Time Machine Terms
September 8, 1882
President Arthur
President Arthur and party went fishing off Menemsha Bight last Wednesday, in the U.S. Fish Commissioners' steamer Fish Hawk. The report that the President sent a bundle of state docucuments to be mailed at Nope lacks confirmation.
June 30, 1882
Telephone Communication
Telephone communication is now complete from Oak Bluffs via this village to Katama. The first message received at the office here was from an exasperated operator at the Bluffs who wanted to know, “Where in thunder are the Katama folks?”
May 27, 1881
Singular Phenomenon
Mr. E. C. Cornell, who spent the night of Friday last, with a companion at the Caleb’s Pond herring fishery, relates the following:
January 27, 1881
Priscilla Freeman
Mrs. Priscilla Freeman, formerly of Deep Bottom but now of Cottage City, one of the few remaining having Indian blood coursing in her veins, if her story is correct – and we believe it is – is a wronged woman.
January 9, 1880
Dissolution of Copartnership
The copartnership heretofore existing under the firm name of KENISTON & JERNEGAN is this day dissolved by mutual consent. All outstanding accounts of the late firm will be settled by Samuel Keniston, its successor.
August 22, 1879
“The Corn Cracker”
The inclement, sultry weather of Sunday and Monday terminated Monday night in one of the severest gales ever known in this vicinity at this season of the year, accompanied by the highest tide in the memory of our residents, for many years. The gale, which was rotary, blew heavily from the southeast during the first part of the night, then moderated to nearly a calm, next springing up from the northwest with terrific violence, after which it veered to the west and toned down to a strong breeze.
August 5, 1879
Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Grove and Vicinity: Dedication
The new Methodist Tabernacle was formally dedicated Wednesday forenoon, in the presence of a goodly number of the clergy and an immense congregation. Rev. Dr. Morrison had the general charge of the exercises, which opened with singing, followed by scripture readings by Revs. Messrs. Brown and Hamlin. Prayer was the offered by Rev. L. B. Bates, followed by singing, after which Bishop Foster arose and commenced his sermon, taking for his text Ephesians IV, 30: “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
July 11, 1879
Dedication
The new skating rink was formally opened Saturday evening last, under the most favorable auspices. The evening was clear and cool, and the City had received those accessions of population incident to the closing day of the week, and the ample space about the skating enclosure was accordingly crowded to overflowing with the recipients of the seven hundred invitations issued.
October 25, 1878
Vineyard Gales and Storms
Rev, Joseph Thaxter, in some notes, speaks of a great gale and rain storm Aug. 12, 1778, which caused terrible destruction of trees and injured the corn more than had ever been known, producing the greatest scarcity of bread ever known in New England.
Also, he speaks of very heavy rain August 23d, 1806, followed by a violent east wind the next day, which beat the corn down to the ground and stripped off the apples from the trees, doing much damage.
October 18, 1878
The Storm: Destruction by Land and Sea
A storm, the like of which in this vicinity the oldest inhabitant fails to remember, visited the Island last Saturday afternoon, and raged with steadily increasing fury till far into the night. On the morning of Sunday the appearance of the town was as if a light tornado had passed over it. Large trees were uprooted, chimneys “razeed,” fences down everywhere, windows in some instances forced in, a few old buildings utterly demolished, and the streets strewn with green leaves and branches wrenched from the unyielding trees.
