From the Nov. 4, 1955 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

On Aug. 26, 1920, the Secretary of State declared the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in full effect — women had the right to vote. That next March at the annual town election in Edgartown, Bertha S. Beetle was elected town treasurer by a margin of seven votes over a masculine opponent. The contest had been spirited, but never again until her retirement in 1953 did Mrs. Beetle meet with opposition. This is good history that will remain always in the Vineyard records. There have been a number of able woman officials in Vineyard towns since those earliest days of the Nineteenth Amendment, but she was the first, just as she was the first woman town treasurer in Massachusetts.

There had been many misgivings about women voting and about women in office, but Mrs. Beetle by sheer ability showed how silly they were. The quips about petticoat government were short-lived, and the town was glad to be able to lean upon her, year after year, as the post of town treasurer became more and more important and involved.

A landmark on Main street, Edgartown, is in process of complete reconstruction. Archie Gallant’s shoe repair shop stood this week no more than a gaping hole in the line of building along the street, the hole to be filled presently with a new cement block structure for the shop on the ground floor and living quarters upstairs.

For many years the wooden shop, a little slanted with age, had been part of the establishment of the late William J. Mendence. Mr. Mendence had his soda fountain and confectionery business where Alfred Hall’s office now is, and his tobacco counter in what became the shoe shop.

Mendence’s was long a center of social life, presided over by the owner whose sayings were famous. Fishermen dropped into the tobacco shop for a gam, and the soda and ice cream side was warm and bright for young people on winter evenings. Mr. Mendence went out of business in about 1930.

Halloween was celebrated in Edgartown in a traditional and gala fashion by most of the children and many of the adults of the town, at a party sponsored, organized and conducted by the Edgartown Police Benevolent Association. An abundance of gaily costumed youngsters, novelty dances and, of course, a plentiful supply of refreshments, all helped to make the party a grand success and secure its place in future years as a popular tradition.

The grand prize for the best costume of the evening, a three-speed portable phonograph, was awarded to Ann Bassett, who was decked out as a swashbuckling cavalier, complete with sword and plumed hat.

The evening’s merriment began with a parade down Main street, led by Sgt. Charles Leighton and Officer Richard W. Darnley, representing the E.P.B.A. Following them was a portion of the school band, and finally a large group of gaily attired children. Noticeable among these was Laurie Ann Doucette, clothed in a white sheet, to resemble Lady Godiva, astride a large and handsome bay horse named Teddy, who is owned by Miss Marjorie Manter. Other striking sights seen during the parade and afterwards were an Old Gold cigarette package, a milk bottle, and a robot, to name a few. This melange of costumes followed the band to the town parking lot where the course was reversed, and all paraded up Main street again, ending at the town hall where the party and dance took place.

Thanks to the efforts of adults to guide the activities of juveniles into sensible and constructive efforts, the police reported a quiet Halloween in all Island towns, except for a couple of incidents, credited to a small group of individuals not to be classed as children. A telephone booth at West Chop, Vineyard Haven, was more or less wrecked and the instrument broken as well.

In Oak Bluffs, Chief Herbert Combra reported that someone had gone to the town dump, broken into a shed where a bulldozer was kept, had run the equipment outside, turned it around and demolished the building which had housed it.

“This, said Chief Combra, “had nothing to do with Halloween. The job was done by someone who knew how to operate a bulldozer. Not a wrong move was made with the machine and the machine itself was not damaged.”

Costumed in every conceivable style and fashion — as pirates, ghosts, and just “horribles,” children solicited, to some extent, under the “trick or treat” system, but for the most part, assembled at the various parties arranged, and so far as could be told, enjoyed the evening. In Vineyard Haven, they turned the celebration into something to benefit less fortunate children abroad by canvassing the town for funds.

A full moon smiled tolerantly on the scene and the weather was mild and inviting. Halloween was enjoyed peacefully and constructively by all.

Compiled by Hilary Wall
library@mvgazette.com