It's marked with a historical marker. That building had a press in it where they actually pressed the wax out of this substance that was called spermicetti. And the wax was then used to make spermecetti candles which were a primary product of the whaling industry. And, in that building in Woods Hole, a candle was made which Thomas Edison then used to measure one candle power of light. So, that set the standard at the time electricity was developed.
Piano music echoing the shanty comes up.
Local naturalist, artist, fisherman, co-founder of the Penikese Island School, and generally good source of facts and lore, Dave Masch. To your right, you as the, as the ferry boat leaves you can see Penzance Point with the large mansions on it. It's been a retreat of very wealthy Americans since early in this century. Before it became a home for extremely wealthy folks, it had a guano factory on it. Guano being bird manure that's used in agriculture.