Summer Events

Maria Mitchell, America’s first female astronomer, was born on Nantucket on August 1, 1818. She was the 3rd of 10 children. At the age of 12 she helped her dad calculate the location of their home by viewing a solar eclipse. With her knowledge of astronomy, math, and navigation, she helped ship captains rate their chronometers for their whaling trips by the age of 14. On October 1, 1847, at the age of 29, Maria discovered a comet. She became the Professor of Astronomy at Vassar College in 1865. She was a founder of the Association for the Advancement of Woman, the 1st woman member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the 1st women members of the American Philosophical Society. She retired in 1888 and died in 1889. Maria Mitchell Association: Founded in 1902, Incorporated in 1903 Maria Mitchell House: Acquired in 1818, gained museum status in 1903 Maria Mitchell Research Center: Built in the 1830s as her dad’s schoolhouse and became a science library in 1919. A new wing was added in 1933 for Maria’s papers and library. It was conserved and renovated in 2018. Vestal Street Observatory: Built in 1908, addition of astronomical study in 1922, additional in 1987 Loines Observatory: Built in 1968, refurbished in 1998

Liberty Street c. 1890

photo courtesy Nantucket Historical Association archives

A Cause for the Cobbles

by C. Oscar Olson

Rumors abound when it comes to how the cobblestones came to cover the streets of downtown Nantucket. We’ve heard them all and probably even spread a few of them ourselves, but what is the real story?

Some say they came over as ballast in ships sailing from Europe; others claim they were procured from the shores of nearby Gloucester. And still others are certain they were unearthed from glacial deposits right here on Nantucket. The truth of the matter has remained elusive to this day, as no receipts of sale or evidence of any kind have been found in the many records of the Nantucket Historical Association.

In 1954, a map was created for the Nantucket Information Bureau with the assertion that Main Street was “paved with cobblestones in 1837 brought from Gloucester.” When the mapmaker was asked about his source, he could not provide any proof for such a claim.

Dr. Will Gardner, an expert in Nantucket history, reached out to local historians in Gloucester who confirmed that there was a huge cache of cobblestones located on the waterfront of Gloucester and that such stones had been sent to Boston, though they could not say the same for Nantucket. “There was an account of a lot of these cobbles in Gloucester,” adds Hillary Hedges Rayport, chair of the Nantucket Historical Commission, “but no one has ever found any shipping records or bills of lading indicating they were ever shipped to Nantucket.” As they are today, movement of goods were very well documented at the time.

As for ballast, ships coming to port in Nantucket harbor were almost always heavy with cargo. It would have been hard to justify adding rocks to such a load with little room or weight to spare. “There’s really no evidence for that,” says Rayport, “and logically it just doesn’t make sense.” Another source for the stones could be from the centuries of processing sand, which was collected island-wide and spread on the muddy streets.

When glaciers carved out the seafloor and created the island on which we stand today, they brought with them stones of all sizes. Rounded granite, much like

Here are some of our favorites and regularly scheduled summer events. For an up-to-date calendar of daily events, visit Nantucket.net, the Insiders Guide to Nantucket.

Festival Season

Nantucket by Design: August 5 to 7, 2021 The NHA’s premier summer fundraiser, Nantucket by Design celebrates the island’s unique influence on American design with engaging keynote speakers, unique discussions, a partnership with The Nantucket Summer Antiques Show, a design panel, and more! Tickets at NHA.org

The Best of the Beach: August 14 This Nantucket program features highlights from previous years celebrations of The Boston Pops for Nantucket. Saturday, August 14 at 8 pm, the show will be broadcast by NCTV Channel 18. “With the difficult news of The Pops cancellation this year, we wanted to give the community something we can all rally around in celebration,” said Gary Shaw, President and CEO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital. “Best of the Beach is just that, an opportunity for our community to get together in their homes, for an event highlighting the spirit of inclusivity and celebration that The Pops brings to Nantucket year after year.” The telecast will include musical performances by The Spinners, Kenny Loggins, and RAIN, with tributes to the medical professionals who served Nantucket throughout the pandemic.

Live Music for All Ages

Concerts at the Beach... The Town of Nantucket presents outdoor concerts at the bandstand on Children’s Beach all summer at 6 pm — there is one left, and it’s well worth the trip to town: August 8 - Chris Hanson Concerts on the Atheneum Porch... u S F The Nantucket Community Music Center (NCMC) and Nantucket

Atheneum present an outdoor Porch Concert Series featuring island musicians performing in a variety of genres for all ages.

The free one-hour concerts take place on the Atheneum’s Weezie Library for Children porch. August 8 at 1:30 pm - clarinetist Nick Davies & bassoonist Ivy Ringel August 15 at 1:30 pm - The Local Notes August 22 at 1:30 pm - Opera singer Greta Feeney

Nantucket Community Music Center Concerts... These in-person concerts are held in the NCMC at 56 Centre St. Tickets at nantucketcommunitymusiccenter.org: August 12 - Nick Davies and Ivy Ringel August 26 - Jazz on the Rocks September 9 - Mollie Glazer, Nigel Goss, & David Spear

Cape Cod 5 is here to support your banking needs today and every day.

Mortgage • Personal Banking Business Banking • Wealth Management

Visit us online at www.capecodfi ve.com or at one of our Nantucket locations

112 Pleasant Street • Zero Main Street

ICONIC BRICK AT 19 PLEASANT STREET

Moors End, a stately three-story brick home, was constructed between 1829 and 1834 by Jared Coffin, a wealthy mariner and ship builder, during the heyday of Nantucket’s prosperous whaling era. This iconic property, situated on over an acre of land, includes an extensive heirloom rose garden framed with formal boxwood hedges, and is encircled with a brick wall for privacy on Pleasant Street. Two additional structures complete the estate including Nine and Eleven Candlehouse Lane featuring an 1850 carriage house and stable and Two Mill Street, a 1921 home, awaiting renovation to become an in-town private residence.

CLIFF SIDE LIVING

Located in a sought-after very private enclave off Cliff Road, this property features deeded beach access, and is move-in ready. Built in 2010, this property is very well maintained, with 6 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and an outbuilding with a studio/bathroom/garage. Designed by Botticelli and Pohl, this home is sited to capture the beauty of Nantucket Sound and the surrounding area. Completing the estate-like property are well manicured grounds with mature landscaping, decks, patios and balconies. There is a 7-bedroom septic system in place, with town water; and there is the potential for a swimming pool.

Meg Ruley | $11,995,000