From the Vineyard Gazette edition of April 28, 1933:

Much interest centers, these days, around the issuance of licenses to sell beer in the various Island towns. It is frequently said of one town or another that “this town never before had a license to sell liquor.” Nothing could be further from fact, if the history of the Island is to be considered at all. For while it is the truth that for many generations there have been no licensed inns or other public drinking places in certain towns, in early days there was no town on the Vineyard that did not possess at least one such place, and such was the rule for a lengthy period.

As a matter of fact, there was a law in Massachusetts, enacted in 1656, which required every town to establish at least one “ordinary”, by which was meant a tavern, and the towns were empowered to issue permits to such inns for the sale of spirituous liquors subject to such restrictions as might be imposed by the town government.

While the Vineyard was not then a part of Massachusetts, it is evident that the customs of the place were more in keeping with those of the state than with the customs of New York to which the Island belonged. Being outside of the main line of travel, however, there were no regular taverns here until a much later date, although certain houses were regularly sought by such travellers as visited the Island.

The present Kelley House at Edgartown was one such tavern, and the tap room is still there, although employed for other purposes today.

Another tavern was situated at Eastville, not far from the site of the present Eastville Inn, and without doubt there were various places where liquor was sold. Rum was the popular drink among drinking men, and the great majority of men were included in that category.

The home of Mrs. Myron Vincent in Chilmark was once a grocery store, and included in its stock New England rum. The pump, used in emptying the casks of rum and molasses, is still in Mrs. Vincent’s possession, a slender pump made entirely of wood, bored for the piston, and fitted with a leather box.

Tradition states that there was at least one other store in Chilmark proper where liquor was sold in ancient days, but the place best preserved in memory is the site of the house of Nab Dunham. Nab’s Corner, near the entrance to the Quansoo drive, off South Road, is so-called from the house that once stood nearby and the lady who lived there. According to the fragmentary tradition that has survived the ages, this lady cherished ideas on individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that were far advanced beyond her day and age.

The store now known as the S. M. Mayhew Company held a license for the sale of rum, and there are a few men still living who can recall those days.

On the North Road, the house and store of John Ferguson still stands, another spot where mankind might, and often did, rest and refresh himself with a swig of liquor. And these were all duly licensed places, operating in strict accordance with the law and, apparently, with the full approval of public opinion.

There is scarcely a mention in the history or tradition of the Island of anything being drunk save rum. Cider is referred to occasionally, and certain home made wines, but these last were regarded more as medicines than beverages, while the cider seems not to have been too common. Some of the oldest inhabitants have mentioned brandy in connection with ship captains, successful voyages whaling and the payments of wagers on various affairs, intimating that it was both rare and costly, which it probably was.

Naturally the periods referred to belonged to a particularly rude age in the history of the country, which have happily passed and to which there is no possibility of return. No doubt the abuse of the privileges enjoyed by men of those days brought about a revolutionary movement which banished such oases from the majority of Island towns and inspired the horror of liquor drinking that has marked so many good Islanders for generations.

But there was good cheer in plenty at those old fashioned gatherings at the little stores and taverns, when the men returned from sea and the farmers came out of the hills. And the clergy did not frown upon these practices, albeit Parson Thaxter himself cautioned vigilantly against excesses, particularly in drinking. But the rum was liberally supplied to the honest, sturdy builders of the Various meeting houses, and when a quantity was discovered to be diluted with water by an unscrupulous committee member, he was haled into court by public acclaim and fined.

Those were good old days indeed when it wasn’t safe to tamper with a man’s liquor, but only the anciently named sites, such as Brandy Brow and Nab’s Corner remain to remind the thoughtful that here once stood an old time tavern, a liquor dispensary, or ordinary, where men drank and preserved their standing as good citizens.

Compiled by Hilary Wall
library@mvgazette.com