From the August 29, 1924 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
The terrific north-easterly storm which swept the eastern Massachusetts coast on Tuesday was felt with unusual severity on the Vineyard. The wind for an hour or two, from three to five o’clock in the afternoon, blowing with hurricane force and leaving various forms of wreckage in its wake.
From all parts of the state have come reports of the havoc wrought by the storm, and Vineyard towns and villages, farms and water-frontage, have suffered from damaged boats and buildings, uprooted trees, ruined crops and the hundred and one minor disasters incident there to.
It is almost universally conceded to have been the fiercest gale for the time it lasted of any August storm remembered here for the past fifty years, and only exceeded in velocity perhaps by the well-remembered gale of November, 1898.
An elderly and long-life resident of Vineyard Haven is reported as saying that never in his life had he seen rougher water in Vineyard Haven harbor than prevailed there during the progress of the gale. It is estimated that the wind attained a velocity of eighty miles per hour. The barometer previous to the onslaught of the gale marked 28.90. In the 1898 storm the reading was 28.60.
Damage to buildings and boats are reported from all sides, and it will be weeks before the traces of Tuesday’s storm will be obliterated.
A sloop yacht owned by Dr. Mefford Runyon parted from her moorings and went ashore on Chappaquiddick where she laid easily on a sandy bottom. She has since been floated.
About the village the number of trees and large limbs which went by the board was appalling. For many years the two stately elms in front of the Country Court house, set out in 1857, have been the pride of the village. Two large limbs of the westernmost one crashed to earth and blocked Main street for about two hours until removed.
On the plain comes a story of a wash-tub being taken into the air from the premises of William G. Vincent on the head, knocking him down. Mr. Vincent was badly cut, and had to have the services of a doctor.
When the hurricane was at its worst several pedestrians attempted to negotiate the passage up Main street by the M. E. Church, but could not maintain their footing on the crossing and were carried to the opposite side of the street, afterwards going to the next street west to continue their progress up town.
Several of the Edgartown swordfishing fleet were out on trips to the fishing grounds, and much anxiety was felt for their safety. The Sch. Hazel M. Jackson, Capt. Robert L. Jackson, arrived at Edgartown Wednesday forenoon with a catch of 57 swordfish. She weathered the gale some 25 miles off the Vineyard, but only after a terrific experience at times the captain and his crew believing that the schooner would founder. Capt. Jackson regards his experience as the most thrilling of his eventful life. As it was, owing to the good prices received, the Jackson’s trip stocked $5,000.
Communication with up Island residents was practically at a standstill, due to falling trees tearing down wires and blocking the roads. Two large linden trees in front of the library at West Tisbury were blown over, one falling on the library but doing little or no damage, the other landing on the house next to it. A great number of trees at Red Lodge, on Mohu, the summer estate of William M. Butler, were leveled. The Lambert’s Cove Road was blocked with uprooted timber. Near the head of Lake Tashmoo, the trees along the Vineyard Haven-West Tisbury road were also blown down.
The terrific gale which struck this town Tuesday, uprooting trees by the score, wrecking chimneys, disrupting and destroying light, telephone and telegraph wires and generally damaging property, was the most violent and damaging in its scope of any storm which has struck Oak Bluffs in a decade.
The streets were flooded, one group of young folks who had been in swimming at the beach, stopping on their way home to swim in a lake in front of Judge Eldridge’s home on Circuit avenue. The bathing beach was also badly damaged, the rafts belonging to the Vineyard Grove Company being knocked to pieces like kindling wood, and the dock had several planks ripped out of it.
But the scene in the Tabernacle Grounds was appalling. Giant trees or branches of trees littered the grounds, the Tabernacle roof badly damaged, wires strewn around, for a time endangering the lives of any who came near them. It seemed as though a hurricane had started right in the Camp Grounds.
Along Lake Anthony, many small boats were thrown up on the shore, broadside to the beach, and a few, water filled, were sunk in several feet of water inshore. It will be sometime before all the damage is repaired, but workmen made gallant efforts to clear the debris and the light and telephone companies did their utmost to restore normal service.
Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
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