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… or, no inn at the room !!!
In 1993 we decided to visit MV in the middle of March. We knew the Island would be quiet in March but didn’t realize just how quiet it would be !!
We chose to stay at the Harborside Inn in Edgartown. The Harborside is a complex of several buildings, in the winter they would keep only one building open. The building we were in is the middle of the three pictured. We were in the middle room of the top floor.
Edgartown in the winter is quiet and solitary… ok, it’s pretty much deserted. A few restaurants were open, one or two B&B’s, a few stores and not much else. Some of the shops still had displays in their darkened windows, an unfair look at their tempting wares.
We checked in and were told that after 5pm no one would be at the desk. That we could make outgoing calls but incoming calls would go to their answering machine and those messages would be delivered in the morning. Remember, this was before cell phones…the dark ages, pre-personal electronic communications devices. And we were also warned that if we lost our room keys we’d literally be out in the cold.
Settled in for our first night of quiet and solitude. It eventually occurred to me that there was just a little too much quiet. There were no other human noises in the building, no lights on but ours… there was only the creaking of the floors and the eerie screams of the wind against the windows. Were we the only ones at the inn, the only ones in the entire complex? Yes we were, and suddenly the quiet was deafening and the solitude was ominous. Daylight couldn’t come soon enough.
The first full day on MV I enjoyed exploring the beauty of the Island in winter with my camera. After dinner we headed back to the inn for the night.
The weather forecast was for a winter storm with wind gusts over 60mph.
I hoped that the power wouldn’t go out. .
And then I heard voices… muffled at first and then clearer. A creak. A door being closed. Water running. A laugh. Could it be, were there other people in the building ! I felt relief. That night despite the howling winds I slept well knowing that we were not alone. I almost felt a bond to these other guests. But in the morning there was no sign of them… no noises from their room next to ours, no creaks or voices, no nothing. Did I dream them, were they real or perhaps visitors from across time and space that previously inhabited this former whaling captain’s home ! The mind runs wild sometimes on a blustery and stormy winter night especially on an Island with a history of hauntings… especially to a person with a vivid imagination.
(All photos are from 1993).
- by Joan -
The 10th in the series of trivia questions.
Give it a go and see how well you do. Don’t peek at the answers 
1 – Which town is the only town in the world with its name.
2 – What is the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs made of.
3 – Why did Alexander Graham Bell visit MV in 1895.
4 – Which is further north, West Chop or East Chop.
5 – What is the name of the local Portuguese sausage.
Some picture trivia.
6 – What is the name of this island off of Gay Head.
7 – What town is this.
8 – What town is this and where is this window.
9 – Where is this statue.
Let me know how you did, leave your answers in ‘comments’
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1 – Edgartown is the only town in the world with its name.
2 – brick
3 – To study the deaf community in Chilmark .. (click here)
4 – West Chop is further north.
5 – linguica
6 – the small island off Gay Head is Nomans Land (click here)
7 – Edgartown
8 – Oak Bluffs. The window is at the back of the Tabernacle.
9 – The Colonial Inn in Edgartown.
(CLICK HERE for previous trivia questions)
Full sized snippet pictures ~ part 6.
#1 – The Newes From America pub at the Kelly House
#2 – The Charlotte Inn automobile
#3 – Tabernacle stained glass window
#4 – Ocean Park walkway
#5 – Gay Head Lighthouse
#6 – Menemsha beach
#7 – Whaling Church – Edgartown
Full size snippet pictures ~ part 4.
West Chop Lighthouse
Entrance to Ocean Park ~ Oak Bluffs
Alley’s General Store
Steamship Authority wharf ~ Oak Bluffs
Edgartown Town Hall
Information booth and Circuit Ave ~ Oak Bluffs
Corbin-Norton House ~ Ocean Park ~ Oak Bluffs
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
I took these pictures of the Federated Church in Edgartown in May one evening around 6pm. The light through the windows was at a perfect angle to illuminate the inside of the church with a warm golden glow.
“This 1828 meetinghouse, on the corner of South Summer and Cooke streets, is the oldest church building in its original location still used for worship on the Vineyard and has had few changes made. It features box pews; graceful woodwork; a Hook and Hastings organ, which was installed in 1895 in a case built in 1840 by Ebenezer Goodrich, and restored in 1985; a handsome chandelier which originally burned whale oil; and an 1853 Ingraham clock. The sanctuary, which is acoustically ideal, seats nearly 400 persons within 40 feet of the pulpit. The building is inspirational, a tribute to its designer.”
CLICK HERE for the history of the Federated Church
I just returned from a trip to the Vineyard. Here’s a sneak peek of some upcoming posts.
(CLICK HERE for Campground picture at my ‘Through Jersey Eyes’ blog)
Edgartown was the Island’s first settlement in 1642. Originally called Great Harbour it was a world center for the whaling trade.
Many whaling captains built their homes in Edgartown, many of them today are private homes or beautiful bed and breakfasts.
One of the most beautiful is the Capt Daniel Fisher house, built in 1840, now the home of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust.
The Old Whaling Church, called that because it was built with whaling money in 1843, is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture.
It is used as a performing arts center and one of the highlights of the year is the Christmas Minnesingers concert during the Christmas in Edgartown weekend.
The Federated Church is the Island’s oldest congregation, it was established in 1642. This structure was built in 1828.
The oldest known house on Martha’s Vineyard is the Vincent House now located behind the Whaling Church. It was moved there from its original site The Great Plain area outside Edgartown on the South Shore.
Memorial Wharf with observation deck on the top allows a stunning view of Chappaquiddick and the Edgartown harbor.
Old Sculpin Gallery and hand sculpted Whale’s Tail are across from Memorial Wharf.
Edgartown is charming and elegant.
Walk down the street early on a quiet morning or pull up a chair by the harbor. Edgartown has it all… beautiful places to stay, top notch restaurants, charming shops and art galleries to delight your senses.
