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The Quality of Nantucket "THE ISLAND HAS nothing deserving of notice but its inhab itants..." So wrote that unusual Frenchman, de Crevecoeur, in his "Letters From An American Farmer," two hundred years ago, in describing his visit to Nantucket. His observations became the first ex tensive analysis of this Island and Town to be written by a literary man, writing as a keen and discerning visitor around 1774. At first glance such a summation as cited might appear disparaging, but it was actually quite the opposite. In Nantucket de Crevecoeur had found a scene markedly different from places he had visited in the American colonies. He found here a race of seafarers somewhat apart from the main — a people who, having adopted whaling as a means of livelihood, had become the frontiersmen in this enterprise — the pioneers in a new Colonial industry, deep-sea whaling. The astute Frenchman described the plain but sturdy town, the busy waterfront, with cooper shops, rope walks and rigging lofts bordering wharves where sloops, brigs and schooners were moored, being fitted out or cargoes unloaded. And, as he succinctly noted, what made the place unusual and distinctive was not so much the busy scene as the inhabitants — these whaling Quakers, who were unique in the Colonial maritime world. These 18th century Nantucketers were a development of the self reliance of the early settlers, combined with a strong religious association with the Society of Friends, and the prosecution of a vigorous seafaring life. For over a century they had been a race of seafarers who had created in Nantucket a virtual maritime free-state. It is this Island Town which has become a priceless heritage. Today, we find our new way of life, revolving around the summer business and off-season tourism; realizing the tremendous asset of our historic past. But, we also recognize that the Island needs protection inasmuch as the outlying land is concerned. The Town and the Island are integral parts of our future. It is necessary to preserve both. They represent "quality," in the marketplace of now and of the future. We want Nantucket to continue to be a place of quality. If we can control the natural growth of the Town and preserve in a natural state the shores, commons and beaches which the Town must acquire, we will ensure our unique advantages.
