Administrator's Report

6

Administrator's Annual Report

July 1, 1972

Great strides have been made during the past year in our endeavor to fulfill our mission to the people of Nantucket. I'll briefly describe some for the record although many were reported in progress last year and most of the others have been well publicized in the newspaper.

Edouard A. Stackpole, a Past President, noted writer, and historian, was appointed last year full-time Historian, and Director of the Peter Foulger Museum as well as continuing to be the Editor of Historic Nantucket. He has organized the library at the Peter Foulger Museum for Nantucket and Maritime History, answered a sizable number of inquiries from all over the world about whaling and Nantucket history, lectured to a number of schools and adult groups; one group tour with 37 people from far away Waco, Texas. Arrangements have been made for him to teach a class in the Nantucket Institute and to speak to civic organizations here and off-island. Of great importance have been his lectures to local and visiting school classes of which there have been a number. We are very proud of the work he is doing and believe it a most important function of the Association.

The Peter Foulger Museum was opened to the public last August and has been favorably received by all from the casual visitor to the expert. I think you will be pleased with Mr. Stackpole's report on its first 10 months in operation.

A new Archaeology Department has been organized. The program is still in the planning stage but has a great potential. Not only do we plan to learn more about Indians and perhaps earlier people, but hopefully, we will discover valuable information about colonial life on the Island.

This summer, for the first time, we have had a full-time grounds keeper and handy man. I think you will agree that John Danzer, the young college man doing the work, has made great improvements in the appearance of our properties.

We placed a marker in Siasconset designating the location of the first wireless station. Plans were made to do this at other historic locations but we have been dragging our feet. I hope some people will volunteer to do the necessary research to move on with this program.

We renewed contact with the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Historical Society and cooperated with them in their efforts to restore one of the houses built by Nantucket whalemen at the time that a group of our people migrated there.

You have seen in this week's paper a picture of the beautiful crewel spread, backdrop, and valance given by Mrs. Richard F. Swain in memory of her mother. It is the handwork of many Nantucket women. Mrs. Swain gave a party at the Hadwen HouseSatler Memorial for those who worked on it. This was a big

ADMINSTRATOR'S REPORT 7

success and gave impetus to the idea that similar affairs should be held from time to time to help bring the house alive as it no doubt was in the Hadwen era.

The Christian House, bequeathed to us in the will of Mrs. Ruth L. Christian with a maintenance fund of $50,000, was opened to the public on June 10. So far, not many have visited it but this will change because it is a magnificent exhibit just filled with memorabilia and charm not surpassed by anything in other famous historic towns.

The small office at the southeast corner of the Old Town Building has been set up by Mr. and Mrs. Hugh R. Chace to resemble a town office of 1850. We have been pleased with comments from visitors from other historical societies who have seen this exhibit.

Some concrete changes have been made in our record keeping and I feel certain reports from now on will be more meaningful to the Council and to any member who cares to compare and analyze them.

Book and pamphlet sales, especially at the Whaling Museum, have continually increased. This not only benefits our income but distributes Nantucket history to an ever-increasing number of people. The "Coffin Saga," one of our most popular books, is out of print but we have a good supply of the "Coffin Family, ' "Three Bricks and Three Brothers," "Triumphant Captain John," and "History of Nantucket Island, A Bibliography of Source Material," as well as the booklet "American Whaling in the Chathams Grounds."

Three things which have "bugged" us for several years have been cleaned up. The old flat bed press, the last in the country to be operated, has been moved to the basement of the Fair Street Museum and will be set in operation at some future date. The Old Town Clock has been moved from the Unitarian Steeple and set up in the Peter Foulger Museum, mostly through the work of Mr. Reginald Reed. The spar for the Old Mill was obtained by Mr. Albert F. Egan, Jr., and carted to the Mill by the Nantucket Gas and Electric Company; quite a feat because it is 65 feet long and from 15 to 22 inches in diameter. This must be put in place and other major repairs made before the Mill can be operated but it will be done.

The idea of having a full size replica of a Nantucket whaleship is still being considered and I have talked with the people who operate ships on exhibit at Mystic, San Diego, and San Francisco. Two questions need to be answered before we proceed. Will we be satisfied with a replica in this Town and Association where everything else is original? Can we raise sufficient monej to build and endow it? I think the answer to both is "yes" but feel real enthusiasm for this must come from the members before anything can be done by the Council. Besides the Christian property we have benefitted by bequests from Helen B. Reynolds, Ives Hendrick, Clara Baker,

8 HISTORIC NANTUCKET Laura K. G. Hecker. Such gifts are of great importance and deeply appreciated. The income on these funds helps so much to carry on the work these people supported during their lifetime and will do much to assure its continuation.

We combined our flier describing the museums and the pamphlet suggesting a walking tour through the center of the town to make an Historic Tour Guide and our buildings are designated by number. This, with the $3.00 tour ticket, is proving most popular and is getting more people into the exhibits, especially those away from the center of the town.

We plan to have the Fair Street Museum and Friends Meeting House open again soon from 2 to 5 p.m. Most of the valuable historic items were moved to the Peter Foulger Museum but what is left is of sufficient interest to justify this as a place to browse and the Friends Meeting House is of great importance in that it is one of the few left in the country and is tied in with so much of Nantucket's past.

Major and expensive repair jobs are always facing us which is understandable with old buildings. Sills, boarding and shingles had to be renewed on the back of the 1800 House, a new roof at the Old Mill, more fence and some roof work at the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial, a corner post, boarding, and a paint job at the Christian House, to name a few. Fortunately, many people have been most generous in adding a donation to their dues which has gone a long way towards meeting these extra expenses.

In closing, I want to express my thanks for the opportunity to work under the able leadership of President Henry B. Coleman and members of the Council. Their mature judgment has helped me avoid many mistakes and cool my impatience.

To the devoted and hard working chairmen, hostesses, and workers in the several museums we all extend our greatest thanks and appreciation for the excellent job they are doing. They are the ones who make the exhibits and keep our heritage alive to the thousands of visitors who come to our buildings each year.

Leroy H. True