The Whaling Museum's new "True Hall"

The Whaling Museum's New Wing -

7 "True Hall"

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, June 12, the Whaling Museum's new addition was formally opened as the "True Hall." A large crowd of over 500 members and friends of the Nantucket Historical Association were on hand, gathering in the main room and hallways of the Museum, where the ceremonies were conducted, with Renny A. Stackpole, Chairman of the Whaling Museum Committee. The program began with an invocation by the Rev. J. Everett Bodge, pastor of the First Congregational Church.

Several speakers then followed with tributes to Mr. True. Thomas McAuley, who served as an instructor in metal work at the Coffin School at the same time that Mr. True was an instructor in woodworking; Mrs. Cecilia Huyser, of the staff at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, who was also active during the term of Mr. True's tenure as the Hospital's adminstrator; Edouard A. Stackpole, the Association's Historian, who recalled the people of the past and present who contributed to the growth of the Whaling Museum; and Walter Beinecke, Chairman of the Association's Executive Committee, who conducted the ceremony which officially dedicated the new Museum wing as "True Hall," and called upon Mrs. True to unveil the bronze plaque to be placed therein.

Following the ceremonies, Mr. and Mrs. True, with their daughters and families, led the way into the Whale Room and down the ramp to the entrance of the new Hall. Within minutes, the crowd had completely filled the Hall, where they lingered at some length, enjoying the exhibits and displays.

The enthusiastic groups made an excellent complement to the busy scene, and the approval was warming, indeed, to the people who have worked so diligently to create an important and attractive addition to. the Whaling Museum. In the records of our Association's efforts to preserve the history of Nantucket, this Hall is a notable achievement. No more glorious an age in the Island's whaling traditions was that period when the ships from this tiny port roamed the oceans of the world in pursuit of the great sperm whale. Rounding the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn ranging from tropical waters to Arctic and Antarctic seas, they gave American maritime history some of its most adventuresome pages. As the whaling pioneers they revealed new areas, such as the central Pacific, the Japan Grounds, and the Australian and East Indian seas; after reaching the African coasts and the Falkland Islands before the Revolutionary War touched them in the South Atlantic. "Like so many Alexanders... they conquered the watery world"-so Melville termed it.

The new structure has provided opportunity to present visually the great extent to their voyages. The Hadwen & Barney ship Alpha has become an excellent vessel to illustrate this point, as Hadwen & Barney

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THE WHALING MUSEUM'S NEW WING

9

once owned the historic whale-oil factory which houses the main building, and this craft on this voyage under Captain Joseph Folger circumnavigated the world. In following her courses, so carefully delineated, we gain a new appreciation for the seamanship of the whaling master and his crew. One case is devoted to the adventures of the ship Catawba, in which Captain Obed Swain and his wife, Harriett, shared the long voyage until illness forced Mrs. Swain to return home. In another exhibit, the story of the whaleship Lexington is given, wherein Captain Peter Brock and his wife, Eliza, experienced the successes and failures of a long voyage to Siberian seas.

Such little known chapters in international history are revealed in the painting of the London whaleship Syren, commanded by Captain Frederick Coffin, of Nantucket; the legendary voyage of the shipEssex, sunk by a whale; the discovery of "Sunset Longitude," by Owen Spooner, with his portrait hanging close by instruments similar to his own; the cruises of the ship Loper,under Captain Obed Starbuck, in which two South Sea Islands were discovered.

Because Hadwen & Barney, the owners of the candle factory which is now the main part of the Whaling Museum, owned (among several whaleships) the ship Alpha, the track of her 1845-1850 voyage, under Captain Joseph Folger, is shown on a great chart of the world which is displayed across one wall. Here, clearly revealed, is a dramatic demonstration of the extent of tliis voyage, circumnavigating the globe. In a case close at hand, is the logbook of this voyage, and cards giving details of the cruises are extended along a rail to lend a fuller description.

Upon viewing this great wall chart, some idea may be gained of the scope of the whaling voyages. The extent of their long cruises in the central Pacific brings out their notable achievements in their roles as navigators. From the days of the early quadrants, they plotted their courses, taking sights in all favorable opportunities, finding their way in many places not well charted, and in areas where there were no charts. We gain a new respect for these intrepid men in remembering the great distances they sailed and the dangers they faced.

The Counting House desk, the individual logs in which unusual whaling stories have been given in detail, the ingenious "Camels" and their part in extending Nantucket's whaling fortunes in the 1840's, the paintings of some of these whaleships and the portraits of whaling masters and their wives — all lend authentic touches in completing the displays.

An outstanding feature of the Hall is the positioning of the lens of the historic Sankaty Head Lighthouse. Not since its "rescue" in 1949-a century after its first installation at Sankaty-has this remarkable Fresnel lens and assembly been so dramatically shown. Its re-erection and display is a symbolic concern to Renny Stackpole, whose grandfather, Keeper Eugene Larsen, first introduced the light to him by placing him inside the assembly at the age of four. A photograph of Keeper

HISTORIC NANTUCKET Eugene Larsen hangs close by-as a reminder of the more than three decades of this man's care of the lighthouse.

In planning and developing the exhibit, Bruce Courson, of New Bedford, worked closely with Director Renny Stackpole, and with a research team of Mrs. Helen Winslow Chase, Mrs. Mimi Young, and Mrs. Virginia Sharp Newhouse and her husband, Allen Newhouse, contributed many hours of hard work in such work as arranging the boatshop in the crafts area. Also at work in various areas were Francis Pease and his son Warren Pease. The exhibit lighting was professionally handled by Jeffrey Marks. Glenn Boornajian, a new member of the Whaling Museum staff, proved a valuable asset with his varied skills and willingness to take on many assignments.

The architectural plans for the structure were drawn by Design Associates. The contractor, Michael Lamb, began work just a year ago (June, 1981), and on June 12, a few hours before the official opening, was completing some of the final touches.

With the ceremonies a significant milestone in the history of the Nantucket Historical Association was established. By naming "True Hall," the addition to our Whaling Museum now becomes a tribute to a man who has served as Administrator for over a decade, and is now the Association's President. Such an action is entirely fitting. This honor should be paid to a man who has contributed so unselfishly to the work of this Association over the years, and the more satisfying that it be done while he is still an active participant in the present scene. -Edouard A. Stackpole

TRUE HALL

IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED TO

LEROY H. TRUE

WHO AS TEACHER. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR, AND PRESIDENT OF THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION HAS LONG SERVED NANTUCKET. 1982