Time Machine Terms
June 22, 1956
Historic Emporium Where Hitching Posts Lined the Road
“Anything from a toothpick to a road wagon.”
This slogan was appended to the sign of a general store in a crossroads town in the mid-west. In fact, it was owned by a relative of the writer.
There isn’t much argument about the toothpicks. You can buy them in almost any store. But when it comes to a road wagon - farm wagon, that is - there is quite a bit of room for discussion. However, in a shed back of the store was a brand new Studebaker farm wagon.
June 1, 1956
Bradley Memorial to Have New Home by Summer
The old Oak Bluffs Baptist church, lately re-purchased by the New England Baptist Convention from the Vineyard Lodge of Odd Fellows, has been officially transferred to the new owners, and will be occupied by the Bradley Memorial Church of Oak Bluffs, as soon as some slight changes can be made to the interior.
Representatives from the convention were on the Island over the weekend, attending to the final arrangements, and services will start in the church before summer, according to the announcement.
April 20, 1956
Cronig Brothers Now Become Incorporated But Not Too Much Change Appears in Familiar Market
Cronig Brothers Market, Vineyard Haven, entering upon its thrity-ninth year, now becomes Cronig Brothers, Inc., with the active management passing officially into the hands of the second generation, namely two of the sons of the senior partner, S. David and Robert Cronig, who have worked with and for their father, Samuel, for years.
April 20, 1956
In Opportunity of a Lifetime, “Conservation” of Right Whales Recorded in Vineyard Waters
“Cap’n” Seth Wakeman Jr. of Menemsha reports that representatives of the Oceanographic Institution at Woods Hole got “some of the best whale pictures ever taken,” during a recent visit to the Island. In addition to taking still and movie shots, the scientists also had excellent luck in recording the sounds of the whales which have been seen off Menemsha Bight and Gay Head in recent weeks.
October 21, 1955
Weather Brought Tumultuous End to Fishing Derby
In all the tumult of a savage easterly gale accompanied by lashing rain, the 10th annual fishing derby came to a close on Saturday, with contestants fishing, or certainly attempting to fish up to the final hour.
October 7, 1955
History May Be Made In Derby: Woman Is Leader in the Non-Resident Class
With a week more to go it looks as if history will be made in this year’s fishing derby, History which may see a woman take the grand prize for non-residents, for one thing, and a general increase in the sizes of prize-winning fish for another.
This week’s sensation, up to Wednesday night, was the landing of the 45 pound 9 ounce striper by Louise deSomov of Hampton Bays, Long Island, which not only gained for her the lead among women striper fishers, but put her out in the lead among all of the non-resident class.
September 30, 1955
Dust of a Pirate May Lie Buried There
All Oak Bluffs roads lead to the lobster hatchery; according to the signs, the first state lobster hatchery ever to be instituted, and this is the truth. Much as been written about this novel hatchery in consequence of which there are many visitors, all of them welcome.
September 9, 1955
What Is It Like the Day After a Summer Hotel Closes Its Doors for the Season?
From the outside the Harbor View Hotel looked pretty much the way it always does. The lawns were freshly mowed, the stems and blossoms in the neat flower borders waved gaily in a stiff September breeze, and the sun was strong on the blues of the water around Starbuck’s Neck, on one of those recent, ideal days of early fall. However, something was definitely missing, one noticed almost Immediately. It was the porch sitters. They were all gone, and the porch furniture was pulled in. The Harbor View had closed for the winter.
May 6, 1955
Court House Road a Historic Way Worthy of the Name
Gifford’s Store, as most persons of mature age would call it, still stands on the West Tisbury-Edgartown road, which highway developed from the ancient Mill Path, whereby Edgartown settlers walked or rode to the mill on the Mill River, to have their corn ground.
May 6, 1955
Dial Mission Is Now The Order In Up-Island Towns
The Up-Island towns of Chilmark and Gay Head are now on the dial telephone system, dating from yesterday morning at 7, when the switchers were thrown and the other necessary equipment was put into service at the Chilmark central station. Present at this semi-formal ceremony were Harold R. Morris, local superintendent, telephone company officials from the mainland and a few guests who had risen early in order to witness the procedure.
