Time Machine Terms
August 28, 1973
Legislators Stay at New Kelley House in Inn’s Old Tradition
One of the best known traditions of the old Kelley House at Edgartown was its semi-annual entertainment of the Justice of the Superior Court and his suite on the occasion of the sittings of the court in and for the County of Dukes County at Edgartown. The sittings used to fall in April and September, and many stories are still told of Bill Kelley and how, on occasion, he took the judge on a tour of Chappaquiddick while the court stood in recess.
For many years the house opened in time for the spring sitting and closed after the fall sitting.
August 24, 1973
Edgartown Mansion Will Be Preserved
An agreement to sell Edgartown’s handsome Dr. Daniel Fisher house on Main street, built in 1840 for that great whaling era figure, has been reached between Island Properties, who president is Dr. Alvin M. Strock, its owner for the past seven years, and a newly formed nonprofit corporation, the Daniel Fisher Corporation.
July 3, 1973
Oak Bluffs Shorefront
About 35,000 cubic yards of sand have been deposited on the beach below Sea View avenue in Oak Bluffs, out of a total of nearly 85,000 yards scheduled to be placed on the beach to rebuild it as part of a $400,000 federal erosion control project now under way.
In addition to the beach buildup, a 570-foot stone groin is being built perpendicular to the shore out into Nantucket Sound to reduce further erosion of the town bathing and recreation area.
February 23, 1973
Authority Acquires a Freighter Boat
The Steamship Authority has purchased the 157-foot diesel-powered motor vessel Auriga for use as a freight carrier. The price was $435,140, “which will be augmented by the cost of modifications for Island service, as well as outfitting and delivery costs.”
According to a statement released by the boatline this week, Auriga will be employed primarily in transporting trucks and freight from Woods Hole to Nantucket during the summer schedule.”
January 5, 1973
Airport Employment Park Plans Outlined
The 100-acre employment park that the county commissioners would like to see become a part of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, thereby defraying airport expenses, was outlined in the greatest detail thus far offered, on Wednesday at the county commissioners’ meeting. The airport is the largest item in the county budget.
November 10, 1972
Wampanoag Council: Tribe Organizes to Protect Gay Head’s Future
To assure that the identity of the Vineyard’s Indians, their history, culture and tribal lands will be preserved, a Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head was organized on Saturday, and Mrs. James R. Gentry elected its president.
November 3, 1972
Great Harbour Inn is to Change Hands
Robert J. Carroll and former state Sen. Allen F. Jones, co-owners and stock holders of the Harbor View Hotel have signed an agreement to purchase Edgartown’s 200-year old Great Harbour Inn on Kelley street from Richard I. Colter. According to Mr. Carrol, their plans are to open the inn on a year-round basis “with deluxe accommodations and a dining room.”
“We think there’s a market for people who might want to live in a centrally located hotel year-round and have things done for them,” Mr. Carroll said.
November 3, 1972
Purple and White Downs Nantucket Whalers 26 to 6
The piercing wail of fire sirens and the exuberant cheering of Regional High supporters greeted each plane-load of the victorious Purple and White football team at the Martha's Vineyard Airport Saturday evening following their first win in seven years over a Nantucket eleven.
October 20, 1972
Open Door Club Now A Memory: Mrs. Edna Smith, Founder Sells Her Home
The little white house behind shrubs at the corner of Cooke street and Tilton Way that, for more than three decades, has been a home away from home for household help in Edgartown, no longer will be welcoming the lonely next summer.
October 13, 1972
The Manuel Art of Building Catboats, Trust and a Life
The story has been told of a sculptor who was asked how he proceeded in carving the statue of an elephant. He is quoted as saying, “I merely break and cut off whatever part of the stone does not resemble an elephant and what is left has to be right.”
Of Manuel Swartz Roberts, house carpenter, boatbuilder and cabinetmaker, it was said, “Manuel sees the figure that he plans to make in the rough log before he ever picks up his tools”, and this has never been disputed by those who knew Manuel best.
