Sarah Wilbur’s headstone (April 15, 1792 to March 20, 1875) is in a small graveyard with several unmarked stones just off the Vineyard Haven-Edgartown Road, almost hidden behind the “County Road Oak Bluffs Next Right” sign. I don’t know who Mrs. Wilbur was — or indeed, if in fact she is actually buried there, understanding there is a ceremonial graveyard in Sengekontacket in remembrance but without remains. There’s a family graveyard along Barnes Road near Featherstone. On land owned by the State of Massachusetts, where the John T.

Prior to 1648 when Thomas Mayhew Jr. proselytized Hiacoomes, the first of the original people to adopt Christianity at Pecoy Point, the neighborhood was called Pohqu-auk, meaning open land. As a major campsite, the area was used for gathering shellfish and eels, and growing corn, squash and tobacco. The main source of fresh water was Weatauque (place of the boundary spring) near the Land Bank’s Weahtaqua Springs Preserve at the southernmost point of the lagoon, where the Oak Bluffs water department’s first pumping station is. The original people traversed between these places by way of an ingenious pattern of trails. Pecoy Point is connected by Pulpit Rock Road, which crosses County Road at one of the entrances to Meadow View Farm, where begins the Chase Road that intersects with the Cross Oak Bluffs Trail, which extends south to Holmes Hole Road and across Barnes Road near Featherstone to Weatauque. The trail systems have been adopted as Special Ways, and are protected and conserved. While rarely used, you will find they are easily — instinctively — seen during a highly recommended walk or trail bike ride. Post-mosquitoes and other flying annoyances, this time of year is a good time for a healthy new adventure — but the poison ivy hasn’t fully disappeared so tall pants and socks are a good plan.

The lack of spring rain may be causing Oak Bluffs oak tree leaves to brown early — portending an end to a colorful and busy season. I say season, not summer, because that, like beauty, is difficult to define. Some say summer ends Labor Day, 10 days hence, some may say Tivoli Day in 21 days, and others say Columbus Day in another 44. The truth is that summer ends on your last day on the Vineyard if you’re seasonal —or upon your last outdoor shower if you stay year-round. We all agree the start was Memorial Day weekend and it can be said that July people come for the Vineyard and August people for the additional diversions of events. This year the July people got the weather, including preternaturally warm water, and the August folks certainly got events. And of course there’s still time for a little excitement if the Island gets another “faux-icane” or hurricane that doesn’t quite live up to its billing.