Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-12
Mortho's Vineyard Holds
|Ouointness With Luxury
MARTHA's VINEYARD, Mass.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD. Mass.
People have been discovering
Martha's Vineyard = to their
pleasure-since 1902, when Bar
tholomew Gosnold found this
idyllic island south of Cape Cod:
100 square miles of hills, dales.
forests, sandy beaches. with a
wealth of birds, wild flowers and
the wild grapes from which the
island received its name.
Explorers who come now-ar-
irving by steamer. ferry OF plane
from the mainland-still find
miles of unspoiled beauty. They
also find every provision for sat-
isfactory vacations - good har-
borS for sailing; miles of excel
lent beaches for summing and
swimming; world-renowned fish
ing; golf course: bicycles, riding
horses and cars to rent, and
many good hotels, guest houses
and restaurants. In addition
there's summer theater, NOV
les, community sings, band con-
certs and church supperS.
Though millionaireS and IA
nous people have summer
homes on the island, they fall
into the informal vineyard
spirit. Many families come to
the island year after year.
Boats for Rent
YachtSmen-and this includes
the many who rent boats
choose a harbor as headquarters,
compete in races there, sail their
boats round the island. Edgar
town, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard
Haven and Menemsha Harbors
have their sailing colonies.
Swimmers and sun-bathers
head for the blue-green waters
which wash the sandy beaches.
Oak Bluffs has a public beach;
the state beach between Oak
Bluffs and Edgartown is six
miles long, and South Beach, for
surf bathing. runs for 20 miles
along the southern coast.
Many anglers come to the
Vineyard for mackerel, big game
tuna, marlin, and blue fish, but
1t is the striped bass which has
made the island known to fisher
men around the world. The an
nual Striped Bass Derby will be
held this year from September is
to october Is, with thousands
of prizes for the biggest catches
(record: a 73-pounder.
The island is so set in the
ocean currents that it has not
one but four tides, and anglers
can move with the tides around
the island.
Sightseers, by bus, car, or bike,
visit the half a dozen small
towns and villages, each with its
own personality. Good roads
connect them. and run through
the countryside. where the high
way may be shaded by old trees
bent by the Indians to mark
their trails.
At least one trip should be
made to Gay Head, clay cliffs in
colors which change according
to the sun and atmosphere. One
can drive to the top of the cliffs
for a panoramic view, then take
a winding footpath down to the
beach.
Luxury, Too
This outdoor life can be mixed
with luxury, if you wish. The 90
room Harborside Inn is directly
on Edgartown Harbor; green
lawns and gardens end at the
waters edge, where the inns
fleet of boats waits at the docks.
Martha'S Vineyard Country
Club offers efficiency suites, an
l8-hole golf course, swimming
pool. cocktail lounge and dining
room. These are only two of the
many good hotels. apartments
motels and restaurants on the
island.
Oaks Bluffs was a cluster of
camp meeting tents short 100
years ago. Tents were replaced
with wooden cottages, ornate
with scrolls. towers and cupolas
in the style of the day. The big
tent became a steel tabernacle
set in a park and is still a center