From the Dec. 29, 1939 edition of the Gazette:

The old year leaves a long record of varied Island activities. Here is the annual look backward through twelve months.

Jan. 3 - Final disappearance of an old familiar landmark, Edgartown harbor light.

Jan. 9 - Martha’s Vineyard Nursing Association organized with Mrs William Hathaway president.

Jan. 13 - Albert O. Fischer is gored by a bull at Vineyard Haven.

Jan. 29 - Newly organized Portuguese-American Civic League installs officers at Oak Bluffs.

Jan. 31 - Forbes family adds Pasque to Elizabeth islands in their control.

Feb. 1 - Starfishing started with eighteen boats at Edgartown taking a thousand bushels.

Feb. 9 - Island boat problems discussed at a conference in Edgartown.

Feb. 18 - With his bare hands William Deitz captures monster cod, weighing fifty-three ponds, in shallow water at Katama.

Feb. 23 - An 1817 cent unearthed in digging to install water service in new Gazette office.

Feb. 27 - Crocuses bloom in Vineyard Haven yard of Mrs. Henry A. Ritter.

March 11 - Two-boat schedule on Island steamboat line resumed.

March 18 - Serenity prevails at Gay Head town meeting.

March 28 - Grip reaches epidemic proportions in some Island towns, no school signal in Tisbury because more than 100 pupils are ill.

April 3 - Seed scallops planted in Edgartown Great Pond.

April 8 - Howard S. Hart buys a part of the land of Graystone, the Guerin estate in Chilmark, to develop a summer colony.

April 14 - Oak Bluffs voters lop thousands from the budget to cut tax rate.

May 9 - Rapid spread of measles in Vineyard Haven.

May 19 - Oak Bluffs selectmen deny license for a beano game after a public hearing.

May 25 - Edgartown’s new harbor light completed with a coat of white paint and generally admired.

May 29 - Title of Seaside Inn, Edgartown, passes from Mrs. Eliza A. Studley to Mr. and Mrs. Leo J. Convery.

June 7 - Francis and Walter Manning of Gay Head buy two masted schooner Barret J.

June 15 - Edgartown’s new harbor light illuminated for the first time.

June 28 - Farmers’ Cooperative Market opens for season.

July 2 - Tabernacle cross lighted and new season launched at Oak Bluffs.

July 4 - Capt. Bob Jackson arrives at Woods Hole and reports sighting an unusual sea monster outside, probably an electric skate or ray; swordfish scarce.

July 5 - Clyde E. MacNeill of Oak Bluffs holds a twenty-nine hand in cribbage.

July 8 - Vineyard shores lines with spectators and Coast Guard stands by as large naval blimp K1 appeared to be in difficulty off Oak Bluffs.

July 29 - Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven dark for a time, due to a circuit breaker damaged in storm; movie audience whiles away time in song.

August 7 - Martha’s Vineyard woodtick project provided with funds in Bureau of Entomology’s appropriation.

August 12 - Seven leap for lives from burning Chappaquiddick ferry into Edgartown harbor. Prompt and heroic rescue work alone prevents tragedy.

August 24 - Boat schedule badly disrupted by fog.

Sept. 1 - Miss Priscilla Bunker takes first prize at annual bathing beauty contest at Oak Bluffs beach.

Sept. 3 - Matrix, Vineyard Gazette collie, judged best dog in the sixth annual Martha’s Vineyard dog show.

Sept. 6 - Island school enrollment is 1,095.

Sept. 13 - Eighty-second annual fair at West Tisbury blessed by fair weather and throngs of visitors.

Sept. 17 - Denys Wortman addresses meeting of West Tisbury Grange.

Sept. 21 - Maxwell Trumper, Vineyard Haven, reveals discovery of process for tracking submarines at sea.

Oct. 3 - Bluefish taken at Harthaven opening.

Oct. 13 - Stormy town meeting in Tisbury votes health and relief funds.

Oct. 17 - Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on American College of Surgeons’ official list of approved hospitals.

Nov. 7 -  Cooking school of Cape and Vineyard Electric Co. at Vineyard Haven draws more than 300 women.

Nov. 27 - Nearly 300 men drop dredges in Lagoon Pond as Tisbury and Oak Bluffs go scalloping. Supply close to average.

Dec. 5 - Indian relics unearthed near Lagoon Pond.

Dec. 11 - Chilmark starts scalloping, reports bountiful set. Gay Head prospects poor.

Dec. 13 - Steamboat company announces increase in freight rates and discontinuance of freight delivery in Edgartown. Island plans protest.

Dec. 22 - Christmas trees galore provided for children by Island organizations.

Dec. 29 - First snow of winter blankets Island about 4 inches deep. Cold wave continues.

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
library@mvgazette.com