Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association: Twenty-third Annual Meeting

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TASHMA'S DOOR-STONE. An interesting memento of Benjamin Tashma, the Nantucket Tndian, whose home was in the vicinity of Gibbs pond. This stone, which weighs 1800 pounds, was carried to the Edward Joy farm a number of years ago, and was later presented to the Historical Association. It has been kept in the basement a number of years and on Tuesday, July 24, 1917, it was placed in front of the steps to the fire-proof building. Benjamin Tashma died in 1770.

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OFFICERS.

President, ALEXANDER STARBUCK. Vice-Presidents, HENRY B. WORTH, MOSES JOY, MILLARD F. FREEBORN, MRS. SARAH C. RAYMOND, MRS. ELEANOR W. MORGAN, ARTHUR H. GARDNER. Secretary, MISS ANNIE W. BODFISH. Treasurer, MISS HANNAH G. HATCH. Curator and Librarian, MISS SUSAN E. BROCK. Auditors, EDWARD A. FAY, MISS HARRIETTE A. ELKINS, MISS CARRIE J. LONG.

Councillors.

MRS. HELEN R. MILNE __ HENRY S. WYER MRS. SIDNEY MITCHELL REUBEN C. SMALL MISS ELIZA M. HUSSEY_ WILLIAM F. CODD MISS MAY H. CONGDON. MAURICE W. BOYER

Term Expires.

1918 1918 1919 1919 1920 1920 1921 1921

Standing Committees.

Finance—William F. Codd, Millard F. Freeborn, Miss Susan E. Brock. Publication—Miss Susan E. Brock, Mrs. Sidney Mitchell, Arthur H. Gardner.

Building—Henry S. Wyer, William F. Codd, Miss Susan E. Brock.

Annual Meeting—Mrs. Helen R. Milne, Henry B. Worth, Miss Eliza M. Hussey, Miss Annie W. Bodfish, Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond.

New Work—Mrs. Helen R. Milne, Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond, Miss May H. Congdon, Arthur H. Gardner, Mrs. Eleanor W. Morgan.

'Sconset House—Millard F. Freeborn, Miss Annie B. Folger, Reuben C. Small.

Purchasing Committee—Miss Susan E. Brock, Millard F. Freeborn, William F. Codd.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association was held Wednesday morning, July 25, in the old Friends' School building and Meeting-house on Fair street, and was largely attended. The meeting was called to order shortly after 10 o'clock by President Starbuck. The annual reports of the Treasurer, Secre­ tary and Curator were read and approved and ordered incorporated in the "Proceedings" of the Society.

The Treasurer's report showed a total membership of 321, divided as follows: Life councillors 3; life members 58; annual members 260. This is a slight in­ crease in membership over that of a year ago.

The Curator's report was, as usual, replete with interesting information, and covered the work of the Society for the past twelve months, mention being made of several interesting additions to the collection.

The annual address of the President reported the proceedings at the meetings of the Bay State Historical League and expressed great regret at the lack of re­ sponsiveness of the school authorities to the modern thought of putting the schools more closely in touch with the history of the localities in which they are situ­ ated.

6

MINUTES OF MEETING

The Committee on Nominations reported the fol­ lowing list of officers for the ensuing year: President—Alexander Starbuck.

Vice-Presidents—Henry B. Worth, Moses Joy, Millard F. Freeborn, Mrs. Sarah C. Raymond, Mrs. Eleanor W. Morgan, Arthur H. Gardner.

Secretary—Miss Annie W. Bodfish.

Treasurer—Miss Hannah G. Hatch.

Curator and Librarian—Miss Susan E. Brock.

Auditors—Edward A. Fay, Miss Harriette A. Elkins, Miss Carrie J. Long.

Councillors for four years—Maurice W. Boyer, Miss May H. Congdon.

It was voted to proceed to ballot and the Presi­ dent appointed Messrs. John B. Folger and Hollis Ben­ nett to act as tellers. While the tellers were pre­ paring their report, Henry S. Wyer made an interest­ ing statement concerning the use of a portion of the rooms for the work of the local Red Cross Auxiliary.

The tellers reported the names as nominated by the committee as elected with practical unanimity.

The meeting then chose as a Committee on Nomina­ tions for the coming year John B. Folger, Mrs. Virginia Sharp, Mrs. W. J. Benton, Miss Anne Ring and Harry B. Turner.

Following the election of officers, Henry B. Worth gave an interesting statement regarding two very val­ uable manuscript volumes which had been beautifully and durably treated and bound in the most approved modern method of preserving old and valuable docu­ ments. Mr. Worth recited points of particular interest in relation to four or five of the papers contained in the volume, which was enough to excite interest among his audience and a desire for a personal examination of such an interesting book. The manuscripts, Mr.

MINUTES OF MEETING

7

Worth said, are the oldest known in connection with the island and are of great historic value.

Moses Joy supplemented Mr. Worth's remarks with a description of the manner in which the books were bound, each piece of paper having been placed be­ tween specially prepared layers of silk, which not only preserved the manuscript from wear and defacement, but made the writing more legible. It was a wonderful process, said Mr. Joy, and was the best known method of preserving valuable documents of this sort. The binding was of exceptional quality, and the result was something of which every member of the Association could justly feel proud.

In closing his remarks, Mr. Joy alluded to the Benjamin Tashma doorstone, which, the day previous, had been placed in front of the entrance to the Fire­ proof building, and told of the rather strenuous efforts which were necessary in order to get the 1800-pound rock into what he hoped would be its final resting-place.

Miss Florence Bennett read an admirable and en­ thusiastically received poem, applicable to the present troublous times, which appears below: THE NEW ENGLANDER SPEAKS—1917.

My father's fathers, and my mother's fathers, too, Were Englishmen!

They hewed the timber and they delved in earth and wrought In devious ways, as toilers do, a labour fraught With wealth for England:—dammed the streams, and set the mills.

The turning mills of thrifty commerce 'thwart the hills; They drained the marshes, dug the mines; they carved the scrolls, Elaborating beauty from harsh stones and boles Of oak, for minster spire and chancel, college tower, And parish church. Homely their days! But in the hour Of combat none was stouter! None of blow more true!

My father's fathers, and my mother's fathers, too, Were Englishmen!

8

MINUTES OF MEETING

They were crusaders for the cause of Christ, knights A few, and yeomen more. And always for the rights Of individual man they struck. They lit the lights Of conscience blazing crimson through the long black nights Of Middle Age oppression. Truly these were wights Who feared, not man, but God. They sailed adventure's seas With Cabot and Magellan—aye! and met the breeze That warped the ocean-coursing of the Flower of May Through weeks of rugged voyaging, till the late-won day That set the laws and speech and mien of England here, The brawn, the duty-worship, and the hearth of cheer, The freeman's franchise and the patience meet to rear A nation in the wild. Although they fought 'gainst you, My father's fathers, and my mother's fathers, too, Were Englishmen, Dear brethren of the Isles! Their battle was a war For English right, and now ye consecrate the scar.

Some lie in English earth, and some in brambled grounds On stony uplands, where the Redskin once made rounds Of hunting. Lo! A voice from all those dusty mounds Sends throughout England, Old and New, the sounds Of warriors' exhortation. England will not fail, The New or Old! The burden falls on shoulders hale, For English fibre tight is knit to bear and do!

My father's fathers, and my mother's fathers, too, Were Englishmen!

Florence Mary Bennett.

Written to commemorate the Anglo-American Alliance of 1917.

Miss Bodfish, the Secretary, spoke ail too briefly about the old-time Main street, having a picture of the thoroughfare in the early days to illustrate her story.

It was a very interesting paper and Miss Bodfish prom­ ised to continue her ramble down this familiar thor­ oughfare at the meeting next year.

It was getting close on to the noon hour and it required a great deal of urging to induce Mr. Turner to

MINUTES OF MEETING

9

read his paper on the development of the telegraph and telephone service to and from Nantucket, but he finally yielded to the unanimous demand and for fifteen min­ utes read a most interesting story, first giving briefly, in response to an inquiry, a few facts regarding Benja­ min Tashma and his door-stone.

The meeting was adjourned soon after 12 o'clock, the President first calling attention to the reception to be held in the afternoon.

There was a sort of vague feeling that the usual afternoon reception would lose something of its cus­ tomary vigor and interest, especially as the hour drew nigh and participants seemed to gather slowly, but the feeling was speedily dissipated as the friends began to arrive, and before long Oregon was greeting Nantucket and Boston was hobnobbing with Washington. It was, as usual, a typical Nantucket gathering and thoroughly enjoyed. Many availed themselves of the opportunity to look over the most interesting and valuable manu­ script volumes which Mr. Worth described at the morn­ ing session. Four charming young misses—Beulah Smith, Florence Worth, Marie Bartlett and Louise Mack—were delightfully attentive in serving ice cream and cake, and the attendance and interest were fully maintained until the limiting hour was nearly reached.

10

SECRETARY'S REPORT. Mr. President, Members of the Nantucket Historical Association and Friends: Since our last greeting to you, though it is many months, still our report will not be long. One of the most gratifying things we have to tell is that Sir Gil­ bert Parker has continued to send to the Association, books, pamphlets, and leaflets concerning the great war. Not only has he remembered us himself, but has interested others to send us the same kind of litera­ ture—notably: Prof. W. Macneile Dixon, of Glasgow University; William Archer; the publishers, Hough­ ton, Mifflin & Co., of Boston; and G. H. Doran, of New York.

These are all catalogued and are placed in the His­ torical room, where all visitors may have an oppor­ tunity of reading them. This library is a link which connects the historical past with the wonderful and interesting, if distressing, present.

Although the Friends who met and worshipped in this Meeting-House were conscientious objectors to armed resistance, yet their ears were always open to the cry of distress and their response in money and effort was prompt and efficient. Their spirit still lives in this place and every week an increasing number of workers meet here to work for the Red Cross.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

11

The Council feels sure that the whole Association agrees with it that the use of the Meeting-House fulfills the Quaker rule: "Not he that repeateth the name, but he that doeth the will."

Today our membership is : Life Councillors, 3.

Life Members, 58.

Annual Members, 260.

New Life Members, 1.

New Annual Members, 17.

The Association has lost, by death, ten members, namely: Rachel Austin, Mrs. Caroline Earle White, George W. Dibble, Charles Noel Flagg, Lydia Bunker Gardner, Mrs. Ella B. Hayt, Benjamin F. Janes, Mrs. Mary Pollard Smith, James Chase Wallace, Robert Bowne King.

Respectfully submitted, ANNIE W. BODFISH, Secretary.

12

TREASURER'S REPORT. CREDITS. Balance on hand June 15, 1916 $ Membership dues for 1917 Membership dues for 1918 Membership dues previous to 1917 Membership dues in advance of 1918 Life Membership dues Admission fees Historical Rooms Rent of room Siasconset House to Nantucket Atheneum Library Sales of Bulletins, etc Cash, Coffin School Association, one-half ex­ pense of Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket Cash, Siasconset House Repairs Fund Cash withdrawn from Springfield Institution for Savings Cash withdrawn from People's Savings Bank, Worcester, Mass Cash withdrawn from Charlestown Five Cents Saving Bank

76.24 124.00 126.00 7.00 1.00 30.00 342.15 80.00 11.75 59.96 5.02 40.40 325.00 42.94

$1,271.46

TREASURER'S REPORT

13

DEBITS. Cook & Turner, Annual Report and Envelopes.? 123.53 Cook & Turner, Printing and Advertising 11.75 Cook & Turner, Subscription to Inquirer and Mirror 2.00 Emery Record Preserving Co., Restoring Old Records 135.00 A. G. Brock, Insurance 3.00 A. G. Brock, Insuranec 4.71 Stamps 8.00 H. S. Wyer, Photograph and Frame 3.50 H. S. Wyer, Birdseye View of Nantucket and Frame 3.00 Emma Cook, Typewriting Treasurer's Report .75 Secretary, Postage 8.00 Secretary, Postage 11.00 T. H. Giffin, Carpenter's Repairs, Old Mill 5.35 Mowing Lawn 3.00 Express bill -28 Curator, Stamps 1-00 Books for Collection 1-50 Willard B. Marden, Plumber's bill 41.89 Willard B. Marden, Plumber's bill 10.28 Sundries -95 T. C. Pitman, Carpenter's bill 2.10 T. C. Pitman, Carpenter's bill 2.28 Frederick Eels & Co., 5 vols. Nantucket papers 15.00 J. Killen & Co., Coal bill 2.25 Cutting Grass, Siasconset House 1-20 Carting Old Truck, Siasconset House 3.25 M. E. Gouin, Carpenter's bill, Siasconset House 13.25 Oscar Folger, Carting Lumber, Siasconset House 2.00

14

TREASURER'S REPORT

W. T. Swain & Co., Lumber, Siasconset House J. Killen & Co., Shingles, Siasconset House__ J. Dean, Mason Work, Siasconset House W. F. Worth, Ice Cream for Annual Reception M. E. Crowell, Cake for Annual Reception M. H. Smith, Cake for Annual Reception Elmer Wilson, Orchestra for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket W. F. Worth, Ice Cream for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket Nantucket Athletic Club, Hall for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket M. H. Smith, Cake for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket Nantucket Union Store, Sundries for Re­ ception to Sons and Daughters of Nan­ tucket M. E. Crowell," Cake for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket Sundries for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket Cook & Turner, Printing for Reception to Sons and Daughters of Nantucket F. E. Carle, Caretaker of Mill Hill Property— Brown & Co., Lock, Old Mill Bay State League Dues Perry W. Bates, Carpenter's bill Wannacomet Water Co., Water Tax Citizens' Gas, Electric and Power Co., Gas bills Vartan Dedian, Old Bedstead Water Tax, Siasconset House Barrel Cartage

10.69 16.63 5.50 9.80 4.80 4.00 51.00 22.00 21.50 2.50 3.42 10.00 6.50 3.00 5.00 .50 2.00 -75 8.00 6.00 35.00 10.00 .25 .25

15

TREASURER'S REPORT

Mary J. Grant, Attendant, Siasconset House, 16 weeks, at $4.00 Sarah C. Raymond, Attendant, Historical Rooms, 13 Y2 weeks, at $6.00 Emma Coleman, Attendant, Historical Rooms, 131/2 weeks, $6.00 Salary of Curator Salary of Treasurer Salary of Secretary Salary of Janitor Balance to new account

64.00 81.00 81.00 100.00 75.00 50.00 60.00 101.55

$1,271.46

SUMMARY. ASSETS. Fireproof Building $8,500.00 Meeting House 1,500.00 Old Mill 1,000.00 Collection (Insurance) 1,000.00 Siasconset House 1,500.00 Siasconset House Collection (In­ surance) 300.00 Springfield Institution for Savings 1,000.00 Charlestown Five Cents Savings Bank 1,000.00 $15,800.00 Susan W. Folger Fund: Nantucket Institution for Sav­ ings 1,361.90

16

TREASURER'S REPORT

People's Savings Bank (Worces­ ter, Mass.)

Bristol County Savings Bank, Taunton, Mass

497.32 26.22 1,885.44

Liabilities—None.

$17,685.44

Hannah G. Hatch, Treasurer.

Approved July 14, 1917, the above report of the Treasurer of the Nantucket Historical Association for the year ending June 15, 1917.

Edward A. Fay, Harriette A. Elkins, Carrie J. Long, Auditing Committee.

Membership July 21, 1917.

Life Councillors Life Members Annual Members New Life Members , New Annual Members Lost by death, Life Members Lost by death, Annual Members Dropped for non-payment of dues (3 years) Withdrawn

3

58 260 1 17

2 8 6 q

17

CURATOR'S REPORT. Mr. President and Members of the Historical Associa­ tion: Through this year of storm and stress in the world's history, the little current of our Association has run smoothly and quietly, the only ripple reaching its shores being that which called us to give up our beloved Meeting-House to the Red Cross Society, that its important work might be carried on to the best ad­ vantage in our town. We are glad to feel that, in this opportunity, we are doing our bit for the present, as well as working for the past.

The additions to our collections have been numer­ ous, as usual. In the library accessions, we have received several family bibles, all with more or less genealogical data. Two copies of "A Memorandum Written by William Rotch, in the Eightieth Year of His Age". A book of sailors' stories by Capt. Roland Folger Coffin. A volume of "Sundial Verses" by Mr. Will H. M. Austin. Several ancient books and pamph­ lets and one book which is of historical interest in so many ways that it deserves a special description. It is entitled "Natalie, or A Gem Among the Seaweeds", and contains a story located in Nantucket, written by Emma V. Hallett. It is dedicated to Harriet R. Easton, and was bound by James Gwinn Gardner, son of George

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CURATOR'S REPORT

M. and Mary Gwinn Gardner, all of Nantucket. The binder gave it to his cousin, Lilla Barnard Starbuck, who presented it to us, thus completing a chain of un­ usual local interest.

We have two more logbooks, of Ship Emerald and Ship Levi Starbuck.

The collection commenced last summer by Sir Gil­ bert Parker, has been continued during the year and now amounts to more than one hundred and thirty books and pamphlets. One shelf in our reading-room has been devoted to this collection, making it easy of access. We wish our members would avail themselves of the privilege of reading, or at least looking over these books, as they are most enlightening, and give an interesting and reliable record of England's marvellous effort and accomplishment during the pres­ ent war.

To our picture gallery have been added five oil portraits, of Capt. Thomas Brock, Capt. Henry B. Folger, Mrs. Elizabeth Coffin Russell, and two of children.

The last three are most interesting as presenting faith­ fully the quaint costumes of nearly a hundred years ago. Also an oil painting of Frederick C. Gardner in his blacksmith shop, which recalls early memories to many of us.

We have received a fine photograph of Mrs. Maria L. Owen, and a photograph of the Senate of Massa­ chusetts in 1866, which includes Hon. James Easton of Nantucket. We have many portraits of Lucretia Mott, but perhaps the best representation of her wonderful personality is shown by our latest donation, a large bas-relief made by Frances Grimes,a pupil and assistant o Augustus Saint-Gaudens. This is a work of much artistic merit, and while it does not seem to reflect the

CURATOR'S REPORT

19

sweetness and geniality of expression which many of us recall in her features, it is doubtless a true repre­ sentation of the stern and strong side of her character, which enabled her to become the most noted woman of her time.

The small articles which have been donated during the year are too numerous to mention, but a careful in­ spection of our cases will show something added to every department of the exhibition.

To commemorate the important event of the com­ pletion of Nantucket's Telephone Cable, the New Eng­ land Telephone and Telegraph Company donated to us the instrument used by President Joseph C. Brock, of the Pacific Club, in transmitting the first long distance message. This is handsomely mounted under glass, on a mahogany standard, marked with a silver plate, suitably inscribed, and will be an object of increasing interest as time goes on. Another donation from the same source, is a large photograph of Atheneum Hall and the audience on the same occasion.

In our vestibule you will see an old, much worn flag; this is the last one that floated over Nantucket's Custom House, which was discontinued four years ago, after a long period of useful and important service.

A donation just received is our first relic of the great war of our time. It consists of two Dutch biscuits, found in an air-tight compartment beneath the seat of a life-boat belonging to the steamer Bloomersdijk, which was torpedoed and sunk off Nantucket by the German submarine U-53, last October.

The active work accomplished this year is com­ prised in the binding of ten years' issue of the local newspaper, bringing our bound files up to date, and the mounting and binding of a large quantity of old

20

CURATOR'S REPORT

manuscripts, deeds, and other documents, which have been accumulating in our archives. These were slowly but surely fading and disintegrating, and we felt they must be preserved and made available for reference.

It was decided to have the work done by the "Emery silk process", which proved expensive, but we consider the outlay justified by the fine result, which is today to be seen here, and we hope will be examined and ap­ proved by all our members. More detailed informa­ tion about this work will be given later.

For several years, in planning for the future, we have spoken of the urgent needs of enlarging our borders and providing more room for our rapidly accumulating possessions, but now, when affairs of life and death are making the strongest demands upon our thoughts and resources, it seems wise to hold any project of large expenditure in abeyance—not for­ gotten or abandoned, but merely deferred.

As we look forward to the coming year, to plan our active work and study into the needs of our com­ munity, it appears that our best chance of service is on the educational side. The illustrative value of museum collections is now being recognized more and more ail over the United States, and the need of in­ formation which we could supply, is demonstrated by our own experience. I could give you many astonish­ ing examples of this, but will only mention one amusing one that occurred last summer. An apparently welleducated young woman, much interested in our whaling exhibit, inquired of one of our attendants, in all seriousness, "Are whales born or hatched ?"

The American Association of Museums is earnestly recommending co-operation of all Historical Museums with the school committees and teachers of the public

CURATOR'S REPORT

21

schools. At a recent meeting of the Science section of the American Museum of Natural History, a paper was read describing the place of the museum in the educa­ tional system and emphasizing the necessity of supple­ menting the textbook with object teaching. The value of the museum in making children acquainted with the world in which they live, was shown, with the use of illustrative material as a means to this end, and closer co-operation urged between museum and school authorities.

I think we might formulate some plan for such co-operation here, and establish a system of regular visits of classes of the schools, with perhaps instructive talks from teachers or members of the Association.

By taking up this work, we might prove that our ob­ ject is not merely to sit still to collect and preserve records and relics of the past—as has, perhaps justly, been charged against us—but that we are alive and anxious to join in whatever work is most needed, here and now. I submit this idea to you, earnestly entreat­ ing you to consider and act upon the suggestion, for our new work in the coming year.

Respectfully submitted, SUSAN E. BROCK, Curator.

22

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Fellow Members of the Nantucket Historical Associ­ ation : We are meeting today under conditions that four years ago would have been pronounced impossible.

Even a year ago they would have been considered un­ likely. Had any man been so bold as to predict in 1913 that ere four years had passed nearly all Europe would be involved in a merciless war and that within the vortex of strife our own country would become en­ gulfed, that person would have been considered demented. Comparatively few of our people desired war. The majority of thoughtful Americans believed implicitly in the advice of George Washington to be­ ware of entangling alliances, and in the general prin­ ciple of keeping aloof from European politics. As time passed on and there seemed to be a disposition on the part of the Central European Powers to ignore all laws, human and divine, it became clear that only a miracle could prevent a state of war between our country and Germany and her allies. The miracle did not eventuate, and despite every effort to avert it the war has come.

We can now only march "breast forward", having in mind the excellent advice of Polonius to his son Laertes: Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in Bear it that the opposer may beware of thee."

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

23

As an Association the fact of a state of war is brought home to us because our own building, so long used for a Friends' school, and later as the meetingplace for the dwindling congregations of that honored sect, has been devoted in part to the use of the Red Cross Society, the duty of which is to relieve, so far as lies in its power, the inconveniences, sufferings and hor­ rors of war.

Since our last Annual Meeting, the Bay State His­ torical League has held three meetings—the first on October 21,1916, with the Mendon Historical Society in that town; the second February 24, 1917, at Brookline, with the Brookline Society; and the third with the Medway Society, at West Medway, on June 23 last. At the Mendon meeting only was a topic of especial inter­ est to the local associations discussed, the subject then being "How Many Local Historical Associations Co­ operate With the Public Schools", the principal speaker being Mr. Walter S. Young, Assistant Superintendent of Schools of Worcester.

The especial points made by Mr. Young were on the necessity of bringing together the social forces of our communities, the churches, the schools and the homes. There should be a closer co-ordination between them. The time would come within ten years when much that is educational would be taught by moving pictures. Already such aids are used in Springfield to supplement school work.

The cementing force, Mr. Young said, may well be the local Historical Society, which should bring about the needed co-ordination. The value of history in the public schools was emphasized. It is easy to interest a child in patriotic stories, but there is danger of over­ estimating the value of some personal service as related

24

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

in the text-books and to lose sight of those who inspired the act and made the personal service possible. Who made the Revolution possible, he asked, by upholding the hands of the leaders, by making the clothing and by furnishing the food and other supplies? No monu­ ment has been erected to their memory, and yet there could have been no Revolution without their direction and work. Historical societies should show that out of hardships, privations and adversities has come his­ tory. The compilation of a small pamphlet of questions and answers on local history for use in the Public Schools, similar to ones in use in Milton and Medfield was strongly advocated.

At the meeting in Brookline the principal paper read was by Mr. Marshall P. Thompson, and his topic was "The Count de Rochambeau", and at West Medway Judge Louis A. Cook, of Weymouth, read a paper on "The First Settlement in the Massachusetts Bay Colony".

At the meeting at Mendon there were present 94, representing 24 societies; at the meeting in Brookline 90 were present, but there is no record of what associa­ tions were represented; at West Medway 94 were pres­ ent and 24 societies were represented.

The Massachusetts Historical Society joined the League this year, so that the organization now num­ bers 54 societies in good standing. At the Annual Meeting in June, Sherwin L. Cook, of Roxbury, was elected President, the other officers being re-elected, including your President, who was again chosen Sec­ retary.

It is a matter of regret that, despite all our efforts, we are no more successful in securing the co-operation of the school authorities in interesting the pupils in the

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

25

history of the island. Certainly the pupils of the local High School should be able to answer correctly questions about the place of their nativity. The little pamphlet published by The Inquirer and Mirror, entitled "Argu­ ment Settlers," might well be made the basis of such a study in the public schools, as similar books are else­ where. Cordial co-operation by the school authorities, however, is most essential.

It may be recollected that, in 1906, a request was made, by those having in charge the printing and pub­ lishing of the vital statistics of the several municipal­ ities of the Commonwealth, for a transcript of the records of the Town of Nantucket bearing on the sub­ ject. The Association, through its Council, petitioned the Town to make an appropriation for the purpose of having the vital records of the Town copied in the special form prescribed by those in charge of the work, and at the next Town Meeting the appropriation was made. Last fall the Commission, who, through a clerk, had been copying the William C. Folger records, owned by our Association, requested permission to remove them to Boston to facilitate the work.

The Council considered the matter with exceeding care, and, bearing in mind our lack of facilities for winter work in our rooms, finally but reluctantly au­ thorized their removal under certain rigid conditions.

It must be borne in mind that the volumes loaned are not our originals, but copies made under the direction of the Association. As the time drew near for the re­ opening of the rooms this season and the books had not been returned, the Curator, with her accustomed thoughtful care of the property of the Association, sought to know why. At her request the President vis­ ited the rooms of the New England Historical-Genea-

26

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

logical Society, where the editor of the "Vital Records" has his office, and he went quite into the detail of the cause of the detention and showed me the progress already made. Briefly stated, your President learned that the verified copy of the Town Records was re­ ceived in his office May 5,1911. At the time the returns of some 15 or 20 towns were already in the hands of the editor, only eight of which have since been pub­ lished. The statistics are printed in collaboration with the Essex Institute and Mr. Baldwin, each being allowed to publish 1000 pages each year.

The clerks who are working on these records are seated at a large table, on which are carefully arranged the thousands of slips used in the comparison of data.

The Commissioner of Records has ruled that the Folger Records must be used in connection with this work. Mr. Scott states that this portion of the work, when fin­ ished, will make two volumes of 500 pages each, by far the most extensive work of the kind yet accomplished.

There is every indication that the books will be com­ pleted early in 1918, if there is no interruption. Under the circumstances, your President could see no other reasonable ground to take than to leave the books with Mr. Scott, subject, of course, to the approval of the Council and of the Association. Although necessarily a serious inconvenience to many who may seek our rooms in search of genealogical information during the coming four months, it is hoped that the eventual good to the public will sufficiently offset it.

A year ago we had anticipated quite a compaign for an increase in our membership, especially directed to an increase locally, but the rapid march of events concerning the welfare of our country, that finally terminated in a declaration of war, and the equally

The telephone, with piece of cable, in its glass case, which was pre­ sented to the Nantucket Historical Association by the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

27

rapid advance in the cost of living, forced us to aban­ don our plans as inadvisable under the circumstances.

At the annual reunion of the Sons and Daughters of Nantucket at the Hotel Brunswick, in Boston, last November, I was called upon to represent the Historical Association as the recipient of a most interesting and valuable memento of the telephonic union of our island to the mainland. Following the other addresses, Mr. George Knox, District Manager of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, was introduced by President Macy, and on rising addressed himself to your President as follows: "Mr. Starbuck: To you, as President of the Nantucket Historical Association, I present the telephone instrument which was used by President Brock, of the Pacific Club, when he spoke the first message from the island of Nantucket, through the newly-laid submarine telephone cable on August 29. Included in this cabinet is the cable end which was the first to arrive on the island of Nantucket. It was cut from the long length by your worthy member, Harry B. Turner, and we are glad it is now associated with the historic instrument. It is a pleasure for the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company, which I repre­ sent tonight, to place in your custody this historical instru­ ment.

That first message, which President Brock spoke from the old Cap'n's room in the Rotch warehouse, on Main street, was an epoch-making utterance, opening the long-sealed lips of Nantucketers to communicate with the entire United States, wherever served by the great Bell System.

President Brock's message was made to the Hon. William W. Crapo, who was seated in his home in New Bedford, and to your honored President, William F. Macy, who was seated in his home in West Medford. Through this instrument he sent his greetings to the mainland, and I believe that it will stand as a symbol of the elimination of space as long as it rests in the notable collection of historical relics and archives gathered in the Association's home, which is the mecca of so many thousands of visitors every year."

28

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

The intended presentation had been kept a pro­ found secret from me, and I was entirely unaware of what was to happen when I arrived at the hotel for dinner. I would have been glad to have been prepared to have received the gift in a manner befitting its value.

As it was, I returned to the thoughtful and generous donors, very briefly, our most sincere thanks.

In conclusion, the Association has honored me for fourteen successive years by electing me its President.

The Nominating Committee will report my name again for the office today, and I think it is in no spirit of selfconceit that I say you will doubtless choose me to pre­ side over our organization for the fifteenth year. It is an honor that I keenly appreciate. I have taken very great interest in assisting in the development of plans to promote the interests of our Association and in representing you in various meetings and on various occasions throughout the State.

Our only interests in our choice of officers should be to best promote the good of our Association. It is a matter for you seriously to consider whether the time is not nearing when some one else can give you far better and more satisfactory service as President.

My predecessors in the office have all passed over the Great Divide. I have no desire to remain until the Destroying Angel pushes me, too, from the high seat.

I have no especial anxiety, if I may use a colloquialism, to "die with my boots on." This does not argue in the least any diminution in my interest in our activities or any lessening of effort to do what lies in me to pro­ mote the good of the Association. The good of our Society is vastly more important than the ambition of any individual. Is it not well to remember this another year ?

29

PATRIOTISM IN NANTUCKET. Mr. President and Fellow Members: In a paper which was read at the last Annual Meet­ ing, I used the phrase "Patriotism, like Charity, may begin at home, though it need not necessarily end there." I may say, with Hamlet, "this were some time a paradox, but the time has proved it true."

Those of you who have been privileged to join in the work which has been going on in this old MeetingHouse will need no word of mine to convince them that patriotism is alive in Nantucket, at least among the women. When last spring I was asked by the leader of the local Red Cross to act as its Secretary, my first impulse was to decline, foreseeing that I was likely to be the only active male member, or at least one of very few, but as I was conscious, as most of us are, of an ob­ ligation to "do my bit", small as it may be, I consented.

My task has not been onerous.

Soon after the work was inaugurated, the Auxil­ iary then being without a suitable headquarters, it occurred to me that this building would be an ideal place for the work. It was practically unused the year round, simply kept as a memorial of by-gone days.

After consulting all resident and non-resident members of the Council, meeting with practically no opposition, I had a meeting called and laid the matter before the

30

PATRIOTISM IN NANTUCKET

members. Again I met with no opposition. All agreed with me that, in the present crisis, the spirit of patri­ otism predominated over the spirit of history. A unan­ imous vote was passed "that the Red Cross Auxiliary should be allowed the use of the Meeting-House for the season of 1917." In so far as I am aware, no person in either organization has found cause to regret this action. It has been deemed most creditable to the Association, and most satisfactory to the ladies of the Red Cross.

In the brief half hour which I have spent at monthly meetings, in my capacity of clerk, and on other occasions, I have, naturally, cast an observant eye over the assembled group, and I have been deeply impressed by the evidence of earnest interest in the work. There was a new light in their eyes; it was selfevident that these women, one and all, had been touched with a new fire, thrilled with a new purpose, higher and nobler than the old.

We, who are in our safe retreat, read the thrilling accounts of heroic deeds on field and flood and in the trackless air, now so frequent as to be every day hap­ penings, of the men of France, England, Belgium and. yes, now of America, at the front, may well keep in mind the tremendous fact that the inspiration thai carries these young men of France, England, Belgium and America to the front and keeps them there, figh ing for Democracy, springs from the thought that their women at home, mothers, sisters, wives, sweet hearts, are working, yes, and praying, for the grea Cause, that they, too, are fighting for Democracy, for Humanity, for Home. It is this thought, above a others, that nerves them to the utmost effort; it is t. inspiration that, amid the dread tumult of battle, amu

PATRIOTISM IN NANTUCKET

31

the deadly rain of shell and bullet and shrapnel, moves them even to laugh and sing as they press forward with fearless hearts, invincible to the end.

In referring briefly to the little group whose work I have been privileged to watch, in this room, while it is not my desire to single out individual members, a word of appreciation is due first to the little group of leaders, who have given their time and strength with­ out stint; their indomitable efforts have made the Nan­ tucket Red Cross possible.

Among the many busy workers, an ever chang­ ing group, my mental eye singles out a little woman in black, sitting, with her sister (also in black), at a table over there, busily and patiently working at her bandages. She looks up with a cheery smile, as I greet her. In her mind, as she sits working, is the unforgetable thought that "somewhere in France" a brave, promising lad, her eldest, but a few weeks agone gave up his young life for the high cause for which he fought.

Perchance at times the inspired lines of Rupert Brooke flash through her memory: If I should die, think only this of me, That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England; there shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave once her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by her rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights, and sounds, dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends, and gentleness In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

32

PATRIOTISM IN NANTUCKET

She would say, in her modesty, this brave, cheery little lady, "I am but one of many." Yes, of countless thousands, in England, in France, in Belgium, yes, even in America. It is because of these, and of such as these, that a conviction has grown, deep-seated as the eternal hills, in every loyal American heart, that Democracy will live; "that a government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

HENRY S. WYER.

i

;

^ J*

A PAGE FROM THE OLDEST NANTUCKET RECORD.

33

THE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION.

One of the problems formerly difficult to solve was the preservation of ancient manuscripts. Time dis­ colors paper and reduces the page to a brittle condition that results in breaking and disintegration. If the leaf were bound on the edges and placed in a scrapbook, it was but an imperfect mode of preservation, because the writing might be obscured or hidden. The only course was to withdraw such old relics from use or keep them between panes of glass.

A few years ago a method was invented by which the manuscript page was covered on each side with a thin sheet of silk, especially prepared for the purpose, and then the whole could be bound in a book. This treatment has been developed to such a successful ex­ tent that the silk cannot be seen over the old page and the writing is not in the least obscured. This process has been perfected by the Emery Preservation Co. of Taunton.

A year ago Mrs. Eunice Barney Swain donated to the Nantucket Historical Association a collection of over sixty manuscripts of great historical importance, some of them almost coeval with the settlement of the island. They had been folded, some of them for centuries, and it was desirable to preserve them accord-

34

THE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION

ing to the best improved method that could be ascer­ tained. The Emery Preservation Company seemed to be the proper agency to undertake the work and these manuscripts and a few others which had been received were sent to Taunton for preservation.

The work was completed in a highly satisfactory manner and the two volumes, bound in English morocco, were ready for inspection at the Annual Meeting.

While they are all of great value, four deserve particular mention. The deed from the Indians to Edward Starbuck with seals intact, dated 1665, is the oldest original document, relating to Nantucket, known to exist.

Persons who have collected information about births, deaths and marriages have occasionally heard of "William Worth's Book." It was suspected that the earliest record in the Town Clerk's office, compiled by Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., was a copy of this book. Such proved to be the fact. The original, written by William Worth, is in this collection and bound in a separate book. It was begun in 1662.

Several copies of a letter written by Mary Starbuck in 1714 to a grand-daughter are in existence and have been published. The original letter is in this collection and shows that the chirography of the famous account book, described two years ago, was also Mary Starbuck's.

The tract composed by Elihu Coleman, against slavery, in 1729-30, has been printed in several editions and is famous as the first protest against slavery, and of interest because he was a minister of the Society of Friends on Nantucket. The original manuscript signed by him is in this collection.

THE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION

35

It would be interesting to know in whose possession these valuable documents have been preserved during these long years. It is a fact that Nathaniel and Eliza Barney, the grand-parents of Mrs. Eunice Swain, be­ friended the old antiquarian, Benjamin Franklin Folger, who lived in Siasconset and died in 1856. As a token of his appreciation, he donated to them his papers, documents and books.

Most of the collection came from that source; but no one can name the earlier custodians. It is singular that although two destructive fires ravaged Nantucket, in 1838 and 1846, yet this valuable collection of manu­ scripts escaped, not by being in some fire-proof reposi­ tory, but in a hermit's cottage in Siasconset. In the preface to "Miriam Coffin," written about 1830, the author describes a visit that he made at the 'Sconset cottage and the ancient documents that were spread be­ fore him. More than likely, they were the same that are contained in this collection.

HENRY B. WORTH.

36

A FEW FACTS RELATING TO MAIN STREET. A street that losses itself in the green commons on the way to Madaket and ends in a busy wharf must be interesting to those who walk under its elms and whose ancestors planted the trees and built the com­ fortable and dignified houses on its sides.

Forbears of almost every person of Nantucket descent lie asleep in the old Quaker burying ground on the south side, just above where the street begins to lose its character as a street and wanders off into the country.

The second Friends' Meeting-House was built in 1730, at the corner of Main and Saratoga streets. This was moved to the corner of Main and Pleasant streets in 1790. Then it was often called the "third" MeetingHouse. In 1834, it was moved to Commercial wharf, and some of its bricks were used in the construction of the Charles G. Coffin store.

On the corner of Milk and Gardner streets, where the Whittemore Gardner house now stands, was the old Town House, and opposite to it, the Friends' boarding house, where that Society cared for its aged poor.

If anything can add to the interest our Town feels in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Main street, erected in 1874, it is to know that its base is one of the

A FEW FACTS RELATING TO MAIN STREET

37

mill-stones, taken from the Round Top Mill, which stood near the North Cemetery.

In 1835, the name of this street was changed from State to Main, and in 1837 it was paved with cobbles.

The latter were brought from Gloucester and the carts rattling over them disturb still the slumbers of Main street dwellers. There is always a rift within the lute and weary lie the heads on that thoroughfare in the early morning hours.

During this same year Joseph Starbuck, a success­ ful ship-owner and merchant, built the three handsome brick houses on the north side of Main street and in­ stalled a son in each. With one exception, they are still owned and occupied by members of the Starbuck family.

As a matter of comparison, it is of interest to know that during the construction of the houses, a shed was built, where a fire was kept burning to insure better seasoning of the lumber used, and the original gutters lasted fifty years.

Some of the houses on this street are related to our country's history. During the severe winter of 1814-15, following the hardship caused by the war, there was a soup kitchen maintained on the corner of Main and Gardner streets.

Nearby is the charming old-fashioned mansion from whose back door the escaped slave, Arthur Cooper, skipped to safety while his pursuers demanded entrance at the front.

A rather remarkable example of the changes that take place in the lapse of years is shown in the building known today as "Red Men's Hall." Originally, it was a Quaker Meeting-House, situated on the land now oc­ cupied by the house of Mrs. William T. Swain. In 1852,

38

A FEW FACTS RELATING TO MAIN STREET

it became the Atlantic Straw Works and employed two or three hundred women and girls. Then it became a dance hall and skating rink; then a shop for veloci­ pedes. Afterwards, it was moved to the north beach, near the Brant Point lighthouse, and was renamed the Nantucket Hotel. Now, I fear in the minds of its Quaker progenitors, its decadence would be considered complete.

Do many people know that the white marble blocks in the sidewalk in front of the gas office in Folger Block and noticeable near other street corners mark bounda­ ries of the "Great Fire" in 1846?

The elm trees on Nantucket were planted in 1851

by Charles G. and Henry Coffin.

The present public library of Nantucket had its beginning on Main street, in a room over one of the stores—perhaps the Charles Lovell store.

The land where the Henry Coffin house stands was bought by Charles G. Coffin and David Joy for a library site, but it was found to be too small.

The facts concerning Main street will be continued at the next Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Histori­ cal Association.

ANNIE W. BODFISH.

39

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELE­ GRAPH SERVICE. Copyright, H. B. Turner.

Members and Friends of the Historical Association: Those who do not know Nantucket often wonder why folks on the mainland are so anxious to receive communications from this sea-girt isle. The islanders themselves, of course, know that it is because there is only one Nantucket in the world—a Nantucket that has a past of which everyone is justly proud, a present in which we all take a deal of gratification, and with pros­ pects of a future which we all look forward to through most optimistic glasses. But why are people who live in "America" and find themselves isolated from this island, so anxious to hear from it in both summer and winter? Is it because there is a peculiar fascination about the word Nantucket—the only Nantucket—un­ like any other community on the face of the globe—a little world resting comfortably out here in the At­ lantic, all by itself?

"What is the latest word from Nantucket?" will be asked, whether you set foot in Woods Hole, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Bermuda, or any other corner of the world. "The news from Nantucket" is the first thing one seeks from a new arrival the moment he learns that he or she hails from or has any connec-

40

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

tion whatever with this island. There is something peculiar about it—wherever you go you will find a Nantucketer—if not native-born, one who wishes he were and tries to feel that he is a Nantucketer just the same, if merely by association.

In the olden whaling days "What's the latest news from Nantucket ?" was a query heard the moment two ships hailed each other for a "gam". Today it is the query that comes daily from voices many miles away, in a manner that our forefathers never dreamed of. A few months ago Nantucket was put "on the map" again commercially when the New England Telephone & Tel­ egraph Company expended over $150,000 in order that the people on the mainland might ask the question which has been asked thousands of times the world over: "What's the news from Nantucket?"

The night of the official opening of the cable, last August, when the first message was sent from the island through the telephone which has since been pre­ sented to this Association and now stands in a glass case in the adjoining room, one of the company's officials asked the writer when Nantucket first had telegraph service. "In 1779," was the reply. "What!" he exclaimed. "Impossible! There was no telegraph invented until 1844, when Morse's invention was first used successfully." But he was finally convinced that Nantucket was actually enjoying telegraph service many years before that.

It was a long story, which may bear repeating, however, so I'll relate as briefly as possible the efforts that were made to link Nantucket and the world to­ gether prior to the installation of the sub-marine tele­ phone cable last August.

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

41

The original definition of the word "telegraph", according to Webster, is "an apparatus for communica­ tion at a distance by means of preconcerted signals," and that was just what Nantucket had in 1779, long be­ fore the rest of New England woke up to it. To be sure, it was a purely local affair, but not purely of local in­ terest, as it proved.

Nantucket was a prosperous community then and her people were full of vigor intellectually and certainly full in commercial pursuits, for she then had at sea upwards of 175 vessels, besides many coasters. It was the time of the Revolution and England had her ships dodging into every bay and harbor that could shelter them in their nefarious work of preying on the vessels of the Colonists. Many a homeward-bound ship was seized and, with her cargo, sent to England and the crews placed in loathsome prisons, there to die of neglect, or, if released, they often died on the way home, and some within sight of home. Nantucket lost many brave men and many thousands of dollars in this way, and it was while England was thus preying upon the ships of the Colonists that the Nantucket people first established "telegraphy".

Four large wind-mills were then standing on the hills south of the town and they could be discerned a long way off—in fact, were the last things to fade from sight when a ship was leaving port and the first seen when nearing home again. It was these wind-mills and their vanes which were used for telegraphing or sig­ nalling to our ships when they neared the island, to warn them of the danger they were running into from the presence of the British pirates.

If an enemy ship were off the east end of the island the vanes of the east mill would be set as signals, and if

42

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

a ship were off the west channel the west mill and its vanes would be used. And thus was the the first tele­ graph" service installed at Nantucket, and it was suc­ cessful, too, for it accomplished its purpose. In due time, however, the baffled warships would report to the headquarters at New York how the Nantucketers had got the better of them by warning off their homewardbound ships, and an order was issued for the British vessels to land men on the island and have the mills burned.

The fleet started to carry out the order and reached Edgartown, when an easterly gale sprung up and a week passed with the vessels still held in port.

In the meantime, William Rotch, Dr. Benjamin Tupper and Samuel Starbuck, at the solicitation of the alarmed townspeople, called upon Admiral Hotham at Newport and succeeded in getting the order to burn the mills re­ voked. In his autobiography this interesting interview was graphically portrayed by Mr. Rotch, who said that undoubtedly this was the first telegraph service of any kind which was employed in the United States. Only one of those four mills remains to bear evidence of this first system of telegraphy.

The next attempt was made by the islanders in 1840, when they established what was known as "Parker's telegraph system" and actually sent and re­ ceived messages to and from the mainland. The "line" was really a wireless. It consisted of four stations— one at Woods Hole, one at West Chop on the Vineyard, one near Edgartown, and the fourth at the Cliff almost on the spot where Charles O'Conor, forty-one years afterwards, erected his mansion. At each of these stations a tall mast was erected, on each being hung, one above the other, three arms. Attached to each arm

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

43

was a rope, which passed up over a grooved wheel, and thence down into a building at the foot of the mast.

Each arm could be raised or lowered by these lines and fixed at different angles, each angle of each arm having its own number. The numbers were registered and the significance of these singly and in combinations could thus be understood by the operators and messages quickly transmitted between Nantucket and the Vine­ yard and then to the mainland, whenever the weather was clear.

Not only were words spelled by use of the alphabet, each letter being designated by the position of an arm, but code phrases were also sent, such as the island merchants would be likely to use in matters relating to the whaling industry. Thus, for instance, when a ship arrived at Edgartown belonging to this port, her number would be immediately indicated by the operator at Edgartown in connection with the code phrase "has arrived". Questions relating to the quantity of oil on board, where last heard from, in what condition ar­ rived, etc., would also be asked and answered by means of the signal arms, and the system proved of great value to the island merchants.

As the enterprise was almost entirely of benefit to the people of Nantucket, the expense, which was con­ siderable, was borne by them through subscription. In spite of the expense, however, this telegraph system was maintained successfully at intervals for a number of years. In relating some of the experiences in con­ nection with the system, many years afterwards, the late Frederick C. Sanford said: "I well remember one cold morning, on the 8th of January, 1840, a day or two after we had erected the last pole, when we took the news from Woods Hole, via West Chop, Edgartown and

44

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

the Cliff: 'The steamer Lexington was burnt last night; most all lost; Doctor Follen and Finn, the actor, among the victims.'

It was an awful message to go to town with and communicate to the inhabitants, yet it was really the first important message that came over the telegraph. Afterwards we received news messages almost daily and the joy which those poles and arms brought to Nantucket cannot be forgotten while memory lasts.

Some mornings we would have one of our fortunate ships re­ ported from a four years' voyage as just anchored in Tarpaulin Cove, or at Edgartown, full of sperm oil, and, although not owning a dollar in the vessel, we would go to town to the happy owners and break the news with feelings truly ecstatic, just to see them enjoy good news and success."

The great fire in 1846 so robbed Nantucket of her wealth and business activity that the telegraph system could no longer be maintained, and it was never re­ sumed after the 13th of July, when the town awoke from the shock she had suffered by the flames and took upon herself the almost hopeless task of restoration.

A year or two later, however, some of the island mer­ chants secured a flock of carrier pigeons and trained them to bring messages home from Woods Hole or the Vineyard. The birds would be sent up on the steamer each morning and would be liberated to bear home the most important messages of the previous day's hap­ penings on the mainland. This system of "telegraphy", for such the island merchants termed it, worked ad­ mirably for a time, but one by one the pigeons would be shot, until in 1849, when the California gold fever struck Nantucket so hard, the scheme was abandoned.

Seven years later, in 1856, Nantucket actually saw a telegraph cable stretched across the sound, and for a brief twenty-four hours the island enjoyed communica­ tion with America via Great Point on Nantucket and Monomoy Point on Cape Cod. This cable was laid on the 19th of August by the old steamer Telegraph,

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

45

which went out from Nantucket that morning towing the schooner Silas Parker, upon whose deck was coiled the cable, while a pennant flying at the Telegraph's mast-head bore the words: "Nantucket Telegraph.

The Longest Submarine Telegraph Cable Ever Laid."

Compared to later cables, that of 1856 was a mere thread. It was only five-eighths of an inch in diameter, containing a single wire, yet covered with an insulation of gutta percha which stood the ravages of the sea almost perfectly, in spite of the fact that it was not an armored cable. Communication was established on Wednesday, the 20th of August, and that night the promoters went to bed proud of the result of their efforts and convinced of the success of their project.

But imagine their feelings when they awoke the next morning and the operator received no response when he pressed the key! The cable had broken during the night, probably from the accumulation of sea-weed.

Disheartened for a time, no attempt was made to restore communication, but a few months later several miles of the cable were drawn ashore on Great Point and about a mile and a half on Monomoy Point. Two breaks were discovered, which meant that a section of the cable was left on the bottom of the ocean. The pieces which had been saved were, however, brought to town and stored in a brick building which stood near the head of Old North wharf. The next year another attempt was made and this same cable was laid across from Madaket to Tuckernuck; from Tuckernuck to Muskeget; from Muskeget to the Vineyard, and thence to the mainland across Vineyard sound. But this second attempt was almost as unsuccessful as the first, for only a few messages were received before the cable went out of commission. A vessel had fouled it with

46

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

her anchor in Vineyard sound and the crew ruthlessly severed it with an axe. This stretch of cable was never repaired, but the section between Nantucket and the Vineyard, via the smaller islands, was maintained several years with more or less success. The late Henry Sidney Valentine was the operator on this end of the cable and the office was in the room in Folger Block on Main street which is now occupied by the Gas & Electric Company. Up to a year or two ago the iron bracket to which the wire was attached was still in evidence on the corner of the building.

For several years after it was laid for the second time in 1857—in fact, as late as the early 60's—Nan­ tucket enjoyed a make-shift telegraph service with America, messages being sent to Woods Hole by wire, thence taken across to Vineyard Haven by boat and from there to Edgartown by horse-back, from which point the cable worked fairly well. It was not a very satisfactory telegraph service and was quite expensive, yet important messages were occasionally received even up to the time of the breaking out of the civil war.

That the 1856 cable was a remarkable piece of workmanship in its insulation was demonstrated last autumn when a section of this same cable was brought up by one of the Nantucket boats out dredging for quahaugs and found to be in perfect condition. Com­ parison of this piece which has been lying on the bot­ tom of Nantucket sound for sixty years, with a smaller piece which has been preserved, is interesting, for it shows that the gutta percha was worn off very little, if any, and the two pieces, separated by a span of sixty years, make valuable relics of a Nantucket enterprise

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

47

laid with great hopes but in use only twenty-four short hours.

Nearly thirty years elapsed before another attempt was made to bring Nantucket into telegraphic com­ munication with the rest of the world. In the early 80's the United States was developing its Weather Bureau service, and in 1885 the importance of Nan­ tucket's location out in the ocean for a signal station and observatory resulted in the government laying a cable from the south side of Marthas Vineyard, out around the islands of Muskeget and Tuckernuck, to the southwest shore of Nantucket, near Madaket.

The cable was laid by tug Storm King on the 18th of November, 1885, and the next day the first message was sent over the wire by Miss Annie Chinery, Nan­ tucket's first lady telegraph operator. A signal station was maintained until the formal establishment of the local Weather Bureau station in October, 1886, and barring the occasional breaks which have occurred, the government handled its own and private messages over this cable until 1908, when it sold the system to the Marthas Vineyard Telegraph Company, which still maintains it.

In 1901 the first commercial wireless telegraph station in America was established at 'Sconset through the efforts of the New York Herald, the first wireless message ever transmitted between a ship at sea and a station on shore being received at 'Sconset from the steamer Lucania on the night of August 16th. Two \eais later, having demonstrated that wireless teleglaphy could be used successfully for commercial pur­ poses, the Herald sold its interests here to the Marconi Company of America, which up to a few months ago, maintained it and proved that the 'Sconset station is

48

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

one of the most important wireless outposts on this side of the Atlantic. With the entering of the United States into the world-war, the station was taken over by the government and is now under control of the navy de­ partment. The 'Sconset wireless station has been the means of communication during several very thrilling disasters at sea, notable among which are the sinking of the South Shoals lightship on December 11, 1905; the loss of steamer Florida on the 23d of January, 1909; and the exploits of the German submarine U-53, on the memorable Sunday last October, when she sent six noble steamers to bottom in six hours.

Nantucket's telephone system has gradually devel­ oped from the mere half dozen 'phones, all connected on one line, which were installed in 1887 by courtesy of the government, until at present we are able not only to talk to all parts of the island, but to the folks on the mainland. Telegraphing by cable and by wireless was an old story to the islanders last August, when the telephone cable was laid, and today there is no longer any novelty in being able to talk to America. A Nantucketer can now take down his receiver and call up a friend or business acquaintance in Boston or New York with just as matter-of-fact a manner as though he had always enjoyed the privilege.

But Nantucket has done even better than that, although it seems almost unbelievable even to one who has had the experience. Not many months ago the 'phone rang. It was one of the operators at the 'Sconset station. "Hold your 'phone a minute," he said, "and you will hear a man down in Georgia talking through the air to another man on Long Island." And sure enough, out of the air came the ghostly voices.

We heard the cheery good morning from one to

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

49

the other; the inquiry after one's health and family; the few moments' chat over adjustments; and then the man in Georgia was heard no more; but the Long Island fellow was detected a moment or two longer, as he whistled to himself and drummed with his fingers on his desk—and then all was silent again. It was supernatural, yet it was true. The two men were experimenting with the wireless telephone; the oper­ ator at 'Sconset, who had often listened to their con­ versation, this time adjusted his instrument to tune with the instruments of the wireless telephone, and then connected up the newspaper office in town that someone else might enjoy the novelty. And a novelty it was. Nantucket already has the wireless telegraph and the long distance telephone. How long will it be before she will have the wireless telephone ?

To be sure, it is now 138 years since the first system of telegraphy was established on this island from the vanes of the four mills on the hills, yet in all that period there is not a community anywhere on the face of the globe that has in turn been so prosperous, met with such serious reverses, seen business vanish until only a forlorn hope remained for the future, and withal mounted all obstacles and become a growing and popular summer resort and a thriving and pros­ perous fishing port.

It was not strange that in the early 70's, when Nantucket seemed to be steadily on the decline, the late Mr. Sanford, in recalling the busy days of the past, should write these words: "Here we are, destined never to make our mark again as a strong people."

But we of today do not agree with Mr. Sanford and think that he must have had his pessimistic glasses

50

NANTUCKET'S EARLY TELEGRAPH SERVICE

on that day. The forty years that have since elapsed have brought Nantucket prosperity, with its water supply, its sewers, gas, electric lights, concreted streets, electric fire alarm, telegraph cable, wireless telegraph and, lastly, its submarine telephone cable.

The other evening I was talking with Hyannis.

Suddenly the man on the Cape stopped the conversa­ tion. "I hear a bell ringing," said he. "What is it?"

I told him. It was the voice of Nantucket's historic Portuguese bell sounding the curfew from the south tower. He listened until the last stroke had died away and then said: "I hear from Nantucket that it is time for me to go to bed. I'll call up again in the morning.

Good-night." And so even the bell which has main­ tained its lonely vigil over Nantucket for more than a century has used the long distance telephone, the latest, but not the last, of the modern inventions which have come to Nantucket since Mr. Sanford wrote those words that day when he was so depressed in 1870.

There is still that yearning for news from Nan­ tucket that there was when the whale-ships stopped for a gam out in the far-distant Pacific Ocean threequarters of a century ago, but today the voice comes over the 'phone—a voice clear and strong: "Hello!

This is New York. What's the news down on Nan­ tucket today?" There is still the ever-present desire to get word from Nantucket. Was Mr. Sanford right or wrong when he had that vision forty years ago and saw nothing but a gradual fading into obscurity for his beloved island ? We can but feel that he was wrong and wish that he and his colleagues could come back, if only for a brief moment, and see Nantucket as it is today.

HARRY B. TURNER.

51

PUBLICATIONS of the Nantucket Historical Association: Quakerism on Nantucket since 1800, by Henry Barnard Worth.

Vol. 1, No. 1, 1896, out of print.

Timothy White Papers, by Rev. Myron Samuel Dudley.

Vol. 1, No. 2, 1898, 25 cts.

Nantucket Lands and Land Owners, by Henry Barnard Worth.

The Title and The Nantucket Insurrection.

Vol. 2, No. 1, 1901, 25 cts.

The Settlers, Their Homes and Government.

(Map) Vol. 2, No. 2, 1902, 25 cts.

The Indians of Nantucket. Vol. 2, No. 3, 1902, 25 cts.

Sheep Commons and The Proprietary.

Vol. 2, No. 4, 1904, 25 cts.

Ancient Buildings of Nantucket.

Vol. 2, No. 5, 1906, 35 cts.

Indian Names, Wills and Estates, Index.

Vol. 2, No. 6, 1910, 35 cts.

Wills and Estates Continued.

Vol. 2, No. 7, 35 cts.

A Century of Free Masonry on Nantucket, by Alex­ ander Starbuck.

Vol. 3, No. 1, 1903, 25 cts.

Proceedings of the Annual Meetings of the Nantucket Historical Association, from 1895 to 1917 (with the exception of 1899, which is out of print), price 10 cents each.

52

LIST OF MEMBERS. LIFE COUNCILLORS. Folger, Annie Barker, Nantucket, Mass.

Lamberton, Hon. Alexander Byron, 303 East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Worth, Henry Barnard, New Bedford, Mass.

LIFE MEMBERS. Austin, May (Haberlin), 134 St. Mary's St., Boston, Mass.

Barnard, Prof. Charles, 139 East 39th St., New York, N. Y. Barnard, Marianna (Sprague), The Spruces, Manchester, N. H. Barnes, Thurlow Weed, 43 Exchange Place, New York, N. Y. Barney, Elizabeth Gardner (Macy), 103 Green St., Lynn, Mass.

Beebe, Alice Geissler, 25 Grove St., Wellesley, Mass.

Bennett, Elizabeth Crosby (Plaskett), 120 East 85th St., New York, N. Y. Bodfish, Annie Warren, Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Susan Emma, Nantucket, Mass.

Brown, Julia D„ 35 West 130th St., New York, N. Y. Capp, Seth Bunker, Box 2054, Philadelphia, Pa. Cartwright, Alexander Joy, 180 Twentieth Ave., San Francisco, Cal. Cathcart, Wallace Hugh, President Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio.

Channing, Eva, Hemenway Chambers, Boston, Mass.

Coffin, Elizabeth Rebecca, Nantucket, Mass.

Coleman, Dr. Ellenwood Bunker, Nantucket, Mass.

Coleman, Emma, Nantucket, Mass.

Davis, Charles Henry, 18 Old Slip, New York, N. Y. Dudley, Mary (Marrett), Standish, Me.

LIST OF MEMBERS

53

Durfee, Mary Galucia (Hatch), Palmyra, N. Y. Elkins, Harriette Ann, Nantucket, Mass.

Elkins, Richard Gardner, 40 State St., Boston, Mass.

Elting, Irving, 729 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Elting, Susan (Green), 729 Washington St., Brookline, Mass.

Folger, Gulielma, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Sarah Joy, Nantucket, Mass.

Fowle, Seth Augustus, 164 Federal St., Boston, Mass.

Frothingham, Ellen Folger, 9 Exeter St., Boston, Mass.

Fuller, Frederick Vincent, 42 Vernon St., West Medford, Mass.

Fuller, Mary Louisa (Myrick), Nantucket, Mass.

Greene, Howard, First National Bank, Milwaukee, Wis. Hanaford, Rev. Phebe Ann (Coffin), 213 Goundry St., North Tonawanda, N. Y. Hartley, Frances Chester (White), 232 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Hussey, Martha, 303 East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Hutaff, Grace (Elkins), 103 East 86th St., New York, N. Y. Johnson, Minnie Agnes (Jonah), Bath, N. H. Joy, Moses, 765 Whitney Ave., New Haven, Conn.

Kimball, Laura M., 145 Troup St., Rochester, N. Y. Macy, Mary Eliza, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Nelson, 441 Pearl St., New York, N. Y. Macy, Thomas, Nantucket, Mass.

MeCleary, Helen Cartwright, 47 Craft's Road, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Mead, Edwin D., 20 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Middlebrook, Caroline Allen, 115 East 53d St., New York, N. Y. Mitchell, Emily Burns, 1735 New Hampshire Ave., Washington, D. C. Mitchell, Helen (Leeds), Nantucket, Mass.

Paine, Mary Elizabeth (Folger), 315 Thayer St., Providence, R. I. Raymond, Sarah Coffin (Codd), Nantucket, Mass.

Rollins, Rev. Walter Huntington, Pres. Fairmount College, Wichita, Kan. Starbuek, Alexander, President Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion, Waltham, Mass.

Starbuek, Charlotte Puffer (Baxter), 831 State St., Santa Barbara, Cal. Starbuek, Henry Pease, 831 State St., Santa Barbara, Cal.

54

LIST OF MEMBERS

Starbuck, John Austin, 831 State St., Santa Barbara, Cal. Starbuck, Mary Eliza, Nantucket, Mass.

Starbuck, Susan Amelia, 144 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Sweet, Samuel B., General Freight Agent Lake Erie & Western R. R. Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Swift, William Henry, Pittsfield, Mass.

Wyer, Henry Sherman, Nantucket, Mass.

ANNUAL MEMBERS. A Albertson, Alice Owen, 3940 Brown St., Philadelphia, Pa. Allen, Mrs. Le Moyne Dillingham, Granville, N. Y. Allen, Lucy Ellis, West Newton, Mass.

Ayers, John Killen, Nantucket, Mass.

Ayers, Mary, Nantucket, Mass.

B. Babcock, Mary, 146 Lake St., Oakland, Cal. Baker, Ellen (Fitzgerald), 67 Stimson Ave., Providence, R. I. Baker, Maude, 67 Stimson Ave., Providence, R. I. Bancroft, Beulah M. (Hacker), 917 Pine St., Philadelphia, Pa. Barnard, Frank Redfield, The Spruces, Manchester, N. H. Barnard, Marion Jessup, The Spruces, Manchester, N. H. Barnard, Job, Associate Justice Supreme Court (Retired), 1306 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C. Barnes, Elizabeth Balmer (Williams), Glyn Hap, Martinez, Cal. Barnes, Grace (Davis), Nantucket, Mass.

Barney, Alanson Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Barney, Lydia Howland (Swain), Menlo Park, San Mateo Co., Cal. Barrett, Charles Cook, 14-16 West Lake St., Chicago, 111.

Barrett, John Wendell, 60 Wall St., New York, N. Y. Beadle, Elizabeth Wood (Thayer), Nantucket, Mass.

Benham, Lizzie Elliott (Thompson), 86 Howe St., New Haven, Conn.

Bennett, Harriet Stanton, Nantucket, Mass.

Bennett, Prof. Florence Mary, 120 East 85th St., New York, N. Y. Bennett, Henry Hollis, 120 East 85th St., New York, N. Y.

LIST OF MEMBERS

55

Bensusan, Sarah (Gardner), 11 South Portland Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Benton, Amy Alice (Isom), Nantucket, Mass.

Benton, William Josiah, Nantucket, Mass.

Bigelow, Harriet Elizabeth (Coleman), 534 Madison Ave., Eliza­ beth, N. J. Blackburn, Elizabeth Mary, 24 Littell Road, Brookline, Mass.

Blossom, Dr. Anne Mooers (Gardner), Nantucket, Mass.

Boone, Elizabeth Starbuck (Barker), Overman, 327 Central Park West, New York, N. Y. Booth, Andrew S., Ballston Spa, N. Y. Boyer, Maurice Weimer, Nantucket, Mass.

Brayton, Annie Sale (Chinery), Nantucket, Mass.

Briggs, Charlotte Puffer, 257 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Briggs, William Coffin, 257 Steuben St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Brock, Albert Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Annie (Cartwright), Nantucket, Mass.

Brock, Joseph Chase, Nantucket, Mass.

Brooks, Josephine (Sylvia), 326 Highland Ave., West Somerville, Mass.

Brown, Henry, Nantucket, Mass.

Bunker, Alfred, 29 Juniper St., Roxbury, Mass.

Bunker, Alice Macy, State House, Boston, Mass.

Bunker, Lauriston, Nantucket, Mass.

Bunker, William, 20 Nassau St., New York, N. Y. Bunker, Hon. William Mitchell, Cloyne Court Hotel, Berkeley, Cal. Burrell, Caroline (Cayford), 993 Charles River Road, Cam­ bridge, Mass.

Burnell, Barker, 1045 Sixth St., San Diego, Cal. Butler, Harriet Parker (Winn), Nantucket, Mass.

C Caryl, Harriet Elizabeth, 1904 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

Catlin, Sarah Affia, Warsaw, Ind. Chamberlin, Henry Harmon, 22 May St., Worcester, Mass.

Chase, Ann Worth (Brock), Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Edward Gardner, 4851 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

Chase, Estelle Lillian (Jenness), 4851 Kenwood Ave., Chicago, 111.

56

LIST OF MEMBERS

Chase, Harriet Ann, Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Mary Jane, Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Sidney, Nantucket, Mass.

Chase, Susan Mabel (Johnston), 364 Ray St., Manchester, N. H. Chatfield, Margaret (Burnet), Easton, Nantucket, Mass.

Clark, Susan Tyler, 799 Asylum Ave., Hartford, Conn.

Codd, Eliza, Nantucket, Mass.

Codd, William Fitzgerald, Nantucket, Mass.

Coffin, Celia M., 272 Manhattan Ave., New York, N. Y. Coffin, Frank Mitchell, 272 Manhattan Ave., New York, N. Y. Coffin, John Bridger, 15 Fairview Heights, Rochester, N. Y. Coffin, Tristram, The Ruremont, 2731 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Coffin, Louis, Nantucket, Mass.

Coleman, Harriet Maud, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass.

Coleman, Hester Eudora, 2 Potter Park, Cambridge, Mass.

Coleman, Mary Myrick, 111 Pinckney St., Boston, Mass.

Collins, Cora Neville (Staples), Nantucket, Mass.

Conable, Florence (Easton), 415 North Primrose Ave., Monrovia, Los Angeles County, Cal. Conable, Morris Easton, 356 North Primrose Ave., Monrovia, Los Angeles County, Cal. Congdon, May Housatonic, Nantucket, Mass.

Cook, Emma, Nantucket, Mass.

Corn, John W., Oasis Ranch, Roswell, New Mexico.

Crosby, Almira Esther, 1110 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

Crosby, Mary Eliza, Nantucket, Mass.

Crosby, Uberto C., 1110 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

Curtis, Bracey, Nantucket, Mass.

D Dahlgren, Augusta (Smith), Nantucket, Mass.

Danforth, Mrs. George H., 106 West 58th St., New York, N. Y. Defriez, Sarah Elizabeth (Barron), 537 Washington St., Brook­ line, Mass.

Dibble, Annie (Hayt), 275 North Fulton Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Dillingham, Louise G. (Bulkley), Milburn, N. J. Ditmars, Mary Coffin (Worth), 800 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Dunham, Harrison Grey Otis, 135 Front St., New York, N. Y.

LIST OF MEMBERS

57

E Earle, Sarah Folger, 38 William St., Worcester, Mass.

Edwards, George Whitefield, 539 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Edwards, Harriet (Brown), 539 Cass Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Edwards, Phebe Coffin, Nantucket, Mass.

Elkins, Mary Gardiner (Reed), West Newton, Mass.

Elliot, Dr. Herbert, Arlington, Mass.

Emery, Jennie Starbuck (Chadwick), Blackstone, Mass.

F Farnham, Joseph Ellis Coffee, Providence, R. I. Farrington, William Hyatt, 1099 Mary St., Elizabeth, N. J. Fay, Prof. Edward Allen, 3 Kendall Green, Washington, D. C. Fish, Anna Gardner, Perkins Institution, Watertown, Mass.

Fletcher, Mrs. Keddy Ray, The Orchard, North Betchworth, Buckland, Surrey, England.

Folger, Annie Alden, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Clifford, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Clinton, 312 California St., San Francisco, Cal. Folger, Franklin, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, George Howland, Medford, Mass.

Folger, John Brown, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Lizabeth Sarah (Lawrence), Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Lydia Maria, Nantucket, Mass.

Folger, Dr. Rupert, 72 North 8th Ave., Whitestone, N. Y. Folger, Rear-Admiral William Mayhew, Cornish, N. H., P. O., Windsor, Vt. Francis, Eben Willis, Nantucket, Mass.

Freeborn, Lydia Sanford, Nantucket, Mass.

Freeborn, Millard Fillmore, Nantucket, Mass.

French, Louisa Barnard (Winslow), Plympton, Mass.

G. Gardner, Arthur Hinton, Nantucket, Mass.

Gardner, Mary Macy (Brown), Nantucket, Mass.

Gardner, Grace Brown, B. M. C. Durfee High School, Fall River, Mass.

Gardner, Helen Anthony, 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

Gardner, Lucretia Macy, 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

Gill, Phebe Andrews (Luther), Englewood, N. J.

58

LIST OF MEMBERS

Goodsell, Elizabeth Frances (Mitchell), 144 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Gray, Donald Cameron, Baker's Drug Store, Boylston St. and Massachusetts Ave., Boston, Mass.

Green, Charles L., 7 Prescott Place, Lynn, Mass.

Greene, Edward Payson, 616 Nostrand Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Greene, Mary Elizabeth (Coffin), Nantucket, Mass.

Grouard, Dr. John Shackford, Nantucket, Mass.

Grouard, Lena (Weymouth), Nantucket, Mass.

Gummere, Amelia (Mott), Haverford, Pa.

H Haggerty, Mary Swift (Stran), Clifton, Mass.

Harding, Harriet, Pittsfield, Mass.

Hatch, Hannah Gilford, Nantucket, Mass.

Hawes, Abbie (Steele), 1 Allston St., Dorchester, Mass.

Hill, Murray Gardner, Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio.

Hinchman, Lydia Swain (Mitchell), 3635 Chestnut St., Phila­ delphia, Pa. Hodge, Ann Eliza (Joy), Nantucket, Mass.

Hodge, Howard Douglas, 3002-3 Equitable Building, New York, N. Y. Hollister, Emily Weed (Barnes), 8 Granger Place, Rochester, N. Y. Hopkins, Samuel Milford Blatchford, 252 Henry St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Howes, Sarah Sprague (Sampson), Nantucket, Mass.

Humes, Lucy Drew (Morton), Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Eliza Myrick, Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Roland Bunker, Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Arrietta (Cathcart), Nantucket, Mass.

Hussey, Elliott Benham, 134 Summit Cross, Rutherford, N. J.

J Jackson, Hannah W. (DeMilt), Manhasset, Long Island, N. Y. Janes, Anna Louisa (Brown), 2192 Massachusetts Ave., Cam­ bridge, Mass.

LIST OF MEMBERS

59

K Kelley, Charlotte Rebecca (Macy), 47 County St., New Bedford, Mass.

Kempton, Eliza Jane (Barnard), Adams, Sharon, Mass.

Kendall, William Mitchell, 101 Park Ave., New York, N. Y. King, Gertrude Mitchell, Nantucket, Mass.

L Lamson, Kate Glidden, 12 Remington St., Cambridge, Mass.

Lang, Florence Osgood (Rand), Nantucket, Mass.

Long, Carrie James, Nantucket, Mass.

Long, Josiah Coffin, 929 West End Ave., New York, N. Y. Loring, Margaret (Gardner), 2 Cleveland St., Roxbury, Mass.

Lothrop, Sarah Gorham (Swain), 101 Beacon St., Boston, Mass.

Lovell, Sarah Elizabeth, 31 Glenwood St., Brockton, Mass.

Lowden, James Morton, 143-5 West 15th St., New York, N. Y. Lowden, Matthew Crosby, 415 Washington St., New York, N. Y. Lowden, Susan Barnard (Crosby), Cor. Union and 8th St., New Bedford, Mass.

Luther, Christiana (Salom), Nantucket, Mass.

Luther, Mary Hartness (Gould), 886 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Luther, Mary Gould, 886 Carroll St., Brooklyn, N. Y. M Mackay, George Henry, 304 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass.

Mackay, Maria Mitchell (Starbuck), 304 Bay State Road, Boston, Mass.

Macy, Elizabeth Easton, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, Isaac Augustus, 135 Front St., N. Y. Macy, Janet P., 214 Alexandria Ave., Upper Montclair, N. J. Macy, Sarah Lucretia, Nantucket, Mass.

Macy, William Francis, 98 Milk St., Boston, Mass.

Marshall, Helen, 71 Williams St., Norwich, Conn.

McKnight, Martha Harding (Bakewell), Sewickley, Pa. Mead, Mabel C., 1078 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Mead, Mrs. Charles L., 1078 Madison Ave., New York, N. Y. Mildram, Sarah Eliza (Hallett), Nantucket, Mass.

Milne, Helen (Ring), Nantucket, Mass.

Minshall, Charles, Liquid Carbonic Co., Chicago, 111.

Mitchell, Richard, Webster, Mass.

60

LIST OF MEMBERS

Mitchell, Susan Rebecca (Hallett), Nantucket, Mass.

Mitchell, Sidney, 200 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. Mitchell, William Rich, 15 Prospect St., Taunton, Mass.

Morgan, Eleanor (Williams), Nantucket, Mass.

Morissey, Charlotte Elizabeth (Wyer), Nantucket, Mass.

Morse, Edwin Wilson, 123 East 53d St., New York, N. Y. Morse, Florence (Stone), 123 East 53d St., New York, N. Y. N Neall, Imogen (Bonnaffon), Hamilton Court, Philadelphia, Pa. Nicholson, Caroline Harriet (Bartlett), 27 G St., South Boston, Mass.

Noyes, Lou (Chamberlain), 283 Alexander St., Rochester, N. Y. P Paddack, Henry, Nantucket, Mass.

Pease, Ellen Gray (Parker), Nantucket, Mass.

Phinney, Joseph W., 270 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Phinney, Priscilla (Morris), 270 Congress St., Boston, Mass.

Pitman, Timothy Coffin, Nantucket, Mass.

Pray, Nellie M (Chamberlin), 29 Crowinshield Road, Brookline, Mass.

Prescott, Mabel E., 50 Summit Ave., Providence, R. I. R Read, Sarah (Farrington), Nantucket, Mass.

Rhodes, Eva, 1707 West Lafayette Ave., Baltimore, Md. Richmond, Dr. George Danforth, 32 Water St., Yokohama, Japan.

Riddell, Benjamin Franklin, Fall River, Mass.

Riddell, Elizabeth Swain, Nantucket, Mass.

Ring, Anne, Nantucket, Mass.

Robinson, Edward C., 25 Broad St., New York, N. Y. Robinson, Clara B., 25 Broad St., New York, N. Y. Robinson, John Henry, 1932 First St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Rogers, Adelaide May (Brown), Nantucket, Mass.

Rogers, Annie Bartlett (Robinson), Nantucket, Mass.

Round, Ellen Miner (Thomas), Nantucket, Mass.

Rutter, Jay Edgar Thompson, 707 South Sixth St., Spring­ field, 111.

LIST OF MEMBERS

61

S Severance, Madeleine (Fish), Nantucket, Mass.

Severance, Walter E., Nantucket, Mass.

Sharp, Virginia May (Guild), Nantucket, Mass.

Sheffield, Hannah Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Sibley, Alice, 108 Winthrop St., Roxbury, Mass.

Simonds, Jennie (Smith) Allen, Nantucket, Mass.

Small, Phebe Hanaford (Coffin), Nantucket, Mass.

Small, Reuben Cahoon, Nantucket, Mass.

Snow, Charles Armstrong, Nantucket, Mass.

Solly, Judge William Franklin, 908 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa. Soule, Mary Yeates, Baker City, Ore. Starbuck, Annie Whitefield, 2114 Calumet Ave., Chicago, 111.

Starbuck, George Franklin, Waltham, Mass.

Starbuck, Walter Fisher, Waltham, Mass.

Steele, Emma Josephine, 1 Allston St., Dorchester, Mass.

Streeter, Lillian (Carpenter), 234 North Main St., Concord, N. H. Sutton, Virginia Cox, 1111 North Broadway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Swain, Anna Gardner, Nantucket, Mass.

Swain, Eunice Swain (Barney), 194 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Swain, David Whiton, 194 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Swain, Maria Theresa (Swain) Dibble, Nantucket, Mass.

Swain, Capt. Richard, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Yoko­ hama, Japan.

Swain, Wilbert D., Aberdeen, S. D. Swift, Anne Coffin, Nantucket, Mass.

Swift, Caroline Elizabeth, Nantucket, Mass.

Swinburne, Charlotte (Gardner), 501 West Ave., Rochester, N. Y. Sylvia, Ella Frances, Nantucket, Mass.

T Tewksbury, Judith Coffin (Gardner), 282 Pleasant St., Winthrop, Mass.

Tewksbury, Mary Winifred, 282 Pleasant St., Winthrop, Mass.

Thebaud, Capt. Paul Gibert, 324 West 103 St., New York, N. Y. Thomas, Ellen W., Nantucket, Mass.

Torrey, Mary Adams, 23 Winthrop St., Boston Highlands, Mass.

62

LIST OF MEMBERS

Tracy, Phebe Whippey, Nantucket, Mass.

Tucker, Agnes Fergueson, Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

Turlay, Mary Dresser (Stebbins), Great Barrington, Mass.

Turner, Gertrude Coffin (Holmes), Nantucket, Mass.

Turner, Harry Baker, Nantucket, Mass.

V Van Tuyl, Effie (Hiatt), 310 Fifth Ave., Leavenworth, Kan. Veo, Harriette (Williams), 128 Newbury St., Boston, Mass.

W Wait, Annie (Spencer), Nantucket, Mass.

Wallace, Elizabeth Caroline, American Ship Building Co., Cleve­ land, Ohio.

Weeks, Emily, 1904 Beacon St., Brookline, Mass.

White, Amelia (Barnard), 329 Bainbridge St., Brooklyn, N. Y. White, Elias Henley, 700 West End Trust Building, Philadelphia, Pa. Whitford, J. Mortimer, 566 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y. Williams, Arthur, Nantucket, Mass.

Williams, Mary Frances (Mitchell), Nantucket, Mass.

Wing, Clementina (Swain), 152 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Winslow, Bessie (Chadwick), Nantucket, Mass.

Wood, Nancy Riddell, Nantucket, Mass.

Woodlock, Francis William, Nantucket, Mass.

Worth, Frederick, 314 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Worth, Marianna (Coffin), 314 Cumberland St., Brooklyn, N. Y.