The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-03

apples are nuinerously recorded in a little
pamphlet which is circulated OH this island.
| do not vouch for their exact conformity
with facts. To this pamphlet am indebted
for the following: "Whiie the magnificent
channel washing the northern side of the is
land flows back and forth, bearing on its ever
restless bosom the freights of nations, the
shore on the south side facing the broad At
antic, about fifteen miles of which can be
seen at a glance, receives the towering waves,
dashng their spray and foam up and along
the expanse. Such is the sublimity oil this
scene when high southeasterly wind lashes
the sea into fury, that the late Hon. Edward
Everett pronounced the view as exceeding
that of the Falls of Niagara"
In 1885 a campmeeting was held here for
the first time, comprising nine society tents,
occupied by the religious societies to which
they respectively belonged.
In 1899 family tents began to appear As
these increased it was soon manifest that
''many OF the occupants were disposed to stay
in their cosey little homes, and even some
times entertain callers in time of service''
1t also appeared that people were coming 10
the island for recreation and rest, and with
out interest in the camp meeting. Some lit
tie concern was felt Oh these accounts by the
campmeeting leaders.
In 1912 there were on the ground II so
ciety tents and about 15 family tents, contain
ing in all eleven hundred and sixty eight per-
sons by actual count.
In 1S45, the grounds previously occupied
were abandoned and the camp meeting was
held at Westpcrt Point near New Bedford.
In 1916. the Edgartown society started a
camp meeting on or near the former loca .
tion.
In 1856 the number of tents had reached
200.
In 1858 several small wooden buildings were
erected instead of tents. Gov. N. P. Banks,
OF Mass, visited the camp meeting.
| In 1860 Col. Isaac o. barnes "was again
here and was so much interested in the place
that he wrote several letters on the spot TO
the Boston Courier, giving glowing descrip-
tions, and urging his Boston friends to come
and enjoyis."
In 1862, Rev. DIR. Sears, Baptist, President
of Brown University, addressed the audience
for half an hour after one of the sermons and
after another, John A. Andrew, Unitarian.
gave "a very patriotic and eloquent address
OF an hour in length" Instead of the ordi-
nary cheering, the friends gave the Governor
during his address some hearty 'amens',
which he seemed to enjoy very much, al
though not himself one of the amen denom-
ination.''
In 1868 twenty six acres of land had been
brought into use, and the number of cottages
and tents was 500.
In 1866 cottages had become the rage.'
Fifty were built this year. The extent of the
property had increased TO forty acres.
In 1867 the Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf
Co., had already built a wharf costing $4,000,
and had clealed their grove of underbrush
and laid it out into avenues and lots,-the
latter were now reauy for sale. ''This was a
new phase of things" Gan manner of ru-
mofs and fears were afoat." A picket fence
seven or eight feet high was put up to sepa-
rate the outsiders from the insiders, and quiet
was restored. To-day that place serves only
as boundary of property-it has been OPEN
\ ed in many places so that it offers no obstruc--
| tlou to coming i'll or going out
In 1869, about 100 cottages had been erect
ed on the camp ground and ON the bluffs,
among them that OF Senator Sprague. of
I Rhode Island located ON the camp ground.
Several new stores had been built. A num-
Der OF new hotels had been put up, to be kept
on the European plan. ''The usual recrea-
tions preceding camp meeting were enjoyed
to the full, such as walking, berrying, fishing,
boating, swinging, and croqueting. The last
named was getting to be the rage. 1t was
participated IN not only by ordinary children
and youth but also b, children of larger
growth, and even by some ministers and
their better halves. But when the time came
for the campmeeting to commence the mall
| let's and balls and wickets disappeared at
once and for the week, and the go-to-nieeting
| faces and dresses were assumed as sedatey as
| of Sunday morning"
| In 1870, the Vineyard Grove Post Office
was established. $50 cottages were built this
| year.
| In 1871 four or five steamers were daily
running between here and the mainland.
| ''The scholarship came and yachts in fleets
wealth came as We! as beauty" Profs.
Percie and Agassiz found their way hither,s
and the latter was so much pleased with the
| place that he expressed the int;ntion of visit
ing and studying it from year to year,
Such in brief is the history OF the place
But the camp-meeting, which was at first
nucleus and inspiration, is now overshadowed
| by its own offspring and has become secon-
Diary and incidental. People come here to
bathe, fish. sail, dance, filrt, in Short for the
customary amusement of a populous summer
resort. The camp-meetng is only an add-
tional attraction. 1t is understood, of course,
that tae camp-meeting is the chic; interest
| with the camp meeting peeple, who consti-
| tute. however a small pro 1i6u OF the 1900
to 10000 who visit here. ~ ~
suppose 10000 people We're out on Ocean
| Park and the bordering avenues last Saturday
night to witness the carnival display. Proba.-
| bly, from five thousand-or from all the gen.
| tier half-Ihe exclamation sprang, Il, is lust
like entering fairy land.' 1t was indeed,
charming scene. which wonld describe with
| agush,i could. Suffice 1t 10 say statist.cay,
! that 2, 900 Chinese lanterns gave their weirl
illumination to the night, and $500 worth of
fireworks of elaborate device, aroused the
| plaulits of the assembled Thousands, while
| the Mansfield cornet band discussed excel
lent music. From DIR fuckers S25, COO cottage
were suspended 200 lanterns. and from the
| balcony, glorious wi h pink clouds of smoke
| from stage fire., certain gods Of that Olympus,
Vice-Presldent " ills ExGov. Clat1in, al
| the proprietor of the cottage looked down up
| on the moving and moved multitude At the
| Sea View House was ''hop'-a short hop to
| II O'Clock.
The Sea View House was built last year at
| a cost oi $4,000. 1t is 800 feet long, and five
stories high, and is said to be the longest hn-
| Iel in the state outside of Boston. You can
board there, If you want to, for $500 per day,
or for $500 during camp-meeting week. I
| get these figures from outside the house itself,
and they may be worthless probably they are.
| At the Highland House, which IS admirably
situated, board may be had tor S1S per week.
There are ten hotels at the Highlands. Vine
| yard Grove and Oak Bluffs, which three local.
| tiles constitute one neighDorhood. These
| ten hotels contain about 800 rooms, but when
filled there are other rooms outside to take
| their overflow. Besides these hotels there
are countless boarding houses, and on yery
many of the cottages you may read Rooms
to let.' The general price tor rooms, at no.
tels aud elsewhere, is 81 per day. The he
tells are kept generally on the European pan.
and meals can be procured at fair prices. o, e
bill OF fare announced ''Broil.d s:rinc cbit-
dren one half' Nov please don't pri3t th. I
chicken and spoil the fun
md 1t impossible to present Martha's
Vineyard fairly by letter. After all must
wind up by saying, "Come and see" Supt.
Bishop, OF the New York and New Haven
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