New-York tribune., 1874-07-04
MARTHA'S VINEYARD.
A TOWN THAT HAS GROWN OUT OF A
CAMP MEETING.


lFRoH AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUsEI
OAK BLUFFS, Martha's Vineyard, June o.
Vineyard Sound was lashed into foam on Friday and
saturday of last week by Northeastern which blew
itself out on Sunday. To-day sky ana water are IKE
two sapphires, the ragged scud OF yesterday mas re-
solved itself into Misunderstanding drift OF white
cloud and the hundreds OF coasters which were weather
bound at Holiness Hole and Edgartown are running
free to the eastward or lying clOsehauled on the
westerly wind they their respective courses
II was very dsagreeabe gale, that same north-easter,
and learn from the Signal Bureaus synopsis that
You had not your share OF it in New-f0rk.
Here 1t kept within doors cottagers who have
yet ventured open their Summer houses.
hndered the painters carpenters who were engaged
in putting things TO rights discouraged the hotel and
restaurantkeepers as 1 personally testify, having
been served with "brsker warmed over. when l
ordered roast-been and III short, set back for haf
week. season already very backward. Tuis morning
there evidences OF renewed activity. noticed in
my morning walk, that "A marble sOda-fountdn which
had hitherto posed its intricate yals to the passing
gaze, has been rg-side up while the Baxter House,
hoterestaurant Of the perennial type, was scOrniuy
watching opening Of its ephemerl rival
the Pawnse. Just across the way The juxapostion Of
these houses-the suggestive OF saiuty rest,
and the other OF scalps and warpInt-is one OF the
funny contrasts OF this ncOngruous place. but one is
constantly stumbling upon all sorts OF oddities here.
PECULIAR TOwS.
Oak Bluffs and Dy this 1 mean to include the old
Methodist camp pmeeting grouud, Is in certain respects
without rival. IL has smaller and queerer cottages,
and more Of them within given radius, than any Ohf
place earth. Il has grown mp from an 0ld-tashohed
camp-neetlng, which gradually extended itself IN botn
directions time, and in all directions as TO space
until now il is visited every SUMNER according TO en-
thusiasic but very trustworthy satsticlans, by
$1,000 or 1900 persons. Practically the CampMeetng
Associations grounds and the tract belonging to che
Oak Bluffs Company are The picket fence Is
broken by frequent gates which, within the writer's
experience are closed and one is often unaware
when the boundaries pissed. There
is. however, marked difference between
the two. Within, the lots small aId the tent-ramcs
and cottages unpleasanty near together We're all
of them occupied throughout the season, IL would ne
nearly impossible with anything short Of military dis
cplne, enforce adequate sanitary rules As t L.
fhe ,rouud is excessively crowded only during fbrt-
night OF thereabout, and the regulations are strict
enough and we'll enough observed to insure reasonable
comfort and guarantees general health under ordinary
circumstances. Outside, the los aud cottages are
larger and hardly any 70 be seen The south
west Wind which blows almost the season through has
free circulation. purifying always. Ike all other
watering places this one. despite s exceptional cha
racter must in a sense rest its oars the present
season. though fancy that last Fail 'shrinkage VIII be
felt i'll "A smaller degree here than At some OF
the resorts where money is usually spent
by fewer people. Scarcely any new cottages
have been built this season, whereas year
ago the sound OF the hammer so Incessant
as to be annoying slight reaction had even then set
in and IL was evident the disBterested observer that
a period OF depres ,on at hand. Naturally enough
too for since 1896 when The first cottage was but
To the great scandal of tile Methodist fathers who saw
therein advanced skirmisher Of the worlds INVASION
considerable city OF toy houses has sprung up on land
i'm ms let
Two years ago this land sold cash down AZ $3.50 and
more for lots IS feet wide by feet deep OF course
few farmers became suddenly rch and speculators VINO
made judicoIs investments became richer Also, OF
course the real estate business overdone All the
land between Vineyard Haven and E Eigarton was
taked of small building lots which are still held at
prices that in will DO realized We all
know however. that real estate is everywhere in like
condition relatively and Oak Bluffs lots toleraby
sure to hold their own at a handsome figure.
CHEAP AND sERvIcEABLE HOMES.
These cottages are built wholly Of matched boards
nailed Il frame paned scantling No ath and plas-
ter used instances. such structures are far
more comfortable than one might suppose. Il well put
together they are perfectly an-prOof and assured
by persons who spend the Winter here that they are by
no means untenable IN weather Probably the
fact that large fire has ever occurred at the Bluffs Is
largely due the absence Of nterspace- where sparks
can shoulder undiscovered. II the Methodists had
never done anything else they would deserve the thanks
OF the nation for having IL tins idea Of pckncing
on large scale. Here may cot
tages which really come within the means
OF alaried men cheap structures enough merely 20 AZ
ford the inmates shelter and sleeping room in stress Of
weather. On fair day all outdoors Is parlor. and
one may have plenty OF company without being afraid
/ Of losing caste through failure 20 change ones
clothes times day. Ii is not TO be denied that
there are property qualifications here as everywhere.
nor that fashion is gaining very appreciabe foothod
The Sea View Hotel for instance is trstclass every
respect including prices Architecturally II is really
creditabe being wholly without those barnesque fea-
which characterize most OF our seaside hotels
Here ladies NAV indulge in those exquisite deli ghts
/ which result from eight Saratoga trunks and
hops" twice a week during the season. Happily the
contag1on has not yet spread-ndeed II is not TO
see how h can DO SOTO the thousands who 20 20 the
Vineyard tor rest and change without great cost The
machinery OF living completely in working order
! that when one understands II expenses may be
kept at very low point while hnery may be put for
a visit to the Sea View whenever gayety IL required.
Altogether life affords many facilities for enjoy
men and IL is surprising how little that Is Objectionable
has crept TO mar peaceful security of the eotagers
The Methodist authorities controlling the eami-ground
proper have hitherto found willing coworkers In the
Oak Bluffs Company, which owns the great hotel and
administers affairs outside But the Company is rich
prosperous and the danger is that in ts haste TO
become still richer. it will forget to look after those
details which it can, ander its charter, exercise
absolute Jurisdiction Il will be uulucky dag for all
concerned the irregularities, which almost sure to
/ follow a lavish expenditure OF money, come IN TO
supplant comparative simplicity that hitherto pre-
vailed.
RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.
In the matter Of locIt improvements the Company Is
deserving Of great credit. Every year sees avenues
Streets aud walks laid with excellent concrete. and as
rule public buildings, bathing houses. and all that
pertains 10 them are kept in good state OF repair
notable feature ia the plapkwa stretching for mile
| along the low bluffs which lie back OF the beach