Editorial

5

Nantucket's Character for All Seasons

The busy summer months are over, and the island is entering a secondary period when visitors come to enjoy those weeks of fall which many realize bring some of the finest weather of the year. There are many visitors to whom Nantucket out of season represents something needed more and more in modern times — an opportunity to enjoy a town and island where the atmosphere of the past still serves as a tangible part of the present.

It is this old-time flavor which does so much to rekindle the spirit of the ancient day, when the simpler life prevailed. Strolling through the streets and lanes of this island-town during winter months brings a marked appreciation for the character of the community, as well as a renewed respect for the men and women who created that Nantucket which became world famous.

Thus, a visit to Nantucket over a winter's day is in the nature of a pilgrimage. Not only are the architectural appeals of interest but the old-time flavor of the earlier times becomes apparent and attractive. Something of the fundamental concepts of our American ideals is recaptured. The sturdy qualities of a people to whom the sea was a means of livelihood; the freedom of opportunity, of action and of expression which created Nantucket all are reflected by the visible evidences of a remarkable history.

The various buildings maintained by the Nantucket Historical Association serve as excellent guideposts to the story of Nantucket. The richness of the whaling tradition, the uniqueness of the early days of island settlement, the years of depression and the coming of the era of "summer business" are presented through the Oldest House, Old Mill, Christian House, HadwenSatler Mansion, 1800 House, and Peter Foulger Museum. The Whaling Museum serves as a vivid reminder of the adventurous days when Nantucket ships sailed into the world's most distant seas.

Our Association represents a distinct asset to modern Nantucket by maintaining the rich story of the island's past. When the late fall season arrives the Hadwen-Satler House, the Peter Foulger Museum and the Whaling Museum will continue to have Saturday afternoon openings, so that visitors may enjoy an opportunity to learn why Nantucket's part in the history of our nation is both fascinating and important. Revisiting the older American scene serves as a stabilizing influence, reminding us of the fundamentals of American life, those basic qualities which created the young United States and sustained it during its vigorous growth, and must continue to serve as inspirational forces for the future.