Time Machine Terms
September 17, 1971
Nobska Grounded in Heavy Fog Off Oak Bluffs Beach
Passersby near the Oak Bluffs public beach were startled yesterday morning when, eerily, out of a thick morning fog, crept the bow of a large white steamer heading straight toward shore.
August 17, 1971
Mince Pie, Cucumbers and Squash, the Way It Used to Be at the Fair
The day was hot, and horsedrawn rigs stood lined against the cedar bars, and over all there hung the smell of peanuts, soda and cigars, except down where the cattle stood, hot, thirsty, in the blazing sun and Old Man Andrews rigged his stand, the targets, and oiled up each gun. He couldn’t shoot while cattle stood so night the butts of turf and wood.
June 25, 1971
Fond Memories of a Black Childhood: Oak Bluffs Had Band Concerts, Lemonade, Cookies and Whist
We were always stared at. Whenever we went outside the neighborhood that knew us, we were inspected like specimens under glass. My mother prepared us. As she marched us down our front stairs, she would say what our smiles were on tiptoe to hear, “Come on, children, let’s go out and drive the white folks crazy.”
June 25, 1971
Lt. John R. Painter Lost in Tonkin Gulf
Notification was received this week by his family, of the death in the Gulf of Tonkin of United States Navy Lt. John Robert Painter Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Painter of Hine’s Point. Lieutenant Painter was lost last Friday in an aircraft accident at sea, when he was flying from the carrier, Oriskany. Details of the incident are still not known.
June 25, 1971
The Early Days of the Chapel on the Bluffs
The story of the building of Union Chapel just 100 years ago was told in the Invitation edition of the Gazette. Never in recorded history has there been so much change during a century as has occurred during the existence of this chapel.
During the eventful year of 1871 there had been bi-centennial celebrations for both Edgartown and Tisbury, a new post office had been established on the Methodist camp ground, and a new steamboat - the first Martha’s Vineyard - plied the sounds. Also, in that year, the Vineyard Gazette celebrated its first quarter century.
May 7, 1971
Union Chapel is Celebrating Its 100th Birthday This Year
It was just 100 years ago that Union Chapel raised a spire 96 feet into the air. There was nothing else higher in the rapidly growing community of Oak Bluffs at the time, but a year later the Sea View Hotel was built opposite the new steamboat wharf, and one of its towers was 100 feet high with a flagstaff on its peak adding an additional 16 feet to the overall height. It stood on the bluffs, while the Union Chapel was built on lower ground. The Chapel Hill on which it was built was little more than a mound of slight elevation.
April 16, 1971
Savings Bank Now Has Assets Over $10-Million
For the first time in its 16 year history, the Dukes County Savings Bank has reported assets over $10-million.
Bank President, John W. Osborn, announced Tuesday afternoon at the regular quarterly meeting of the trustees, that deposits had increased $500,000 since January 15 and now total $9,158,000, which is also a record high. New mortgages added during the quarter totaled $9,158,000, which is also a record high. New mortgages added during the quarter totaled $559,000.
April 16, 1971
Islanders to Take Part in March on Washington
A group of Islanders will be participating in the March on Washington on April 24, which is being organized by the National Peace Coalition, calling for an end to the Vietnam war.
November 13, 1970
Indians Planning Day of Mourning: Wampanoags to Host the Cape Cod Event
A national day of mourning is to be observed by Indians from all parts of the country at Plymouth on Thanksgiving Day, with Gay Head’s Indians - members of the Wampanoag tribe - among those serving as hosts. The solemn two-day event will begin the night before Thanksgiving at the Bourne High School and will continue until mid-afternoon Thursday, in Plymouth, when the annual Pilgrim Parade is scheduled to begin.
September 11, 1970
Vineyard Fishing Derby Celebrating 25th Year
Tuesday, and continue through Oct. 15. Striped bass and bluefish are the game fish to be sought, and for which prizes are given. The derby, often called the outstanding one of its kind on the Atlantic Coast, is also the oldest, in terms of continuous operation.
The derby is known from coast to coast, and close to 2,000 entrants from 22 states attended a year ago. The present promise of good fishing is expected to bring a crowd that large or larger.
