HOLLY NADLER
508-274-2329
This is an ode to the soda machines of Oak Bluffs. Our town may be the only spot on the Island map that doesn’t hold a snob position about big red Coca Cola machines — or even indigo blue DaSani water dispensers. I remember a few years back, adrift in Edgartown past the witching hour of 9 p.m., waiting for the bus that wasn’t scheduled to arrive for another 38 minutes, dying of thirst as only Lawrence of Arabia must have experienced it after the Battle for Aqaba, and finding nothing, not a single soda machine in all of downtown Edgartown. That was when it struck me that, in some undisclosed location of a secret selectmen’s meeting, a decision had been made to stamp out all the soda dispensers as unbecoming to a town of whaling captains’ houses. Clearly the same fateful decision was made in Vineyard Haven. I can see in my mind’s eye where the soda machines once regally resided — one in front of the former A& P, another outside the cycle shop fronting the ferry parking lot, and a third up on Centre Street — maybe an eighth of a block up from Main. Then somewhere along the line in a smoky backroom, the witch hunt began for drink dispensers.
But not in Oak Bluffs. We live in an historical, exquisitely-preserved town, but we do not deprive the late-night seeker of a thirst-quenching drink. Here is a guide to the copious soda machines of our village.
There is one in front of Western Auto on Upper Circuit avenue, up and running all year, although over the Columbus Day weekend, it sold out of Coke. At Niantic Park across from the council on aging you can find a range of soda and water machines outside the office fronting the tennis and basketball courts. Note to customers: These machines are serviced by outside contractors, so don’t blame the establishment outside of which they stand if they are out of a certain kind of drink. From early May through mid-October when the Wesley Hotel is open for business, you can streak in through the back door of the lobby and head for any one of the machines geared toward sodas, Vitamin Water, DaSanis, snacks and gasp! cigarettes. Very handy. It’s sad when the entire building goes dark for the coming winter, which it has just done, right after Columbus sailed.
Along the harbor, adjacent to Nancy’s Snack Bar, you’ll find a soda and a Vitamin Water machine, though don’t expect these to be operational when the weather dips. Ditto for the dispensers in front of Giordano’s. One block over, you’ll find another couple of seasonally defunct dispensers in front of Fresh Bagels. There is also an ATM machine fronting this part of Lake street, probably positioned in this spot due to the price of sodas. There’s an adorable vintage coke machine on the leeward side of the Sand Bar and Grille. You might think that for the stated price of four quarters, this short, cute dispenser will provide you with one of those short, cute old bottles, but you would be wrong. Whoever owns this collectible owes me four hard-earned quarters. Continuing up the street that opens onto the harbor, there has long sat a Pepsi machine, quaintly enough, on the right and settled outside the house called North Bluff. Although the dispenser looks promising from a distance, standing right in front of it, you become aware that the lights are off; no one is home. It sits beside a telephone box with no phone and no box. The whole vibe is very Atlantic City before Donald Trump rolled up. Directly up Circuit avenue, you’ll arrive at the long-established metal homage to Coke outside Phillip’s Hardware. Like the standby up the street at Western Auto, this old boy is serviceable all year. The cost at these machines varies only slightly; most soda dispensers now charge $1.75, though the Western Auto machine costs $1.50. The super-sized machines on the harbor charge $2! Or you could lose your four quarters, as I did, in the vintage machine.
On to business: The Oak Bluffs School is still looking for community members to join the school advisory council (SAC). This important body helps the school compose its school improvement plan and set budget priorities — both important tasks. The mission of the SAC is critical in this era of increased expectations for student achievement and difficult budget choices.
If you know a community member who might like to serve, please ask him or her to contact Carlin Hart at the school. Every Friday morning at approximately 8:30, the staff holds a schoolwide community meeting where it acknowledges birthdays and holidays, participates in various activities and entertainment, and sometimes says goodbye to people who are important contributors to the Oak Bluffs School. This morning the staff will bid a fond farewell to its outgoing principal Laury Binney. All are welcome.
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