Historic Nantucket, July 1987, Vol. 35 No. 1

On Preserving Nantucket's Outlying Land DURING THE PAST decade the environs of the old town, and the open stretches of the outlying land, have been threatened by the growing trends to expand. If the scourge of the developers is allowed to continue the sections surrounding the town will be swallowed by suburban sprawl.

What is clearly apparent is that historic preservation of the remaining places is endangered on several scores.

The question before the community is how can this preservation be effectively handled. The recent attempt by off-island developers to gain control of the Wannacomet Water Company's land around old Washing and Maxcy's ponds, has brought to the fore the blatant efforts of some developers to manipulate the sale of the property. Whether they will suc­ ceed is in the hands of the authorities.

It may well be asked: Why bother to preserve these outlying land sec­ tions, so vital to the island's future? What is there about these places that deserve a plan to halt the inevitable? The answer is in that Nan­ tucket is unique in its own right. It deserves the combined efforts of the humble citizen as well as those better established financially. The fact that the old town has been protected by the Historic Districts Act shows that this protection can be accomplished.

There is an atmosphere of oldness that invades the consciousness of all who visit Nantucket. It is a natural quality which comes from a liv­ ing community as that compared to a contrived element that goes with restored places. The very simplicity of Nantucket has an instant appeal.

Again, it is a natural inheritance. The first settlers deliberately chose this island for their future homes. The self reliance of these people; the development of the whaling; the arrangement which accommodated the islanders to adapt themselves to the new business of becoming a sum­ mer resort-all were carried out with an awareness that they must con­ tinue to preserve the oldness of the island life.

The rolling heathland-the "commons" of old-all are a part of the preservation picture. The white sand beaches that bind the green of the land; the magestic roll of the blue sea surrounding all-these are the elements that serve to blend the whole. Over-building, and cluster developments, could so encrust this natural setting as to eventually obscure the remaining picture.

- Edouard A. Stackpole