“As Proud as a Cuffy”: Probably Refers to Cuttyhunk’s Citizen of Revolutionary Days

In the list of Vineyardisms offered by H. Franklin Norton in an article published in the Gazette some months ago, there appeared “as proud as a Cuffy”, doubtless referring to the family founded by Paul Cuffee who was born on the island of Cuttyhunk in 1759. Captain Cuffee was something of a barbarian in his taste in wearing apparel and personal adornment. according to tradition he used to get himself up in such style that he rivalled the barber’s poles, Christmas trees and firework displays.

Wills Property to Historical Society

Bequest to the Dukes County Historical Society by Miss Ethelinda Mayhew of the historic Squire Cooke house which was her home in Edgartown, became known this week with the filing of Miss Mayhew’s will at the registry of probate. Miss Mayhew’s interest in the house was subject to the will of her brother, the late Horace Mayhew, and there are two other heirs in addition to the historical society, Mrs. Gertrude Kimrod of South Tacoma, Washington, and another niece of Miss Mayhew whose whereabouts are not known.
 

From Vineyard Localisms to Vineyard Poetry

Editors of the Vineyard Gazette (Dear sir or Madam, as the circulars say):

“King’s Highway” Is Known Only to Few

Not many Vineyarders have heard of the “King’s Highway” or know that any such road exists on the Island. King’s Highway, or “Hie” Way, as it was in the beginning, is, according to tradition, the old road between West Tisbury and Quitsa. It is approximately halfway between the South and Middle Roads and parallels the two from the vicinity of the West Thibury-Chilmark line to a point not far distant from Beetlebung Corner, following the line of Ridge Hill and crossing the Guerin and Henry Allen estates.

Lorenzo D. Jeffers Named Head of Gay Head Tribe

Lorenzo Jeffers, descendant of Mittark, the last Island Indian chief, was duly elected chief of his tribe at a meeting held at Gay Head last week. The occasion of this election of a chief was the organizing of the tribe in order to gain representation in the Wampanoag Council, in which all the southern New England tribes with their branches were represented at a kindling of the council brand at Mashpee a couple of weeks ago, the first time that the Wampanoags have assembled in tribal council for 200 years.

Hospital Is Unique In Comfort, Beauty

On Wednesday, Aug. 21, patients, nurses and domestic staff moved into the new Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and that institution, or rather the brand new edition of that institution, began to function as its founders have long dreamed it might. For months carpenters, masons, plumbers and painters have been employed on the building which occupies a prominent site beside the road leading from Oak Bluffs to Vineyard Haven, and it is fairly safe to say that never a week has passed, scarcely a day, nut that some stranger, riding along the road, has inquired just where the new hospital might be.

Automobile Ferry for Vineyard Line

Ferry boat service will link Martha’s Vineyard with the mainland within a few days time, according to an announcement made by Charles S. Norton, director of the New England Steamship company, yesterday.

The ferry, which has become necessary because of the greatly increased automobile traffic, will operated between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole in connection with the regular New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket steamship line, supplementing that service on a regular schedule timed between the trips of the larger steamers.

Automatic Traffic Signal for Oak Bluffs

An automatic traffic signal has been placed in Monument Square, Oak Bluffs, the first traffic signal in southeastern Massachusetts to be accepted and approved by the Department of Public Works, according to town officials. With five streets opening into the square and carrying the bulk of Island traffic, this signal splits and divides the stream of vehicles in a way calculated to eliminate practically all confusion.

Will Check Erosion at Highland Bluff

Work on the East Chop bulkhead and jetties to prevent further erosion of the sightly cliff and drive, began on Tuesday when a gang of workmen in charge of superintendent H. L. Curtis of C. W. Blakelee and Sons, Inc., of New Haven, Conn., made the first preparatory moves on the big job at the foot of Atlantic avenue where the bulkhead will begin.

Martha's Vineyard's Own Newspaper Vineyard Gazette Will Appear Every Tuesday, Every Friday

Watch For It On the News-Stands!

Beginning with the issue of Thursday, June 25, the Vineyard Gazette will be published twice a week---every Tuesday and every Friday--during the summer season of 1929. This twice-a-week publication will make possible better service to summer readers and the summer advertisers. The improvement is in line with the growing importance of Martha’s Vineyard as a summer resort and will make the Island newspaper a greater factor in Island progress.

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