Editorial: Nantucket's April Milestones

Nantucket's April Milestones

EVERY MONTH HAS its share of historic events concerning Nantucket and April has some special ones. Two of these have a particular bearing on the present, and both occurred in 1918—some sixty-six years ago. The first has a significance which was not truly considered at the time, and this was the arrival of the first airplane to reach Nantucket. On April 13,1918, a hydroplane landed in the inner harbor and made its way slowly to the beach close to the old Petrel wharf on Commercial Wharf.

A small crowd was on hand when the plane grounded. "Twenty minutes from Chatham!" was the announcement. Every one there looked duly surprised; the small boys gazed with wonderment. It was the beginning of a new era on Nantucket and there was a sense of history there.

A few days later, word came that more planes from the Chatham base were to fly to the island, and on April 17 four hydroplanes swooped down, to slip past Brant Point and land close to the channel, heading northwest. Schools were dismissed to allow the young Nantucketers the opportunity of witnessing the scene. One plane struck a shoal spot near the eastern jetty, and nosed over, but the occupants were not injured. Such was the inauguration of airplanes in war-time for the people of Nantucket.

Another April incident which was to have an effect on our future was the passage of a bill by the State Legislature to submit the question to the Island voters: "Shall the operation of automobiles be allowed on Nantucket?"

It was a question that had plagued the citizens of this Island for nearly two decades. A month later at a town election the voters decided by the narrow margin of 40 votes to let the auto in — legally. The "Repeal Bill" was duly signed by Governor McCall. On May 16, the day after the election, the first auto admitted under the new law — a Maxwell — arrived on the boat and was driven up Broad Street from the Steamboat Wharf.

There will always be questions about these developments. Voices still echo from the past, and those who remember these events may well recall the prophecies and the statements of friends and neighbors. The excitement was on every hand, and for the moment that was all that mattered. Nantucket was to begin a new way of life, and that had the impetus of the times.

Edouard A. Stackpole