From the March 5, 1914 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
Joshua Crane, of Boston, former national racquet champion, and noted sportsman, has purchased from Henry B. Davis, of West Tisbury, 400 acres of land at Nomansland, which gives to Mr. Crane ownership of a little more than two-thirds of the entire island. Efforts are being made by his agents, it is understood, to buy out the other owners on the Island, that he may have exclusive ownership of the whole tract, which consists of about 600 acres. Mr. Crane takes possession on April 1 and it is expected that by that time he will be back from Europe and give personal supervision to the preparation of the island for a summer home. Mr. Davis refused to state what price had been paid by Mr. Crane for the 400 acres bought from him, but the island in first class condition, stock it and build an elaborate summer home there. Nomansland is situated practically out in the Atlantic, about 7 miles south of Gay Head light. It is a rough rugged bit of land jutting up sheer from the surface of the water, and has been the graveyard of many ships, good fortune favoring the last which struck it, the Roma, which slid off again but little damaged. This occurred a fortnight ago and the publicity which attended this accident brought Nomansland prominently to public attention at the time.
According to Mr. Davis, Mr. Crane, the new owner of almost the whole island, intends to run a ferry from Woods Hole to the island for the accommodation of himself and his guests, and has recently purchased and equipped with power for this purpose, the sloop Alys, which he has renamed the Lestris.
Mr. Crane will stock the island with sheep and will put on enough cows to furnish dairy products for his house during the summer months. He intends to put game on the island and to keep a farmer living there throughout the entire year. At the present time there is one family living on the island, and notices will be sent to the head of that household of the change of ownership.
There are ten or fifteen buildings on Nomansland at the present time, several of them being fishermen’s shacks. It is understood that Mr. Crane intends to pull down all of these which are one the portion of the island owned by Mr. Davis, and to clear the place for the erection of a summer home and necessary outbuildings.
March came in with a rush and roar, the wind blowing fiercely as seldom before. Sunday evening between six and seven o’clock, from Tower Hill to the old North Dock, the east-southeast gale for about an hour, lashed the water front with a mighty power, breaking thick ice as along it tore, later grinding all it met upon the shore. Boats, piers and buildings on the water’s edge suffered most from this March incursion, and damage to the amount of several hundred dollars is the lowest conservative estimation.
The Cottle real estate agency has let for Elliot H. Norton, “The Anchorage,” on South Water street, to Mr. Chas. F. Howland and family of West newton. Also Haydenplace on South Water street to Col. C. A. Steadman, U.S.A., Washington, D. C., who occupied this house last summer.
The “Great Gale,” (called by old people the hardest since the historic September Gale of 1815), occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1869. The damage on the Vineyard was not so serious on account of the island laying some of the eastward of the full strength of the storm, bnut all through eastern Massachusetts, chimneys, church steeples, roofs, trees, etc., were blown off or down, and much havoc was wrought to shipping on the coast.
“March came in like a lion” sure enough. Those who could see the Memorial Flag Staff at D.A.R. rooms on Manter Hill thought surely it would break, but it withstood the blast.
Nevertheless church services were as numerous as usual, more so in fact, and the attendance, considering the weather very remarkable. At the Baptist church that prominent advocate of Prohibition, the charming young State Supt. of Y.W.C.T.U., Miss Mary Frances Willard Anderson of Cambridge, Mass. was present with Mr. Robt. H. Magwood of Boston, that grand worker in the forces of the No License League of the State. His evening address was given to over fifty listeners, one third voters or nearly voters in age.
Capt. Geo. Eldridge, the “unique,” was home for the town meeting and made his personality felt thereat.
A fine water front park to be named “The Owen Park: including (beach and all) over an acre of ground was voted for at the annual town meeting and $1000 to improve the same; a needed action.
Miss Netta Vanderhoop gave an apron party on Wednesday afternoon at the schoolroom for the Primary children.
Mr. Linus S. Jeffers returned on Thursday from his trip to Boston and New York.
Sixteen young people from here attended the social on Thursday evening at the hall in Chilmark.
Mrs. E. D. Vanderhoop and son Leonard made a trip to West Tisbury on Saturday.
Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
library@vineyardgazette.com
This article appears in March 6, 2026.