Time Machine Terms
September 13, 1954
Harbor View Weathers Storm Without Hardship
Earnest G. Friez Jr., manager, said that he thought that the Harbor View Hotel had weathered the Tuesday weather in comparatively good shape. “We were very fortunate,” he said, “compared to the trouble some were in.” One chimney fell on the ell of the main hotel, over employees’ quarters, and smashed through the roof into a room on the third floor. Other than that the damage was confined to a few chairs, windows and shutters and shingles.
September 3, 1954
Menemsha Creek, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven Harbors Lead the Long Roll of Damage
The Vineyard’s third hurricane roared over the Island Tuesday, reached the high mark of a flood sea in some places exceeding that of 1938, and left a scene of destruction as the wind abated and the seas fell. The high of the tidal flood came about noon. All the serious damage was inflicted between mid-morning and a little past noon.
September 3, 1954
Hurricane Slashes the Vineyard, Inflicts Deep Wounds Everywhere
The back road between Edgartown and Vineyard Haven seemed to have weathered the storm pretty well, bordered by sturdy scrub oak. However, as the road nears Vineyard Haven, the taller trees in the vicinity took a severe beating and consequently, so did the power lines.
August 24, 1954
Runic Rock of Noman’s Land Is Rediscovered and Identified by Intrepid Explorers of Bombed Island
The runic rock of Noman’s Land was discovered and identified beyond doubt by the weekend expedition led by Curtiss Bacon, lawyer and visitor to the Vineyard, who has interested himself in an attempt to subject the runes to more complete study than has yet been made. The rock had not been seen since the 1938 hurricane when a great section of cliff on the western shore of Noman’s Land fell into the sea, and it may have been covered for years by this fallen material.
July 27, 1954
Miss Hinni Buys the Former Y.W.C.A. Camp
Camp Winnecunnet, the Y.W.C.A. camp on West Chop road, Vineyard Haven, has been sold this week to Miss Kathleen Hinni, representing the School of Creative Arts which she has conducted in the town for the past several years. The sale, as yet uncompleted, was made through the office of Mrs. O. B. Weeks, formerly Miss Mary Nunes, of Oak Bluffs.
June 25, 1954
Eastville Was First
Eastville was the first populated area within the present town of Oak Bluffs. A map of 1781 showed thirty-two houses in the general region, most of them at Eastville. An 1850 map showed twenty-six houses at and near Eastville. The first census listing a population for the area was that of 1880, and it showed a population of 672, and by this time the settlement of Cottage City had passed Eastville.
April 23, 1954
Changes in Old Hostelry Leave Exterior Unchanged
When the Great Harbour Inn opened in Edgartown this spring, early guests and staff members had several surprises in the form of improvements in the building waiting for them, improvements not discernible from the outside since Richard L. Colter, the owner of the inn, was careful not to disturb the appearance of the 200 year old building.
April 16, 1954
Vineyard Says Yes to Regional School
The Vineyard said YES.
The regional school agreement was adopted by a sweeping vote in all six Island towns at the special town meetings held Tuesday evening. Here are the figures:
Yes No
Chilmark...........76 4
Edgartown.......309 73
Gay Head...........32 1
Oak Bluffs.......213 96
Tisbury............327 208
West Tisbury......93 16
Total........... 1050 398
February 5, 1954
Striped Bass Survey: First Phase Will Determine Whether These Fish Winter in State
The three year joint federal-state study of the striped bass populations in Massachusetts waters will start later this month, according to Francis W. Sargent of Orleans, Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries, Department of Natural Resources. The announcement was made at the annual winter meeting of the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association, held Monday evening at American Legion Hall, Wollaston, where Mr. Sargent was the principle speaker.
November 20, 1953
Battered Vineyard Team Makes Game Bid for Win
The game with Nantucket on Saturday turned out to be one of the roughest that the Martha’s Vineyard footballers have encountered. Judging by the number of injuries suffered by the Island boys, it was the roughest, with the principal Vineyard players seemingly one by one being removed from the game as the advantage irrevocably turned toward the Nantucketers, who finally defeated their visitors 33 to 20.
