1J'© ®��� (]�@CXJ
R
v� �
THE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES E. Geoffrey Verney President Barbara E. Hajim Vice President Thomas J. Anathan Pamela C. Bartlett Rebecca M. Bartlett C. Marshall Beale Heidi L. Berry Robert H. Brust Nancy A. Chase Richard L. Duncan
John W. Atherton Jr. Treasurer
Alice F. Emerson Vice President
Mary F. Espy Nina Hellman Julius Jensen Arie L. Kopelman Jane T. Lamb Bruce D. Miller Bruce A. Percelay Melissa D. Philbrick Christopher C. Quick
m
Patricia M. Bridier Clerk Susan F. Rotando Melanie R. Sabelhaus Harvey Saligman Nancy M. Soderberg Bette M. Spriggs Isabel C. Stewart Jay M. Wilson Robert A. Young
Frank D. Milligan Executive Director RESEARCH FELLOWS Pauline Maier
Patty Jo S. Rice
Nathaniel Philbrick
Renny A. Stackpole
FRIENDS OF THE NHA Pat & Thomas Anathan Mariann & Mortimer Appley Heidi & Max Berry Christy & William Camp Jr. Laurie & Robert Champion Dottie & Earle Craig Prudence & William M. Crozier Robyn & John Davis Sandra & Nelson Doubleday Nancee & John Erickson Marjorie & Charles Fortgang Nancy & Charles Geschke
Georgia & Thomas Gosnell Silvia Gosnell Barbara & Robert Griffin Barbara & Edmund Hajim George S. Heyer Jr. Barbara & Harvey Jones Kathryn & James Ketelsen Sara Jo & Arthur Kobacker Coco & Arie Kopelman Sharon & Frank Lorenzo Carolyn & Ian MacKenzie Phyllis Macomber Miriam & Seymour Mandell
Ronay & Richard Menschel Aileen & Scott Newquist Charron & Flint Ranney Gleaves & Thomas Rhodes Ellen & Kenneth Roman Marion & Robert Rosenthal Ellen & David Ross Linda & Harvey Saligman Charlotte Smith Genevieve & Richard Tucker Marilyn Whitney Yuriko & Bracebridge Young Jr.
ADVISORY BOARD Walter Beinecke Jr. Joan Brecker Patricia Butler Michael deLeo Lyndon Dupuis Martha Groetzinger Dorrit D. P. Gutterson
Nina Hellman Elizabeth Husted Elizabeth Jacobsen Francis D. Lethbridge Reginald Levine Katherine S. Lodge Sharon Lorenzo
Patricia Loring Paul Madden Robert F. Mooney Jane C. Richmond Nancy J. Sevrens Scott M. Stearns Jr. Mary-Elizabeth Young
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Mary H. Beman Margaret Moore Booker Richard L. Brecker Thomas B. Congdon Jr.
Richard L. Duncan Peter J. Greenhalgh Robert F. Mooney Elizabeth Oldham Nathaniel Philbrick
Sally Seidman Bette M. Spriggs James Sulzer David H. Wood
Cecil Barron Jensen
Elizabeth Oldham
Claire O'Keeffe
EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
ART DIRECTOR
Historic Nantucket welcomes articles on any aspect of Nantucket history. Original research, first-hand accounts, reminiscences of island experiences, historic logs, letters, and photographs are exan1ples of materials of interest to our readers. Copyright© 2004 by Nantucket Historical Association Historic Nantucket (ISSN 0439-2248) is published quarterly by the Nantucket Historical Association, 7 Fair Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Periodical postage paid at Nantucket, MA and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Historic Nantucket Box 1016 • Nantucket, MA 02554-1016 • (508) 228-1894; fax: (508) 228-5618 • nhainfo@nha.org For information about our historic sites: www.nha.org
FALL2004
VOLUME 53, NO. 4
by Frank D. Milligan
9
5
The [nd of the Whaling Lra as Recorded
Azubah Ca�h's TT1
by Amy Jenness by Frank D. Milligan
14 Diary of a Trip to Nantucket:
17 "Letter of Apology to Be11 From This Wretch" I,
\\'u'
by Georgen Gilliam Charnes
1
by George Korn
21 lleritage Soc·
22 II
by Betsy Tyler
\/nrtc 't111tucJ'd
Review by Kirstin Freeman Gamble
23
NHANews Llfflll or APOI.OGY TO �aai PR0.01'NtS
.....,CM
Tony Sru·g's illustrated 1906 appeal for his friend Bert's forgiveness apparently did the trick: she married him in 1909. llISTOR!C NANTU
KET
FALL
2004
3
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Foreword T HAS BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE TI-IE NHA'S FAIB Street Museum was transformed into the state of-the-art research library and archives. For those of us who have had our offices temporarily moved to the library during the construction of our new facilities on Broad Street, it has been especially reward ing to work in close proximity to our wonderful collec tion of books, manuscripts, and photographs, and the researchers who use them. During a humid summer, it is reassuring to know that our priceless collection of ships' logs, business records, correspondence, and per sonal memorabilia, extending back into the 1600s, are well preserved in a temperature- and humidity-con trolled underground vault. As you read through the articles in this issue of Historic Nantucket, I'm certain you will delight in the firsthand accounts from personal journals and other archival records. The availability of such top-quality archival materials has prompted many new donors to conclude that their family letters, ships' logs, journals, and photographs belong with the NHA. These new donors know that the NHA's job is to safeguard the island's precious documents and make them accessible for educational purposes. Next spring the NHA will open the Whaling Museum with professionally planned exhibition galleries and educational venues. Finally, after 110 years the association will be able to display hundreds of our priceless artifacts, including our archival collections, in climate-control led display cases designed to preserve the artifacts from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Perhaps the most exciting artifact on view will be the newly restored candle factory. For the first time since the mid-nineteenth century, visitors will see how the factory operated to process whale oil and spermaceti candles. They will be able to view the only known sper maceti press in the world still in its original location. And they will leave the building with an understanding of how the tryworks furnace operated, on its now visi ble stone foundation, to boil thousands of gallons of whale oil every year. It has been deeply satisfying to L
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
preserve this important historic structure and to know that it will remain a lasting reminder of how nineteenth century Nantucketers earned their living. The renovated Peter Foulger Museum includes a wonderful new second-floor gallery. A superb exhibi tion space, the gallery \vill house changing displays of artifacts from the NHA's collections, as well as exhibi tions on loan from other museums. Until this point in our long histo1y, the NHA has never had the museum quality conditions required to borrow such exhibitions and artifacts. And between the two museums visitors \vill explore the stunningly designed Gosnell Hall, where they ,vill find the NHA's newest whale skeleton-from the sperm whale that washed up on the shores of 'Sconset six years ago-displayed in close proximity to the whale boat and whale-hunting tools and ship captains' por traits. The breathtaking display ,vill also be enhanced with dramatic lighting and audio-visual programs. Additional galleries will display the NHA's world-class collection of scrin1shaw, paintings, furniture, lightship baskets, samplers, baskets, and clothing. Finally, visitors will clin,b the grand stairwell leading to the rooftop observation deck (or take the elevator), passing the newly restored mechanism that once ran the Town Clock. Looking out over the harbor from that vantage point, the origins of Nantucket's rich maritime history become vividly apparent. Such capital improvements have all been made possible through the generosity of hw,dreds of donors and the tireless efforts of many trustees and staff. Foremost an10ng the staff in this regard was the NHA's former associate director/director of development, Jean Grimmer, who departed the NIIA in early September to assume the duties of executive director of Nantucket's Egan Institute of Maritime Studies. Jean was instrumental in guiding the NHA's capital campaign to the point where we expect to reach our financial goal by year's end. All of us at the NHA thank Jean for her contributions and wish her the very best as she assumes her new duties.
-Frank Milligan
FALL 2004
Azubah Cash's Whaling Days ZUBAI! (IIA DY) CASI! (1820-94) AC OMPA nied her husband Capt. William Cash aboard the Nantucket whaleship Columbia on a four-year voyage in search of whales, beginning in 1850. The Columbia left Edgartown in October of that year and returned to Nantucket in May of 1854.Traveling with her husband and their ten-year old son Alexander, Azubal1, who was thirty year old at the time, chronicles their life at sea in her journal, now a part of the Nantucket Historical Association's manu script collection. Both mother and son suffer terribly fr om seasick ness in the first days of the voyage. Alexander would find his sea legs, but Azubah struggles with headaches and queasiness for the entire voyage. he writes fre quently of not being able to get out of bed or eat during heavy weather. N netheless, on the sixtl1 day of the trip Azubah i excited by the hubbub aboard ship and seems to approach it witl1 a sense of adventure.
1850 Sunday, October 6, 7 pm.
It wa quite arnu ing to me this day to be on deck to see them getting their boats ready for whaling and oiling their lines in the tubs, picking out oars and get ting boat mast ready &c while one of our boatsteerer caught a few y oung Dolphin just as we were going clown to tea. I say tea for I drank a cup for the first one of this many a day [because of sea sickness]. ome of my good friend at home would laugh and say I thought y ou would come to it. It went very well for once in th way.And as I had not set dm1m to the table with them for the last 7 meals before I must of course do something unu ual, however b ides my tea, I made a very good meal on alt junk, bread & butter, baked Apples, weet sour with chee and other fixings. It wa pleasant throughout the day.17,ere was two sail in sight which was very pleasant to ee.
Thursday, December 12, 1850
There was Porpoises around the ship and Wm got an _ iron into one and got him. We had some of him cooked for supper.IL was first rate.His blubber made two galls.of oil ... There was more arow1d the ship and I was on deck.... They looked pretty enough, there was acres of them spouting and leaping like sheep over a fence. HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Friday, December 13, 1850
We have had a fair day with quite a strong wind and the larrer part cool.About 5 o'clock a whale was raised off the weather beam and soon after went down. When she come up she was off the beam. The first, 2d and 3d mates lowered.After they went.There was 3 others seen from masthead but they were going very quick and the opposite way.The boats got back at dark and did not see then1 after they went. If it had not been so late we think they might have got one.They seemed to feel bad and no doubt dreamed of them.
by Amy Jenness
Azubah writes that Capt. Cash is frustrated by the crew's inability to catch a whale.There have been weeks of no whale sightings as well as a few close calls. Cash speaks to his wife about the possibility of a "Jonah" being onboard. [A '7onah" is a person whose
presence brings misfortune upon his companions as did Jonah to his /etlow mariners-according to Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable-Ed.] Finally, on December 15th, ilie crew of the Columbia catches the first whale of the voyage.
Sunday, December 15, 1850
Mr.Luce had his boat capsized, all of them had to swim and they were fortunate that they met with no more trouble for Mr.Luce said he had the line twice round him and carried him some dis 1 o'clock tance under water.About I h past 0 three boats got one onboard of the ship and the whale was dead and in an hour she was alongside of the ship.171en got dinner and have been cutting all the afternoon. I have been on deck and in the starboard boat a-seeing them-till my face is almost blis tered and Alexander's too.He has been darting an iron that he fixed into the sharks as they come side of the whale. It is quite a large whale. Wm thinks it will make 70 bls. At any rate it is large and fat, I think.Ir is _ _ Sllllday, but it has been a very surrmg day. They have commenced curring him but it is very rugged and cannot get a long very fast.The day ends with all hands tired. Lat.35:42S.Long.51:08No.
Az.ubah (Handy) Cash, ca. 1860s PIIJ.IO
FALL
2004
5
went to meeting in the morning and we passed the mass of our time in reading. Monday was quite pleas ant and we were well as usual and when we went to dine to my great surprise and discomfort we had to dine with five strange gentlemen named Boyd, Webster, Crawford, Burns, and Otterwell, the last named belonged to New Bedford. It really made the rest of the day unpleasant to me, but however Tuesday I felt well as usual and nothing of much consequence passed during the day except there was an arrival of a native Sch[ooner] but no news for me.
Apoem um'tten in honor of the marriage of Azubah Handy and William Cash. MS43
6
I I
Although she makes no mention of it until an entry in March of 1852, Azubah becomes pregnant during the voyage and gives birth to a baby boy in August of 1851. No doubt her inclination to seasickness is made that much worse by her pregnancy, and although she never complains she does seem to worry quite a bit about heavy weather and rough seas. When the Columbia lands in Hilo Bay, a small Hawaiian outpost populated by missionaries, whalers, and their kin, William decides to leave his family there while he travels north to the Arctic Sea. Although she never mentions the impending birth, Azubah does seem lonely for her husband. When the Columbia returns for Azubah and Alexander in October, Captain Cash meets for the first time his three-month-old son William Murray Cash, whom Azubah calls Murray.
Tuesday,July 29th, 1851 It is 4 months this day since we arrived in this harbour and I am in hopes in 3 more (or less) that the ship Columbia of N. will be lying here in the harbour again with all safe and well that left in her and that we shall be well to meet them. I dreamed last night that they arrived early with 2700 bis oil. But as dreams come by contraiys (as the saying is) I hall not expect such pros perity for them as that. Azubah makes no ent ries to her journal between August 2, 1851, and March 7, 1852. At that time the Columbia is headed for what she calls the Kamskatka Sea, off the coast of Siberia. After hunting whales there, the Columbia sails for the Sea of Okhotsk, which is bounded by Siberia and northern Japan.
Hilo Bay, Hawaii Saturday March 29th, 1851 William concluded to leave Alexander and myself here while he went to the Arctic Ocean (which was rather a disappointment to us both) but as God knows all things, and what is for our good, better than we do, I feel reconciled to it. William went from here Monday night the 14th on board of the ship and I thought he would come back again but there was a chance for him to get out and I have not seen him since, but saw the ship outside the next morning, he has been trying to get out for three days.
Monday , May 3, 1852 We have got quite pleasant weather now, but since I have written we have had all the kinds I believe that this country affords, snow and wind a plenty and rather too much for comfort but we have got along with it all thus far; aturday night we had a gale come on so sudden they had to put out their fires and quit trying oil. The gale continued until today. It wa not a heavy gale, but had a very heavy sea, that made the Columbia roll and jump and talk to her fa hion. [Probably refers to the creaking of the ship's boards. Ed.] There has been a number of Ships in sight today, and we see ome Brother ailors on our weather or Lee quite often now-aday . If I could see one from home and get some letters I should like it, but I might hear something that would make me fccl worse so I will be content until I hear thinking it will be for the best. They are now about to finish boiling the whale which did not yield as well as they expected, but it is so much towards a cargo. Our family are all in tolerable good health and I pray that they may continue so, for it is a cold and uncomfortable place to be ick in.
Wednesday July 9th, 1851 The last Sabbath was my birthday- I was here all day with the exception of going to my meals. Alexander
May 23, 1852 Capt. Fisher and his wife, and son, come on board and stop'd till near dark, which is quite late in this country
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
fALL
2004
and as old acquaintances we were glad to see each other; she was the first woman I have seen since the 18th of Februaty when we left the Bay of Island , so it was quite a rarity to sec one, and baby was frightened, he stared well.I suppose he could have no recolection of one except his mother, we did not get much news from our family at home but heard from others. We had a good gam, as they call them.And Alexander and George [Capt. f-ishcr's son] had a fine time being school-mates at home. There was another hip [the /Jaac Hicks of cw London] that the Capt. had his wife aboard close by but they did not give us a call. Mrs. Fisher was on board of them the day before and she told me she had everything very nice on board. They had excellent accomadations and her cabin looked like a parlor! . . . Capt. Pierce of the hip Kutuso/f came on board while Capt.F's wife were here and he met with a great misfortune the night before. His boats were fast to two right whales, cow and calf, and had 3 boats stove very bad, and one boat teerer killed (they did not get him) and his carpenter hurt very bad, and one other man.� le looked very ad and it made us all foci so. He left his wife and little girl at I {ilo (a place dear to my heart being the birth-place of my little Murray). I le was glad she was not with him up here, for it was bad enough to be here himself.It must be vcty discouraging to shipmates.The boatstcerer was a coloured man and hi first whale he ever struck. June 6th, 1852
We have heard of the loss of the hip Huntress of .B. [ cw Bedford] in a gale. She drifted ashore, but al1 hands were saved and that is a blessing.I feel for apt. Gibbs' loss as well as tl1e rest, for to lose our home in this cold region must be a hard thing, if it is a floating one.I hope we shall not lose our ...but in such foggs a these I do not wonder they arc lost.Ir must require good GUculation where they can get no obse1vations.I think I have scrawled enough about so little.A.B.
After three days of being sick in bed: August 6th, 1852
1 have so much sewing to think of. Yesterday there were 5 or 6 canoes come alongside with a goo(liy num ber of Indians drt."Ssed in their sort-of frock coats and trousers, made of the skins of deer and other animals.I think it must require a great deal of patience and inge nuity to make them, some of the pieces being very small not bigger than a half cent: They had quite a number of knives, our folks got a good many in exchange for iron hoops, and pieces of iron.They seem ve1y inoffensive and eem happy, but it looks vety hard to see them eat whale scraps and the gum of whale which appears to me like eating India rubber, but they eat it as if they loved it. II ISTORIC
A
TUCKET
August 22, 1852
Friday William Murray had a birthday and weighed 21 ¼ lbs. He grows very interest ing; he tries to imitate the most he sees us do so that is possible for him too, and he goes alone quite nicely, but I suppose it will be sometime before he will give up his creeping if he lives. He requires one to look out for him for he is into all that he can get to, even the transom locker. I think he tries to speak some words, deck for one and cap ...and I think he will talk some soon. ow we are lying at anchor in the narrow part of the straits cut ting in our whale; and the current running to tl1e north very strong; it sounds like a waterfall. It is near my bedtime and I believe I have thought of al1 the news for this time.Azubah. Nov. 11, 1852
Azubah (Handy) Cash, ca. 1880s P/57
The Island of Hawaii has been in sight today and brings joy to many hearts as well as a feeling of sadness that one of our number has been committed to the deep tl1ere to lay until! the sea shall give up its dead. On the 26th of Oct in tl1e morning William was sent for by the Cook as he felt worse than usual and he came down in the cabin to see what to do for him and said he thought he would not live -18 hours urtless there was a change for the better.Likewise now, he was satis fied he had the scutvy, as his other leg had commenced swelling.He did all he could for him and was witl1 hin1 and took Murray with hin1 an hour or two before tea, he was called up to his supper.When supper was over the 2d officer went immediately to see him and asked him how he felt and he raised his hand and let it falJ on his breast and said he felt ve1y bad, and breathed only a few times. Wm. had only time to get down there, it was so sudden that it made all feel very bad, I tl1ink.The next day at 1 o'clock the services were read and his body committed to the deep and many tears were shed.He was the only coloured man in the ship and had been with us all the voyage, a native of Porta, Portugal. Azubah doesn't write again until August 2, 1853, where she notes, "My journal, I think, will not amount to much especially if I go months and almost a year between writing." FALL
2004
7
She appears to be quite down and worries about her abilities as a mother and her children's wellbeing. August 9th, 1853
Another Sabbath has passed away never to return and how many days of my life have been passed unim proved. I feel that they are many, but I pray for health and strength to do my duty in future in a more faithfull manner and may God grant it. I sometimes feel myself very incapable of performing my duties as a mother and look on the past with sadness.And still go on with out ... improvement in that respect that I could wish.I find with myself, as with children, that resolutions are easier formed than kept. What weak and erring crea tures we are.This day my family here are well as usual, except Alexander's face is very sore from being sun burnt. We have all been to meeting this afternoon. I was rather late owing to not having the time (or a time piece) to go by. I an1 generally in season for I dislike very much to go into a meeting after it is begun.
August 14, 1853
During the past week my health has been as good as usual, and Alexander's , except his sunburnt face has been very tedious and now he has a boil coming near his mouth, which is very much inflamed and painful
''w
AN OUTSIDE GLIMPSE OF NANTUCKETERS AT SEA
ITH FEW EXCEPTIONS THE INHABITANTS OF Nantucket are avaricious, ignorant and superstitious-as they are all employed in the whale industry it does not entice much commerce nor intercourse with other parts-neither does the place which is a dreary waste have many charms for the invalid or stranger. From the national point its [Nantucket's] benefits are many-their industry and enterprise has carried our flag to nations and latitudes all over the globe---their oil sup plies our cities with lights-their shipping employs a great many green hands who seldom go the second time---of course supplies our shipping in other ports with hardy and able seamen-in a few words it may be called the nursery of American Seamen." [Hero, Log 348]
8
tonight. He finds it very hard to bear pain with patience. I know it is hard for anyone but we must leam. Yesterday I kindled a fire in a furnace to do a lit tle ironing and my little busy, helping, Murray-trying to put some coal in burnt his little arm quite bad. But Mr. Pitman sent me some Painkillers which I put on tl1at tookd the fire out in about an hour, but he was in great distress during that time. It is better today.
October 9th, 1853 (her last entry)
It is now some time and I have not written for I feel it is bad for my head although there arc many things I would like to mention. I will say that my family is well as usual at this time.The 5th we heard the sound of Sail Ho all anxious to see and hear watched her closely until she came to anchor and the Capt. landed. Lo and behold it was the ship Norman of Nant. from Japan with 650 spm bis then 23 ½ months out. So we could get no news there.The 8th a sail again and by and by another. The first got in from the Arctic, the Caroline Capt. Gifford with no oil or a little, I believe from a dead whale. At tea time there was a boat arrived from the otl1er ship (as there was no chance of her getting in last night) which proved to be Mrs. Chapcll's husband (Ship Benjamin Morgan) with 2600 bis of whale, and of course he feels better than if he had none and we were pleased to sec him. And today there has arrived two more ships. The first the Mercury of .B. from the Ochotok ea with 2000 bls and the next Capt.Dallman (Ship Mary Ann) with 250 bis from the Arctic, I feel thankful that God has spared them to return to their fanlilies and I pray that none of the rest of us may not be disappointed in our expectation of meeting those we love and whether in prosperity or in adversity may we have grateful hearts. I have a headache and cannot write much now.A.B.C.
The Columbia returned to Nantucket in May of 1854 with 1,634 barrels of whale oil (although no sperm whale oil) and 19,400 pounds of whalebone. Also in that year Azubah gives birth to her third child, a daughter, Fidelia C. Cash. William and Azubal1 had a fourth child, Mary H. Cash, in 1856. Amy Jenness is the Nantucket T listorical Association's information systems coordinator.
Source NHA MS 220, Log 218.
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
FALL
2 0 04
The End of the Whaling Era as Recorded by Obed Macy ,\NTUCKI T\ "I IRST historian" Obed 1acy is known for his
The History of antucket: Be1i1g A Compen dious l1cco11nt of the First Settlement of the Island bv the English, 'fogether witiJ the Rise and Pro[!,ress of the \Vhale F1.1herr and Other Historical !·acts Relative to Said Island and Its Inhabitants. As the name suggests, Macy was primarily interested in the economics of whaling on Nantucket. ot urprisingly, this has also been a subject of interest for antucket re idents and the great num ber of tourist who started flocking to antucket for its sea air, beaches, and history during the last quarter f the nineteenth century. As Macy' grand on, William C. Macy, explained in his introduction to the book's 1880 edition, a new edition was long overdue, since "the island now ha thousands of summer visitors from all parts of the cow1t1y who are anxious to learn the early history of this isle of the ea." "These newcomers to antucket," Macy explained, "care not so much for the modern, metropolitan appearing antucket, as for the story of how it ever came to be, at all." The hunting of whales and processing their product , especially those of the mighty perm whale, were bu ine se that Obed Macy knew well. Although apprenticed a a shoemaker, he chose to make several whaling voyages a soon as the War of 1812 was over. book
Hi
TORIC
ANTUCKET
Upon his return he went into patt )) nership with his brother, Silvanus, rank D. Milligan manufacturing soap and, later, spermaceti candles. As part ners, they also se1ved as agents for whaleships, merchant ves sels, and fishing craft. Fortunately, Macy preserved many of his busi ness letterbooks and e tate record , which indicate the brothers did quite well financially in their various business activities. In addition to his book and his business letterbooks, Obed Macy left behind six journals writ ten between 1799 and 1844, the year he died. (Macy's last journal was contin ued to 1855 by an w1identified person.) Obed Macy was interested in all aspects of life on antucket, but the journals contain extensive insights into the island's whaling industry. Of particular interest to the researcher are Macy's entries for the 1830s, a decade that Alexander Starbuck in his monu mental History of the Amencan Whale hfhery described as "that period of whaling which might be termed its Golden Age, for during the next decade the whale-fish ery assumed its greatest importance and reached the Portrazi of zenith of its commercial value." The advent of this Obed Macy Golden Age encouraged Macy to expand his personal attributed to investments in Nantucket's whaling industry, which by William Swa1i1, 1834. 1830 was supporting thi1ty-eight island candle and oil factories. Optimism was in the air, and Macy quickly Photograph by decided to buy additional shares in Straight Wharf and Terry Pommett. expand his network of mainland traders. 199411 FALL 2004
9
The following journal extracts were written between 1841 and 1844.They illustrate clearly Macy's concerns over the declining state of Nantucket's whaling industry at a time when mainland whaling ports such as New Bedford and New London shifted their whaling busi ness into more lucrative whaling products and into new markets.Nantucket's failure to diversify remains one of the great untold stories in Nantucket's history. In late 1841 the future for Nantucket whaling seemed especially bright.In November Macy wrote: The business of the island this year is, and has been, uncommonly brisk 10 Ships has been fitted and sailed in the Whaling service, and, in addition, 9 ew Ships have been added to the fleet, the Cost of the latter is estimated at 400,000 and the 10 old ones at 300,000$.
Model ofcamels used in the 1840s to bring whaling ships into the harbor, shown here as it was probably exhibited in the Atheneum museum. Stereograph by]. Freeman, ca. 1870s. P6441
1
But by the early 1840s signs of trouble were evident. Not only were the Pacific hunting grounds basically over-fished, but Nantucket's harbor was proving increasingly inadequate to handle the larger ships required for the longer Pacific voyages.For a time many hoped that the harbor problems would be solved with the construction of a piece of equipment called the "camels," which was designed to float the heavy ships over Nantucket's expanding sandbar. The decline con tinued, however, significantly affecting both whaling merchants and the crews and laborers who earned their living working the vessels and fitting them out: Feb. 11,1842 The business of the place never was duller.The ships are all out except three, which will lay till Spring.There is 98 Ships belonging to this place, 29 of which were fit ted and sailed in last year (1841). Nine were new ones and cost over 40,000$ each, which together with all the others that are out has pro duced a partial stag nation with most people in this place. The Mechanics and common laborers are considerably pinched, & not much prospect of relief for many months .... There is not market to any profit for Oil & Candles, which seems to check every movement in busi ness.The building of �----��----- the Cam els ... pro-
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
grcssc but slowly, and unless business opens more briskly it is my opinion they will stop the workmen. The business of the place is mostly confined to farming, Ecling and a few Candle houses ...The laborers are growing poor very rapidly. Five m nth later little had changed: July 25, 1842 Here among us there being no market for Oil and anclk.-s it causes a stoppage in every branch of busi ness. casters mo tly hauled up.... It is generally bclicvccl that there has not been such times since the late War with ·ngland .... Even the rich who are in debt can say to their crecli1ors, without blushing, you mu t wait. I cannot pay you at present, l have no money. We have towarcls 100 Ships at ea worth 40,000 ca h, ancl many who arc conccmccl therein & called rich men, complain the� cannot pay their just clcbts... . 'omc of the andlc makers have got on hancl large quantirit.'S of raw Oil, nor cannot work it to any aclvantage, ancl cannot afforcl to keep ancl look for ward C r better times, ancl perhaps fore worse. The following year, 1843, was antuckct's peak year in human p pulation with just short of 10,000 permanent residents and for the all-important sheep population, which numbered 7,500.Yet Macy's July 1843 journal entries suggest that the i land's whaling industry contin ued it gradual decline, despite ,reat Britain's lowering of duties on whaJ products.In February he wrote the following entry: February 11, 1843 The busines f the place has become quite distre sing if Ecling, Fi hing, Clamming doc· not afford a living. The cries of the Poor for want of labour has become quite alarming, so th.�t a Soup house is established in Peter Macy's andle I louse.TI1is day they have made a b ginning with 150 lbs of Beef.TI,e intention i to �1rnish the p r claily with soup frt.-c of exp nsc ....with nearly 1000 persons supplied gratuitously....It look gloomy and the pc pl ,'s countemmcc look acl. As the price of oil and candle continued to decline it was becoming clear that a recovery was not imminent and the suffering w uld ntinue: There has been no arrival of a hip for nearly a year, upwards of 20 is expected this year.But the prospect is extremely dull. There ha been o great a fall in the price of oil that the owners arc likely to meet with great losses.It is likely that many of the hips will be sold, or will be laid up until the pro pect brightens to make something by the bu incss.The micldle class and the Poor are already in a state of want and no prospect at present of better times.We hardly hear the hammer of a mechanic in any of their Shops. FALL 2 0 04
Watching the prices continue to decline throughout the following summer and autumn left Nantucketers fear ing another cold winter with little work: July 1, 1843
Many Whale Ships have arrived within a few months, the most of them have made bad voyages, which conse quently brings distress on the Owners and people, and even on d1e people of the Island generally. Mo t of the Owners feel quite discouraged and have concluded to haul up their Ships and let them lay for the present. Which causes a great surplus of likely young men to be idle. I mu t rest the ubject, for the present for to look forward the gloom is fearful. Let us wait & see. The business of the United States has considerably iniproved of late; but here there is little or no alteration for the better. The loss in heep is great, nearly or quite one thin.I the whole flock, and the Wool is fell to 20 Cents per lb. And the hips generally are doing badly, the most of tho e that have arrived will sink a great deal of money, and the encouragement to fit again i so small that a number of the Ships are hauled up in a state of idleness. l lundreds of the laboring class have very little employ. I think it will fare hard with many the coming winter.
Macy had been one of the first inve tors in the camels, but his initial enthu iasm waned as more and more owners opted for the deeper mainland harbors and closer transportation routes to mainland markets: October 23, 1843
The amels are getting their name up remarkably well. The hip James Lapar, owned by Levi tarbuck laid by the ommercial Wharf took in her whole cargo and was fitted for ea in every respect. he was hauled off in the road and the Camels put under yesterday. Today the Steam Boat took her out and over the Bar and there slipped the an1els from under her and went to sea to day at 10 'dock. Thus a hip loaded at the Wharf, wa taken over The Bar and went to sea without any obstruction. A few clays later he wrote: Nov.I
The hip Rambler, Robt. Mc !eve Master, arrived at the Bar yesterday with 1500 barrels Oil. To day was brought in by the amels-with her argo on board. Thus the amels gain Credit. Within a couple of months, however, the future of the camels looked bleak: On a setdement of me Camels accow1ts it appears mere has been paid in on 212 Shares: paid in $21,200. There has been expended $37,249.04 TI1e company now owe $16,049.04 HISTORIC
ANTUCKET
By the summer of 1843 the camels project was dead, as is evidenced by Macy's July 21, 1843, journal entry: Camels old The Camels were in debt to a large nwnber of labour ers & omers, and they could see no way to be paid but to attach them, accordingly many attachments were made & the Camels sold at Auction tl1is day [at about] one eighth of meir cost. In Macy's opinion, the declining price of spermaceti and whale oil offered no hope for an economic turnaround: Ships [that] have arrived nearly all appear almost beyond a doubt will make last voyages, and me Owners and omers concerned will suffer great losses. When the Oil is brought to market it sells for 50 to 55 cents per Gallon, which in many cases will nary pay for half the expenses in fitting out. I think there is four Ships now fitting with dullest prospects that we have ever known since the War-But the owners having mostly the materials on hand it is best to sit with a hope that the times may alter for the better by the time they return.
Photograph of painting by James Walter Folger (1851-1918) illustrates how the camels were used in
Between 1840 and 1843 the price of spermaceti oil Nantucket harbor. dropped from 1.00 to 63 cents a gallon . Despite a P20780 short-li ved rebound in 1844, the recovery would not be sus tained as Nantucket's whaling merchants had become too closely dependent upon spermaceti oil, an overwhelming per centage of its oil trade being made in that commodity. In 1842 Nantucket imported 27,654 barrels of sperm and 1,500 of whale oil. Ma inland ports, however, were more di versified in their i mports, thus softening the eco nomic blow when the sperm price dropped. N e w Bedford, for exa mple, imported 70,461 gallons of sperm in 1842 but also brought in 51,000 FALL
2004
11
gallons of whale oil, whose price actually increased by 12 percent between 1840 and 1843, from 30 cents a gal lon to 34 cents. Macy was coming to the conclusion as early as the spring of 1842 that there was little chance for an indus trial recovery. In the short term this meant that he would curtail his investments in Straight Wharf by not repairing the extensive damage the wharf had sustained in a gale the previous autumn that had virtually wrecked it. Macy saw no reason to increase his exposure in Nantucket's seafaring infrastructure, as seen in the following extract from a letter to fellow Quaker Charles Gardner, March 2, 1842: The present state of affairs in the business has become so difficult, that I see no prospect of repairing the Wharf as had some talk of, so that I have concluded to do nothing about it this coming season. The Ships belonging to the Straight Wharf are all out, and none expected within the present year and very difficult to collect the Wharfage of last year.Although there is no bargain existing between us at present, I thought this early infonnation might be of service to thee, in order that thou might govern thy business accordingly. Thy friend, Obed Macy. The follmving entry, written a few months later, pro vides insight into Macy's Quaker antithesis to "extrava gant" living in a time of economic devastation: The merchants are delivering out their Goods and charging then1 with a dull prospect of getting their pay. Great complaint is making that people do not pay for the goods they buy & they complain they cannot get work, therefore they are not able to pay their debts. How long this course \vill stand I cannot say or even Guess ....From present appearances there will be great suffering an10ng the people....I cannot see any hope at present to prevent many more failures by the close of the present year. But after all it is Pride & extravagance in a good degree that has brought the people of this place into a State of Poverty. The combination of fewer whales to catch and the declining price that their commodities brought on the open market was a one-two punch that did not augur well for the future of the island. In the following series of extracts, written between Noven1ber 1843 and August 1844, Macy explains the depths to which the island industiy had sunk and how some mainland whaling ports avetted the same fate by returning to hunting the Northern right whale and exploiting a growing European market for baleen:
12
H I S T O R I C
N A N T U C K E T
There is, & has been & likely to increase , great suffer ing among the Owners and others of this place which is caused by various circumstances that could not be avoided, viz, increase of Ships fiucd out from various ports in the United Stares & a great proportion of them have nor got voyages enough to replace their property. There being so large an increase of hips, notwith standing many of them .. . have obtained more Oil than was wanted for the Market. Anc.l also the Land Oil, has hac.l a visible effect on the price of Oil. l orwithstanding the quality is ,astl} mferior to Sperm. A number of Ships is sole.I anc.l probabh many will be sold.Many of the ships have done so bac.l .md the price of Oil low that many owners arc quite discouraged and have sold their Ships (7 or 8) arc sold.But of late the price of Oil ha. ri en which seems to renew the life of fitting out again; a number is gone & others afitting but on the whole the business of this place wears a heavy gloom.After the hips arc gone the most of the labor ing class will have liule or nothing to do. It appears to me a erious question to inquire wh,u is the labouring class of the people going to do next ,,·inter. I think some of them will suffer. Very small number of Ships has late!} arrived.Every thing appertaining to Whaling has shown a gloomy appearance.The most of the Ships out in their voyages and obtaining all but slowly, and even when they do arrive the Ships arc rarely full of Oil & the price of Oil has been very discouragingly dt1\\'ll to an uncommonly low price. The Whaling business in Nantucket is on the decline. In New Bedford & other places it has of late increased very much.This without an explanation may seem a paradox.The reason is plain.Nantucket has kept pretty much to , perm \Xfhaling, which has become more uncertain than formerly by reason of the scarcity of the Whales. And Right Whaling has become more com mon and more profitable, the reason of this is the increase of its use in the orth of Curopc. An abw1dance of late years has been shipped out to Europe to a good market. And Bone has become an article of great importance both in this country & in some parts of Europe. Many of the Ships owned in this place on their arrival arc sold.\Xlhilc in cw Bedford & other places their fleet of Whale Ships have of late increased very much. It is very dull time. here at this time. Our ships arc mostly in the 'permaccti Whaling anc.l nearly all that arrives arc not full .... ome of them arc gone 3 years & upwards anc.l then come home and do not bring enough to pay all cxpcn cs and fit out again which comes so close on some of the owners that they sell the Ships for as much as they can get all [of] which impov erishes the Island so much that many arc discouraged and moving away into different parts of the country, FALL
2004
GLEANINGS others are here watching every prospect to pursue the Whaling business.On the whole I think the people of Nantucket are getting poor very fast. While the people of New Bedford & some other places arc exerting themselves ...to increase in Whaling, wherein they have great success, particularly in Right Whaling The Right Whaling has been of late far more prof itable than Sperm Whaling. Large quantities of Whale Oil is Shipped to Europe and meets a good profit. The northern Whale fishery from Europe has become unprofitable, which has increased the price vety much of Oil Shipped to Europe.
And as 1844 came to a close, perhaps the following entry was prophetic as it was clear that the future of whaling would be with mainland ports such as New Bedford: Thi day has embarked in the Ship Omega Charles Morton Master for Madeira. His wife and brother Obed have gone with him. He was nearly -I years absent from home and did not get a full ship. The owners have now concluded to sell the Ship.The Ship is sold to cw Bedford for $9500.
The Nantucket whalers' decision to rely on the sperm whale cost them dearly. As competi_ng forms of fuel came onto the market, antucketers were unable to diversify as had their mai_nland competitors. They were also unable to overcome their harbor's physical limita tions. The impact upon antucket society was devastat ing. The Macy Journals give the reader a firsthand look at that devastation .
Frank D. Milligan is the [ /A's executive director.
Feb. 8, 1911
My Dear Dr. Sharp: I'm sending the final and complete list of voters until next September. I suspect they are keeping you busy. We have a good supply of hypoder mics, strychnine, digitalis, etc. in case of lack of energy in Town Meeting next week and we are always sup plied with Bromides should Hysteria Prevail Very truly, R[euben] C[ahoon] Small
A Public Noc.� ... .,,. • &M, My reason for throwing out the Mass. Bell telephone this afternoon is because I was insulted by being cut off while using the same. J. W. Brady
" ..cfs •• Dear Mrs. Hanaford,
I cannot come. I am dreadfully sorry, but I have a meeting tomorrow which cannot be left to take care of itself. With best regards & wishes, Yours always, Julia Ward Howe
S, ... ,.,J'\ t _o •Phebe Ha11a( ' {'1S ? ,, f 7J
Sources Obed Macy, The History of Nantucket, Second Edition, 1880. The Macy Letter Books contain extensive information concerning the Macys' bu iness enterprises. Alexander Starbuck, History ofthe American Whale Fishery. Nathaniel Philbrick, Away OffShore: antucket Island and Its People, 1602-18 For a thorough account of the camels, see H. Flint Ranney's M.A. thesis on the subject in the NHA's Research Library. HISTORIC
Letter to Dr. Benjamin Sharp from R. C '>mall, phannacist and propn etor ofR. E. ('011gdon Phannacy, Mam Street. Dr. 5barp was, at the time. Nantucket's represent,ittve in the state legislature. [From 5harp - on,M5270,f 22]
ANTUCKET
Letter to Phebe An11 Coffin Hanafo1·dfrom Alexander Starbuck, a stickler for detail if ever there Wt1S ruzp
Waltham, 1st mo 29/77 Cousin Phebe Ann.
I send you by express this day that watch, directed as nearly as possible according to your wish. I greatly regret having detained it so long, but I assure you it would take a goodly sum to tempt me to change another watch as I have that one. I have put in two new wheels, a new cylinder, a new balance wheel, a new hairspring, a new cap jewel, glass, hands &c, a new bridge rendered necessary by altering the train. It was a consider able job to figure for new wheels, for changing the escapement &om the old obsolete verge to the cylinder made a decided difference in the number of beats pet· minute. I have hurried it as rapidly as I could with regard to my other work and necessarily had to work on it at odd times, but now it is so that any watchmaker can repair it. I found the old escapement was so bad that it was absolutely necessary to make a change. The upper pivot of the verge was broken and the scape wheel teeth all battered up by being allowed to run down and striking the verge; and some one had broken the (as we call it) potance''' bridge. I trust you will find it all satisfac tory. I have put in three or four keys and a second glass. In setting the watch, bear square down so not to tilt the minute hand. Please advise me of its receipt and performance. It will probably with you run two or three minutes slow a day, but can easily be regulated. Kind regards &om all to all.
From tbe log .,f.,,,1' l\ie,,rnan, Joseph C. Chase maste1: 0, fJ51 Sept 1854 2/28/52 Killed two hogs; old black sow gave birth to six pigs, old hen laid a bouncing egg.
Your Cousin r Alex Starbuck '''Oxford English Dictionary under Watchmaking: Potence/polance is "a stud screwed to the lop plate in which is made the bearing for the lower pivot of the verge."
From the /&ft. • 'ers"....ls" c,dum 1 Jo \pr l 13, 1941
Mr. and Mrs. Wood Tick have arrived for the season.
-Compiled by Elizabeth Oldham
FA LL
2 004
13
Diary of a Trip to Nantucket: Charles C. Dyer, 1846
by Georgen Gilliam Chame
OURISM IS NOT A RECENT PHENOMENON FOR Nantucket. The island has long been host to those who come to see the sights and enjoy the delights of summer in Nantucket. One such person, Charles C. Dyer, visited his island relatives in 1846 and was particularly expressive about his on island experiences. His daily journals, kept during his trips in July 1846 and July 1869, reveal an unusual depth of expression and analysis of Nantucket life and character. A large section of Nantucket was destroyed in a fire the night of July 13, 1846, and after touring the devastation, Dyer provided interesting commentary on the aftermath. He also appears to have been a genealo-
-'-- 11
-rt\»i"f tl111r ''rtio, r· .J,,-
•flh,.
- 1
'J'!J)JJ7 u J1;JJ71JJ.a.l!I.l, •hlr� WU dtlll'-1'111, nr, In., ftl,f�llf lttU .. Jul, 111,4'
{/,•.,, ,v h.U.Jt:Y�S,JK.
Map of areas affected by Nantucket's Great Fire o/1846, drawn by SameulH. Jenks Jr.
14
nos
H[STORIC NANTUCKET
gist and historian himself, spending a considerable amount of time tracking down older residents, studying old documents, visiting cemeteries, and inventorying the whereabouts of those with native blood. Following are excerpts from the dia1y of his trip in 1846. Past 9 p.m. Jtdy 21st, 1846 Well here we are at antucket at last-very pleasant time across from New Bedford.Got here about 4 and so came up to Lucy's [his sister, Lucy Dyer Sheffield, 1811-1870, now buried in the New orth Cemetery, ection Y, memorial no.5]. They live in a little cottage place on a little rise of ground nearly opposite to Uncle Charles Gardner's [ apt. Charles Gare.Iner, 1769-1848) -all well-nice. Uncle Charles was very glad to see me and no mistake.Been spending the evening there with a whole lot of cousins ... Uncle C. is a hearty good natured old man of 77 or there about and lives old fash ioned and comfortable Lo suit himself-in this granclfatl1ers' house-nice.Large anc.l kept in first-rate repair with good fences round. Some of the posts of which are known to be 170 years old-red cedar-The frame of tl1e house and barn are about 170 years le.I. I have been too somewhat through the burnt district and it does indeed look melancholly, and yet some are beginning to rebuild already.I think the people are beginning to take courage; provisions anc.l furniture and clothing arc sent over quite freely from the conti nent.The boat toe.lay hac.l a great deal sent over as donations-their los they say is about 900,000 or more. Insured from 3 to 400,000. July 22-Wednesday Pleasant morning-went over Uncle Charles' garden and picked strawberrys. Uncle Edmund [Edmund Gardner, 1785-1875) went home to New Bedford this morning.Th y are both laughing, joking, hearty old men. Cruised round toward the Cliff hill and so round by the old Gardner burying ground ...the wind mill and across Lotts home.The roads were ve1y sandy and scat tered row1d here anc.l there and everywhere are the old ancient houses fronting the south without any reference to the road.Some 70-100 and 150 years old and yet many of these from being taken care of and kept in good repair do not look to be over 20 or 30 years old. . . .went all through "Guinea" among the blacks ... they are a much more worthy set and more respected FALL
2 0 0 4
y Oi' C:.A.'RPNER �Gt.e 'J 8.2.
7
0 6
Left to right: Painting of than the blacks of New York. Among those on whom I called I find it always the case that the inside of the house looks much the best and I think from what I can see that this is universally the case all over t.hc island in fact, some of the houses that look old and dilapidat ed outside arc in idc painted and polished and every thing is neat as wax. Thursday-July 23rd The house that Bcnj. lives in is said to be about 40 years old and belongs to Uncle Chas. as docs the most of the land round it and other land and spots all rmmd the town. The spot containing Uncle Chas.' house and barn and shop and Benjrn11in's house ru1d the gardens round it came by inheritance from Uncle Chas.' great grandfather and was originally an island being almost surrounded by water. The waste from all the higher lands round and a causeway went from the street where the Jane and gateway is now-and even within 40 years the water has surrounded the hill at times. [This would be now Gull Island.] In the afternoon we got a horse and wagon and went out west to the sight of the old town where John Worth ru1d his children lived and where Owen Coleman and his brothers and sisters mostly lived and where my Mother [Mary Coleman Dyer, 1786-1813] was born. The cellar of the house in which Mother was born can yet be distinguished.... About mile from the present town we cru11c to the old burial grow,d of 140 to 180 years ago. 11,c only stone now left with anything to be read on it is that of John Gardner. Thus- [he has drawn a sketch of the stone]. Friday 24th Morning ve1y pleasant and looks likely so all day.While at breakfast and arranging where to go today Uncle Chas cru11c in to offer his horse and cart and indeed he has repeatedly done so and in the old fashioned way, HlSTORrc NANTUCKET
too-no make-believe about it, for tho he keeps a wagon and chaise he rides just as his father ruid grand father and greatfather did and insists that wagons ruid chaises are only fit for babies and sick folks.Not even springs will he have to his riding cart ruid in fact they are hardly needed except in the town for all over the islruid the roads are smooth ruid good as nature made them-aye and plenty of "sea room" too for half the way to Madeket yesterday the road was 3 miles wide. Called at John Clisbys, grruidson of Paul Worth, about 2 miles from Na. Town and then further on to "Finemas" Point-to the little cottage of Abram Quany now 74 years old, the only Indian now left of the 1500 originally on the Island and he is only half according to Rebecca Swain. But after visiting the above I find there is a woman in the poor area, Dorcas Tashma, who is also half (Dorcas Honorably)-Went on to Quaise 4 miles from the town to the Poor House containing from 50 to 60. At the Poor House Mrs Rebecca Swain widow of Freeman Swain who died in 1786. She had 4 sons-all dead-She is 95 (13th of August next) years old ruid knew my grruidfather well ru1d also his father Daniel whom she describes as one of her acquaintances. Saw also Dorcas Honorable half Indian-65 years old.These are the only half Breeds who were born on the Island, that is Abram ruid Dorcas.
Abram Quary, by Herminia Borchard Dassel zii the collection ofthe Nantucket Atheneum. P14J2E Dorcas Honorable, ca. 1850s. CPN�J21 Tombstone drawn by Charles Dyer. M5287
At the Poor House there was a short tin1e ago one each of five generations from Rebecca Swain down.The house looks neat and well kept-heated by 3000 feet of iron pipe form 1 to 2 inch Bore passing through every room and filled with water heated by a furnace in the cellar to about 400 degrees F. Near the Poor House is the County Jail with no prisoners in it now. It is a strong wooden building with grated windows. Captain Timothy Bunker is keeper of the Poor House and Jail ruid resides there and showed us round ve1y politelyFALL
2 004
15
the Poor House is of wood with slate roof with a kitchen on the rear, of Brick. Saturday 25- July
Fair morning-got a horse and cart and at 9:00 went off to Siasconset by way of the South Shore where a ship, the Egl1i1gton, went ashore last winter ...it is all the tin1e coming on shore in pieces-5 wreckers arc all the time there to save what they can of copper, iron, and saved about 7 $ 00 worth in 2 or 3 months for half of what they got-from the wreck we wound over north to the "Sconsct" road and so on to the old Fishing Village Sia + Sconset - containing about150 houses mostly very small 2/3 of tliem not worth more than 1 $ 00 apiece and some not so much. These arc mostly used by persons and families that go out to spend a month or two some for fishing and some for pleasure, but the greatest curiosity of the place is "Franklin Folgcr"-an old bachelor who now lives there some 65 years old-a walking record of almost everytliing that ever happened on the Island from the first landing of the Whites down to his own boyhood but later than tl1at he tliinks it is nonsense for him to bother his head about. He knew botli my great grand fatliers and great grandmotl1ers well and gave me their history clear back to Thomas Coleman and William Worth, . .. as for "F Folger" his house is as great a curiosity as himself.... Sunday July 26 -
Spent tlic morning poring over old records and then went to the old Quaker meeting in tl1e forenoon ... after tea went with him over to South Shore ... all along the shores of the Island every two miles were once placc<l "Humane Houses" about12 ft. square made tight and warm witli a chimney in one end and furnished with wood, water, straw, bread, flint, and steel and tinder-with a fence running from the house down to the beach so as to catch all persons cast a.shore in distress, but all there have of late been neglected an<l most of the houses gone to decay. I was in one of them -one half mile from the town south of Guinea is seen the spot where stood the cot of Sarah Ta.shma the last of the full blood natives. Monday July 27 -
Pleasant-went round in the morning the canclleworks -those that were saved-and saw them pressing and refining and ca.sting candles etc and laying a.round tlie works were swords of tlie swordfish and oil.They were refining sperm oil in a kettle that holds 630 gals. (largest on the Island).Dined at Uncle C's on blackber ry pudding and after dinner went on a cruise witli him away out southwest to Folly house hill about1 mile from tlie town where we had a good view over a great part of the Island ... from here we went ...about 3/4 miles west of the town and I h mile south of the Shore where are now to be seen tlie cellars of John Wortl1's house, Daniel Coleman's house, ...and Job Coleman's 16HlSTORlC
NANTUCKET
house ...I sat on the Foundation Stones of tl1e House in which my grandfather and my Motlier was born. Tuesday July 28
Pleasant and warm-went down into tlie Burnt district in the morning ... I perceive the people arc alrea<ly clearing out the "burnt districts" and have begun sever al buildings-8 or 9 small wooden buildings are already up and nearly finished and 5 or 6 more are framing-the lumber is coming in like smoke-the wharves piled up with it and a vessel just coming in with lumber-they are now surveying for improving the streets and the mechanics all going to work an<l labourers too-but the whale ships will not get off so soon, as the rigging an<l sails and furniture of several were burnt and cannot be replaced in1 or 2 months but I think from all appearance that the fire will be no pullback to the Island although no doubt many will lose a great deal-but they are a people that will help the poorer sort up again first and the greater part of the loss will eventually fall on those able to bear it-Uncle Chas. As nigh as I can find out lost about $ 2000--but he is worth about 4 $ 0,000. There we staid and on tlie wharves till tlic boat came from New Be<lford. Went to Reuben Macy's an<l looked over a record of deatlis said to be tlie best an<l most perfect one on the Island-but I could cletcct sev eral imperfections in it although in tlie short time I had I got considerable infom1ation from it.... Wednesday July 29-
Very pleasant this morning we got ready for home hav ing cruised pretty well over almost every part of the Island and seen everything to be seen and found the people wherever I went pleasant and obliging and although the town itself contains not less than7000 inhabitants I verily believe that 1/3 of them now know me and all about me although I can't remember 200 all-together.I have remarked everywhere that the peo ple arc very accommodating to each other an<l altliough a very honest people take tliem all together I find of late years they use locks to their houses an<l out houses to a great extent-which was not done 40 years ago-Another trait of character which no one can mis take or dispute is tl1at whenever one goe among them if he can show any Nantucket Blood in his veins he is received as one of OUR people an I is acknowledged as a cousin even to the4th or 5tl1 generation. But if he is no extract from Nantucket he is a stranger and is spo ken of as such and called a stranger even in their public records-w1Jess indeed he connects by marriage with them-tlien they will own him.
The more things change ... Georgen Gilliam Charnes is the NHA curator of library and archives. FALL
2 0 04
"Letter of Apology to Bert
from This Wretch''
Tony Sarg Writes from London IX)L '(, RL<;l:ARCH f'OR t\ FORTI !CO II G T Y arg exhibition, I uncovered in the Sarg ollection of the IIA Research Library a charming letter written in 1906 from arg to his future wife, Bertha McGowan. In it he apologizes for being out of touch and updates his friend "Bert" on his life in London. [Mary arg Murphy, in an interview with the Inquirer a11d Mirror; said her mother hated her name. -Ed.] The foUowing background information will help make this letter more interesting. Tony arg was born to an artistic family on a sugar plantation in 7LJatemala in l 80. He was one of four children. Hi father, a German consul, elected to send him to school in Germany, and at the age of fourteen Sarg entered the German military academy at Darmstadt. Despite his education and military training, he dreamed of becoming an artist. It was in Germany, before he resigned from the mili tary and went lo England in 1905, that Sarg met McGowan, an American tourist from Cincinnati, Ohio. However, as the letter reveals, he remained a reserve officer in the Germany militmy and had to se1ve period ic tours of duty. This letter dated 1906 (and surely oth ers) worked to win her favor, because Sarg and McGow an wer married on January 20, 1909, in Cincinnati. Shortly thereafter, th args moved to England where their daughter, Mary, was born. With the advent of World War I, Tony moved his family to ew York, where he did illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post and other magazines, which bolstered his reputation in the ew York art communi ty. He had a studio in Times quare and his career soon soared . He first came to Nantucket in 1920 with some of his New York friends and in 1921 he bought a house at 1 orth Liberty Street. Shortly after his move to Nantucket, he opened the Tony Sarg Shop at 38 Centre Street, which featured many of his designs and toys. In 1929, the shop was 1
HISTORIC
A
TUCKET
relocated to Easy treet near Steamboat Wharf; he also � had one on Federal Street called The Green UrnbreUa. George Korn As weU as being a weU-known illustrator, he revived the marionette theater in America and wrote wonderful children's books . Sarg specialized in clevi ing animal characters to educate and entertain young readers. Some of his storybooks were created with moveable parts; others explored history with a comic t\vist, offer ing illustrations for making toys or how to save money. Sarg's creative output was limitless: he explored anin1ation in movies before Disney did; he design ed jig saw puzzles, musical blocks, and conten1porarily styled pantry-storage boxes. In 1935, Sarg designed the ani mated \vindow displays for the R H. Macy department store. He created new designs for Macy's holiday win Tony arg dows annually and conceived the Macy's Thanksgiving (in suit) with Day Parade, including the balloons that we know today. young Nantucketers He died in New York, foUmving surge1y for a rup and his infamous tured appendix, in 1942. antucket antiques dealer and artist George Korn will guest curate a spedal exhibition on Tony Sarg/or the I antucket Historical Association in 2007.
sea monster, July 7937. P2l725
FALL
2004
17
Letter of Apology to Bert from This Wretch Emdripc ,,JJn ,s J t,, \IH1· Hr rt \ft< ,'uz, m Pt ·,11<1111 R,J,,t, ()l,l{l, 11,d pm! ,1, 'u' I " 1dri11 Llca•111hcr
'
1 1r o
9 Hart Street, Bloomsbury, London WC Dec.? 06
My dear good Bert,
"I am rather nervous when I think of my uniforms for it is possible I have grown too Jot since I had them on last." MSJ99
18
HAVE OITEN BEEN IN A TIGHT FIX, AND WHAT ONE might name an all-round muddle, but never have I felt so uncomfortable and so small as I feel this very minute. I wrote a long letter to you some few weeks ago but when I read it over I was perfectly ashamed of myself for it contained a long story of little troubles which I have been wading through but now have fortunately done with. I feel quite my old self again, except that I can never forgive myself for having treated you so meanly with letters. My long silence I will soon explain, but I want to say beforehand that not for I a moment have I ever forgotten you, for that is quite impossible. I always felt mean for not writing durino this long period and yet I somehow could not manag: to do so, and my other friends, the Elliots, Miss Gilson and some others have all been treated in the same neglectful way. Your last kind letter was a real treat and I so appreciated getting it, and as you are such a dear and true old friend to me, I trust that you will once more forgive me. One of the chief causes of my long silence was the consequence of being very upset about a very foolish step my youngest sister Lotty took. She chose to elope
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
from her lovely dear home in [illegible] to marry an absolutely good-for-nothing young musician who is but a boy with no means whatever and not at all the sort I would ever be able to recognize as a brother-in-law. She is living in Holland now and at the time I had to do a lot of travelling and have many awkward interviews which however did not do much good. My father is so upset that he has declared never to want to set eyes on Lotty again and declares her lost to us for ever. However I and my sisters and mother think differently and are helping her with means as she lives in absolute poverty and feels sorry for the offence she has given us. You will under stand that this rather upset me as I was very devoted to my sister. Of course tl1is is quite a confidential commu nication and we tell our friends only that she married against my parents' will. The next trouble I got into was a very silly one. I backed up a young chap who is an artist and was very hard up for some money he had borrowed, as I considered him quite square. However he proved quite a failure and I had to pay up almost all my savings with little or no security of ever getting them back. I was so ashamed at my foolishness that I never told anybody not even my sister Florry for she would have at once insisted on taking some money from her, but I got through all right and an1 only still paying for my folly by not being able to afford to go home for Xmas this win ter. A further constant worry is my sister Flony's health she is not the least little bit better than a year ago and cannot even walk more than 10 minutes without feeling quite exhausted. However, she always is very cheerful and happy. Fortunately I have been more than extreme ly busy these last 2 months. I have illustrated a little fairy tale (24 coloured dra\vings) which will be the best set of dra\vings I have yet done, besides a few drawings for periodicals and magazine covers. So when the New Year comes in I will get quite a little sum coming in. I don't want you to listen to anymore of my now for gotten troubles only thought you had better be told exactly so that you could understand that I could not get into a writing mood. I feel quite my old self again and if you could meet me an}'\vhere unexpectedly you would find a never fading smile on face. I have so much to write about that I am sure I will forget to tell you just those tliings which might interest you most. At the present moment the most interestin° b . item to me is "A fortnight with the German Army," which I intend doing quite soon. You see I am a reserve FALL
2004
officer and as such an1 requested to do some soldiering occasionally. The usual term is 2 months every 2 years. However with me they make an excep tion and are willing to pay my travelling expenses if I come for a fortnight. The date is not yet fixed but think it may be sometime in spring. I am looking for ward to it so much, oh, if you only could be at Wiesbaden or Frankfurt for the time being how I would enjoy myself. Of course I shall see Walther and you bet we will both long for you and le.la. I am rather nervous when I think of my uniforms for it is possible I have grown too fat since I had them on last, which is now 2 years ago. If they don't fit the other chaps will have to help me out. My parents are of course delighted at the prospect of my coming. The other evening I went to a smoking concert at the London ketch Club . This club has amongst its mem bers those celebrated artists who are probably as well known to you as they are to me.John Hassall, Cecil Aldin, Tom Brown (the late Phil May) and many others. I met the whole lot there and awfully nice chaps they are.... I hope I shall be a member of that club one day. I am at present quite excited about a prospect of joining a Russian paper as a regular contributor. It is a German paper really which is to be published in Russia for the Germans and is going to appear weekly.The final draw ing I did for them was an early Victorian subject illus trating one of Heine's poems. Of course this paper is more on the lines of the "Studio" and the drawings have to be of a serious nature. I must tell you how this all came about. On my holidays I sketched a few small sketches into an English ladies [sic] album. This English lady lives in Russia where an important person (at least to me) the art editor of this paper saw my little sketches and then wrote to me asking me to do a drawing for his paper. As he liked one of the sketches particu larly, I made something on the same lines.
The editor is very pleased with the drawings and is now making terms and arrangements with me to contribute regularly, that is to say about once a month.... What kind of a Xmas did you Bert? My Xmas was very spend • •· • -� nice but quiet. No guilty kissing C under misseltoe [szc]. I would simply give anything if I had you here in London. Bert, I don't think I would let a day ever pass without coming round to have a chat with you. I have some hope that possibly my fortnight in Germany might fall in with the Carnevals time.By jove! Wouldn't I enjoy that. I shall buy tons of confetti and send you some in a letter just to remind you of the Andreas Markt which we all spent together. I have just received another book to illustrate. Tiiis new book suits me better than any I have yet done. It is a children's book and is to be illustrated in colour. The costumes and period is early Victorian, the very period I enjoy more than any other, and the whole story more or less fairy tale. It is called "The True Tale of Little Tommy." If I can get to Frankfurt during Jan. or February I shall try and stir up the whole of Wiesbaden....I shall tell you how I find all my old officer friends and in fact how much I will enjoy the short return to a jolly life. Of course a fortnight is just as much as I will thoroughly enjoy for after that I will be pining to get back to my work.Of course I will do my best to fill the officers' messrooms with carricatures of officers. Poor Walther has been frequently carricatured, but he does not mind.... ,
' "' ' ')
-�
Top: Tossing tons of confetti at Carneval. Bottom: Sarg's vision of a doily chat with Bert. M5399
f"'-y) /,rf,,(1/' �N' I>,...,,
u-v-) �Y�
I
ti
HISTORIC
NANTUCKET
FALL
2004
19
How do you feel about coming to Germany this coming summer? My people are going to a charming seaside place in Belgiwn (Heyst) and if I knew you and Ida were going, too, I would make it a certainty to meet you there. Now that is a fine proposal, can you make a better one? Uncle Sam will surely feel like a trip abroad, don't you think so? Tell bin, of all the charms of Wiesbaden and he will come.... I had some very delightful parcels from home this Xmas and such a supply of eatables that I can keep myself going for some weeks. Old Martha, who does my rooms, is a dear old soul and looks after my rooms and belongings much better than ever any of my [illegible] did.This dear old Martha presented me with a pine appel on Xmas morning, bought out of her own little pocket money.
Sarg closes his letter with a sketch. MS57CJ
20
I gave her several Xmas presents of course and this evening sent her with a friend to the big "Drury Lane Panton,in,e" which is just the kind of performance this class enjoys most. Have you ever had a chance to see "Peter Pan" in America, I hear they are performing it there.Do see it if you can. It is the most delightful and clever play I have ever seen.... Fred Taylor is cheerful and well and just as busy as I am, although he cannot work as much as I can.At least if he does he feels a wreck the following day. It is some times strange in our profession for it frequently occurs that we must work at nighttin1e, sometimes all night. I never feel any the worse after a long spell of work the
1-1 IS TOR IC NANTUCKET
next day and think it is due to the few years of healthy life which I led in the army. Most of my artist friends are all thin and pale and none of them do anything to keep themselves physically in good condition. I belong to an Italian fencing club which I thoroughly enjoy and which does me a lot of good physically.... The most wonderful artist I know of here in England is a chap called "Arthur Rackham." Ile is sin1ply wonderful. I have met him frequently and find him a most refined interesting man. He is a thorough gentleman also in his drawings. The only people I do not like amongst the artist folk in England arc the woman artists. They generally dress in a fantastic way and smoke cigarettes and live in a very free unwomanly manner. T he really clever woman artists arc like all other women and I always think that if an artist, whether painter, musician or poet or something similar has to tell the world by his appearance that he is an artist, his work cannot be any good or he could do without this advertisement, for that it is, isn't it so? I meet quite a number of artists in the musical world by knowing some very well to do music lovers and I am sometimes glad I am quite out of that musical atmos phere as it seems to me that the success of musicians depends more on their social than their artistic abilities. In my work, society fortu nately ha not got much influence on a man's career, but I do not want to loose [s,c] track of it altogether as many of my artist fellowmen do. It is getting so late that I think I will finish this letter although I could go on writing for hours. But another delay with this letter will still increase your anger towards me and I am anxious to be forgiven. I will post this without delay. Give my love to Ida and your dear parents and receive yourself dear Bert my fondest love and write soon to your, Your true and most devoted "Lazy Tony"
FALL
2004
HERITAGE SOCIETY RESEARCH PROJECT Marjorie Barrett Bequest: Portrait of Josiah Fitch Barrett rf,,H i1 a,1 {ZCCotmt of a hequcff mctde to the r>..;}{A br Alcirjoru: Barrett, the kHt of a it rie i ahout the lIcritagc- Socu tr Refcanh Pmjcd bv danJ n iturcha Bet1, fvler.
''
GIVE AND BEQUEATH THE PAINTING OF MY GRANDFATHER
Josiah Fitch Barrett at age 5, and the colored etching of Barrett ancestors (man and woman with cat sitting beside fireplace) both painted and drawn by Phebe Fitzgerald Barney, to the Nantucket Historical Association." -MARJORIE BARRETT'S WILL, NOVEMBER 19, 1971
Finding images and information about nineteenth-centuty Nantucketers is often much easier than uncovering the same for twentieth-century residents, thanks to the HA's wonderful collection of photographs, portraits, and manu script materials from the earlier era. Therefore I can tell you more about Josiah Fitch Barrett (1828-1917) and his portraitist Phebe Fitzgerald Barney (1814-71) than I can about Marjorie Barrett, the donor, whose brief obitu ary in the Tnquirer and Mirror informs us that she was a retired secretary who lived at 25 India treet. Marjorie Barrett's grandfather, Josiah Fitch Barrett, was sheriff of Nantucket from 1875 to 1917. He was a poet as well, as these verses about the " traw Works" attest: On Nantucket that famous to,,m Where clams and quahog do abound In the centre part of main street A noble building your eyes docs meet This building fronts the main street Out of the windows the girls do peep And if they should chance to sec a man They talk about him aU they can
The primitive portrait of young Josiah com plements photographs of the elderly sheriff and copies of his poems in the collec tions of the Research Library, providing us with clues to the character of the man. In Picturing Nantucket (NHA, 2000), Margaret Moore Booker writes that the primitive paintings by Phebe Fitzgerald "may have been presented as tokens of affection or appreciation to Barrett family members , as was the tradition in that time period. Today, they offer us an important glimpse into the domestic life of early nine teenth-century Nantucketers" Consider providing the NHA with a glimpse into the twentieth century on Nantucket. Photographs and other memorabilia of Nantucket people, their homes, and their activities will help us illustrate the domestic life of the last century -Betsy Tyler
fosiah Fi1c!, Barrett
Hi
TORIC
NANTUCKET
FALL
2004
21
Historic Nantucket Book Section Review by
Kirstin Freeman
Gamble
2:�
Hudson s Merch,mts ,md W'h,ilers: 711e Rise ,md fall of,z River Port, 1783 18ro by Margaret B. Schram Black Dome Press Hensonville, New York, 2004
ANTUCKET FOUND ITSELF IN A PRECARIOUS position during the Revolutionary War. Dependent on the British market for whale oil, but committed to neutrality during a conflict that went against the pacifist creed of the Society of Friends, island Quakers were trapped "between the devil and the deep blue sea." After the war, with their fleet decimated and 1,200 men captured or killed, Nantucketers contemplated reswning whaling only to find that Britain had imposed a steep tariff on whale oil. As a result, Nantucket families began to establish Quaker settlen1ents off-island-some continu ing to whale, like those at Dunkirk and Milford Haven, others moving inland to upstate New York and Greensboro, North Carolina. Margaret Schram's Hudson's Merchants and Whalers: The Rise and Fall of a River Port, 1783-1850 tells the story of a group of Nantucket and New England Quakers who rebuilt a life for then1selves on the banks of the Hudson River. As Schram notes, though never a premiere whaling port, "the City of Hudson is a mira cle." [By 1785] Hudson's shipping was second in the State of New York only to New York City's, an amazing accomplishment considering Hudson is 120 miles from the sea." The Nantucket families who settled in Hudson -Coffins, Folgers, M acys, Husseys, Gardners, Barnards, Paddocks, and others-had traded along the Hudson River and were well aware of "the presence of great forests of hardwoods suitable for shipbuilding." They likely also chose the spot, Schram notes, "because memories of the threat of foreign invasion of their New England homelands created the desire for a port far from the possibility of marauding enemies." Calling themselves the Nantucket Navigators (the Proprieto rs of Hudson actually came from Quaker I communities in Providence and Newport as well as HISTORIC NANTUCKET
from Nantucket), these settlers purchased lane.I from the Dutch and began planning their development. Regular streets were advocated and residents were cautioned that "no person shall fix his house without such direc tion from a majority of the committee as they think proper." This was certainly a Quaker settlement, and chram speculates "the silence was deafening from the hundreds of [Dutch families] who considered the new comers the hated Yankees and, far worse, practically heatlien ,vim tlieir weird Quaker notions." The autlior, who peppers her manuscript witli anec dotes and insights about her research methodology, describe her delight at being directed to a handwritten copy of the Hudson Weekly Gazette's Shipping News from 1785 to 1797. Using this "gold mine" of informa tion, combined with the work of whaling historians tarbuck, Lune.I, Sanderson, and Stackpole, Schran1 is able to recreate the most accurate list of Hudson whal ing and sealing voyages to date. From 1785 until 1800, whaleships depaned Hudson ,,�tli increasing infrequen cy, and pons like Brazil and urinam arc replaced in die shipping lists with die names of the less exotic destina tions of Albany and Troy. The town, an<l Nantucket's descendants, moved on to new industries-shipbuild ing, a rope works, a stove foctmy, and railroads all con sumed Hudson's imagination. Briefly returning to whaling during the 1820s and ' 30s, I Iudson refitted used merchant vessels for whaleships, tliough chram argues that "in trying to revive the glory days of the 1700s, Hudson only managed to financially di tress its citizens and discourage inve tments in new industries that would have brought prosperity to die city." One of the delights of/ Judson's Merchants and Whalers is in seeing die fan1iliar names of Nantucketers jwnping off die page like ol<l friends, but not in tlieir usual context. (An NHA interpreter v i sited the I Nantucket settlement of Dunk.irk, France, in 2003 and brought back a page from the local telephone book list ing Coffin after Coffin.) Just as die tight-knit nature of the Quaker commwuty fostered die success of whaling on Nantucket, it allowed the maintaining of fanilly ties with islanders who moved elsewhere. W hile these FALL
2004
N II A
e
0
N EWS
•
.J
Executive director Frank Milligan presented the second annual Erwin L. Greenberg Book Award at Nantucket High School's Academic Achievement Ceremony on June 2, 2004. Nominated by the NHS social studies department from the class of 2004, this year's recipient was Alecia Herbert, the class valedicto rian, who is attending Columbia University this fall. The faculty, in particular, cited the quality of Herbert's advance-placement United States History research pro ject and presentation on exceptional Nantucket women. She was awarded a certificate and a copy of
She Was a Sister Sailor: Mary Brewster's W haling Journals, 1845-1851, edited by Joan Druett. The book award was established in honor of fom1er NHA trustee Erwin Greenberg by a group of his friends, in recogni tion of Greenberg's love of the island and devotion to theNHA. Susan Anne Lebo, Ph.D., is the NHA's E. Geoffrey
Coffins, Paddocks, and Folgers did not whale as much or as long as their Nantucket cousins, Schran1 is cor rect when she says that "whaling and related industries were of great importance to Hudson in its early days, and the story of how the city grew under the guiding hands of a group of merchants and seamen into a thriving maritime port and a city of unparalleled growth and prosperity is fascinating." Schram's work is not only thoroughly documented, it is well designed and illustrated, and she has an ele gant, readable prose style. The two appencli,--::es, detail ing Hudson's Quaker meeting and providing an overview of the whaling industry, are particularly instructive. But perhaps Schrarn's greatest success is in writing a work that has relevance for both historians of Nantucket whaling and the general reader who lives in or loves the community of Hudson. Schram herself is clearly a historian with a passion for her community.
Kirstin Freeman Gamble is the NHA's education and public programs coordinator. HJ TORJC
NA
TUCKET
and Elizabeth Thayer Verney Fellow for 2004. She is an anthropologist and member of the research staff at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. She hopes that her research on native Hawaiian seamen inNantucket's whaling fleet will complement and expand upon her study of Hawaiian Kingdom records at the Hawaii State Archives, Honolulu, and from whaling indexes and ships papers at the Kendall Institute, New Bedford Whaling Museum. Native Hawaiians were routinely employed on Nantucket ships. Lebo will be in resi dence for two weeks in October. Construction at the Whaling Museum is speeding along. The interior is quickly taking shape as walls have been plastered and painted; wiring, lighting, and computer cables have been installed; and ceilings currently being hung. The whale skeleton and the town clock will be brought back into the building and installed by the end of the year. Work continues on the design of the exhibitions to be installed in the new building beginning in January. ArtGuild, Inc., an exhibit-fabrication company from the Philadelphia area, has been hired to build the exhibition casework and produce the graphics. The NHA staff is also preparing to move back to Broad Street before the winter holidays. The adminis trative offices will be located on the first floor of the Peter Foulger Museum building, 15 Broad Street. The phone number, (508) 228-1894, will remain the same, and members are encouraged to stop by for a visit in theNew Year. FALL 2 0 0 4
23
N H A
N E W S
organizations like museums and libraries and their communities.
Dr. David Carr spoke at the NHA's 110th Annual Meeting.
August �ntique'i Sh_ow:
Newly elected NHA
The NHA held its 110th Annual Meeting on July 9 in the garden at Hadwen House. During the meeting and executive director the NHA's members elected several new trustees and Frank Milligan cut proposed a slate of officers that was confirmed by the the cake at the trustees following the meeting. Trustees elected to the class of 2008 were Thomas J. NHA birthday
president Geoff Verney
partyfestivities. August Antiques Show chair Leanne Kendrick (second from left)joins her husband John, past chair Melanie Sabelhaus and husband Bob, Antiques Show Dinner cochair Rhonda Cassity and husband Doug. Bottom, left to right: Antiques Show Dinner cochair Pat Griffin. Cocktail party chairs Phyllis Freilich and Linda Saligman outside the Oldest House. Rick and Janet Sherlund.
24
H f ST OR IC
A nathan, Rick Atherton, Re becca M . Bartlett, Richard L. Duncan, Mary F. Espy, Christopher C. Quick, and Nancy M. Soderberg. Anathan, Atherton,
Duncan, and Soderberg are new to the board. Elected for one-year terms were Heidi Berry, president of the Friends of the Nantucket Historical Association, and Harvey Saligman, also a representative of the Friends. After the annual meeting, the board of trustees elected a new president, E. Geoffrey Verney. Verney bas been first vice president on the board and a mem ber of the museum center design and building commit tees, and the capital campaign committee. Other newly elected officers are Barbara Hajim, vice president; Tish Emerson, vice president; Rick Atherton, treasur er; and Trish Bridier, clerk. Leaving the board of trustees are 2003-4 president Peter Nash, vice president Marcia Welch, treasurer John Sweeney, John Davis, and NHA Friends repre sentative Carolyn MacKenzie. The keynote speaker at the meeting was Dr. David Carr, professor at the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His talk was "The Community Promises of Cultural Institutions," observations on the impor tant ties between cultural
NAN TUC K ET
The 2004 August Antiques how, led by volunteer chair Leanne Kendrick, was a great success. Revenues are expected to exceed all previous records and the change in location to the antucket New chool, 15 Nobadeer Farm Road, was considered an excellent choice. ituated on the three floors of the school, the show itself was beautifully presented. Many visitors remarked that the building was like a jewelry box, with antiques and treasures sparkling around every corner. Indeed, the layout offered a level of intimacy with the dealers and antiques that previous shows have not. The Preview Party, on Thursday, August 5, was sponsored by Eaton Vance Management and attracted a record nwnber of guests who enjoyed an array of fine foods and, for the first time, alcohol, in air-conditioned com fort. The colorful decorations, organized by Olivia Charney, Lois Drnckemiller, and Leticia Ord, also added to the appeal of the new space. Chairing the volunteer committee of more than a hundred, was K ndrick, an able, creative, and effective leader. Honorary chair wa the HA's former presi dent Peter Nash. pecial-events highlights included the Friends of the NIIA lecture featuring Jock Reynold , Henry J. Heinz II Director of the Yale University Art Gallery, organized by Heidi Berry; a jovial evening at 99 Main Street for the antiques deal rs, coordinated by Nancee Erickson; and two well-attended lectures at the show with Katherine Houston of Katherine Houston Porcelain and Bob Bitter of Scalamandre, organized by Clement Durkes. The Antiques Show cocktail party, sponsored by PNC Advisors and NetJets, was coordinated by Phyllis Freilich and Linda Saligman and was held in a beautiful setting at the NHA's Oldest House; it includ ed a silent auction managed by Josette Blackmore, Vicki Livingston, and Paula Guthner. The Antiques FALL
2004
N H A
N E W S
Geoff Verney, outgoing
Show Dinner, sponsored for the sixth year by Trianon/Seaman Schepps, was also held at the Oldest House under a splendid tent and offered excell nt cui sine and dancing; it was coordinated by Rhonda Cassity and Pat G1·iffin. A live auction, led by Melanie Sabelhaus, Barbara Hajim, Marcia Welch, and Anne Obrecht, wa held during the dinner. The show is managed by the Antiques Council with liai on Diana Bittel. Hostesses serving as guides in the building throughout the show were led by Louise Connell, Connie Cigarran, and Barbara Griffin. This year's raffle wa coordinated by Melanie Wernick and the Collectors Comer, sponsored by Windwalker Real Estate, was managed by Shelly Lewis and Kilty Mahoney. Maggie Benedict, Lois Horgan, and Anne Obrecht oversaw the publicity efforts. "The HA thanks the many volunteer for their commitment and enthusiasm," said executive director Frank Milligan. "In addition, we thank all of our underwriters. Their support helps to make the show such a huge success and funds our education and preservation progran1s throughout the year."
.,
�
Barbara Hajim, chair of the board's development committee, is pleased to announce that the 2005 August Antiques how chair is Janet Sherlund, who was involved in three past Antiques Shows as a com mittee member, chair of the volunteer efforts in 2003, and a coordinator of the 200..J silent and live auctions. "She will make a great leader for the show and we are delighted to have her on board," said executive director Frank Milligan. The 2005 Antiques how will begin with the Preview Party on Thursday, August 4; the Antiques Show Cocktail Party and Dinner on Saturday, August 6; the show runs August 5-7. Mark your calendars now.
than fifteen creative program offerings, the NHA's Museum Educators readily met this summer's chal lenge: teaching children about Nantucket history while lacking the resources of the W haling Museum. Despite the need to temporarily leave their traditional head quarters, the 2004 children's programs attracted more students than in previous years-more than 700 boys and girls from ages four to fifteen. A significant addition to this summer's offerings was the Fanwy Walking Tour. Alice Walker and Matthew Kozlowski developed a walk through Nantucket town that engaged both children and adults. Museum edu cators used props, an activity book, and historic images. A highlight was a stop at the Quaker Meeting House, where, in bonnets and felt hats, boys and girls attempted to sit in silence for one minute. The Nantucket Girl Book Club featured a visit by author Blue Balliett, who led a discussion about her new book, Chasing Vermeer. Girls and their parents lis tened closely as Balliett talked about writing her best selling novel, her love of art history, and the intrigue of codes and coincidence. One-Day Workshops continued to be anchored by the traditional favorite, Colonial Life. Patti Ointon and Julia Merriman returned this summer to help children grind com into meal at the Old Mill and bake it into cornbread on the open hearth at the Oldest House. Sadie Wieschhoff helped to develop five new One-Day Workshops, including a joint class on navigation with the Maria Mitchell Association-a course that focused on the Nantucket railroad and investigating the legend
president Peter Nash, and West Saltonstall of Eaton Vance Management, underwriter of the AAS preview party. Preview party decorators Olivia Charney, Lois Druckemzller, and Leticia Ord. Shelton Ellis and Jay Bauer of Trianon/Seaman Schepps, AAS dinner sponsor /or the sixth consecutive year, with Binnie Bauer and Frank Milligan. Photos by Jeffrey Allen. Below, left to right: Nantucket Girl Book Club members wzth Chasing Vermeer author and
former Nantucket resident Blue Balliett. One Oldest House visitor perfects his hoop-rolling skills. Photo by Liam Toomey.
With a colorful new brochure, a comfort able space in Hadwen House, and more lllSTORIC
NANTUCKET
FALL 2004
25
Whirligig workshop attendees show off their handiwork.
of Ichabod Paddock. Children played the traditional (and boisterous) Native American game of Hub Bub, made and illustrated their own ship's log, and vigorously debated whether mermaids have lungs or gills. Finally, Erma LaPierre led the Hands-On History crafts program beyond sailor's valentines and scrimshaw this season. Children learned the historic decorative art of decoupage and made traditional cornhusk dolls and whirligigs. "I couldn't be more proud of this summer's Museum Educators," said education coordinator Kirstin Gamble. "They were patient, flexible, and creative, turning what could have been a challenging season into a wonderful success."
WINTER EVENTS FESTIVAL OF WREATHS PREVIEW PARTY Tuesday, November 23 Preservation Institute: Nantucket, 11 Centre Street
FESTIVAL OF WREATHS Fri., Sat., & Sun., November 26, 27, & 28
Preservation Institute: Nantucket, 11 Centre Street
FESTIVAL OF TREES PREVIEW PARTY Thursday, December 2
Egan Institute of Maritime Studies at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street
FESTIVAL OF TREES Fri., Sat, & Sun., Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12
Egan Institute of Maritime Studies at the Coffin School, 4 Winter Street
26
H I ST O R I C
N A N T U C K ET
The Festival of Wreaths is set to open to the public at Sherburne I Iall, 11 Centre treet, on Friday, ovember 26, and the silent auction will remain open for bidding through the weekend. Returning a chair for the fourth year is JoAnn Winn. The Festival of Trees returns to the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies at the Coffin School for 200-L For the third year, Geol'ge Korn and Richard Kemble will chair the special holiday event. The show will open \\�th a Preview Party on Thursday, December 2, and remain open for the next two consecutive Fridays, aturdays, and undays. Nantucket Bank is the underwriter of the special holiday events for the tenth con ecutive year. or
The 200-I Revere Award for I listory has been presented to Bob Mooney by the Old Colony Civil War Round Table, given annually to a person who has made a sig nificant contribution to the study of the Civil War. The award i named for the grandsons of the Revolutionary War hero, both of whom lost their lives serving with the 20th Ma s. (I larvard) Regiment, in which eighty some antucket men also served. Bob wrote about the regiment in The Civil War: 'IYJl' Nantucket Experience, co-authored with Richard Miller. Bob has also been active in the Civil War lecture circuit in New England and Florida. Nat Philbl'ick's latest book was recognized by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the ew York ouncil of the avy League with the prestigious Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Naval Histmy Prize. Nat's Sea of Glol'y chronicles the U. S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. The citation states that "Mr. Philbrick ha been appropriately honored for this volume, which puts this hi toric expedition in its proper perspective." The award is named for the two Roos velts to acknowledge their service as U. S. secretarie of the avy and to commemorate their strategic us of seapower during their respective presi dential admi.ni trations. We bask in reflected gloty. Mary Ellen Dineen joined the IIA taff in August _ as the program coordinator of the opening of the Whaling Mu eum in 2005 and as a sistant in the special events department. Ptior to moving to the island, Mary Ellen had worked for many years at Ma sachusetts General Hospital. For the last three years, he was project man ager for surgical oncology in the hospital's Can_cer Center. As a specialist in systems, logistics, and effic1enI f' ALL 2004
cy, Mary Ellen is well suited to coordinating details sur rounding the opening of the Whaling Museum in spring 2005. he moved to Nantucket in July following her marriage to Kevin Dineen. Patty Maloney Perrino, the NHA's new administra tive secretary and receptionist, also moved t o Nantucket in July after leaving a position a t Mass. General. She had been with the hospital for twenty five years, most recently as coordinator for the bone marrow transplant program. She welcomes the change of pace at the NHA and the opportunity to be living
closer to her sister, a business owner on the island. At NewNHA the NHA, she is responsible for keeping board min staff members, utes, managing program reservations, and will work from left: with Kirstin Gamble in coordin ating Lifelong Judy Wodynski, Learning programs at the 1800 House. Judy Wodynski joined the NHA in October as director of director of external affairs. She comes to the organiza external affairs; tion with a great deal of experience in development Patty Maloney Perrino, work at public and private higher-education institu tions in New Jersey. Most recently she was director of administrative development at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in secretary and Summit, New Jersey, and director of alumni relations receptionist; and and annual giving at New Jersey City University. "Judy Mary Ellen Dineen, has a strong history in development and a great track record in managing people," said executive direction program coordinator Frank Milligan. Judy will oversee the organization's a/the fund-raising, marketing, and public relations depart Whaling Museum's ments. She has been vacationing on Nantucket for the 2005 openziig last twenty-six years and describes it a "dream come true" to be moving to Nantucket with her husband, and special events assistant. Michael, a retired higher-education administrator.
IN MEMORIAM: GRACE GROSSMAN Following is a copy of a letter written to the Inquirer and Mirror by executive director Frank Milligan. T \VIAS \Y/ITI I GREAT SADNESS TIlAT \Y/E
heard about the passing of Grace Grossman last Friday. While Grace will be remembered for her recent work at the Steamship Authority, there are many other organizations on the island that benefited from her kindness, generosity, and leadership-including the Nantucket Historical Association. Before moving to Nantucket, Grace served as chairman of merchandising at Old Sturbridge Village and established the Museum Shop at the Kennedy Library and Musew11. It was a natural fit for her to tum her attention to the Nantucket Historical Association after moving year-round to Bayberry Farm. She and Bernie saw an opportunity for the organization to have a retail presence at the Whaling Museum. Together they made it happen. A plaque in
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
the shop gratefully acknowledges Grace's work in "conceptualizing, creating, and managing" the Museum Shop from 1982 to 1984. Recently, she told me how proud she was of the shop and bow she delight ed in filling it with crafts made by tal ented Nantucketers. (Typically, even when remembering her own accom plishments, she graciously reminded me of the skills of others.) The island will miss this wonder ful woman. The Nantucket Histori cal Association will remember her as a longtime friend and advisor and supporter of our mission to educate and preserve the island's history. And we'll forever be in her debt for her work with the Museum Shop. igan
WINTER 2002
27
Stop in and see us!
We are here to a'\jtSt you with all of your holiday needs. We can create gift baskets, gift wrap, and 'lhtp anywhere, and even offer free deli1:e1y of on Hland gifts
• Nantucket Bookr • Diricnunted NIIA Publicaltons •
• Reproductton Photographs from the r-yflA Cnf!tctiom • • Decoy'i bv \Vzll Kirhpatnck • Rcpmductton Scmmhau· • • Jam.1, jelliei, and Gourmet Product'i • Candles • Paper Goodi • • antucket Stocking Stu/lers • Chzldren's C1'z/ts • And !vfuch Afore' Open daily 10 to 5 through December 23
11 BROAD STREET • (508) 228-5785 OR E-MAIL GWINTON@NHA.ORG r ti 11 G 1\l' KlL �UU)
AND OPEN THROUGHOUT THE M:USEUM RE�OVATION