Editorial — Lessons From the Past

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Lessons From The Past

Ail Editorial

THE FIRE which destroyed the Straight Wharf Theatre several weeks ago was a severe test for the Nantucket Fire Department, and through the efforts of the firemen Nantucket was saved from a conflagration that could have burned out the entire area of the closely built structures. One of the major reasons for the success of the firemen in controlling the blaze and confining it to the Theatre building was the fact that the old brick warehouse next door served as a bulwark against the spread of the flames and enabled the firemen to concentrate on saving the Captain Tobey's Restaurant on the east side of the Theatre. Despite the fact that the entire side of the old warehouse had to have a complete new brick wall the structure stood up against the searing heat and provided the stop against the leaping menace of the flames.

Here was a case where a lesson learned from the Great Fire of 1846 had a direct application in preventing what could have been another major disaster. No sooner had the devastation created by the conflagration of 1846 been assessed than the merchants of the town began to plan for the rebuilding of the businesses and wharf areas. On Main Street Square the brick blocks were constructed, which today contribute so much to the atmosphere of the entire area. Richard Mitchell built the brick candle house that was later taken over by Hadwen and Barney and is now the Whaling Museum, and on Straight Wharf another brick warehouse was erected for Thomas Macy.

The sons of Thomas, Isaac and Philip Macy, took over the ownership of the building, and the manager of the firm was Joseph B. Macy who, a few years later, acquired the warehouse. Here he set up the counting house for outfitting the last whaleships to sail from Nantucket, and when the bark Oak cleared from this harbor in 1869 it marked the end to the great industry that had made Nantucket world-famous. Here, also, Joseph B. Macy organized the Nantucket Fishing Company and, with hfs associates, tried to create a fleet of fishing schooners for Nantucket. One of the features of the Macy counting house in the structure was the huge iron safe that had been removed from the ashes of the Manufacturers & Mechanics Bank on the corner of Federal and Main streets, presently "The Hub". The iron doors are now in the Whaling Museum's reception area.

In July, 1905, the Macy warehouse was sold to James A. Holmes Jr., and B. Chester Pease, and became a carpenter shop for two decades, subsequently serving as a storage warehouse. Kenneth Taylor,

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

impressed by its sturdiness, purchased it and it became the headquarters for the Kenneth Taylor Foundation. Upon his death it was converted into an art gallery and is now owned by the Association which bears his name.

The Macy warehouse was built against the day another disastrous fire might endanger Straight Wharf. It represents a lesson learned from the past.

Administrator's Annual Report

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DURING THE PAST year we have made considerable progress in restoring portraits and prints and in making major repairs to our buildings. Unfortunately, I cannot say "Everything is now completed" because all old buildings, furniture, and pictures have one thing in common, they are constantly in need of care. We had just finished shingling the mill when a 32 foot 8 inch x 8 inch timber supporting the vanes broke and the fence at the Hadwen House had just been repaired and painted when a car crashed into it.

Improvements have also been made in most of the exhibits. I especially wish to call your attention to the work done in the Oldest House, Whaling Museum and Hadwen House; each has been accomplished through the efforts and often physical labor of the Chairman.

Several opportunities to purchase artifacts have been turned down because we lacked the funds. I deeply regretted passing up an Eastman Johnson painting which should be in Nantucket and I have no doubt it will increase in value within the next few years.

In conjunction with the Board of Selectmen we have made an intensive effort to secure the lightship "Nantucket" and Mr. Beinecke assured us of an excellent place to dock it. However, as I write this, it looks doubtful if we will succeed. One never having been involved in such an undertaking cannot imagine the work, frustration, and out of pocket expense involved in such an effort.

More than ever we have opened our exhibits to school, church, scout and college groups for visits and study. A class from the University of Massachusetts worked in the Peter Foulger Museum most of the winter; students from the Preservation Institute are using our facilities, four hundred came from the Barnstable Middle School with three smaller groups in one day, and hundreds of young people from the two scout camps and youth hostel have benefited by what we offer. We do a good job for these people but it would be greatly improved were we able to find a person to plan and co-ordinate the program.

Mr. Stackpole has lectured and presented slides on several occasions and given historic talks to a number of civic organizations. These have been well and enthusiastically attended and supplement the articles published in Historic Nantucket as a means of teaching Nantucket history.

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Forty-seven people participated in one archaeology dig at Quidnet last summer. It is being carried on again this year.

Plans for the 1976 Domestic Arts display are progressing but we have been disappointed at the small number of distinguished pieces of furniture offered for the exhibit. Hopefully, this will improve in the next few months because Mrs. Greene has plans for a very worth-while display but must have the material.

A group of men did an excellent job this spring polishing brass and treating furniture at the Hadwen House. There are many exhibits which could be improved had we a few more people willing to donate a couple of hours a week of their time. Not only for the care of the exhibits but we need volunteers to expand our history teaching program for our schools, to help number and correlate our artifacts; to dress up the yards, especially restoring the Hadwen House garden to its former beauty, to assist in securing grants from government and private foundations and to assist the hostesses during busy hours.

Dr. Emil Guba sent us his collection of rare books to sell. These represent a small profit to the Association but more to the point, they let us offer interested collectors some historic books long out of print. Please call this office if you are interested.

I wish to again express my appreciation and thanks to the officers and members of the Council, the staff, the personnel who help make our exhibits so interesting for thousands of people and the volunteers who contributed so generously of their time. Above all, we are indebted to the Chairmen of our exhibits who have contributed so generously of their time and special talents;

Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Mrs. John A. Baldwin Mr. Albert G. Brock Mr. Hugh R. Chace Mrs. H. Crowell Freeman Mrs. Harding U. Greene and Mrs. Alfred M. P. Amey Mr. Paid C. Morris, Jr. Mr. Benjamin S. Richmond Mr. Edouard A. Stackpole Mrs. Phoebe P. Swain Mr. Richard F. Swain

We hope you all will visit the museums this summer to see for yourself the grand job these people are doing.

Leroy H. True