In February 1879, the year before we seceded, 136 years and one month ago this coming Sunday, Oak Bluffs was a town of 150 families that included 132 voters. According to A. Bowdoin Van Riper of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, from 1882 and until April 1966 the building facing Pequot avenue’s Hartford Park that is Cottagers Corner was our town hall.

Fitting nicely into the Copeland designed neighborhood, it was renovated in 1951 with a second story for town affairs and a new police station below. There were vaults on both floors for records and other town valuables, and a strongly built cell with a steel-barred door.

Over time it became a fire station. In fact, Oak Bluffs’ old 1929 Mack Fire Engine No. 2 called the structure home until The Cottagers, Inc. acquired it. There’s a picture in the August 3, 1922 Vineyard Gazette of an architect’s sketch of a building captioned as the “imposing town hall which Oak Bluffs plans to build soon on Niantic Park.”

The two storied, multi-columned building with a mansard styled roof and two story bell tower resembled the Massachusetts State House, and there was $75,000 appropriated for its construction. It was never built. Instead, in the 1960s architect Winthrop B. Norton designed a new town hall that has since evolved into our police station. The new town hall was constructed at the ferry entrance to town, overlooking the sound and the prettiest park on the planet at a perfect spot — for a hotel.

The new building was described in February 1966 as “the finest example of its kind that the island has ever possessed, and is without question far more attractive and practical than those found in many small towns in the nation.”

Later the “shiny, unweathered edifice” was described as looking “Olde New England” on the outside and “the ultimate in modern ideas on the inside.”

The Gazette reported on the Sunday, April 2, 1966 dedication of the $220,000 building, constructed entirely with town funds following vain attempts to generate federal aid, with proclamations that “Oak Bluffs can go it alone, and we will!” That’s proud to be from OB.

Despite the huzzahs of 1966 one wouldn’t be allowed to build so nondescript and ill-fitting a place that close to today’s Cottage City Historic District or Camp Ground. Among Massachusetts’ 351 New England type small towns are 19 whose names end in "ham," from Ashburnham to Wrentham (there’s even an Oakham), places far better suited for forgettable buildings. Oak Bluffs' heritage entitles us to better. Even the Steamship building across the street is more appropriately designed than our old town hall.

The library has a book drive from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday if you need space for more books and want past good company to find another welcoming home. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the library continues its Books on Tap series at the Barn Bowl & Bistro at 6 p.m. featuring the book Uprooted.

Our new bowling alley has become an accommodating venue — the Rotary Club has also begun meeting there. At last Sunday’s bowling team competition those up-Island Aquinnah fishing stars Buddy and Chip Vanderhoop with Hollis Smith and their ringer Brion Wohnor (Brion works at the Bistro) were knocking pins down like early season stripers.

New this year, the library is excited to host Carnival, Jan, 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., modeled after a Rio festival. Plans call for Brazilian food, and an ethnomusicologist will convene a workshop on how African rhythms came to the new world. All ages are welcome for what sounds like a less Tequila fueled alternative to the annual Chili Fest on the same day.

Happy belated birthday to Caroline Hunter’s mom, Mrs. Marion (Mamou) Hunter, who turned 101 on Jan. 10. Caroline calls her the oldest living MV Polar Bear. Mrs. Hunter received a proclamation at her church from the New Orleans city council for her birthday. So maybe that cold water is the secret to longevity.

Oak Bluffs has a brand new, interactive website (oakbluffsma.gov). It offers features like bill paying and notifications via email and text. It is an attractive work in progress, unlike our present town hall. We need a new one that reflects our values and history.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.