2017 August Fete Event Program

GiddyUp to the Fête!

Nantucket Preservation Trust 12th Annual August F�te

historic mill street adjacent to the pony field Thursday August 10, 2017 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Brown Brothers Harriman

PRIVATE BANKING is pleased to sponsor the Nantucket Preservation Trust

Private Banking is committed to helping business owners and those with substantial wealth achieve their financial goals. We serve both corporate and private clients throughout the cycle of wealth

Wealth Management

creation, transition, and preservation. Our mission

Corporate Lending

is to become a trusted advisor to our clients by

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leveraging our shared intellectual capital and

Private Equity

reputation, offering objective advice, and putting client interests first.

Nichol macmaNus, maNagiNg Director Brown Brothers Harriman 212.493.8122 | nichol.macmanus@bbh.com 352_16

www.bbh.com

Giddy Up!

Thank you for attending the 12th annual Nantucket Preservation Trust August Fête. This year’s tour showcases a selection of historic houses along Mill, North Mill, and New Dollar that illustrate the neighborhood’s unique history and architecture.

Summary of the Evening’s Highlights:

House Tour: Houses open for the tour are marked with Fête flags, and are available to view from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Docents will be on hand to direct you and to answer questions. Also, this guide will provide a brief history of each house.

Reception: The reception will be held under the tent from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Enjoy food by Nantucket Catering Company and Spanky’s Raw Bar, and music by the Chuck Colley Band.

From 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. attendees will have the opportunity to bid on an architectural sketch of their own island home by Mark Hubbard. We encourage you to bid — proceeds support NPT’s general operations.

Nantucket Preservation Trust Post Office Box 158 • Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org

Historic images courtesy of the Nantucket Historical Association.

Graphic Design by Kathleen Hay

K at h l e e n H a y D e s i g n s H o n o r i n g N a n t u c k e t ’ s E x c e p t i o n a l H e r i ta g e 508.228.1219

www.kathleenhaydesigns.com

HISTORIC MILL STREET NEIGHBORHOOD THE HOUSES Visit the following properties between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

4 Mill Street • 2 North Mill Street 11 Mill Street • 5 New Dollar Lane

1858 Map of Nantucket with detail of pony field

HISTORY

The Mill Street neighborhood has historically been the dividing line ­between the densely settled town and a surrounding area of open space. Historic maps, deeds, and early photographs reveal the area was used for agricultural pursuits such as mowing lots, grazing ­cattle, and storage of horses associated with the livery trade. Today the open land remains — a rarity in most communities where the edge of town usually gives way to suburban sprawl. The owners and neighbors are currently pursuing open space designation for the fields. It is hoped that this open area that complements the ­historic resources can be preserved for future generations.

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The first mention of Mill Street is found in Isaac Coffin’s 1799 Street List and is described as extending from “Pleasant Street near the b­ oatbuilder’s shop of Sylvanus Macy, west by Alexander Ray’s house to Charles B ­ unker’s mill and west to the Rope Walks.” This area along the edge of town held a mix of houses and industrial buildings such as Joseph S­ tarbuck’s oil ­refinery on New Dollar Lane. The boatbuilder’s shop noted in Coffin’s street list, the oil manufactory, and windmills to the west made it a working neighborhood, full of noise and activity. In the early nineteenth century, there were four windmills along Prospect Street found at the crest of the Popsquatchet Hills. The only one remaining today, the East Mill, was built in 1746; it was preceded by the Barnabus Bunker Mill, which ­operated from 1723 to 1820, across from the house at 34 Prospect Street.

That mill was blown up in an experiment testing the efficacy of exploding buildings with gunpowder to control the spread of fire, a tactic that was successfully employed more than two decades later during the Great Fire of 1846. A third mill, dubbed the Red Mill, stood at the head of New Mill and Mill Streets from 1779 until about 1860; it was named perhaps for being painted red, or for being graced with red sails on its vanes. The Spider Mill, built in 1759 at the west end of Joy Street near Prospect Hill Cemetery, was removed about 1840. The area of the ­Popsquatchett Hills and environs would have been quite distinctive during the era of the working mills, with the sails spinning on a windy day and horses and wagons traveling up and down the various mill streets.

4 MILL STREET c. 1800

Housewright Richard L. Coleman sold the house he constructed at this site to Jeremiah Lawrence, High Sheriff of the County of N ­ antucket, in 1807. The Lawrence family lived here for almost fifty years. In ­addition to his service as sheriff, Jeremiah was a trader, advertising the sale of “­fancy goods” such as “satins and silks, plain and figured bombazines, silk and kid gloves” and other finery in the Inquirer in 1824. Louise ­Melhado, then owner of Moors End, bought the house in 1950 and gifted it to the Nantucket Historical Association the following year. Restored in 2002, the house is the site of early American arts and crafts classes.

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Looking west on Mill Street. The Eleanor Ham Pony Field in the distance, c. 1920s

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House Histories NANTUCKET

A Special Program Offered by

Nantucket Preservation Trust Every historic Nantucket house has a story. Do you know yours?

Unlock the history of your home with a Nantucket Preservation Trust House History.

We offer three levels of house histories—our brief history, which provides basic deed research and a short summary—or our house genealogy and comprehensive hardcover books that are thoroughly researched, clearly written, and beautifully illustrated to provide a detailed picture of your house through time.

For more information, visit our Web site: www.nantucketpreservation.org or contact us at: Post Office Box 158, Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-1387

View of North Mill Street near the intersection with Angola Street, c. 1920s

2 NORTH MILL STREET c. 1835

This 1 ½ story lean-to house was built for Benjamin Hussey (1809–78), grocer, and his wife Susan, between 1834 and 1846. Benjamin’s name ­appears on the 1858 map of the town and he likely lived here until his death in 1878. The land was probably provided to him from his ­father ­Albert, who lived adjoining the property at 8 Mill Street. Like the ­family’s main house, Benjamin’s cottage would become part of the Ham property in the twentieth century. It remained attached to 8 Mill Street until 1978, when it was subdivided by Roger and Isabel Hollingsworth, who later moved here and added the new rear wing.

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11 MILL STREET c. 1790

Tradition tells us that young Job Macy, fresh from a ­whaling voyage and anticipating his marriage to Anna Way, began building his new house on the corner of Mill Street and New Dollar Lane in 1790, with plans to make the house two s­ tories high front and rear, without a lean-to roof. The well-known ­tradition surrounding the building of the house at 11 Mill ­appears to have been first recorded by Henry Barnard Worth in 1901. He wrote that when Job’s father, Richard, d­ iscovered his son was building a house in the new style, he vowed he would never enter it, and never did. Richard must have felt strongly about breaking with tradition, or else the apocryphal story masks some other family discord that ­discouraged any visits between Richard and Job on Mill Street.

When Job’s father, Richard Macy, died in 1814, Job inherited the property. Anna Macy died a decade later, and ­widower Job seems to have run into financial difficulties. In 1832, ­before he sailed on the Maria on his last whaling voyage, ­Alexander Macy, as guardian for his father Job, “a spendthrift,” sold the house on Mill Street to master mariner Joshua Coffin.

Joshua Coffin commanded his first ship, Franklin, on a v­ oyage from 1832 to 1834, followed by India, 1834–38; Peru, 1839– 42; and Maria, 1843–46 and 1846–49. He was home only a few months now and then during the fourteen years he owned the house. After Joshua’s last voyage the family moved to Cayuga County, New York, selling the house on Mill Street for $600 just a month before the Great Fire destroyed most of the downtown, signaling the end of Nantucket’s prosperity.

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11 Mill Street, c. 1890s

When Job’s father, Richard, ­discovered his son was building a house in the new style, he vowed he would never enter it, and never did.

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Postcard image of houses on Mill Street

5 New Dollar Lane, c. 1890s

5 NEW DOLLAR LANE c. 1808

In 1809, Richard Macy gave his daughter, Miriam Macy Prince (1775–1867), and son-in-law, George Prince (1780–1812), a parcel of land on New Dollar Lane where Prince had ­recently built a house for his family. Prince, a mariner, died in St. ­Thomas just three years later, leaving Miriam with four children u­ nder the age of eight. A note in the Macy Genealogy states that Prince was from Sweden and “left that country in 1790, in care of Capt. Paul Ray, and came to Nantucket.” It is not known why Ray, a whaling captain who was ­married to ­another of ­Richard Macy’s daughters was in Sweden, or why he ­convinced Prince to accompany him to N ­ antucket. In 1849, when she was s­eventy-four years old, Miriam ­transferred the house to her daughter ­Catherine. Miriam retained a life estate and lived another eighteen years. Catherine m ­ arried William W. Wood in 1852 and the couple appears to have remained in the house for many years. In 1897, widower William sold the house to Mary S. Whippey. In 1901, it came into p­ ossession of the Boys I­mprovement and Industrial Association, an ­organization founded by women to offer boys an opportunity to improve their morals, manners, and habits and to provide manual or industrial training. The association disbanded and the house was eventually purchased in 1909 by Englishman Thomas B. ­Bickerstaff, who ran a bakery next to the ­Atheneum. ­Bickerstaff and his wife, Minnesota native Emma Borden, had eleven children. The couple made 5 New Dollar Lane their home for more than thirty years.

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View of the Eleanor J. Ham Pony Field in the 1890s. The Ray House at right was removed in the early twentieth century.

ELEANOR HAM Adjoining the reception tent site is the Eleanor Ham Pony Field. Eleanor Ham (1912–1978) was born in Washington state—the youngest daughter of Clifton and Adeline P. Ham. A great lover of nature and animals, Eleanor was fond of harness racing, competing regularly at the Miacomet Race Track. She lived at 8 Mill Street and held several p ­ roperties along the road. She p ­urchased the ­property, now known as the Ham Pony Field, so she could keep her horse ­nearby.

The land was bequeathed to the ­Nantucket Historical Association in 1978.

Eleanor J. Ham, c. 1940s 14

RECEPTION SITE The open land along Mill and North Mill where the tent is found was held by Jared and Eunice Gardner in the early nineteenth century. The Gardner homestead was located at the corner of Mill and Prospect Streets and included a “mansion” house, shop, and mowing lot. The Gardner land included a cornfield, pasture, and mill lots.

Jared Gardner (1775–1842) was one of nine children born to Crispus Gardner (d. 1805) and Margaret Chase (1743–1823) of Nantucket. Between the ages of twenty-six and thirty-nine, his mother bore nine children; Jared (1775–1842) was her fifth child. A carpenter, Jared Gardner married Eunice Coffin (1777–1842) and they had six ­children. In 1828, he purchased the Charles Swain Mill, today known as “The Old Mill.” Although he is said to have purchased the mill for firewood, it appears that he restored it to good working order, as probate records, reflecting its condition at the time of his death, valued it at $638.00. In 1843, the surviving heirs of Jared and Eunice Gardner—Elizabeth Gardner Macy (1802–86), George C. Gardner 2nd (1809–89) and Jared M. Gardner Jun. (1818–96), divided eight parcels of real estate left to them by their late mother and father, ­including the reception site land.

The land remained in the Gardner family until 1852, when a portion was sold to Andrew Johnson, who is credited with building the ­adjoining house at 3 North Mill. Born in Ireland around 1822, ­Johnson married Delia O’Donal (1822–85), also born in Ireland, in October 1845 on Nantucket. Their six children were born between 1847 and 1864. The Johnsons appears to have run a livery business from the site.

Several other houses were once found at the edge of the open space along Mill Street, including the Alexander Ray house described in the 1799 street list and his son Obed Ray’s dwelling, both since ­demolished. ◊ 15

2017 AUGUST FÊTE CONTRIBUTORS

We extend a special thank you to Brown Brothers Harriman, the sole corporate underwriter for this year’s August Fête.

In addition, we would like to thank the Mueller family, Nantucket Historical Association and house owners: Bailey, Fowlkes, and Frascati families And, Aisling Glynn, Event Coordinator, and her staff at ACKtivities and Christine Harding and Betsy Tyler for their historic research.

The following individuals provided financial support for the event at the L­ eadership Level (as of July 22, 2017)

$5000 Level

Sam and Janet Bailey Margaret and Gregory Hedberg Marie and John Sussek

$2500 Level

David and Mary Brown Bill and Laura Buck Susan Zises Green Barbara and Amos Hostetter Michael Kovner and Jean Doyen de Montaillou David and Diane Lilly Doug and Nancy Abbey Beverly A. and David H. Barlow Maureen and Edward Bousa Kimberly and Bradford Dimeo Lynn and Mark Filipski Charles and Kaaren Hale

$1000 Level

$750 Level

Mary-Randolph Ballinger Bob and Eileen Butler Kathy and David Cheek Cheryl Clarkson Mr. and Mrs. Edward Daisey Anne Delaney and Calvin Carver Jr. Helen and Phil Didriksen Barbara J. Fife Al and Nancy Forster Andrew Forsyth and Kelly Williams Sam and Matt Fremont-Smith Janis Aldridge and Buzz Goodall Kevin Halista Christian and Donna Hoffman Douglas Horst MD and Maureen Phillips Carol and Ken Kinsley

Dennis and Martha Perry Susan and Kennedy Richardson George and Maria Roach Ruth Sayer Paul and Melinda Sullivan Henry K. Willard II

Arie and Coco Kopelman Martha Dippell and Danny Korengold Paul Kosak and Anouk van der Boor Vincent and Debra Maffeo Mr. and Mrs. Mark Maisto Chris McKeown Robert Miklos Ann and Craig Muhlhauser Sally and Michael Orr Nat and Melissa Philbrick Barbara Presta and Guy Bristow Marcia and Tom Richards Leigh Royer and Frank Scheuer Peter C. Steingraber Harris and Esta-Lee Stone Eileen Shields-West and Robin West

$500 Level

Gale Arnold Caroline and Doug Ellis Sue and Ed Greenberg Barbara Sachnoff Mendlowitz Kathy and Roger Penske Bonnie Roseman Linda Saligman

Other The Gilbert Verney Foundation Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher 16

2017 AUGUST FÊTE COMMITTEE Honorary Chairs: Sam and Janet Bailey Special Events Chair: Barbara Halsted Volunteer Coordinator: Marie Sussek COMMITTEE: Kathy Arvay • Mary Collins • Caroline Ellis Susan Zises Green • Nancy Forster • Mary-Adair Macaire Esta-Lee Stone • Pam Waller NPT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Ken Beaugrand, Chair David Brown, President Michael Ericksen, Vice President Anne Troutman, Vice President Al Forster, Treasurer Caroline Ellis, Secretary Mary-Randolph Ballinger Michelle Elzay Andrew Forsyth Mark Godfrey Susan Zises Green Barbara Halsted Carol Kinsley Mary-Adair Macaire Angus MacLeod

Directors

STAFF

Craig Muhlhauser Thomas Maxwell Mundy Dennis Perry Alison Potts Mickey Rowland Esta-Lee Stone Marie Sussek Pam Waller

Michael May, Executive Director Melany Cheeseman, Donor Relations and Administrative Director Lauren Seaman, Summer Intern

BUSINESS DONORS

GOLD ACKtivities, Aisling Glynn Kathleen Hay Designs SILVER

Peregrine Group

BRONZE

Sylvia Antiques Weatherly Design 17

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Become a Member of the NPT The Nantucket Preservation Trust is a nonprofit, membership-­ supported ­organization formed in 1997 whose members ­are dedicated to the ­preservation of the island’s historic architecture.

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Nantucket Preservation Trust P.O. Box 158 • Nantucket, MA • 02554 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org

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THE NANTUCKET SUMMER ANTIQUES SHOW at The Boys and Girls Club of Nantucket 61 Sparks Avenue, Nantucket

August 11 - 14, 2017 The Antiques Council Supports The Preservation Trust

ANTIQUES COUNCIL An International Organization of Antiques Dealers

w w w. a n ti qu es c ou nc il . co m www.nantucketsummerantiquesshow.com

JOIN US FOR A PREVIEW BRUNCH TO BENEFIT THE NPT AT THE NANTUCKET SUMMER ANTIQUES SHOW Friday, August 11 10 a.m. – Noon

The Nantucket Boys & Girls Club 61 Sparks Avenue

$35 with general August Fête ticket $40 at the door

NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST 20 508-228-1387

www.nantucketpreservation.org



Build on the Past Train for the Future

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Consider learning or e­xpanding your knowledge of t­ raditional building ­ techniques. Through its S ­cholarship Program, NPT is dedicated to p ­ ­roviding full-time study and w ­ orkshops for i­sland residents. ­Timber framing, joinery, ­plastering, masonry, and more...

For further information, contact: Nantucket Preservation Trust 55 Main Street • P.O. Box 158 Nantucket, MA 02554 T: 508-228-1387

www.nantucketpreservation.org 22

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Tent

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NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST proudly presents the 2017 August Fête

The NPT is a nonprofit, membership-based organization with a focus on the preservation of the island’s historic architecture.

We provide programs that explore the architecture and history of the island’s buildings, and strive to increase awareness of the importance and fragility of these resources.

NANTUCKET PRESERVATION TRUST Post Office Box 158 Nantucket, MA 02554 T: 508-228-1387 www.nantucketpreservation.org

copyright©2017 Nantucket Preservation Trust