From Gazette editions of February, 1962:

Edgartown voters in an expeditious annual town meeting exorcised that old devil zoning with their usual robust enthusiasm, this time by defeating the project for a zoning committee with $1,000 for expenses, but otherwise went along with the recommendations of the advisory committee. The school remodeling and the new pumper for the fire department were the two big money items, and these went through easily.

All went briskly up to the article for the expenses of a zoning committee. The action had been smoothly affirmative, but when the negative was called on this article, a thunder of noes responded. The vote was doubted, a standing vote was called for, and the tellers made their count. The moderator announced the result, 55 yes and 73 no, and the hall burst into victorious applause — a tradition when zoning proposals are snowed under in Edgartown.

There went on exhibition this week, in Bangs Market, Vineyard Haven, a scale model of the clipper ship Cuttysark, one of the famous sailing ships of her period. The model was constructed, and spars and fittings made by Capt. Paul Bangs, who spent two years at the task, working during his spare time, and was rigged by Philip Horton. The model is about two feet overall, and is complete as to detail, below and aloft. The whole is enclosed in a mahogany-framed glass case, and has been admired by numerous visitors to the store. It is likewise noteworthy that it required one hundred fifty-four hours to rig the ship, probably quite as much time as it required to rig the original with a full crew of riggers employed.

Congressman Hastings Keith of this district is the first Republican member of Congress to declare publicly his support for medical care of the aged under the Social Security program. Congressman Keith says he will stick with his position despite a sharp attack by a member of the Massachusetts Republican state committee. He declared it was sound to do so “because it permits the individual to contribute during his working years toward the benefits he will receive when 65. I am convinced this is consistent with a conservative voting record. Private insurance plans cannot do the job. Constantly rising hospital costs make it impossible to fix a fair premium. Thus, Social Security financing is the only way in which an individual can pay premiums during his working years to protect himself against bankrupting hospital expenses during his retirement years.”

The far-flung enterprises of the Frederic W. Sherwood family, Mrs. Sherwood’s slipcover business now in Vineyard Haven and Mr. Sherwood’s upholstery business now in Edgartown, will be consolidated under one roof this spring. The Sherwoods have bought one of the long buildings at Ox Pond Farm and intend to move it to a location near their home on the Vineyard Haven road in Edgartown. The building was once used as a brooder. It is the one now located behind the farmhouse occupied by the Arthur Metell family. Its capacious interior will make it possible for Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood to establish both their shops in it.

The completion of the new office building and stock-room at the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard, and the consequent moving of stock, equipment and personnel from the old building to the new, brings about a change at the establishment, and the abandonment of premises which have contained the heart of the business for generations. The new building is a commodious establishment, containing three offices, a stock-room, a large sail loft and storage lockers. It was designed by the proprietor, “Commodore” Thomas Hale, and constructed by Harold Dugan, and neither designer nor builder has overlooked an opportunity to make the place attractive and convenient.

So change comes, for the old shop stands empty and will be taken away, probably in pieces. An effort was made to learn something of the history of the building and its probable age. Virtually nothing of the sort was revealed. The area made available by the removal of the building will be added to the R.M. Packer establishment, which will build additional tankage and enclose it with a fire wall.

In the February issue of the Ladies’ Home Journal there is a striking colored photograph of Mrs. James M. Gavin, wife of the present United States ambassador to France and former lieutenant general, with her three daughters and a fifth member of the household, unidentified by the Journal. A few years ago the Gavins spent the summer on the Vineyard, occupying the farmhouse on B. Harrison Cohan’s Great Plains Farm.

The Gazette is in a position to supply the name of the fifth figure in the Journal picture. He is Laddie, the beautiful tricolored collie who won much admiration and friendship here. It is no reflection on the Gavins, who were occupied with summer activities, to say that Laddie made perhaps the greatest impression of all, through his contacts in town.

Compiled by Cynthia Meisner

library@mvgazette.com