One of the newest old things on Island is the Vineyard Gazette’s Time Machine, the online feature I’m having a ball using to identify old cool stuff. One of those is a Friday, Feb. 25, 1859 article titled First House in OB: Martha’s Vineyard Wesleyan Grove Camp Ground. There’s certainly some hyperbole there; we all know way back when Oak Bluffs was Ogkeshkuppe, the first white man Joseph Daggett and his beautiful wife Ahoma lived in the Farm Neck/Eastville neighborhood until 1673.

That notwithstanding the writer waxed eloquently about the Camp Ground, describing the religious encampment as an institution. Something I hadn’t until now thought about was that there were wells for water back in the 1850s. I also didn’t know that they grew shade trees — I had always thought the oaks of Wesleyan Groove were slowly cut down to make room for the houses, including the first, described as a two and a half story, modern style, completely finished and painted one that was 24 feet wide by 40 feet long. There was an agent’s room, oil room, and baggage storage room on the first floor, meeting and committee rooms on the second floor, and a storage room on the third floor. Sally Dagnall’s book, Circle of Faith, introduced Reverend Frederick Upham’s home as the first cottage, built in 1856, but its picture doesn’t compare. In fact, the description generally fits today’s association building and allows one to believe the writer specifically meant it as the first modern building. Describing the future, he (or she) noted the imposing appearance of the structure within the “leafless trees and uncovered frames of tents” (the piece was printed in February) with the 40-foot-wide avenue clear of obstruction in the whole camp that was to be 15 to 20 acres. Well named and thoughtfully presented, the Time Machine has been designed to grow over the years as many of the stories from the Gazette’s history since 1846 come to life, digitally and accessibly on your electronic device of choice. Those enjoying the mystery of history have a wonderful new tool.

Mystery wise, Oak Bluffs building inspector Mark Barbadoro has presented me with one: a color postcard of what was certainly the Eagle Theater when it was constructed, except this photo has its sign emblazoned as The Castle Theatre. I’m stumped. He also shared another postcard of the theatre with a large sign on top along the Lake avenue side saying the High Class Eagle that, while historically correct, no longer fits the public insult that is and what remains as the Island Theater.

While there appear to be no positive actions on the horizon to correct that at least steps are being taken to replace the hand-me-down town hall. Last April the planning board led a survey that 468 people (13 per cent of the electorate) participated in, 90 per cent of whom are voters, 65 per cent or so of whom at least sometimes attend town meetings, when town hall will come up for consideration. A surprising 67 per cent were very or somewhat familiar with the structural problems of the building, 66 per cent know about the safety and American Disabilities Act problems there, and 57 per cent prefer that the hall be rebuilt or refurbished with the larger portion (29 per cent) preferring the construction of a new town hall. Eighty-eight per cent believe the existing location is the best site and almost 90 per cent believe there is no better one. There’s more information including new plans for a building on the town hall website.

Offshore Ale hosts Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish Wednesdays in March at 7:30 for blues, brews and barbecue. Shout out to Debettencourt’s new Shell franchise for discounted fuel close to home.

March — the month when the people who live here leave.

Keep your foot on a rock.

Send Oak Bluffs news to sfinley@mvgazette.com.