Time Machine Terms
August 5, 1887
A New Summer Resort
Capt. William Lewis has sold to a syndicate of Boston gentlemen all the land, wharf property, &c., of the West Point Land Co., on West Chop, Martha’s Vineyard. This land was purchased by Capt. Lewis some 12 or 15 years ago and improvements made to the extent of several thousand dollars. Avenues were laid out, a wharf was built and the land was plotted for cottage lots, but the boom at Cottage City at that time diverted attention from this fine locality. The purchasers are heavy men and include William Minot, Stephen Weld and Francis Peabody.
July 23, 1886
For Sale
At Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. - A large, substantial, square Mansion house, stable and grounds; the house is well supplied with open fire-places, etc., and was built regardless of cost by the late Dr. Daniel Fisher, and is in the most perfect condition, and needs not the outlay of a dollar; from the cupola is obtained a beautiful and extended landscape and marine view; rest and quiet are found here, while distant only fifteen minutes by rail is the bustling thriving city of Oak Bluffs. The heirs offer this estate at an enormous sacrifice. For full particulars apply to Horace S. Crowell, 27 State St., Boston; Hon. Jonathan Bourne, New Bedford; or J. W. Donaldson, Edgartown.
July 18, 1886
The Vineyard Skating Rink
The Vineyard Skating Rink, now transformed into the “Cottage City Casino,” equipped with stage and scenery and furnished with comfortable seating, is likely to prove one of the most popular institutions of Cottage City. Mr. H. E. Reed, a wide-awake gentleman of proved executive ability, is the manager, and has already opened the ball with a week of comic opera.
July 16, 1886
New Steamer
The new steamer Nantucket is about completed, and will come on the route about the 22nd of the present month. Capt. Charles C. Smith, of the steamer Monohansett, will bring her from the place of building and command her.
April 2, 1886
Steamboat Company Organized
The new New Bedford, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket Steamboat Company consolidated from the New Bedford, Vineyard & Nantucket and the Nantucket & Cape Cod Steamboat Companies, was organized in New Bedford Thursday, 25th ult.
August 22, 1884
Deaf Mutes on the Vineyard
In an interview with Mr. Frank Z. Maguire, of Washington, who has been on the Vineyard the past week looking up deaf-mute statistics, that gentleman expresses himself as follows with reference to the matter in its local application, and on the general subject:
June 11, 1884
Oak Bluffs: The Carousel
Mr. F. O. Gordon of New York, is to erect a carousel at the rear of the skating rink. The pavilion will contain not only the revolving horses, but will be fitted up as a first-class place for affording light entertainment.
January 25, 1884
The City of Columbus: Details of the Catastrophe off Gay Head
The iron steamer City of Columbus, of the Boston & Savannah Steamboat Company, Capt. S. E. Wright, sailed from Boston at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon for Savannah, Ga., carrying 80 first-class and 22 steerage passengers, about one-third of whom were ladies and children, and a crew numbering 45 persons. Thursday night the wind blew a hurricane from the northwest, and a tremendous sea was running. At 3:45 a.m., Friday morning, with Gay Head Light bearing south half east, the vessel struck on the reef outside Devil’s Bridge buoy.
August 17, 1883
Vineyard Haven Fire
The entire business portion of the town, as already stated, was totally destroyed on Saturday night, Aug. 11th. Twenty-six stores, thirty-two dwellings, two stables, and twelve barns and smaller buildings were burned. Desolation is abroad in the streets. Some of the sufferers have lost all; others have an inconsiderable insurance. The majority had not their property insured for more than half the nominal value. The heaviest losses perhaps fall upon the Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
The Mansion House will probably be rebuilt.
February 9, 1883
The Rocker Family: How their transfer from Cottage City to the State Alms House was accomplished
The series of endeavors on the part of the town of Cottage City to rid itself of the now notorious Rocker family culminated last Friday in a performance, the true story of which reads more like the report of a riot in a Louisiana parish, or like a leaf from some yellow-colored “Life on the Border,” or like a chapter from Reade or Dickens on the administration of the charity laws in the old country, than like the simple account of the removal of the local authorities of a poor family, located in a New England town, to the paternal care of the government of the State of Massachusetts.
