From the February 6, 1948 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

It will probably come as a greater satisfaction than ever when the voters of Martha’s Vineyard find themselves on the floor of town meeting this year, ready to tackle problems at first hand. Most of the time an individual seems at a hopeless distance from the matters which affect his life, his happiness, and the whole destiny of his children - how far and slow are the debates of the United Nations, how remote even the halls of Congress and the state legislatures, into which a proposal must be thrown last year in order to materialize next year, or five or ten years hence! But with the town meeting, government is here and now. It isn’t by an elected representative - the representative form of town meeting has been a conspicuous failure where it has been tried - but by everyman, every voter. They say some things are railroaded through town meetings, but that must be because nobody cares enough to holler.

There’s a voice heard in town halls on town meeting day, a famous, immemorial voice, and it’s not heard by transcription, or wire, or summation. It’s the voice of the people and comes direct from the lungs, larynx, lips and tongue of the people in person.

In a world so vastly populated as this of today, the old fashioned town meeting is not much use as a model. But its essence is important. As a symbol it still marks the trail of democracy, and so rightly so.

Here everyman has his day not only to elect officials but to go through the articles of the warrant, deciding about streets, schools, wharves, and, when all is said and done, the practical implementing of his way of life.

Following the increasingly popular custom among mainland towns, the town of Tisbury had a decorated cover on its annual town report for 1947. The reports were at hand this week, and the cover design, the work of M. Johnson, has attracted wide attention.

In sepia and cream, a beach dune looms in the foreground, with clumps of wind-swept beach grass crowning the summit in realistic manner. A large conch shell lies in a hollow of the dune. Looking through a low spot between the rolling surface of a wind-piled sand, a view of a beach, bathers, a sailing yacht, and a long, retreating shore line, are seen. Three gulls wheel above the dune, their wings set in various flying positions.

This volume contains a lengthy report from Hollis A. Smith, tree warden and moth superintendent. Opening the moth department’s report with the declaration that the gypsy moth menace is under complete control if not eradicated, Mr. Smith has taken up the details of both departments directed by him, in the discussion of insects, spraying, the work done on shade trees last year and his recommendations for further work during the coming year. With descriptions of circumstances, and of proposed action to be taken, the overall plan to provide for the maintenance and development of the town’s shade trees into the distant future, is set forth in detail by Mr. Smith.

Although not covered by any articles in the warrant for the annual meeting, the town wharf committee, and planning board, have both submitted recommendations with their respective reports. The wharf committee has recommended consideration of extending the town pier and building a tee on the end, and also recommended consideration of extending one or both harbor breakwaters to make the basin entirely land-locked, and using fill from dredging to construct a bathing beach along the sea wall. This committee also recommends the construction of a filled bulkhead inside of Lagoon Pond, on town property, to provide mooring space for fishermen.

There was little let-up in the cold during the week and to top the rigors of the seven-day period, snow on Wednesday night deposited three to four inches of snow, which made a tricky covering on the slippery ice.

Last Friday was possibly the coldest day of the winter, with an average temperature of 7. No such low has been recorded the rest of the week, but the bitter cold has continued, with below freezing temperatures throughout.

Ice in the harbor suspended operation of the Chappaquiddick ferry on Saturday and Sunday, giving as an alternative route one across the frozen surface. A number of people made their way across from the beach near the Lineaweaver home on Saturday, and on the Sabbath others came over the harbor surface. Capt. Tony Bettencourt, skipper of the ferry, and his sons, Richard and Walter, made a number of weekend crossings, and also took a couple of automobile rides over the ice of Cape Pogue Pond. The Sunday route across the harbor was from the Erdman pier to the yacht club pier on Chappy.

According to one student of such affairs, this is the first time the harbor has frozen over solid since the South Beach opening was put through in 1937.

Compiled by Hilary Wall

library@mvgazette.com