But the gallant little ship, with the big white letters on its bright red hull, will be sorely missed by voyagers to Nantucket, who were wont to rush to the side with their cameras and binoculars at the first cry of, "There's Cross Rip!" — sure and exciting proof that the steamer was really nearing Nantucket. sjs

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Dr. "Will" Gardner gave to the Nantucket Historical Association the copyrights to all his publications together with the right of reprinting and selling, the proceeds of any sale to go to the Association. Under the terms of this generous gift, one thousand copies of "The Coffin Saga" (which was out of print) heve been reprinted by the Riverside Press, Cambridge, Massachu­ setts, and are now for sale only through the Nantucket Historical Association at five dollars a copy. Mail orders accompanied by the purchase price plus fifteen cents for postage will be filled upon application to Miss Ethel Ander­ son, Secretary, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

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Motor scooters last summer were again an unmitigated nuisance. They darted out of side streets and roared around the Town at speeds that never would have been allowed a motorist. The operators endangered themselves, cyclists, and pedestrians. And withal the users of these little projectiles repre­ sented only a minute proportion of our summer visitors. If the current motor vehicle laws were strictly enforced against the operators of these machines, the problem we believe would be solved.

During the summer a front page advertisement extolling the virtues of a particular brand of beer showed a picture of a young woman waving from an upper window of the Old Mill. Beneath the picture was a quasi-historical note tying it in with the product. The advertisement appeared in at least one mainland newspaper and, presumably, in others. This "ad," naturally, was not sanctioned by the Nantucket Historical Association, which prohibits picture-taking in or about its exhibits. But an unethical use of a historic site, either here or elsewhere, is hard to prevent. In the instance noted, the appearance of a pretty girl waving from the window of the Old Mill to her seeming friend on the ground would evoke in the attendant no more than a sympathetic response. The cure for this type of abuse of privilege lies, of course, in the good sense and discretion of the advertising agencies.

RECENT EVENTS

25

Last August, in the auditorium of the Unitarian Church, the Association again presented President Jones in an exhibition of more of the old-time slides made by the late Harry B. Turner. As a year ago, the affair was quite in­ formal, with the audience participating. *

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RANDOM HARPOONINGS: Summer visitors often ask what it's like on Nantucket in September. August vacationers had the answer this year; for the daily temperatures during the first half of the month averaged 10 degrees below normal and the fragrant odor of wood-fires floated agreeably from many an old square chimney. . . . The last of the radar-warning "Texas Towers," located south of Nantucket, was dynamited down last August and towed away for junk; these three-legged monsters were obsolete almost before they were built, such is the speed of this electronic age. . . . More of the very old houses were opened this summer in the interests of Charity than ever before and very successfully. ... A number of six-foot high board fences appeared in the Town last summer. Since these structures were sanctioned by the Historic Districts Commission, they must be accepted as legal. But legality does not always import desirability. This type of fence adds nothing to the charm of Nantucket, historic or contemporary, and that charm, as everybody knows or should know, is the Island's only asset. . . . During 1963 the Steamship Authority operated at a profit and expects to do the same in 1964; it has bought two 70-passenger hydrofoil boats to run in the summer from Woods Hole to the Islands and to be leased in the off-season to south­ ern interests. . . . The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that the greatest concentration of sharks in the world occurs off Long Island, N. Y. Of these, only the white shark — called "man-eater" by the fiction writers — may be troublesome. But he poses no threat to shore bathers, says the F. & W. S. — just don't go swimming off a boat at night.

26

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

(Continued from July, 1964, issue of "Historic Nantucket") 1839 Oct. 9—Bot 8 bush of Canal at 50c, carried white sow to Thomas B. Fields, paid for carting & Canal. 1 agreed on the 8th. to take Lydia Paddack's school house in School St. for one quarter at $50.00 per annum. I advertised to teach an evening School at $4.00 per quarter. Paid 8c to Edward Mitchell for the reading of Mrs. Jameson Winter Studies & Summer Rambles in Canada.

Oct. 10—I wrote an article for the Inquirer on the subject of plain churches and against Cathedrals. Built a hog pen & house to-day.

Oct. 12—James Coffin took back my sow from Thomas B. Field. I got of David Joy, Esq. one gal. Spring Oil at 1.10 and charged.

Oct. 14—Commenced my evening school with six scholars. Bot a pail of Jhn G. Coffin and bot a broom & brush for school room. Also bot a basin and some hard soap and an oil feeder from James Austin.

Oct. 20—Heard Rev. Andrew Norwood at the town-hall to-day.

Oct. 21—Had 15 scholars this evening. Bot an oil canister with 3 qts of oil, an oil feeder and pail of B. B. Thayer for $1.121/2. Also bof lamp and ink powder for 16c. Had a letter last week from father, he also sent me 3 news­ papers, the two pair of stockings footed and nine dollars in silver for oil sold. Sent them by Ansel L. Snow.

Oct. 22—Capt. Barna Coffin visited my School Room. Nabby Bailey white­ washed my school room once over. Got of Edward Mitchell Colburns Algebra, one vol. at $1.00 and a bunch of quills for 30c.

Oct. 23—Got 6Vi yds of cotton at 17c and 2Vi at 12c for curtains for the school room. Paid cash.

Oct. 24—Barzilla Burdette at work this evening fixing forms etc. for me at the school room. Wrote over again and altered my piece on Orville Dewey's dedication sermon.

Oct. 27—Wrote a long letter to Aunt Phebe and sent it by Thomas Marshall.

Oct. 28—Had 19 scholars. Heard Samuel Jenks qddress before the Education Society this evening. He gave an account of the rise of Public Schools here.

Oct. 31—Joseph Coffin got for me 3Vi bush, of corn @ 90c. Got of Andrew M. Macy the Key to the Emerson's, second and third parts. I had already got of Edward Mitchell a key to second part at 25c.

Nov. 1—My piece on Dewey's Sermon was published in the Inquirer to-day.

I made some ink from ink powder.

Nov. 3—I went to Polpis after breakfast, attended the meetings through the day and evening, dined at Capt. Benjamin Folger's, lodged and had break­ fast at Capt. B. Coffin's. Got Capt. A. Macy to appoint a meeting on 5th day evening next to try to form a Public Library for Polpis.

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

27

Nov. 4—Got down town after dinner. Rec'd by postpaid mail a letter from father informing me that he had sold all the oil & remitting to me $23.00.

Had 8 new scholars this evening among whom was Ann Folger, daughter of Roland.

Nov. 5—I sent a newspaper containing the article on churches to Timothy H. Morse, Esq. of Bangor, Me. Nov. 7 I went out to Polpis with Francis Chase this evening and attended the library meeting at the school .bouse. The subject after discussion was indefinitely postponed.

Nov. 11—Election Day — voted for our State Officers. Saw Capt. Coffin and wrote a letter for him. I wrote a letter to father and sent him 2 pair of stockings to be footed and a newspaper containing Dewey's sermon. Also two bbls. of winter pressed whale oil whitened which I got of David Joy at 55c a gal. Sent it on the Rail Road, Capt. Phinney to Cotuit Port.

Nov. 13—I rec'd a letter from Capt. Nelson Kelley of Hyannis complaining that a half bbl. of oil he bot of David Joy fell short 2Vi gals. He sent the letter by Capt. Handy.

Nov. 16 Barzilla R. Burdett began to work on my wagon this afternoon.

I had several new scholars this evening. I got Jabez Cushman to watch around the School house this evening. Engaged him for 3 evenings as I am troubled by boys making noises around — am to give him $1.00 worth of pork for 3 evenings.

Nov. 20—Arnold Morse killed my Berkshire sow this afternoon. I let him have the head at 7c per lb. and it weighed 13 lbs. Sold my pork and ham to Samuel H. Jenks, Jabez Cushman, Lydia G. Bunker and Edward R. Folger.

Nov. 22 Got of Edward R. Folger some light green paint to prime wagon as B. Burdett had finished wagon day before yesterday.

Nov. 25—Had some new scholars. Sold a hog to Rowland Pollard. Got a cord of pine wood of Perry and Stephen Macy carted it.

Nov. 30—I have the past week attended the examinations of the No. & So. Grammar schools and of the High School and a week ago that of Thomp­ son's Academy. 1 was called upon at noon to survey a division fence between the house lots of Rachel Swain and Obed Marshall. I called upon Wm. Mitchell, Esq. & borrowed his instruments for surveying which were at his farm and went and surveyed the land this afternoon.

Dec. 1—Drefted the survey which occupied most of the day. One of the parties concerned was to sail soon and I finished and delivered the draft in the evening.

Dec. 2—I commenced this morning a day school at the School house in School St. Had two scholars: Frederick B. Allen and Frederick J. Swain.

Dec. 9—Francis G. Bunker opened the school this morning for me.

Dec. 14—I sold Barzilla Burdett my little white sow for $7.00. It weighed 851A lbs. I had a visit at the School house from Daniel Round, Jr. Baptist minister. v Dec. 16—To-day I had 5 new scholars. I took tea with Jonathan Paddack & his family & their son & wife, my cousin Lydia S. dau of George F. Bunker and the two Methodist ministers and the Baptist minister Daniel Round, Jr.

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Dec. 18—Uncle Walter Folger visited school this evening. Barzilla Burdett is building 5 new forms and seats for me.

Dec. 20—Had a vacation this afternoon in order to let Barzilla put up the new forms.

Dec. 21—I engaged to-day Wm. H. Macy, son of George Macy, to assist me in my evening school and he commenced this evening. Last evening I admitted 2 boys of Captain Hamblin's, making up the number of scholars to 50. I wrote a long letter to father & put it on board Capt. Marchant's boat.

I had received one from father and the three pair of stockings all footed.

Dec. 25 Christmas evening. The scholars by an almost unanimous vote asked for this evening and I gave it to them. Capt. Barna Coffin was in school this morning and I am to draw up a petition for them for a new school house. I was at Jonathan Paddocks this evening.

Dec. 26—I wrote a petition to the Selectmen for the Polpis folks and sent it out to Capt. Barna Coffin. Had my old white sow killed to-day by Arnold Morse, Jr. I went to Atheneum and heard Dr. Swift's lecture on American Antiquities, went with Wm. H. Macy.

Dec. 27—The sow weighed 164 lbs. and Arnold Morse took 14 lbs. of ham to Uncle Walter's, 14 of ham to Lydia G. Bunker's, 62 lbs. pork to William Wait's and 60 lbs. to Rowland Pollards and took the head weighing 11 lbs. for himself.

Dec. 28 This evening Benjamin C. Turner and Freeman Lewis took their books and quitted school. I paid Wm. H. Macy $1.25 being for one week and one evening's assistance up to this date.

Dec. 30—I had one new scholar, B. S. Cathcart.

1840 Jan. 1—I got of Benjamin Russell a pair of Calf skin oak tanned sewed boots at $5.00 and charged. He sends Simeon L. Lewis to evening school to me. * Jan. 4 1 got from J. Lawrence 23A yds of kersimere for pantaloons at $3 a yard and some buttons. Also 216 cotton cambric for umbrella. Took my cloth to Cromwell Barnard's to be made.

Jan. 5—Heard Augustus Morse's lecture at the Atheneum.

Jan. 9—Heard James M. Bunker Esq. lecture at the Atheneum on Anatomy.

B. B. Thayer tapped my shoes.

Jan. 15 Heard Edward G. Kelley lecture on Water, its chemicals & prop­ erties. I got of Wm. R. Easton one quarter cord of pine wood and paid carman 25c for carting wood from James' ropewalk. Paid Alexander Hall 25c for sawing.

Jan 19 Got a horse and sleigh of Capt. J. Hamblin and went about 11 0 clock a.m. to Polpis. Dined at Capt. B. Coffin's and attended the meetings.

1 took tea with Capt. Alexander Macy, came down before 9 p.m. a cold ride facing the wind.

Jan. 22 Rec'd. of Charles Easton 1.50 for surveying his fence in Dec. Jan. 24 I was insulted by scholars throwing wood etc. and making a noise to-night.

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

29

Jan. 25—I made a complaint against Peter F. Coffin to his employer. I told Albert C. Folger and Peter F. Coffin to take their books to-night. I had Jabez Cushman there to keep the peace.

Jan. 29—Two new scholars began to go to school to-night and I have agreed to take Peter back at the request of his father. Samuel G. Swain's son Peleg began this evening to school. I took my best shirt out to Cromwell Barnard's shop to be repaired, also left my Blue-black coat for that purpose.

Feb. 5—I bot of Lawrence & Cobb XA yd. of fine linen for collars and three silk handkerchives. I got of James Austin a petticoat lamp. Had bot one from him some weeks ago, I gave this one to William P. Russell to make up for the one stolen from him by a scholar who left school.

Feb. 15—A number of scholars quitted school this evening, their quarters generally having expired some time ago. John F. Coffin paid me five dollars, his bill for fifteen weeks schooling.

Feb. 20—I attended the lecture of Edward M. Gardner at the Atheneum on the Pursuit of Natural History. I rec'd the other day of Collector Cleveland $1.33 being for his son's schooling.

Feb. 21—Rec'd by mail a letter from father dated Feb. 18th. saying they were well — had sold one bbl. of the last oil & part of the other bbl. at 90c a gal. Had taken up his note for the horse & had carted home 21 loads of wood from half an acre he had bought in the Fall and had not yet finished carting.

Feb. 22 I broke up my evening school as the scholars were thinning off and had got to coming late.

Feb. 26—The Town appropriated $400 for the purpose of building a school house in Polpis and had also given permission for the old Asylum to be worked in. Capt. Macy & Coffin were appointed on the Comm.

Feb. 29 I got horse and carriage of Capt. J. Hamblin and with my friends Daniel Round and Wm. H. Macy I went this afternoon to Polpis and stopped at Capt. Coffin's. Attended the examinations of the school, visited a few minutes Obed Bunker s and William Bennett's and we got back about Quarter past seven. Charge for use of horse & wagon was $1.25.

March 2—John Adlington settled with me for his son David's schooling which came to $4.58. Peleg Mitchell paid me for James Mitchell's schooling.

March 3 1 paid my Atheneum tax to George Parker for six months — $1.50. I went this evening to the Baptist Singing School having been voted in a member on 7th day evening.

March 4 I walked to Polpis today by the way of Quaise and stopped and saw the new Asylum. I went to the school house, visited George Swain and went to tea at Capt. Coffin's, rode down with Capt. Chase in a barouche.

Met at the school house with Wm. H. Macy and George W. Keen.

March 5 I paid Lydia Paddack $5.00 on account for school room.

March 6 Ann D. Swain, wife of Frederick C., one of my patrons or employers, died suddenly.

March 8—Attended funeral of A. D. Swain.

March 12 Cousin Elizabeth Gardner died this afternoon, aged nearly 74, after about nine days sickness.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

March 14—I began to lodge at Fred C. Swain's for company for him.

March 15—Went to funeral and in evening visited Uncle Gideon's.

March 19—I paid 25c for a load of seaweed and $1.8IV2 for a load of maple wood. Carting 25c; Sawing 121/2C and 12V2C for splitting.

March 23—I had four new scholars to-day, J. Paddack's sons and Wm. C. Fuller.

March 25—I went to walk with Wm. H. Macy and we visited the seats of several of the forefathers of Nantucket, the old burial places etc.

March 30—I had three new scholars, J. H. Fitzgerald and G. H. Paddack and James H. Randall. Got 4 inkstands at Edward Mitchell's.

April 4—I got William Harris, colored, to whitewash my school house this afternoon. Fred C. Swain put a pair of new H hinges on out house.

April 8—I took a walk with James M. Bunker, Esq. to the spot where Peter Foulger lived — the Friend's first burial ground and where the first Thomas Macy lived.

April 9—Wm. H. Macy at my request went to Sarah Gardner to get her to take his portrait.

April 11—I got this afternoon the Brown territory near the Hicksite meet­ ing house, got Francis G. Bunker to assist met April 16—Visited Uncle Gideon's and saw my two cousins who live in Bristol County.

April 21—William H. Macy, son of Zaccheus, began to attend my school.

April 22—1 went to the marriage of Jared M. Gardner to Harriet H. Morey.

Capt. Nathaniel Gerald brought me from Boston Oliver B. Pierce's Grammar, price 75c. I later lent the Grammar to Wm. H. Macy to show to the teacher of the High School.

April 25—I divided the Brown house & land on 4th day last on my plots that I had drawn for Asa G. Bunker.

April 26—Went this evening to a temperance lecture. Also went to hear an Abolition address by Jackson. I received of Edward Mitchell the journal of Daniel Wheeler of his visit to the Pacific Ocean.

April 28—I paid Wm. H. Macy 50c this evening for his assistance.

April 30—I gave the scholars this afternoon for a holiday as they begged for it. I visited the Coffin School, now taught by James M. Bunker, Esq. with two assistants. News came of the death at Truxillo of my cousin, Capt.

Charles M. Folger of Schooner Hope & Susan.

May 2—Charles Staples paid me his school bill of $4.67 for evening school.

May 4—I had one new scholar, John G. Chase and Capt. Peter Chase paid me for Andrew Jackson's schooling.

May 5—At a meeting of persons friendly to the formation of a Baptist Society here this evening.

May 7—I received of Thomas G. Bernard $18, being the amount due me for the schooling of Peter F. Coffin, Allen C. Hinckley and Cronwell C. Coffin who attended my evening school.

(To Be Continued)

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 development of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by giving to the Association a legacy under your will, which will help to insure the Association's carrying on. Counsel advises that legacies to the Nantucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law.

Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as directed by the donor. A sample form may read as follows: "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly or­ ganized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of

dollars."

Legacies may be made also in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paint­ ings, or any objects having historical value, in which event a brief descrip­ tion of the same should be inserted instead of a sum of money.

Please send all communications to Miss Ethel Anderson, Secretary, P. O. Box 1016, Nantucket, Mass., 02554. Office, Historical Museum, Fair St.

Vale, '64!