The lines were drawn at a preliminary meeting of a group interested in the newly formed Friends of the Island at the summer home of Michael W. Straight at Quitsa Monday evening for a determination of the future of Menemsha Neck, with a conflict between the views of the conservationists and a substantially held, though apparently not a unanimous view in Gay Head. The immediate issue is the construction of the proposed road which naturalists say would destroy the last major nesting colony of black-crowned night herons in Massachusetts.
Town Might Act
Gay Head advocates of the road urge that it be built as a way of access for scallopers and fishermen to reach the so-called west basin at Menemsha Creek. Some of these advocates feel so strongly that they believe the town of Gay Head will proceed with the road if state aid is denied.
On the other hand, the conservationists who include Richard H. Pough of the Natural Area Council, Allen H. Morgan of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Bruce Blackwell, acting for the Friends of the Island, believe that the interests of Gay Head can be served in some alternative way, and that the proposed road would result in commercial development and exploitation.
A petition, to be presented to Governor Volpe as a result of Monday night’s meeting, says of the neck of land between Menemsha Pond and the Bight: “These dunelands, in their present totally unspoiled state, form an integral part of the extraordinary scenic complex of the area around Menemsha Pond, one of the celebrated points of natural beauty in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition, these dunelands are of unique biological importance in that they constitute the last major nesting grounds of the black-crowned night heron and the only breeding grounds in the commonwealth of the snowy egret.”
Some forty persons attended the meeting. Officers are to be elected at a later meeting which is to be public. All towns on the Island were represented, and spokesmen for Gay Head presented the view of the proponents of the road.
The organization of Friends of the Island was announced a few weeks ago with the object of acting positively, continuously, and constructively in preserving the Vineyard’s natural resources. The announcement named Mr. Blackwell, who was chief of the conservation councils in Rhode Island, as executive director.
Organizers include Dr. Leona Baumgartner, Thomas Hart Benton, Walter Charak, Katharine Cornell, Louis G. Cowan, John R. Helm, Henry Beetle Hough, Allan R. Keith, Mrs. Daniel Lang, Mrs. Albert Rice Leventhal, Eliot Noyes, John B. Oakes, Frank H. Platt 2nd, Richard H. Pough, Julius Rosenwald 2nd, Mrs. Anthony R. Silva, Mrs. Robert E. Simon Jr., Ruel S. Smith, Michael W. Straight, and Jerome B. Wiesner.
A telegram drafted by vote of the meeting Monday night is directed to Governor Volpe, as follows:
Friends of the Island, an organization of taxpayers and residents of Dukes County, dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of Martha’s Vineyard, met in Chilmark on July 5 and considered at length the pending proposal to construct a road through the unspoiled dunelands in Gay Head township known as Menemsha Neck. We regard the dunelands as a unique area which should be preserved for its natural beauty and its importance as a principal breeding center for rare species of birds. We believe that the road will do great damage to wildlife. If it leads in turn to commercial development of the neck, as many believe it will, then homeowners in the entire area will suffer from added problems of pollution in Menemsha Pond as well as loss of scenic beauty. Friends of the Island, by unanimous vote, ask that you delay authorization of this road pending further study to see if the harm it would do would not outweigh any possible benefits. A petition now being circulated in support of this stand will be forwarded in a few days.
The telegram is signed by Bruce A. Blackwell, executive director, Friends of the Island.
The petition, now being circulated, which will also go to Governor Volpe, is as follows:
Text of Petition
“We, the undersigned taxpayers of Dukes County, are deeply disturbed by the impending construction of a road across the dunelands known as Menemsha Neck in the town of Gay Head.
“These dunelands, in their present totally unspoiled state, form an integral part of the extraordinary scenic complex of the area surrounding Menemsha Pond, one of the celebrated points of natural beauty in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In addition, these dunelands are of unique biological importance in that they constitute the last major nesting grounds of the black-crowned night heron and the only breeding grounds in the commonwealth of the snowy egret.
“The immediate purpose of the road is, apparently, to provide access to the inlet at the end of the neck which lies opposite Menemsha harbor. It is widely believed, however, that following the construction of the road the inlet will be transformed, at considerable public expense, into a harbor or marina, and that this action will lead in turn to the commercial development of the neck. We believe that there is widespread opposition to this course, both within the town of Gay Head and throughout the county; for in addition to the destruction of the dunelands and the expense involved, it will aggravate the present serious pollution in Menemsha harbor and Menemsha Pond.
“Concerned as we are with the economic welfare of the town of Gay Head, we are convinced that development of the neck would be short-sighted and would seriously harm the natural beauty that has brought people and revenue to Gay Head and Dukes County.
“The opposition to the road is widespread. In fairness to all concerned, we urge you to delay any authorization of this project pending a full study of the needs and values of this entire area.”
The federal Fish and Wildlife Service is actively interested in preserving the neck in its natural state but has had no place in the present steps.
This article appears in July 9, 1965.