Historic Nantucket, January 1965, Vol. 12 No. 3

Historic Nantucket

f

Looking Down Quince Street

JANUARY, 1965

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.

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

January, 1965

No. 3

CONTENTS

The Second Congregational Meeting House

5

Skye Trouble

20

U. S. L. S. S. Drill

21

Recent Events

25

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

27

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, 1965. Nantucket Historical Association.

Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554.

Interior of Unitarian Church, showing the remarkable illusion of columns and recessed panels.

5

The Second Congregational Meeting House (Unitarian-Universalist)

BY H. ERROL COFFIN, A.I.A. EDITOR'S NOTE: Restorations, renovations, and repairs re­ specting the old buildings of Nantucket go on constantly. Quite appropriate these are; for Nantucket Town is a large museum both of things and of people. This is especially true, of course, in the Historic District, protected as it is from ruthless and capricious change. But even outside the Historic District, by a kind of un­ written law or gentlemen's agreement, there is a well accepted stand­ ard of construction not incompatible with the old, lovely archi­ tecture of the Town.

Of the more important renovations completed during the past summer the final repairs to the Unitarian Church in Orange Street are noteworthy. This structure is of more than passing interest to the general public, as well as to the historically minded, because of the many years during which the church tower was the location of the Fire Watch, and now currently because it houses the Town Clock. Mr. H. Errol Coffin, prominent in the architectural field in Nantucket during the past few years, had charge of the work and, following its completion, prepared a brochure describing the reno­ vations together with a brief history of the church. He has given this to the Nantucket Historical Association.

HISTORIC NANTUCKET presents the brochure herewith, omitting the detailed, itemized account marked Exhibit H, to which for those interested reference is made to the original manuscript in the li­ brary of the Historical Museum, Fair Street. Other exhibits omitted because of limitations of space are: B.—copy of Act of Incorpo­ ration; E.—Church History by F. C. Sanford; F.—Pew end (detail); G.—The Old Spanish Bell; I.—Alteration to Vestry, Plan; J.— First Floor Plan; K.—Lighting Fixtures; L.—Main Entrance, detail.

I.

THE CHURCH HISTORY

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE SOCIETY, in the parlance of Wall Street, was spun-off from the First Congregational Church, commonly known as the North Church. The Second Congregational Church is called the South Church, or Unitarian Church.

There are various theories as to why the separation took place: F. C. Sanford: "There was in the Orthodox Congregational Society a growing spirit for more liberal ideas than had been prevailing among its worshipers."

Rev. M. S. Dudley: "It was started as a protest against the undue strictness and close surveillance exercised over its members by that church on the matter of recreations and amusements, rather than a withdrawal on account of any wide divergence on the question of doctrinal belief."

H. B. Worth: "The men who remained in the old Parish lived largely north of Main Street, while those families that withdrew resided near Main

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Street or further south. The Old Meeting House was convenient to those who remained, while the South building better accommodated those that withdrew."

The quotations listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 are not plausible as an explanation for the separation.

The theory of doctrinal divergence does not seem applicable when consider that when the South Meeting House was dedicated the sermon preached by Rev. Seth F. Swift, the first pastor of the new church, and prayer by the Rev. James Gurney, the pastor of the North Church at time of the separation.

you wasthe the

Neither does less strictness over the members seem tenable as a reason for the withdrawal, as this strict attitude continued in the new Parish. On March 1, 1815, Brothers Barrett, Coffin, and Pierce were appointed a com­ mittee to inquire respecting the character of Sister . On March 3, 1815, the Committee reported that they had received testimony that Sister had used vulgar language [the actual words may be found in the original report. — Ed.] and showed no signs of humility or penitence. It was voted unanimously that for the above-mentioned offences and for her general improper conduct, such as frequent absence from home, improper conversations, tale-bearing, etc., Mrs. be suspended from com­ munion with the church indefinitely. On June 2, 1817, Mrs. was restored to her standing in the church. About this time there were several more excommunicated for intemperance and one matron dismissed on the charge of falsehood as an unworthy member, and another excommunicated for breach of morality. There seems to have been but little leniency at this time as all of the actions are of public record.

It therefore seems that the location of the Old Meeting House as men­ tioned by Mr. Worth (paragraph 3) was a dominant incentive for the sep­ aration.

The Old Meeting House, now known as "Old North Vestry" and at­ tached to the rear of the First Congregational Church, is the oldest church on the Island (tradition indicates that it was built in 1711 but there is no record to authenticate this date ). It was originally located upon the hill east of Maxcy's Pond. In 1765 it was disassembled, transported and re-assembled together with its tall spire where the North Church now stands. At the time of the division services were being held in this building, then about 100 years old. It seems as if the desire for a newer and more commodious build­ ing must also have had a bearing on the decision to move, especially as those who became proprietors of the Second Congregational Meeting House Society were the more affluent members of the First Congregational Church.

July 23, 1808, George Gorham Hussey and wife Lydia, conveyed to Thaddeus Coffin, William Riddell, Samuel Cary, Jonathan C. Briggs, and John Brock Jr. the lot of land (with dwelling house and barn) near Wesco Hill, being in Fish lot shares, number two and three and bounded on the north by land of Peleg Coggeshall; on the east by Orange Street; on the south by land of Henry Pinkham; and on the west by land of William Morton and Elisha Folger, Jr. The deed was acknowledged before Isaac Coffin, Justice of the Peace. The price paid for the property was $2850.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

7

During the following year these five grantees built the Second Congre­ gational Meeting House (South Church) on this lot. The building operation had been financed from the start by notes given by members of the building committee under authority of a vote of their associates. The committee then proceeded to convey by ordinary deed of conveyance, recorded in the Registry of Deeds, the pews in said Meeting House; and the description of the deeds not only gives the number of the pew but also the price paid and its location in the Meeting House. There were 10 purchasers (Exhibit A) of pews during the latter part of 1809. Most of the purchasers bought groups of pews. Several of these were immediately conveyed to other pewholders. Elisha Starbuck bought Pew 1. The pewholders became the Pro­ prietors. The Meeting House was dedicated Nov. 9, 1809. The sermon was preached by Rev. Seth F. Swift (not then ordained) and the prayer by Rev. James Gurney. The first public preaching took place Nov. 12, 1809. Mr. Gurney, pastor of the North Church, recommended Mr. Swift to the new Society.

According to the ecclesiastical customs of the time, when a separation had taken place, it became necessary for the seceders to convene a body of ministers to sanction the formation of the new Church. Such a Council con­ vened April 27, 1810, to start the new Church and to ordain its minister.

Rev. Thaxter was Moderator and Rev. Enoch Pratt was Scribe. Four per­ sons appeared — Nathaniel Barrett, Matthew Pinkham, Thaddeus Coffin, and Henry Riddell to whom a Church Covenant was read and accepted and they were then received into full communion; Nathaniel Barrett and Henry Riddell were selected as deacons.

Having duly established the Church according to Congregational usage, the same Council ordained the new minister, Seth Freeman Swift, of Sand­ wich, who was a graduate of Harvard College and was studying Divinity in Brewster. On May 6, 1810, a communion service of six pieces was pre­ sented to the Society by Messrs. Hall, Thatcher & Company.

The final step of organization was the incorporation of the members of the new parish.

An Act to incorporate the Proprietors of the Second Congregational Meeting House in Nantucket was enacted on June 14, 1810, by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Exhibit B). The Proprietors listed in the Act comprised the names of 34 men (see Appended Exhibit C) with such other persons as shall associate.

The property of the members of the corporation was determined by the value of the pews and seats at time of purchase. The defraying of all ex­ penses was by taxes based upon the purchase price of the pews. If the taxes were not paid within a year the treasurer was empowered to sell and convey all the estate share and interest of such delinquent proprietor at public auc­ tion. The taxes to cover the annual expenses of the church ran about 20 per cent of the value of the pews. When additional funds were needed they were obtained by voluntary contributions or by a percentage of the Town tax paid by the pew owner. This was based on the theory that his ability to pay was determined by the amount of Town tax he paid.

8

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

About one-half of the Proprietors of the North Church withdrew to form with various Quakers the new organization of the Second Congrega­ tional Meeting House Society.

The ecclesiastical year of the church dates from the second Tuesday of April or thereabouts. The pastoral term of service conforms to that date.

At this meeting the governing body of the church was elected by the Pro­ prietors and comprised a Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Agents, and Funeral Committee.

The office of Treasurer was salaried. The amount was variable — in 1850 fifty dollars yearly was determined, then rescinded and finally set at twenty-five dollars plus pew tax. In one instance the Treasurer, as part pay for his services, was presented with a burial lot of his own selection in Prospect Hill Cemetery. The office of Treasurer was onerous; he collected pew taxes, had sold at auction pews whose owners were delinquent, nego­ tiated loans to offset debts and served as fiscal agent for the Funeral Com­ mittee, relative to the cemetery and hearse.

During the many years when Nantucket was supreme in the whaling industry, ship-owners, captains and their families filled the church. One mother could not hire a seat for her daughter and she had to sit on a foot-stool.

In spite of the full church attendance and affluence of the congregation throughout its history, until recently, the Society was a borrowing corpora­ tion. It represented in its membership influential people and persons of great wealth for those times, and they appeared to find no trouble in getting all the accommodation they needed of the bank or from their members. One old money lender wrote the Treasurer: "There are two or three years' interest due and you have had my money 20 years and now I want it settled." He was one of the wealthiest men of his day.

In 1849 it was proposed, but not enacted, to tax the Proprietors $2.65 on the $1000 on the Town's assessment of their property, to pay off the entire and ordinary expenses for a year ($1700). In 1847 the taxable Town property held by members of this Society exceeded $1,500,000. The out­ standing debt was $2,491.60.

On June 22, 1850, a committee, consisting of C. F. Winslow and Henry Coffin, appointed by the Proprietors, reported in part as follows: "The num­ erous removals of the old friends and supporters of the Society from the Island, the changes occasioned by the Great Fire and by the mercantile disasters of one sort and another, and other causes which you may call to mind, have gradually and unfortunately brought about a set of circumstances which no common power could avert. The debt incurred by the Proprietors before these violent shocks commenced has acted on the Society of late like an incubus and has paralyzed directly or indirectly the interest which remained in it." This quotation was incorporated in a letter to the Rev. H. Knapp as an explanation of why the Society could not continue services in the church. It does lucidly indicate the financial problem of the Proprietors at the time. The church had been closed for religious services on March 25th.

On May 25th it had been moved that the property of the Society be sold, provided it could be sold at a price sufficient to pay the debt of the Society.

The motion was withdrawn after discussion.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

9

Two days after the letter of dismissal to the Rev. H. Knapp had been transmitted, i.e., June 24, 1850, there were 33 pewholders with aggregate taxes of $1,254.30. It was proposed and defeated that money be raised by an additional tax of 20 per cent on valuation of the pews and 6 per cent on the amount of Town tax paid. Two declined to pay the 6 per cent tax, 12 others would pay no tax, one would pay when the church would be opened for night service and another would pay if suited with the Pastor.

The Treasurer reported on July 12th, 1850, that the full amount re­ quired to carry on the church, say $1700, had been subscribed and would be paid on demand.

From 41 Pewholders $1510.84 From The Ladies' Sewing Circle 189.16 $1700.00 The years 1849 and 1850 were no doubt the most difficult and disturb­ ing for the Society as at this time they were on the verge of losing the Meet­ ing House several times. There were, however, enough members with faith in the future to carry on and by 1883 the Society was free of debt.

Although the men of the church (Proprietors) were the owners of the pews and therefore of the Meeting House and managed the financial affairs, tribute must be paid to the women of the congregation. Their Sewing Society and Alliance always assisted financially when there was need and this hap­ pened frequently. For example — in 1876 they carpeted the church. The building on Fair Street, back of the church which is now the Parsonage, was held by the Trustees of the Unity Hall Fund. In 1904 the ladies were re­ quested to transfer the property to the church for a parsonage as an added inducement to obtain the services of the Rev. M. Day. This they refused to do but did agree to put the building in order for use of the minister. At a later date the property was deeded to the church.

Maria Mitchell, a liberal Quaker and a distinguished astronomer, was one of the women who showed great interest in the church and came regu­ larly while she remained in Nantucket.

The Agents, elected at each annual meeting of the Proprietors, were in charge of the'temporal affairs of the church, policy makers and assessors for pew taxes. They included leaders in the community and church.

The Act of Incorporation (charter) enacted in 1810 was amended in 1845 so that assessments on pews would be on their value as of 1844.

The Funeral Committee comprised 12 or more Proprietors and func­ tioned as the name implies — in charge of the cemetery and hearse. The original grant of land for a burial ground (later known as the Unitarian Burying Ground and now Prospect Hill Cemetery) was made by the Pro­ prietors of the Common and Undivided Lands of Nantucket, May 11, 1814.

The records show that the Funeral Committee was requested on April 7th, 1857, to call on other societies using the hearse and harness to con­ tribute to their repair. In 1875 Tallman & Russell & Co. were paid $300. for a new hearse, $50. for harness and $18. for freight on the hearse.

The first minister, the Rev. Seth Freeman Swift, served 23 years (18101833). This is the longest term of office held by any of the 31 ministers of

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

10

the South Church, who have served to date (Exhibit D). The record for Island pastorates is held by Rev. James E. Crawford, colored pastor of the Pleasant Street colored Baptist Church, with a term of 41 years (1847-1888).

The terms of service of the ministers were not always continuous from one to another. In the intervals off-island ministers journeyed to the Island to conduct services or members of the congregation read or delivered sermons.

Marriage fees from 1810-1833 averaged about $1.25 with some con­ ducted without charge. The minister's annual salary from 1810 to 1916 av­ eraged about $1000. During Mr. Knapp's term of office, 1844-1850, the Proprietors augmented his salary with a season ticket for the steamboat for him and his family. At this time $300 was authorized for music, $150 for the organist and $150 for the chief choir singer. The choir loft and organ are at the rear of the church. It was, and still is, the custom to turn and face to the rear of the church during hymn-singing. There always are people who wish to change customs and modernize. As early as 1876 Mrs. Catherine Starbuck moved at meeting that the congregation face the minister while singing and that the pew doors be removed. Voted in the negative.

There is an instance of the loyalty of the choir to the organist who had been discharged for intemperance. In a letter to the Proprietors, 12 members of the choir petitioned that he be reinstated in the interests of the church, the feelings of the choir and the future character of the singing, and offered as a telling argument the question as follows: "Will dismissing him make him any better?"

Singing schools were held in the Gallery in 1810.

The full flowering of the church was during the height of the whaling industry when Nantucket was the third commercial city of the Commonwealth — Boston, Salem, Nantucket. The rise and decline of the church parallels, the population fluctuation as given below.

Year 1776 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840

NANTUCKET POPULATION FIGURES Population Year Population 8,452 1850 4,412 8,064 1855 4,620 6,094 1860 5,617 4,748 1865 6,807 4,123 1870 7,266 3,201 1875 7,202 to date average 3,500 9,012

A Church Library was established Oct. 9, 1818, with subscriptions of $40. The Pastor was the Librarian ex efficio. A book could be kept no longer than 12 weeks.

The 1810 Covenant was Calvinistic in character. It is written with words of normal spelling except the word Christ is indicated by a cross and Christian is indicated with a cross followed by "ian." On March 12, 1837, the Covenant used in the Harvard Church was adopted thereby officially becoming Unitarian. The Covenant was revised five times in about 70 years, becoming more liberal each time. The central fact in the philosophy of the Unitarian movement was the liberty to choose your own statement of faith.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

11

As a consequence of this liberality the building functioned more and more, not only as a place of worship, but served for Town and social affairs.

The clock in the tower is owned by the Nantucket Historical Association and maintained by the Town. It also serves as a Town watch tower. Because of its convenient location near the center of the town, and its excellent acoustics, the great meeting room of the church is the preferred place for concerts and lectures. It is the home of the annual summer concert series presented by the Nantucket Musical Arts Society. For years it housed the graduation ceremonies of the Nantucket High School. It will seat 450 people. Meetings of organizations for which no other space in town is adequate, like the Nantucket Historical Association, are held there. Smaller groups use the Vestry which is heated and can be used throughout the year; such as the Red Cross Blood Bank, The Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Prospect Hill Cemetery Association, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and so on. In reality, the Church serves as a quasi-religious, semi-public building.

During the ministry of Rev. Cyrus A. Roys (1886-1893) the Unity Club was organized. It became an inter-denominational society of about 250 mem­ bers, important in the social life of the Town. Monthly meetings were held comprising socials, musicals, literaries, dramatics, and stereoptican lectures.

In 1959 the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America jointly merged. The building has been variously known as The Second Congregational Meeting House, The South Church, and for many years simply the Unitarian Church. The official name now, as indicated on the new plaque mounted on the front of the building, is "Second Congrega­ tional Meeting House Society — Unitarian — Universalist."

There was in Nantucket for about ten years the First Universalist Church, incorporated Jan. 20, 1827. Its house of worship stood on the site now oc­ cupied by the Atheneum.

This history outline is incomplete in many respects due to the loss or destruction of many of the early documents especially the Records of the Proprietors' Meetings from 1810 through 1846. On the flyleaf of the Record of the Proprietors of the Second Congregational Meeting House, Nantucket, commencing April 1847 is written the following note: "During the terrible conflagration which destroyed a large portion of the Town of Nantucket on the 13th and 14th of July, 1846, The Record of the Proprietors of Second Congregational Meeting was consumed.

Jos. Mitchell Nantucket April 6, 1847 Prop's. Clerk The church membership of Frederick C. Sanford commenced prior to the Great Fire so that he had first-hand knowledge of proceedings prior to this, and access to the records destroyed. Fortunately for posterity Mr. San­ ford had prepared a short history of the Society which is now available entitled "Record of History of the Second Congregational Meeting House," compiled by F. C. Sanford, Esq., and read at a Parish Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2nd, 1872. (This record is appended as Exhibit E.) Mr. Sanford was very active in Town and Church affairs. When he died in 1890 he willed $26,000 to the Atheneum, $23,000 to the Town of Nan­ tucket, and $23,000 to the Church. In 1939 Mr. Sidney Mitchell left a legacy

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

of $17,500 to the Church and in of $14,751.31. The income from served and invested has enabled worship and the Town to use the

1958 Miss Elizabeth Coffin Fitzgerald one these funds which had been wisely con­ the congregation (about 50) to continue building.

H. THE MEETING HOUSE This meeting house, dominating the skyline as viewed from the harbor and town with its tower and golden dome, is unique in appearance. There is no other church at all like it. It does not have the planned beauty of the First Baptist Church (1839) with its graceful spire, reminiscent of so many early New England churches, or the traditional neo-classical proportions and details of the Methodist Episcopal Church (1823) (1840) The building as it now stands, is completely indicative of its history and use, i.e., combined worship and town utilization. Both the simplicity of the Quakers and the affluence of the shipowners may be observed in the structure as well as the changing needs of the Town.

The unique tower is not inspirational, as the word is used in describing European Gothic churches, or the traditional New England churches. Rather it is completely functional from grade to weather vane.

William C. Drew furnished the first lumber for the building under date of October 22, 1808, to the amount of $713.60, which included 52,000 shingles at $2.84 per thousand and 2500 clapboards. The freight bill on this was $44.67 (boat carriage). Spruce sold at that time for $10 a thousand feet, clear pine boards at $11 per 1000 feet, and "joice" for IV2 cents per running foot.

Elisha Ramsdell was the builder; in Dec. 1808, one of his bills was. rendered as indicated in the following partial invoice: The agents of the New South Congregational Meeting House, viz—Thados Coffin, Ina Brock, Wm. Riddell, Jono Brigs, and Sam. Carey.

Dr. to Elisha Ramsdell 1808. To 1500 feet clearboard at 2J/ic, $37.50; To cash for expenses for Boston, $12.00; To framing extra tower, $40.00 11 Dec.: To raising the Tower, $40.75; To 2 quarts of gin .62; to 5 quarts do $1.46; To 5 quarts of gin, $1.46; To 7 quarts of ginn, 2.33; To 8 quarts of ginn, 2.33; To 36 bundles of shingles at 90c, $32.40. To 12 and 10 nails, $2.00; To 1 bundle shingles .75; To 23 feet pine joice, .44, to 6 deck nails, $1.00; to 22 feet joice and 21 feet plank, .89.

Note: Gin spelled also ginn; Joists spelt joice. The gin and rum were charageable to the Owner as part of the construction costs. Whether the spirits were necessary to stimulate bodily effort in the erection of the building or, as it was constructed in winter, to help keep warm is problematic. Per­ haps imbibing was a custom similar to our modern coffee break.

In May, 1809, the tower was finished and on the 25th of the month Elisha Ramsdell, the builder, completed the outside and under the contract drew $1,400. On August 30, 1809, Jemel West, Jr., rendered a bill for fin­ ishing the tower (probably a sub-contractor for some part of the work). Up to and including Sept. 5, 1810, the cost of the building had been $8,533.36.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

13

Within a comparatively short time (in 1830) the tower had become so weakened and dilapidated it was taken down and replaced with a new one.

I doubt that it was the fault of shoddy construction induced by gin but rather caused by the weight and movement of the heavy Portuguese bell which was installed in the tower in 1815. The tower no doubt originally had not been framed with such an installation in mind. Paul West loaned the money for the reconstruction which cost $2,233. James Weeks did the car­ pentry work. It was framed with yellow pine timbers from Georgia and reinforced with oak beams. James Austin coppered the dome.

In 1844 the congregation, particularly the younger members, desired more modern accommodations and architecture, either by the erection of a new building or the alteration of the existing one.

The Committee Report on Alteration, Sept. 28, 1844, stated: That they had investigated and could sell the property for enough to purchase a good site and cover the probable cost of a new building to accommodate the Society with Vestry for $12,000. The estimated cost of the proposed alter­ ation was $4,200. They reported that there were 22 more prospective pro­ prietors desirous of participating after alteration.

The Society decided to change the building extensively and engaged F. B. Coleman, Nantucket architect and master builder, to take over the work. He was the designer of the Baptist Church (1840) and many of the large residences built in the 1830's. Mr. Coleman was related to the active proprietor F. C. Sanford, and after the Great Fire (1846) designed Mr. Sanford's house on the site where the new Town and County Building is to be erected.

The plan of operation authorized the complete gutting of the interior of the Meeting House. The side galleries were removed and the two-tiered exterior windows taken out and replaced with tall full length side windows, a shallow dome formed in the ceiling, the building raised, underpinned and excavated to form a Vestry and a kitchen. A shallow chancel was added with new mahogany pulpit and platform. The pews were rebuilt using the old mahogany caps and arms (Exhibit F). The cost of the alteration was $5,626.50.

An unusual interior decoration was applied, attributed to Carl Wendte, an Italian artist, who had arrived in this country in 1840 and had previously decorated the Treasury Building in Washington, D. C. Although there are no Society records authenticating this (burned in 1846) his work in this church was verified subsequently by his son, Dr. Wendte.

These decorations done on flat surfaces, comprising panels and colon­ nade, with shadows cast beautifully. It is so realistic that doubting visitors pass their hands over the surfaces to be assured that the moulded panels and columns are not raised or in the round. In 1883 and in the autumn of 1936 this work was meticulously reproduced.

The building as it now stands may be regarded as of 1844 design, pos­ sessing the architectural characteristics of the period. The previous design, 1809, is not known and can only be surmised in part.

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

14

On April 18, 1859, the Agents were authorized to dispose of the whale 011 chandeliers. It is therefore assumed that gas lighting had been installed by then; also about that time there were other important buildings on the Island where gas was being put in, one of these the present Jared Coffin,, had gas installed in 1858.

The Meeting House was electrified in 1922.

In July, 1916, a new floor was laid and the columns moved in the Vestry.

III.

THE TOWER

The tower as built in 1830 was constructed to house the bell, town clock, and serve for a fire-watch.

The Providence Mutual Fire Insurance Company's policy ($5,000) is­ sued on Jan. 1 1, 1838, stated that "watchmen may be stationed in the steeple with fire in a safe stove." The stove is no longer there but the brick hearth upon which it sat survives.

In 1847, after the Great Fire, the Aetna Insurance Company declined taking any risk on the Island.

Accordingly, to Dr. Will Gardner, there were two watchmen on duty taking turns as lookouts. One would be up there looking for fire while the other sat in the chair by the fire. One hour on duty, one hour off, throughout the night. The watchman would signal by waving a lantern in the general direction of any blaze that had been sighted and by ringing the bell. The tower served for nearly a century as a fire-watch until 1907 when an automatic fire alarm was installed. The well-worn captain's chair used by the watchmen was found in the tower when the recent repairs were started.

In 1849 tower watchmen and the postmaster were issued keys to the tower. Any of the Proprietors could have keys if they paid for them. Billy Clark, the last Town Crier (d. 1909), climbed the South Tower each morn­ ing to get a first glimpse of the incoming steamer. As soon as he spied it, he thrust his tin horn through the slats of the belfry and tooted. He also climbed up at dawn after heavy storms to scan the horizon for shipwrecks or distressed boats.

The golden dome towers 109 feet, 5Vz inches above the sidewalk. It has been gold-leafed in 1881, 1923, 1939 and 1952. The gold leaf becomes worn away by winter storms, sand- and salt-laden. The last time the money needed (estimated as $750) was raised by public subscription.

IV.

THE PORTUGUESE BELL

In the belfry is hung the famous Portuguese bronze bell, still in opera­ tion, striking 52 times traditionally, immediately after the hours of 7 a.m., 12 noon, and 9 p.m. have been struck. Within recent years the striking has been mechanized, automation throwing the bell-ringer out of work.

An article entitled "The Old Spanish Bell (Exhibit G) appeared in the Nantucket Inquirer August 31, 1878. The following are quotations from this article.

"This splendid bell, which is said by travellers to be the finest in the country, was purchased in Lisbon by Capt. Chas. Clasby of this town in 1812 and brought to this port by Capt. Thomas Cary in the schooner Wil­ liam and Nancy, a vessel owned by Samuel Cary, Esq. and others. Capt.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

15

Cary gave to the writer hereof the following history of the procurement of this bell. He said, 'Clasby invited me to go to the foundry with him and assist in selecting a good-toned one. When they raised the third one and struck her, "ah, Clasby, you need to look no further: that's the bell you want; she is a beauty; she sounds on B'7 " While in Lisbon Capt. Cary said they heard of the declaration of war with Great Britain, and on the passage home they were spoken by a British Sloop-of-war, which had been at sea some time, and was not aware that war had been declared. The Commander asked Captain Cary the news, but Capt. C. said he took especial good care not to tell him all he knew.

The bell was landed here and placed in the store cellar of Samuel Cary, where it remained till 1815 when it was purchased and placed in the tower. About $500 was given for the bell; the Society paid $350, and the balance was raised bv subscription. Some Friends subscribed. Obed Mitchell gave liberally, saying, "Friends did not use bells for religious purposes, but as they were very useful in giving fire alarms, etc., he would assist in the purchase." Some little time after the bell had been in use, the sound of its mellow tones had reached the "Hub of the Universe,' and so bewitching were the musical vibrations of the queenly bell (e) of Nantucket, to many of the good people of the renowned "City of Notions," that the agents of the Old South Church negotiated with the agents of the Unitarian Church, saying that they had a very fine clock in their tower, that they had been so unfortunate as to have the bell broken, and wished to know at what price this bell could be procured. The agents of the Unitarian Church replied that they had a very fine bell in their tower, and would like to know at what price the Old South Society would sell their clock. The bell weighed 1575 pounds; the Boston Gentlemen offered $1 a pound for it."

"This bell of ours was rung the first time on the 18th of December, 1815."

"F. A. Wellington, Esq., hearing considerable discussion respecting the history of the famous bell in the South Tower, and that the inscription on it had been differently interpreted, it being to most of us hereabouts in an 'unknown tongue,' repaired to the tower and made an accurate copy of the lettering on the bell (which he discovered to be in the Portuguese language), which is as follows: " 'Ao bom Jesus do Monte completao seus rotosos devotos de Lisboa, offerescendo lhu hum completo jogo de seis sinos para chamar pos ovos adoralo no seu santuario. Jose Domingues daCosta ofez em Lisboa. Noanno de 1810."'

"He sent it to the Portuguese Vice-Consul, residing in Boston, with a request for a translation, and that gentleman, with his wonted courtesy, promptly forwarded to him the subjoined reply."

"Boston, May 25th, 1876 "Fred A. Wellington, Esq. "Dear Sir: I have received yours of the 23d. and in answer have the pleasure of forwarding you the interpretation of your request. I have to observe to you that Mountain is a place in Lisbon where is a church of

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

16

great veneration and for which the bells were made according to the legend.

Consider me. Truly yours, Joaa Jacintho Rebello, V. Consul."

The following is the translation of the inscription: "To the good Jesus of the Mountain the devotees of Lisbon direct their prayers, offering him one complete set of six bells, to call the people and adore Him on His sanctuary.

"Jose Domingos de Costa has done it in Lisbon in the year 1810.

W.R.E." ERRATA The title: "The Old Spanish Bell" should read The Old Portuguese Bell.

Translation: Chas. R. Joy on June 27, 1943, commented as follows: "Pos ovos (eggs) should read os povos (people) Chamar os povos to call the people. The Vice Consul was not correct. There is no place in Lisbon called Mountain. In the north of Portugal there is the shrine "Bon Jesus do Monte" near Braga. This sanctuary was rebuilt 1784-1811. The bell was cast in 1810 possibly for this shrine."

"Ofez should be two words o fez."

"Noanno should be two words No anno."

Tone: In the account of purchase by Capt. Cary he states, "she sounds on B." The tone and overtones of the church bell were determined by Edwin Grasse, the blind violinist (who had absolute pitch) as being basic tone A with overtones of E and C in a higher register with still higher overtones in B, C and D. They may have been both correct, as it is claimed the bell changes from A to B in tone by reason of the varying atmospheric conditions at Nantucket.

In the early days the bell always played an important part in the Fourth of July celebration. The boys of the town would tie bunches of cannon crackers to the tongue of the bell and explode them like torpedoes, discharge firearms from the windows, and for a midnight celebration the belfry walls would be coated with phosphorous.

V.

THE TOWN CLOCK

In 1823 the first 1881.

"town clock" was put in the tower and did duty until

On Saturday July 6, 1822, at a meeting of the inhabitants of the town, a report favorable to the erection of a town clock in the tower of the new South Congregational Meeting House was made by the committee appointed at the previous meeting. It was suggested that a good wooden clock with 2 or 3 dials would answer the desired purpose, but on motion of Mr. K. Starbuck the town resolved to have a brass one with four dials.

This first clock was made on the island by Samuel Jenks. James Winslow worked upon it in the old Morris House, Main Street, in 1822.

A short time after, the following appeared in the local paper: "August 5, 1823. Town Clock. The publick are hereby informed why this instrument is so frequently out of order, that there may be no blame attached to the workmanship of the machinery, or to its being stopped from striking during the nights or to the carelessness of the superintendent.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE

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"The cause is this: Boys have had too free access to the tower and have frequently entangled the hands at the dials. The proprietors of the Meeting House are determined there shall be no more public keys to the tower for the future.

"Those persons therefore who wish to view the clock machinery are informed that an opportunity occurs every Saturday afternoon after 4 o'clock, at which time it is wound up.

R. W. Jenks, Supt."

The first "Town Clock" (1823) did duty until the present E. Howard & Co. clock replaced it in 1881; a gift to the town by William Hadwen Starbuck. The clock started ticking May 28, 1881, and was run by weights until electrified in 1957.

VI

THE GOODRICH ORGAN

The present organ used in the church was built by William Marcellus Goodrich (1777-1833) in Boston in the year 1831. Goodrich is considered to be the first really professional organ builder in New England. This organ is the only church organ extant built by William Goodrich.

The organ, still in service, is a credit not only to the maker but to the conservatism of the congregation in spite of fads incorporated in newer or­ gans.

There has never been central heating in the upper portion of the church, where the organ is located, which may be a contributing factor in its preservation.

For a complete detailed history of the organ and its builder, refer to the Article: "A Tale of Two Organs," in the April, 1963 issue of HISTORIC NANTUCKET published by the Nantucket Historical Association.

VII.

RECENT RESTORATION AND REPARATION (Exhibits J. K. L.)

On June 2, 1956, the eminent Boston architect, William Roger Greeley, inspected the church and issued a report with recommendations relative to repair and restoration. In this report he stated (quote): "It is so distinguished an example of church architecture, that such a restoration is justified and will make it a worthy monument of the outstand­ ing era in Nantucket's history."

In the last six years (1957-1964 inc.) the applicable recommendations of Mr. Greeley and additional work have been done, under the able direction of Mr. Tell Berna, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Greeley estimated the work listed in his report would cost $26,192.10. The recent restoration has cost about 4Vi times that of building the church in 1810 (Exhibit H).

All of this has been accomplished by donations from the congregations and from non-members interested in the Town and in the Church with the golden dome.

The extensive reconstruction of the South end and of the Vestry was the gift of Mary Lowell Gouin in memory of Vice-Admiral Marcel E. A. Gouin and Gwendolyn L. Gouin. The minister's bench on the new platform is in memory of Rev. Harold L. Pickett and Rev. Anita T. Pickett given by their family (Exhibit I).

18

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

This recent restoration could not have been done in its entirety without the generous donation from the Nantucket Historical Trust whose trustees are: Walter Beinecke, Jr., Henry B. Coleman and George W. Jones. :j:

sjc

sjs

%

EXHIBIT A — ORIGINAL PEW PURCHASERS Elisha Starbuck No. 1 Elija Bunker No. 19 William Riddell No. 5, 47, 46, 61, Timothy Folger No. 28 Wyer Swain No. 40, 51 John Brock, Jr. No. 30, 31, 32, 14 • Benjamin Glover No. 6, 26 Thaddeus Coffin No. 10, 38, 55, 37, 63 Samuel Swain No. 42 Jonathan C. Briggs No. 4, 13, 25, 60, 68 *

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EXHIBIT C List of Proprietors listed in the Act of Incorporation enacted June 14, 1810.

Thaddeus Coffin Reuben Baxter Richard Cary Hezekiah B. Gardner Samuel Cary Henry Riddell Samuel Swain Elisha Starbuck Zopher Haden John Brock, Jun. Thomas N. McCleave Peter Hussey David Myrick William Riddell Aaron Mitchell Elisha Raymond Timothy Folger, Jun. Zacchus Hussey Jeremiah Lawrence Matthew Pinkham James Barnard Abel Rawson Ebenezer Watts Samuel Riddell Daniel Whitney Albert Gardner George Myrick Benjamin Glover Jonathan C. Briggs Eliza Bunker William Coffin Samuel Barker Jeremiah B. Wood Wyer Swain NOTE: The following persons whose names were not mentioned in the Act of Incorporation according to F. C. Sanford were also Charter Members.

Nathaniel Barrett Jonathan Hall Martin T. Morton Edward Cary

Nathaniel Hathaway Zephinia Wood Joseph Chase Elisha M. Hinckley

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSE EXHIBIT D — THE MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH George H. Badger Seth F. Swift 1810 John Frederick Meyer Henry F. Edes 1834 William H. Knapp 1844 Edward Day John Snyder Jacob G. Foreman 1842 H. Van Ommeren George H. Hepworth 1855 Josiah C. Kent Orville Brayton 1859 Harold L. Pickett John K. Karcher 1863 James Z. Hanner Thomas Dawes 1865 William L. Mc. Kinstry Lemuel K. Washburn 1871 William P. Horton Jesse H. Temple 1873 Paul Harris Drake Nahum A. Haskell 1873 Carlyle Meacham James B. Morrison 1877 Arthur Schoenfeldt John R. Savage 1880 James S. Hammond Henry F. Bond 1884 William R. Reid Cyrus A. Roys 1886 Frederick P. S. Lamb 1893

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1898 1900 1904 1908 1914 1921 1930 1940 1942 1948 1952 1954 1956 1957 1961-

The Nantucket Historical Association has received the second of the reprints under the terms of the gift from Dr. "Will" Gardner.

This is his fourth book, "The Triumphant Captain John, and Gard­ ners and Gardiners." It tells the story of Thomas Gardner, the earliest of that name to settle in America, and his son John, the "Captain," who opposed the persecution of the Quakers and left the Massachusetts Bay Colony to join the more liberal New York Colony on Nantucket, where he persisted in his support of human rights. Part II of the book relates to "Gardners and Gardiners," in­ troduced by the jolly title, "Let's Enjoy Our Ancestors." The volume is indexed and has a bibliography. It may be bought only from the Nantucket Historical Association by application to Miss Ethel Anderson, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554. The price is $3.00, postage paid.

20

Skye Trouble WGBH's CHANNEL 2, the Greater Boston educational television station, carries a program of the British Broadcasting Company called "International News. This is an informal monthly report of global doings, very interesting and instructive. Last December's items included an intriguing presentation of a serious and perhaps vital problem plaguing the people of Skye.

This charming and romantic island, lying just off the western coast of Scotland, famed in song and story and beloved of Robert Louis Stevenson, is a popular summer resort. Its whole economy, like Nantucket's, rests on tourism; but its social structure is rooted in the Puritan way of life. Indeed, Skye might be called the last bastion in the Christian world of that stern and unyielding Calvinism that indomitably proclaims the sanctity of the Sabbath and prohibits the doing of any kind of work whatsoever on that holy day

Courtesy of Dr. Herbert H. Smith Egol on the Isle of Skye, Loch Scavig and the Cullins in the background.

To this end the several ministers of the island are irrevocably committed and they practice what they preach. On the other hand, the ferry company which maintains a limited service to Skye during the winter blos­ soms out during the summer with numerous daily trips — except Sundays, of course. And there's the rub. The tourist business, which constantly grows, gets out of hand week-ends when people jam and crowd the boats and docks and give the ferry officials fits. They want to run their tidy little steamers on Sunday and say that next summer they will. The ministers (it did not appear with what degree of popular support or authority) say they won't. So there the matter stands, both sides adamant. Oddly enough, the ferryboat crews are indifferent to the socio-religious issue; their only concern is to make sure of a week-day off if they have to work on Sunday.

It will be interesting to watch the outcome of the contest.

21

U. S. L. S. S. Drill THE PHOTOGRAPHS on the following two pages are a sequence of a practice drill by the crew of the Surfside Station of the United States Life Saving Service. The pictures were taken in 1900 by the editor of this maga­ zine when, as a very young boy with his first camera, he spent many wellremembered summer days visiting relatives on Nantucket. The U. S. Life Saving Service, organized in 1871, was the successor of the Massachusetts Humane Society which, up to that time, maintained a number of surfboats, dories, and shelters on Tuckernuck and Nantucket. These were gradually discontinued as the Life Saving Service developed. The first station operated by the Government on Nantucket was the one at Surfside, manned on December 1, 1874, Captain Joseph Winslow as keeper. This structure may still be seen at Surfside, where it serves as a youth hostel.

It has been said that the Life Saving Service bred a special kind of man, dedicated to his work and often performing it far beyond the call of duty. He has long passed from the scene with the merger of the Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service, January 28, 1915, to form the United States Coast Guard. But his memory and his spirit will always live whenever and wherever brave men go down to the sea on errands of mercy.

Perhaps an appreciation of these too-often unsung heroes of the past may be gleaned from a letter to the old Boston Evening Transcript, written by a Nantucketer who, as a boy, had a first-hand acquaintance with the "routine" of the United States Life Saving Service. His condemnation of the neglect suffered by the "surfman" upon his retirement is now, of course, academic; but it will remain a rather dark page in the maritime history of the United States. The letter follows; "In rescuing the crew of the schooner 'Garland,' wrecked on the inside of Great Point, Nantucket, the Coskata Life-Saving Crew has again shown of what material the Life-Saving Service is composed.

"There are some of us who know that long stretch of wind-swept sand where the unfortunate vessel met her fate. It is a bleak, almost barren reach of many miles, with little of interest to look upon save the lighthouse tower at the end of Great Point and the everlasting sea that comes tumbling in lazily but unceasingly over the shoals — rips, the Nantucket people call them — on both sides of the Point. Some of us, too, have braved the perils of those shoals in summer storms, and they are no mean perils even then.

We like to recall these adventures for so we have come pleasantly to re­ member them in after security, and to talk over the "close calls" we have had, sometimes with something of a thrill, but seldom with any real concern over what might have been the result of any one of them.

"The writer recalls one case where a pleasure party, caught in a hard blow on the outer side of the Point, were unable to make any headway with their small boat and were obliged to come to anchor close on to a lee shore. They fortunately had two anchors; but with the wind steadily increas­ ing until it reached the proportions of a gale, it was a question whether their ground tackle would hold. Had it failed, they would have been driven ashore with little chance of getting through the surf alive. But during the long night of doubt and anxiety they were cheered and comforted by the glimmer of a life-saver's lantern on the beach. Their peril had been seen

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

from the station and the patrol had been sent out to keep watch over them.

As it turned out, the anchors held securely and the next morning, with wind and sea gone down, the weary pleasure-seekers reached port in safety.

"But what must it have been like on the night of Dec. 15, 1910, the wind blowing a gale, the air filled with snow, and the icy breakers beating fiercely on that strip of sand where the 'Garland' struck? The life-saver patrolling the beach not with head down and eyes covered in an effort to find shelter from the wintry blast, but with head erect and with sight and hearing alert for danger discovered the dim outline of the distressed vessel a scant one hundred yards from the shore. What a trifling distance it seems! A good runner could cover it in less than ten seconds; an average swimmer would do it in a summer sea for a morning's pastime. But for the half-frozen and exhausted crew of the 'Garland' it might as well have been a mile. The patrolman on the beach was quick to realize the gravity of the situation. His flaring torch flashed the signal to the station, and the life-saving crew were promptly on the scene with their boat. As soon as daylight made it possible to estimate the height of the breakers, the boat was thrust through the surf and, after an hour's hard struggle, the crew were taken off and brought safely ashore, the mate badly injured.

"It was only a few years ago that this same Coskata Life-Saving Crew rescued the crew of the ship 'Markham' from a plight worse than that of the 'Garland.' The 'Markham' went aground on the outer side of Great Point a long way off shore, and the rescue of the crew was achieved only through hardships and difficulties which it seems hard to believe human effort could have overcome. Through a raging winter storm the Life-Saving Crew hauled their boat two miles over clogging sand and launched her through the surf after many failures, only to find that it was impossible to get near enough to the wrecked vessel to be of any service for several hours.

They finally succeeded in getting under her lee and taking off the crew.

Then came their severest trial. Unable to make a landing through the raging surf, they lay to for something like twenty hours, keeping the boat's head up to the sea with their oars, and beating each other to keep from falling asleep and so freezing to death. The next day they landed safely; but one of the 'Markham's' sailors had perished during the night, and one of the life-savers, a young man, died shortly afterwards from the effects of the exposure, leaving a widowed mother whose only support he was.

Our Life-Saving Crews everywhere perform these deeds without blare of trumpets, unseen, frequently unheard of and when brought to public notice given but a passing thought. A short newspaper paragraph, possibly a Gov­ ernment or Humane Society medal, is too often the only recognition of their heroism. But the men don't care. They do their duty for as many years as their strength lasts, with little popular acclamation and an equally small amount of material reward. Then what? It would be pleasant to answer by saying that they retire to a comfortable old age supported by a pension from a grateful Government. But, to our shame be it said, no such reply is possible. There is no pension for retired Life-Savers. Their only consola­ tion lies in the remembrance of gallant deeds nobly done, of duty performed as long as their strength held out. Theirs is the glory; what is there for the Government that neglects them in their time of need?

M. Lewis Crosby, December 19, 1910"

25

Recent Events THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION tried an experiment last autumn, opening the Hadwen House — Satler Memorial to the public for the Veterans Day holiday and for the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving. It was felt that many people had not been able for one reason or another to see our latest exhibit and, inasmuch as the building is well heated (the only one that is), it could easily be reactivated. Moreover, the staff had volunteered to serve in their regular capacity, having actually been the prime mover in the project. The innovation proved to be a great success, some two hundred visitors enjoying the opportunity to see the interior of the "house with the big white columns." Furthering plans for the Memorial, it has been decided to keep enough heat in the building during the winter months to safeguard it and its contents from the deteriora­ tion that results in a totally unheated house. *

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Having regard to the increasing value of the Association's properties, the Council has inaugurated a custodian-caretaker service to provide an inspection of its exhibits once a week and after every storm, when they are without regular attendance. The custodian-caretaker will be expected to make minor on-the-spot repairs and report major repairs as needed. In line with this protective policy, the Whaling Museum has been equipped with a complete A.D.T. burglar-alarm system connected with the Police Station, and modern locks have replaced the old easy access latches on all the Association's buildings. *

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The Sanford and Hosier Houses are down and the work of building the new Town and County building goes forward. *

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The total eclipse of the moon December 18th was a spectacular success. The night was clear and cold, with a light carpet of fresh snow intensifying the high drama, and the Christmas lights of the Town — the illuminated steeples of the South and North Churches and the colored lamps sparkling in windows and on the trees in Main Street — furnishing a sort of muted accompaniment. As the earth's shadow crept over the lunar plains, myriads of stars came out in crystal points of silver until the whole vault of the heavens flashed and danced to their rhythm; and then, as the moon once more took her rightful place in the firmament, quietly withdrew like electric lights in the ceiling of a great theater, extinguished one by one by a Master Electrician. Truly, that night did the heavens once more declare the glory of the Lord to doubting and strife-torn men. *

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Last winter Nantucket received a lot of publicity and good-natured spoofing because of the two big storms that uniquely picked out this island to drop fourteen and nineteen inches of snow respectively. Last month the shoe (should we say snow-shoe?) was on the other foot, when, in the first week of December, all of New England except Nantucket and Cape Cod was bedeviled with gales, fog, snow, and freezing rain that tied

26

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

up traffic, caused a chain reaction of smashups on Route 128, which must have made Boston's famous circumferential highway resemble New Jersey's lethal Pike, and brought down power lines in numerous communities, leaving them without heat and light for hours. Nantucket had none of this. To be sure, we had some rain and a bit of a "blow," but the temperature was very decent, and the only discomfort was occasioned the scallopers whose fishing was a bit inconvenienced. As a matter of fact, up to the time of this magazine's going to press (mid-December) Nantucket saw only two tiny snow flurries. So, as of that date, HISTORIC NANTUCKET (without trying to usurp any of the authority of the O. F. A.) predicts very little snow on the Island this winter. *

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TRIVIA: In Alaska, for fifty dollars, you may have a one-day whale hunt, complete with all the fixin s, including air transportation and accommodation at Cook Inlet, together with an Eskimo hunter-guide Shade of the immortal Christopher Hussey — what sport! ... A friend of ours who is in love with Nantucket reached a peak in his enthusiasm when, on a recent visit, he found at one of the local hardware stores a cast iron popover pan, a type of kitchen utensil he had long and vainly sought on the mainland. Since he is a solid booster for Nantucket, we wonder if we may not see a rush of mainlanders to the Island for the sole purpose of buying popover pans a sort of variation of the better mousetrap theme We quote from the New England Telephone Company's recent leaflet: "A tail of a whale — The Telephone Company takes pains to tailor its buildings to community tastes, but thirty-six years ago, we 'goofed' on a weather vane in Nantucket. The infamous vane represents a mild-mannered mammal with vertical tail, rather than the swaggering whale with tip-tilted afterpiece, so dear to the hearts of the Islanders. Recently, Telephone People, planning building renovations, consulted the Nantucket Historical Com­ mission (sic). A one-story red-brick veneer building with white shutters and blue stone steps emerged from the session. And — the offending whale underwent a 'tail-lifting' operation and will henceforth indicate wind shifts in true swashbuckling Nantucket fashion.' .... A small but active flounder idly flopping about wandered into a bed of oysters, who resented his intrusion, and one big burly oyster started pushing him about, and the little flounder said, "Aw, c'mon — don't be so shellfish"! .... Now, please, to the Folger Diary.

27

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

Continued from the October 1964 Issue of "Historic Nantucket" 1840 May 8—Was at a meeting of a committee at the house of Isaac Coffin, Esq. this evening.

May 9—I paid C. Barnard, Jr., for his bill being for repairing coat, Surtout & velvet collar, last February, in all $3.75.

Saw my cousins Mary & Eliza and Eliza's husband at Uncle Gideon's this evening. I paid into the treasury of B C the sum of 22c.

May 11—Oliver C. Gardner paid for his son's tuition in evening school last winter $4. Gave a boy 6c for collecting it. I paid Lydia Paddock five dollars toward rent of school room.

May 12—Meeting of the Baptist Society, a Constitution was read by one of the Committee appointed to frame one. Accepted and signed and a list of officers chosen. I was appointed Secretary — I signed the Constitution.

May 13—I borrowed Wm. Mitchell's Surveying compass and went down and surveyed the homestead & land of H. Clapp, Esq. Went to singing school this evening. I gave 25c and lent 40c more — voted to do without a teacher.

May 14—I walked to Siasconset, visited Franklin & dined there and got a great deal of information of him with regard to some of the early settlers of Nantucket. I left Sconset after three p.m. and walked to Barna Coffin's in Polpis, took tea with them and visited Capt. Macy & family and got to town about 8 p.m. Attended a meeting of the Executive of the Baptist Society, at the house of the President. I agreed to take $50 worth of stock in a Church, should it be erected.

May 16—Asa G. Bunker paid me the other day $2 for surveying and plotting the James Brown settlement. I paid Francis G. Bunker for assisting me. I went to the Atheneum with Rev. Daniel Round, Jr., and his wife to show them the curiosities, Library etc.

May 18—Meeting of the Baptist Society, the Exec, made a report respect­ ing the building of a meeting house which was accepted. A form of a sub­ scription paper was read and accepted and a Committee of seven appointed to collect subscriptions of names of persons for stock for the amount of 84 shares @ $50 each.

May 23—Francis Colburn paid me 6 dollars towards meat he had sold for me. Went to singing school.

May 24—I went out to Polpis in the afternoon and attended the meeting.

Paid Capt. Barna Coffin $6.50 being for my two pigs bought of him last October. Came down in the evening.

May 25—I gave the scholars this day as a holiday and am to deduct it in the bills. I have been getting subscriptions to the stock of the contemplated Church. I have also attended the examinations of the North Primary & North Grammar schools. At a meeting of the Bap. Society I was made a

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

comm. to call upon Thomas Macy, Esq. and close the purchase of the Joseph Chase house as far as can be closed till Thomas Potter returns from Baltimore. I put a letter in the office to father informing him I expected to visit him next week. I went down and surveyed a piece of land Joseph Fisher has given or sold his son William.

May 29—I gave the scholars this afternoon as it was examination at the High School. Bought a pamphlet entitled a Summary View of all religions

by Daniel Wise & James Porter for HV2C. June 1 Meeting of the Baptist Society this evening. James Sandsbury paid me three dollars being for his son's schooling last winter in evening school.

June 2—I went on board of Capt. Matthews vessel and took passage for Yarmouth. Left about 10 a.m. and arrived there about 2 p.m. I paid him 75cts. for my passage. Walked up to Hyannis in IV2 hrs. and went to my fathers.

June 3—I went over to Barnstable with the horse and wagon, settled for the Barnstable paper for father. I paid 50cts more than he furnished me with. I also bought a bottle of Jayne's Indian Expectorate for him for one dollar. 1 bought for myself at Eben Bacon's store a pamphlet containing J. G. Palfrey's Oration at the Barnstable Centennial Celebration for 25cts.

June 4—1 called on Capt. Warren Hallett with the subscription paper for stock in the contemplated Baptist Meeting house, the object of my visit to barnstable County at this time being to solicit subscriptions toward the erec­ tion of said building agreeably to a vote of the Nantucket Baptist Society.

June 5—I went down to Harwich with father's horse and wagon to-day on my mission, dined at Barnaby's and took tea at Obed Smiths. I called on Elijah Chase and on Richard Baker & at the house of Job Chase, he was absent as was Mr. Barnaby. I did not get any subscriptions at present, returned in evening to Hyannis June 6—1 was unwell to-day but in the evening I called on Capt. Zenas D. Bassett who gave encouragement.

June 7—I attended the meetings in the Baptist Meeting house to-Day. June 8—I called again on Capt. Hallett at his house and left a subscription paper with him.

June 9—1 went with father to Osterville, measured the Meeting house and called on Capt. George Lovell who agreed to take a share. Went to the house of James N. Lovell and from there to Cotuit Port and found no vessells there bound for Nantucket so I returned to Hyannis.

June 10—I drove the horses for Timothy Bearse to plough a piece of 126 rods for my father, near the house. After finishing I went down to Hyannis Port and bought Wi bushel of oats at 75cts. & a peck of Herds Grass at 75cts. and six pounds of Clover. In all paid $2.50.

June 11—I arose very early this morning and after breakfast father and I went to Cotuit Port & found The Railroad had not got off, but there being 3 young men who wanted to go to Nantucket we agreed to give Capt.

Fish, one dollar each and help unload his vessel if he would take us to-day.

I bought father two rakes and he returned to Hyannis. We stuck on the bar

THE DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

29

at Cotuit and did not get away till evening. I took a walk up into Mashpee and bought 2 cts. worth of milk in Cotuit.

June 12—I arrived at Nantucket this morning. I took tea at Capt. John H. Pease's this afternoon and then met with the Baptist Society and the Singing School this evening.

June 13—I went to the Atheneum with Mr. Round and Mr. Train, the Sec. of the Mass. Baptist Convention. Took tea at Arnold Morse's.

June 15—In forenoon I took a walk to the washing pen to try to see some­ body with whom I had business.

June 16—In evening I met with Grammar class of teachers who are ex­ amining Pierce's Grammer. I bought 2 pair of cotton stockings. june 17—i called on several of my employers in last winter evening school but only collected one bill, namely, at Jared Fuller's. I got Wm. C. Fuller's school bill of 1.33, he came to day school. I paid the mason 1.75 being for the out building bot of him some time ago for use of the school. B. B. Thayer brought me yesterday from Boston one of Spencer, Browning & Rust's Ivory Scales @ 3.50 and a measuring tape of 50 feet at 2.25 got at the store of E. G. King near India Wharf. Worked some this afternoon in plotting the survey of H. Clapp's house lot. I went in the evening to get assistance in singing from Allen Ames, he having offered to assist me in the Rudiments.

June 18—I paid David Joy 6.03 for 151/2 gals of summer strained whitened whale oil — it amounted to 6.51 but I found the half bbl. so he deducted 48c. I put the oil on board of the Philosopher, Capt. Daniel Hallett, also 2 blankets and to-day I wrote a letter to father and put up a bundle of the Nantucket Islander and gave them to Capt. Hallett to send to father. The blankets were sent to be washed. I have paid Mary R. Bunker for washing done for me twice since I returned from Hyannis. june 19—! went to the school house to-day but only two scholars come so I dismissed them. I took down the stove & pipe and took my long form and got the carman to carry that and another form to uncle Aaron's shop. Paid 12»/2C. for carting. I bot 21 lbs of iron hoops of J. N. Basset for father @ 2Vic. a lb. and put them on board the Philosopher for Hyannis. Frederick C. Swain made a gate & put it on hinges at School house. This evening I went to Allen Ames to learn singing.

June 20—I went out to Sesaccacha with Charles Coffin to survey his lot.

Visited Capt. B. Coffin and dined there. I got down in season to attend the Baptist Society held at the house of Isaac Coffin, Esq. for the purpose of being incorporated. Uncle Walter was present and appointed the first meet­ ing to be held on the 29th Inst, at that place at 7 p.m. for choosing officers and for other purposes.

June 21—Rev. James Barnaby of Harwich preached at Franklin Hall to-day.

I was introduced to him by J. Paddock.

June 22—I gave J. P. Hussey a notice to call on all the members at the Baptist Society and warn them of the first meeting of the Corporation. Com­ menced my school this forenoon and had eight scholars. Went to Allen Ames in the evening.

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

June 24—I protracted or drawed out the survey I made the other day of Charles Coffin's lot and gave him a copy of the plot. I wrote out a Phreno­ logical Character for Charlotte Green of Providence this evening. Frederick C. Swain paid me 25c. for a writing book & a spelling book he had had of me. I got at Pollards a bottle of Brown's Sarsparilla Mead & a box of soda 50c.

June 27 I worked most of this afternoon re-surveying Clapp's land as ow­ ing to some mistake & the great number of sides of the piece I could not make it meet. Joseph James paid me 2 dollars towards his son's schooling which amounted to $3.67.

June 29—Capt. Nathaniel Fitzgerald paid me $3.12 of which 2.67 was for his son's schooling. I had let his son have from E. Mitchells 1.20c. worth of books I had had from Capt. Gerrald Pierce's Grammar @ 75c. so he paid me the balance of $.12 and I gave him a receipt. Met this evening at Isaac Coffin's for first meeting of the Corporate Society. Uncle Walter pre­ sided. I was elected Clerk. Hon. Isaac Coffin, Chairman, Capt. Potter, Treas­ urer besides which the other officers were chosen & duly qualified according to law. After the adjournment of this meeting we had a second meeting to choose a building committee of five, viz: J. G. Thurber, T. Potter, Easton Long and W. C. Folger.

June 30—Met this evening with the building committee at the house of Capt.

Porter.

July 1 I paid B. B. Thayer 3.00 towards what I owed him for surveying tools. I worked this afternoon trying to plot my survey of H. Clapp's land.

Met with building comm. in the evening.

July 3—I went to Quarterly Meeting and heard Richard Mott. I met again with the building comm. and we engaged Brown Coleman to build a meeting house for the Baptist Society.

July 4—I have lately measured both the African and the Bear street school houses & taken minutes of them in order to draw a plan for a school house at Poipis which I was requested to do by Barna Coffin. This day I engaged Frederick Brown Coleman to make a ground plat and elevation of said school house for me from minutes and data I would furnish him with.

July 5—I handed the plat for a school house to F— S— to be forwarded to Poipis.

July 8—I made this afternoon a survey of a piece of land near Prince Gard­ ner s house for Benjamin Gardner & David Head. Finished same the next day.

July 9—I paid the Town Clerk 50c. for recording the transactions of the Act of Incorporation of the Nantucket Baptist Society. I had handed him the paper on the 5th inst.

July 11—I bot of B. B. Thayer a desk for 3.00 to be paid for later.

July 12—I went out this afternoon to Poipis & attended the meeting, took tea with & lodged at Capt. Coffin's.

July 13—Visited Capt. Macy this morning & walked back to town. I visited last week Edward M. Gardner's 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 heritatge 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.

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Winter settles down on Academy Hill