Camp Meeting History

Land and Wharf Company
Friday July 12, 1867
Vineyard Gazette

The Land and Wharf Company here given their grounds the unique and taking name of “Oak Bluffs,” upon which they offer a thousand lots for sale. The have now completed the most substantial and convenient wharf that could have been erected in this vicinity, within forty rods of the Camp-ground proper.

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Change of Hands in the Cottage City Railroad
Thursday April 18, 1895
Vineyard Gazette
A railroad deal which bids to play an important part in the high life of Cottage City has just been consummated. The Cottage City street railway has been sold to gentlemen interested in the Boston & Quincy Railroad company, and Josiah Quincy is president of the syndicate. Land near Norton’s store at Eastville has been purchased for the location of a power house, 40 by 70 feet, and work will be immediately begun for a first class electrical equipment. E. G.
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Will Dedicate Electric Cross
Friday July 2, 1926
Vineyard Gazette
At the Tabernacle at Oak Bluffs next Sunday evening the services will include the dedication of the huge electric cross which will hereafter surmount the edifice. The new lighting system will also be used for the first time that evening.
 
Mounted on the highest point of the Tabernacle will be the electric cross of white enamel with pure golf leaf border, 12 feet in height. On each side of the cross, 30 powerful lamps will flash their rays. This cross may be seen not only from all points on the Island, but from a distance of from 15 to 20 miles out to sea.
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Oak Bluffs Camp Ground Makes Register
Friday February 9, 1979
Vineyard Gazette
The Camp Ground at Oak Bluffs is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Michael J. Connolly, secretary of state for the Commonwealth and the new chairman of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, made the news public.
 
The Camp Ground, Mr. Connolly said, is an area “unique in the nation for its architecture, remarkable state of preservation and as the best example of a nineteenth century religious retreat.
 
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Camp Ground Wins Designation As National Historic Landmark
Friday April 15, 2005
James Kinsella
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton has recognized the Camp Ground in Oak Bluffs as a National Historic Landmark.
 
The Camp Ground, created as a gathering place for Methodist religious revivals starting in 1835, is one of 24 new national landmarks named earlier this month of Secretary Norton.
 
The National Park Service Advisory Board nominated the Camp Ground under the name Wesleyan Grove.
 
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“Camp” and “Bluff” Items
Friday August 13, 1869
Vineyard Gazette
Monday afternoon the first wedding that ever took place here was duly soleumnized at the stand, between Mr. Adin B. Capron and Miss Irene Ballou, of Woonsocket, R.I. The ceremony was performed by Sirson P. Coffin, Esq., assisted by Rev. J. W. Willet, who had been first applied to, could not legally officiate in chief, not being a resident of Edgartown. The stand was beautifully decorated with flowers and flags.
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Wesleyan Grove
Friday August 24, 1860
Vineyard Gazette

Mr. Marchant, - I seize a few moments in the midst of other cares to drop you a line respecting the progress of our Camp Meeting Arriving here on Monday, I found the verbal reports which had from time to time reached us to the effect that great additions had been made

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Wesleyan Grove
Friday July 2, 1869
Vineyard Gazette
We commend our review of the week with some details of what we saw at Wesleyan Grove, last Saturday.
 
We noticed many improvements, and beheld some splendid cottages already completed or in process of construction. Those of Nathaniel Wales, Esq., and Mr. Buckminster, of New Bedford, are beauties. We think that of Mr. B’s is the tastiest cottage on the ground.
 
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Hundred Years of the Camp Meeting History Filled with Countless Episodes
Friday August 23, 1935
Vineyard Gazette
The hundred years of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting are filled with countless episodes which link the Island with the great figures or great events of other periods; or reflect in some colorful way the atmosphere and manners of the times; or supply in their own right some flavorsome item of history.
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These Were Founders
Friday August 23, 1935
Vineyard Gazette
A circumstantial account of the selection of the site of the Martha’s Vineyard camp ground - which was the equivalent of the selection of the site for the town of Oak Bluffs - is contained in a communication which the Vineyard Gazette published in 1885. Jeremiah Pease of Edgartown was the prime mover; but the communication did not mention that the pastor in Edgartown a few years before this first meeting at the grove had been Rev. Frederick Upham. Mr. Upham was probably at the first camp meeting; he was certainly at the second.
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