USA > Massachusetts > Dukes County > Marthas Vineyard > The history of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes County, Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 45
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2 Degrees west to a stone two foot to the Westward of a black cherry tree standing opposite to the said Manter's House; thence North IO Degrees West to a stone on the north side of Manter's Land and to continue in the same direction across the Land of Thomas Wheldon to a stone on the North side thereof. Thence North twelve degrees West to a stake twenty-seven foot Westward from the Westernmost bound of Timothy Chases Fence as it now stands.
The above described line thus far to be the Westerly Bounds of said Road, and from said Line to take its breadth Easterly full twenty-seven feet in all its parts and windings.
And from the last described stake and stones to pass over said road Eastward to another stake and stones standing at Right Angles and twenty- seven feet Distant which is the easterly bounds of said Road, and from thence to continue Northerly as the Old Cart Way now goes, and parallel thereto, and three feet to the Eastward of the Eastermost Cart Rut, until it comes upon the land of John Holmes to a large crotched black oak tree standing on the East side of said Cartway and something to the Northward of where the Path that leads to the house of the sd Holmes turns out of the sd Cart way and then from said black oak tree to continue on the same course on a straight line to a stake standing on the Beach at the Hollow (so called) and so to the Water or Harbor and to continue Northerly by the Harbor till it meets with the Head of the Point Pond (so called) and southerly till it comes to the foot of the Upland and to be in Breadth forty foot in all parts.1
It was ordered that it continue an open highway and no damages were assessed on the property improved by the survey.
No changes have been made in this layout since that date, but in 1818 there was a petition to the Court from the property holders for permission "to maintain a Gate across
1Dukes County Court Records, October term, 1798.
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the County highway that leads from the head of Homes Hole harbour towards the West Chop in the lands of the late Timothy Chase at or near the house of John Cleve- land." This was granted and maintained for many years. It was not till 1889 that the road from the Slough to the Light- house was cleared and graded, its width marked and. the surface dressed with shells. It is now a splendid highway its entire length.
Wharf Street. - Some time prior to 1834 the way leading from Main street to Union wharf was laid out. It began according to the record, "at the South westerley corner of Capt Charles Smiths lot and runing by said Smiths and Jonathan Luce Jr Land to high water mark the course to be S 89ยบ E distance twenty three rods & Eight feet to a bound there Sett Making said road forty feet wide at the High water line and thirty feet wide at the head."1
High Street. - This street was laid out, and connection established with County road, in 1845, by the lane near the Methodist parsonage.
Centre Street. - Laid out in 1854 to Franklin street.
Franklin Street. - Laid out from Spring to Church streets 1854 and continued in 1891 to Woodlawn avenue.
Church Street. - Laid out in 1854 to Franklin Street.
Spring Street. - Laid out in 1854 to Franklin Street.
Water Street. - Laid out in 1855 from Beach to Wharf.
William Street. - This street received its name as a compliment to Captain William Daggett, prominent in town and church affairs. It was officially laid out in 1864, as far north as the lane leading by the old "Chapel" school house.
THE U. S. GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
THE POST OFFICE.
The first representative of the general government to be established here was the Post Office department, which ap- pointed Isaac Daggett, on Jan. 1, 1795, as postmaster of Homes Hole. At that early time the office was in the residence or store of the occupant of the position, and it is probable that it was then in his store and tavern on Wharf street. He held this appointment only a brief time, and was' succeeded
1Tisbury Records, 512.
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CAPT. WILLIAM DAGGETT 1773-1858
Annals of Tisbury
Apirl 1, 1796, by Joseph Claghorn, who then lived in the Hillman house on Water street, where the office was probably carried. The position was held by Claghorn for exactly two years, and he was succeeded by Silas Daggett (115), who kept the tavern on the corner of Main and Centre streets. After him came Dr. Rufus Spalding, who was appointed Jan. I, 1803, and took the office to his residence on Beach street. His successor was Theodosius Parsons, appointed March 23, 1812, and he held the office for sixteen years, keeping it in his house on Main street, opposite Spring street.1 Capt. William Cottle (105) was the next postmaster, commissioned Jan. 28, 1828, and the office was located in his store adjoining his house on Main street, opposite Centre street. He died 1830, and it appears that the Postmaster General wrote to the people here to select a successor. The town records contain the following entry: ---
Voted by ballot for a suitable man to keep the post office in holmes hole in answer to a Request from the Postmaster General. Votes being brought in & counted for Charles West seven for William Downs one2 [November 24, 1830].
This town meeting of eight voters had no effect upon the matter, for before they had solemnly met to vote, a successor was already appointed, Nov. 11, 1830, in the person of Capt. Shubael Dunham (257), who lived on the spot now occupied by the present post office, corner of Church and Main streets. He held the office till his death, in 1835, when he was followed by his son George Dunham (425), who was commissioned March 2, 1835, and held the office for over twenty-three years, the longest tenure of any of our postmasters. His successors have been as follows: Eliakim Norton, appointed Sept. 15, 1858; James Norton, Feb. 14, 1861; James D. Peakes, July 25, 1861; George N. Peakes, Nov. 7, 1881; John F. Robinson, Sept. 18, 1885; Horton Johnson, 1900-1902; Stephen Cary Luce, 1902 (present incumbent). After the fire of 1883 the office was located in Lane's block till the appointment of Mr. Luce, who removed it to the corner of Main and Church streets, where it now is.
In February, 1871, the Department sanctioned the change of the name of the office from Holmes Hole to Vineyard Haven.
1He was from Greenwich, Conn., and had served as a soldier in the Connecticut troops. He was in the Lexington alarm list, 1775, and served as a gunner in Col. Lamb's regiment of artillery. His enlistments covered the war from start to finish.
2Tisbury Records. 479.
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CUSTOMS SERVICE.
In 1817 Homes Hole was made a sub-port of entry for Edgartown, in consequence of the growth of this place as a maritime centre. Prior to that, Capt. William Worth (65), was acting as customs officer here, until his removal in 1814 to Charlton, Mass. His nephew, Henry Pease Worth (72), was the first Deputy Collector, under appointment dated Nov. 29, 1817, and he held this position nearly fifty years. His office was in a building where the Public Library is now located, on Main street. He was succeeded, June 17, 1861, by.Capt. Henry W. Beetle, a native of New Bedford, who held the office for nearly thirty years, until his death. The present incumbent, Lorenzo F. Luce, was appointed Aug. 16, 1890, and it will be noted as an unusual circumstance that for a period of over ninety years (1817-1908) there have been but three persons to occupy this office in succession.
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
This town was the first on the Vineyard to have a public hospital. The harbor of Homes Hole was much frequented in colonial days by sailing craft from all ports on the north and south Atlantic coasts, and diseases of a contagious char- acter, like small pox, were frequently spread by the crews of vessels riding at anchor here, while weather-bound. In August, 1763, the town gave Dr. Samuel Gelston of Nantucket permis- sion to "Cary on and Practice Inoculation of the Small Pox in Soume Suitable Place at Homeses hole" under certain pro- visions and restrictions. He was obliged to treat all cases of small pox landed here, "without any Demands from the Town their for," and further required to pay six shillings for every person inoculated "While he Practices in that Dis- temper." How long he carried this on is not known, but this arrangement was renewed the next year.1 The location of the hospital is not of record, as it was only a temporary structure in all probability. In 1798 the Justices of the County Court petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts to erect a hospital for contagious diseases on the Vineyard, and sug- gested "that the West side of Homeshole Harbour would be much the most Convenient place for such a Building." But after securing an appropriation the committee located it at
1Tisbury Records, 183-5.
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Eastville. Nothing further was done until 1822, when the town
Voted to Petition Congress to erect a Hospital in this Town for the recep- tion of Distressed Seamen or make Some Provision for Seamen that may be landed here destitute of the means of Support.1
This failed to accomplish any result, and another was sent, April, 1826, to Congress, "praying that some provision might be made for the relief of the sick and disabled seamen arriving at this port."2 The Secretary of the Treasury, who had charge of such matters under the law, directed the Collector of Customs at Edgartown to make some suitable arrangements. This was done immediately, and Dr. Daniel Fisher contracted to furnish subsistence, lodging, medical attendance and nursing for all cases that might be brought into port for the sum of $300 per annum. This arrangement apparently lapsed or was not properly carried out, as on Dec. 24, 1836, the Secretary wrote the Collector that "Complaints are made to the Depart- ment that no provision is made for the relief of sick and dis- abled seamen in that part of your District in which the harbor of Holmes Hole is situate."3 He ordered the Collector to make the necessary arrangements, but it not known how the directions were carried out.
The Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. Levi Woodbury, on Dec. II, 1837, in a report to the Senate on the subject, recommended that "a Marine Hospital be located at Holmes Hole or Edgartown or some other convenient point in the neighborhood of Marthas Vineyard." From 1853 to 1861 Dr. John Pierce had the contract for medical services, but his appointment caused dissatisfaction because of his residence in Edgartown. Numerous petitions were sent to the Department in 1854, asking for his removal and the appointment of Dr. Moses Brown, who resided here.4 In 1856 Dr. Ralph K. Jones was an applicant for the appointment, but Dr. Pierce survived the campaign against him until 1862, when Dr. D. A. Cleveland obtained the office.5 He was followed by Dr. William Leach, who erected a small hospital on the Edgartown road in 1866, especially for the treatment of sick seamen. This was an improvement over the old method of "farming
1Tisbury Records, 417. William Cottle and Captain Seth Daggett prepared the petition.
2Custom House Records, Edgartown.
3Records Treasury Department (M. H. S.) I, 92.
"Ibid., III, 235.
$Ibid., III, 500.
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out" these cases, but it was still unsatisfactory, from an ad- ministrative standpoint, to the Department. Accordingly, in 1879, the late Surgeon General Hamilton, in charge of the Marine Hospital Service, made a personal visit to Vineyard Haven to inspect the situation. He secured as temporary quarters for sick seamen the abandoned lighthouse building at the head of the harbor, and converted it into a hospital.' It was opened on Nov. 28, 1879, under the charge of Acting Assistant Surgeon W. D. Stewart of the general service, and became a marine hospital and a station of the first class officially. This officer, who had greatly endeared himself to the com- munity through a period of seven years, died October 30, 1886, and was succeeded temporarily by Assistant Surgeon Seaton Norman, and later as a regular detail by Passed. Assistant Surgeon R. P. M. Ames (1886-1889). From this time forward the hospital has been under command of regularly commissioned officers as follows: Surgeon Charles E. Banks, 1889-92; Passed Assistant Surgeon Elisha R. Houghton, 1892-6; Passed Assistant Surgeon J. C. Perry, 1895 (temporary); Passed Assistant Surgeon Duncan A. Carmichael, 1896-7; Passed Assistant Surgeon Wm. J. S. Stewart, 1897-8; Assistant Surgeon Sherrard Tabb, 1898-9; (temporary)2 Surgeon Frank W. Mead, 1899-1901; Surgeon Duncan A. Carmichael, 1901-5; Assistant Surgeon William C. Rucker, 1905-7; Acting Assistant Surgeon E. P. Worth, 1907 (temporary).
The present hospital building is of modern construction and recently built on additional land adjacent to the old light- house grounds. The following extract from the report of the Surgeon-General conveys particular information as to the new structure: -
Through the assiduous efforts of Surgeon Charles E. Banks, then on duty at this station, Hon. Charles S. Randall, member of Congress from this district, and the Surgeon General, an item of $20,000 was in- cluded in the Sundry civil bill for the erection of a new hospital at this station, which bill became a law on March 4, 1891.
Plans were prepared by the supervising architect, and the construction of the new hospital was begun on December 16, 1894. It was completed
1The building and grounds (50 x 380) were transferred by the Lighthouse estab- lishment.
?This officer will be kindly remembered by the residents of Vineyard Haven for his bravery and untiring efforts in the dangerous work of rescuing shipwrecked sailors in the terrible storm of November, 1898, when 26 vessels were driven ashore and a number of the crew perished from cold and exhaustion in sight of the beach, almost beyond human help.
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UNITED STATES MARINE HOSPITAL, VINEYARD HAVEN COMPLETED IN 1895
Annals of Tisbury
in October, 1895, and furnished and opened for the reception of patients on December 30, 1895.1
The hospital station now incorporates the old lighthouse building and ward as a part of the establishment, these original buildings serving as apartments in the rear for employees, store- rooms and other adjuncts of a hospital.
In the twenty-five years since its establishment, this hos- pital has treated about 6,500 sick and disabled seamen, an average of about 250 cases annually.
U. S. WEATHER BUREAU.
A station of this service was opened here in November, 1886, and the office established in the Mansion House by H. H. Curley as Observer. The headquarters for this meteor- ological district were at Nantucket. The late Lieut. Max Wagner, U.S.V., then in the Weather Bureau, succeeded as officer in charge, and he was followed by William W. Neifert (1890), Harvey B. Dick (1893), and Cornelius J. Doherty (1900), all of the general service. In 1895 the telegraphic business was sold to the Martha's Vineyard Telegraph Co., and the meteorological work discontinued, June 18, 1900, after being in existence fourteen years. The records of the station were sent to the Bureau in Washington, and an abstract copy deposited with the late Thurston W. Tilton for con- venience of reference locally.
LIGHTHOUSE ESTABLISHMENT.
West Chop. - Under provision of an act approved March 3, 1817, by which the sum of $5,000 was appropriated therefor, a lighthouse was built on the point of West Chop, on the bluff.' Constant erosions of the shore by the swift tidal action at this exposed locality caused the government to remove it further back in 1830, and again in 1846 to its present position, for similar reasons.3 Since the latter date the tower has been increased in height. It is a fixed white light, with a red sector, and a steam fog whistle is an auxiliary part of this important aid in the navigation of the Vineyard Sound.
1Annual Report Marine Hospital Service, 1896.
2U. S. Statutes, III, 360; VI, 192.
3 Jurisdiction was ceded by the state in 1817 and 1830. (Acts and Resolves ann. cit. II and III.)
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The keepers have been three in the past ninety years: James West, 1818-48; Charles West, 1849-68; Charles P. West, 1869 to present time.
Harbor Light. - In the appropriation act of March 3, 1851, the establishment of a harbor or range light at the head of Homes Hole was authorized, and $3,500 made available therefor.1 Jurisdiction was not ceded for two years by the state, and then a two-story house with a small lantern tower2 was built in 1854 on the edge of the bluff, in front of the U. S. Marine Hospital. Originally there were three range lights connected with the house, but they were abandoned for one in the cupola. Matthew P. Butler was the first light keeper, and he was succeeded by Moses T. Cromwell. It was aban- doned about 1875, and in 1879 was transferred to the Marine Hospital service. In recent years a red lantern, suspended nightly from a flag staff of the hospital, acts as a substitute range light for entering the harbor.
INDUSTRIES.
Salt Works. - At the time of the Revolution there were large pans on the shores of Bass creek, where salt was manu- factured by the ancient method of evaporation of sea water. They were in existence in 1840, and others at or near the herring creek, owned by Isaac Luce, were erected at least twenty years previously.
Whale Fishery. - This town had an indirect connection with this business through its seafaring men, who went out as masters or sailors of vessels outfitted elsewhere, but there was no local establishment for the accommodation of whalers.3 In 1850 three vessels engaged in this industry were owned here, the ships Ocmulgee and Pocahontas and the bark Malta, representing an investment of $68,000, which had brought a return of $125,378 that year. This industry has today its representatives resident in Vineyard Haven, Captain Leander Owen, a whaler of the old sailing craft days, survivor of the great Arctic disaster of 1871, whose eyesight was permanently injured by Arctic "ice blindness," and Captain Hartson H.
1U. S. Statutes, IX, 627.
2Acts and Resolves, 1853, p. 72. The building was used as a residence by the keeper and his family.
3There was a Try house near Beach street before 1800, but it had become dis- used by that date. It was probably erected for trying out the oil from whales.
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Bodfish, now a successful leader in the steam whaling business of the present-century methods.
The merchant service, however, has been the principal field of activity for this community from the earliest times. The men of Homes Hole, young and old, have ventured afar on the seven seas for generations, have carried our flag to the most distant parts of the navigable globe. To name them would be almost a census of its male inhabitants in every decade.
Herring Fishery. - The fine herring run and fishery at Ashappaquonsett has been a famous and prolific domestic industry from time immemorial, and it is a common heritage of the townsmen unto this day. But it represents a century of wasted opportunity for the development of an industry pro- ductive of revenue for the town. As an annual free-for-all spoliation it neither benefits the few nor profits the town as a whole, as managed in the past.
Harness Factory. - In 1872 a harness factory was established by R. W. Crocker and from small beginnings, grew to be a large and valuable industry. At times nearly a hundred people found employment through its operations, directly or indirectly. It was incorporated in 1892 as the Crocker Harness Company, under new management, but after a short career suspended operations and finally went out of business. The building remained unoccupied for a number of years, and was finally destroyed by fire.
Corn Mill. - A steam grist mill was established on Water street in 1881 by William J. Rotch and is yet in operation, under the management of William P. Bodfish.
Leather Embossing. - A factory for the embossing of leather in artistic designs for ornamental purposes was estab- lished by the Luxemoor Co., operating under letters patent. The head of this enterprise was William Barry Owen as financial backer. It closed down in 1908, and is now a thing of the past.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
There is nothing in the town records, or other documents to show that the schools had any place in the thoughts of the town before 1737, though we may surely suppose that some- thing had been done in this line which is not of record. One of the West family, Thomas (20), had been graduated from
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Harvard in 1730, and he must have received his preliminary education here. The first town record, under date of Feb. 14, 1736-7, provides a school "the Remaining part to Com- pleat a year (two months) to be keept at some Convenient place at Homeses Hole," and Abner West was the committee man for that year.1 No further reference occurs till 1749, when a similar provision was made,2 and again in 1752 the school was "to be keept at Homeses hole two Months."3 A quarter of a century elapses before another allusion is made to schools, in December, 1776 :-
Thirdly it was Likewise Voted at Said meeting that the People of Homseshole in the Districts of Tisbuary are to be provide a School for themselves to Extend Westward as far as Thomas Smiths sam'l Looks Silvanus Luces and to Draw their proportion of Monney Out of the Treasury for Said School for Three Years Ensuing the Date hereof
In 1792, the next record, this village was made the 4th School District of Tisbury, and the ensuing year Samuel Look, Timothy Chase and Abraham Chase were appointed the school committee." These infrequent references, half a dozen in a century of existence, give meagre details on this topic, but the context implies continuity.
In the first year of the 19th century the town raised $250 for schools, but the proportion for this precinct was not cal- culated; probably about $100 would closely proximate the allotment. In 1821 it was $112.67; in 1830 it was $215.54; in 1840 it was $313.17; in 1850 it was $600 (estimated); in 1860 it was $800 (estimated); in 1871 it was $2,404.95; in 1901 it was $3,603.50; an increase of thirty fold in the century with half as many scholars. The attendance has ranged from 329 in 1821 to 298 in 1830; 152 in 1872 and 160 in 1900, a reduction of over fifty per cent. in that period.
The location of school-houses, like all matters pertaining to the early annals of education in the town, is lost in the obscurity of the past. Probably the first school-house was erected at the junction of Beach street and the County high- way, but when it was built is not of record. It was called the South school after 1829, when the town was divided into two districts, and the second school-house was built, probably in
1Tisbury Records, 102.
2Ibid., 130. 3Ibid., 144. 4Ibid., 218. 5Ibid., 286.
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that year or the next.1 This new school building was the "Chapel" so called, now the home of the Sea Coast Defence Chapter, D.A.R. In 1850 there was a third school-house built on the West Chop road, opposite the Slough. The present commodious building on Church street accommodates the primary, intermediate, grammar, and high school grades. It was enlarged in 1900, fitted with modern sanitary and hygienic furnishings, and is a model suburban school, houses all the scholars in town and furnishes instruction in the highest grade for pupils from other towns.
The names of teachers employed in the early times are not recorded. Joseph Claghorn (162) was the first known "Schoolmaster" in the town, probably from his coming here (about 1788) to his death (1805), and he taught in the old South school. Nathan Mayhew (801), a native of Chilmark, born 1798, was the next school-teacher of note. He had re- moved with his father to Farmington, Me., about 1808, but returned about 1825, and settled in this town as a teacher in the public school. He owned and occupied the house recently in the possession of Captain James Lawrence Smith, and the new school-house across the lane was the scene of his labors as a pedagogue for a quarter of a century. He removed to Norton, Mass., about 1853, and later lived in Boston. He died in 1865 at Milton, Mass. at the residence of his son, Rev. Wm. H. Mayhew (now of Yarmouth Port), and his body was buried in Milton cemetery.
Contemporaneously, the Rev. Seth Ewer, the Baptist preacher, taught the South school and subsequent to them came J. Dana Bullen, John Gower, Rev. J. C. Boomer, George B. Muzzey, S. W. Hathaway, E. K. Parker, Charles E. Mosher, Judge Hammond, now of the Superior Court of Massachusetts, Thurston W. Tilton (1874 to 1898 at intervals), H. H. Lovell, Timothy P. Weeks, Louis A. Fales and Arthur C. Clarke.
As in the other towns, there were many teachers of private schools in the course of the past century. Chief of these must be mentioned the late Abigail W. Daggett (b. 1798), who taught in the forties and fifties.
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