Time Machine Terms
November 9, 1934
Edgartown Loses Boat
Beginning Sunday, Nov. 11, the Island steamboat schedule will be changed to eliminate the trips to and from Edgartown. The last boat in the evening will put into Vineyard Haven and remain there, leaving at 6:10 in the morning as has been the custom.
July 3, 1934
Verses Speak the Island Spirit, Prints Its Charm
Islanders are honored by Jonas Lie, celebrated artist and president of the National Academy of Design, who has written the foreword for a new book of Vineyard poems and prints by Sidney N. Riggs and Joseph C. Allen. The foreword, as written by Mr. Lie, is deeply appreciative of the Vineyard scenery, and refers with understanding to the Island’s sturdy home folks, the theme of the artist and the writer of the book as well.
May 18, 1934
Famous Whaleboat is Presented to the Historical Society
The whaleboat in which Vineyarders out-pulled all others who met them here and elsewhere, has been presented to the Dukes County Historical Society by Captain Isaac Norton of Vineyard Haven, commander of the craft, George Smith of Oak Bluffs, the only surviving member of the crew, and Captain Norton’s nephews, Benjamin, Frank, Orrin and James Norton. The historic craft has been stored in the barn of Cyrus Norton, brother of Captain Isaac, for more than thirty years. It was last used in an historical pageant at Lake Tashmoo.
August 18, 1933
Edgartown’s Master Shipbuilder
Generations have taken pride in the reputation of the Edgartown shipbuilder, master constructor of barns, barges and binnacle boxes, Manuel Swartz. Known in every civilized country of the globe for the skill with which he constructs caskets, catboats and checkerboards, he might easily have won a place for himself in world history but for the deteriorating effects of modern milk-and-water mildness inspired by unhampered pacifism.
June 26, 1933
Seagoing President Spends Night Here
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the nation’s first real seagoing chief executive, made port at Edgartown Sunday afternoon in the midst of the nor’west squall, and lay there at anchor until the following morning when he got under way for Nantucket. The visit was entirely impromptu weather conditions making it highly practical that he seek shelter, and the president did not himself land, although invitations to remain overnight ashore were extended to him. But his son James landed and made the acquaintance of the town, exchanging friendly remarks with various persons he met.
June 23, 1933
Emily Post’s Vineyard
To Vineyarders the most interesting contribution to a recent symposium on favorite vacation spots published by Vogue is that Mrs. Price Post, who tells of her summer home on Fuller street, Edgartown. An atmospheric little sketch accompanies the contribution which is as follows:
June 16, 1933
Guide to the South Road Has Many Landmarks
South Road, the main artery of travel between eastern and western extremities of the Vineyard is at once outstanding in its natural scenery and its historical associations. Beginning, properly, opposite Parsonage Pond in West Tisbury village, it extends through Chilmark and Gay Head to the lighthouse and the country park on the headland in that town, where thousands go each year to view the famous Gay Head cliffs.
May 26, 1933
Conservation Army, 219 Strong, Is Due
A conservation army, numbering 219 men, will arrive on the Island today to take up the work of reforestation in the state reservation under the federal plan for relieving unemployment. This army is one that has been through the preliminary course of training at Camp Devens, and will be in charge of a captain and two lieutenants of the regular army, besides a detail of military police.
April 21, 1933
Last Heath Hen is Dead and Race is Now Extinct, Expert Observers Agree
Somewhere on the great plain of Martha’s Vineyard death and the heath hen have met. One day, just as usual, there was a bird called the heath hen, and the next day there was none. How he came to his end no human being can know. But the death of wild birds is a violent death. The eye becomes dimmed, the beat of the wings lags ever so little, the star of fortune blinds for a fraction of a second it is enough. An enemy strikes and death has come.
April 13, 1933
Mail Away Your Copy of Gazette's First Invitation Edition
This is the first Invitation Edition of the Vineyard Gazette. The purpose is to invite and urge newcomers (and old friends as well) to visit Martha’s Vineyard in 1933. Don’t throw your copy away. Send it to a friend on the mainland, or to someone else who may be interested in a Vineyard vacation. If you wish to save your Gazette, (and many Islanders do preserve their copies), additional papers may obtained, wrapped and ready for mailing, at the Gazette office.
