From the February 5, 1943 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

Although Groundhog Day brought some slight variation in the weather program, the celebrated woodchuck experienced no difficulty in seeing his shadow, and this, if the ancient belief can be credited, winter is by no means over. Groundhog, or Candlemas, Day, is supposed to mark mid-winter, when the older people would check their winter stores to see if there remained,

“Half of the meant and half of they hay,” and watch the weather for the portents in which they believed. For, as they said:

“If the sun shines in on Candlemas Day,

So far will the snow blow in before May.”

But in the rhyming prophecies, all were in agreement that if the day be sunny, winter is not ended, but if, on the other hand, the day was cloudy, there would be no more severe weather. Such was the old English belief, brought to this country by the colonists, who seemed to have introduced the groundhog or woodchuck theory, partaking of the same principle.

Anyway, Groundhog Day was sunny, and if you believe in this ancient notion, you will prepare for more winter, plenty of it. For perhaps it will come, although there are many people who declare that there is nothing in the theory at all. Nothing.

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The signing of the lease by naval authorities last weekend completes the transfer, for the duration at least, of the salesroom, offices, paint shop and apartment of Dukes County Garage, Vineyard Haven, to the Navy. These departments are all included in the same building, and the Navy has also leased three smaller buildings near the beach and the wharf on the property. The principal building will be used as a commissary, dormitory, administration offices, including that of captain of the port, and for other purposes. The government will handle such remodeling as may be found necessary.

As this building has always been principally used for the handling of new cars and their display, the leasing of the structure will in no wise affect the garage and the various departments of its business, it has been announced. The offices of the garage will be moved to other parts of the property, and no other change in the business system is required.

The main building leased is about 150 feet long, and forty feet wide, and was, originally, the Luxmoor Leather Shop, situated on the site now occupied by the Martha’s Vineyard National Bank. Following its purchase and removal to its present site, it had been arranged to accommodate a display room for new cars, storage space for new cars, storage space for new cars, and the offices of the William G. Manter Co,, on the ground floor. The front of the second story was used as an automobile paint shop for years, while the rear contains a large apartment, occupied for years by Manuel S. Campbell and his family.

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The most important item of conversation on the Edgartown waterfront last weekend was the big new Diesel in the schooner Catherine and Mary. All hands who climbed aboard Capt. Ike Norton’s vessel found the big six cylinder machine impressive in its size and implication of brute strength. Fourteen feet long and weighing ten tons, this Fairbanks-Morse engine delivers 180 horse power at 450 revolutions.

This week the skipper planned to take his vessel to New Bedford to have the compass adjusted, a procedure made necessary by the distraction of the new quantity and placement of metal aboard. Painting of the engine room and hold has also been going along this week.

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First Vineyarder to enter one of the women’s auxiliary services of the armed forces, Miss Charlotte Cushman Braley, daughter of Judge and Mrs. Abner L. Braley of Edgartown, was sworn into the Spars in Boston last week, with thirteen other new recruits. She will leavve some time this month for a training school, probably the one at Cedar Falls, Ia., but may spend a part of the three months training period at the school which is just opening at Hunter College, New York city.

At the end of her training period Miss Braley will be equipped to assume one of the shore jobs now held by a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, of which the Spars are the women’s reserve. She hopes to fit into a position as store-keeper or in the selling department, in which she has already had considerable training.

Miss Braley was born on the Island, although she has spent most of her life on the mainland where her parents made their home until a few years ago. She attended the Brimmer School of Art and was graduated from Miss Chamberlain’s School of Applied Arts in Boston. For more than two years she has had a position with Cooley’s Inc., in Boston.

It is interesting to note that in addition to being the first Vineyarder to enlist in any of the services, she is also the first member of the D.A.R. on the Island to serve her country in this way.

The Spars take their name, as most people know, from the Coast Guard motto, semper paratus, which means always ready.

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
library@vineyardgazette.com