Journal of History of Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands THE DUKES COUNTY INTELLIGENCER VOL. 52, NO. 1 FALL 2010 WRECK & RESCUE: The Mertie B. Crowley by HERBERT R. WARD INVENTIVE ISLANDERS U.S. Patent Records Tell A Tale of Creativity by CHRIS BAER PLUS: Student Essays: Early Vineyard Medicine This advertisement for Luxemoor leather products, produced in Vineyard Haven, appeared in the 1905 edition of The Craftsman. Wrote the magazine: “‘Luxemoor’ leather is a genuine article of unquestioned artistic merit History on Main Street combined with exclusive decorative effects which cannot be obtained elsewhere.” (See story, page 15) The Remarkable Polly Hill From the Executive Director Membership Dues Student ..........................................$25 Following in the footsteps of the late Ann Allen (see below), the Individual .....................................$55 Museum has opened these pages to welcome the papers of students (Does not include spouse) assigned to research Island history. Family ...........................................$75 This is the second edition featuring student work and we are hopeful Sustaining ...................................$125 that this new tradition will become a fixture in the growing collaboration Patron .......................................$250 between the Museum and the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools. Benefactor ..................................$500 One of the objectives of the Museum is to strengthen our relationship President’s Circle .....................$1000 with the schools, to have a more active participation in curriculum Memberships are development, and to be a greater resource for all grades and subjects. The tax deductible. Museum’s collections are an unparalleled asset to scholars of all ages and For more information on membership educational levels, and we especially enjoy having the youngest scholars levels and benefits, please visit delve into our archives. Indeed, I am here partly because of a formative www.mvmuseum.org experience I had with a painting in a museum while I was in junior high school in western Massachusetts. Students benefit by understanding how their Island connects to the greater world. The Museum benefits by being a partner in the excitement of their discoveries. To Our Readers This issue of the Dukes County Intelligencer especially fulfills one of the key tenets of the mission of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum: to add ....David Nathans to the historic record. Two articles cover new ground as Herb Ward writes about the wreck of the Mertie B. Crowley with passion and a In Memoriam personal connection and Chris Baer, a frequent contributor to these Ann Coleman Allen pages, brings to light the unusual number of inventors who have had a 1934 –2010 Vineyard connection. We are delighted to be able to again offer three pieces of student work, on three very different topics: a history of Main Ann Coleman Allen served as Librarian and Archivist of the Martha’s Street, Vineyard Haven; the evolution of medicine on Martha’s Vineyard; Vineyard Historical Society (now MVM) from 1988 until 1993. During and, a short biography of Polly Hill. her years with the Museum she worked to share her passion for Vineyard history. Through the Regional High School Historical Essay Contest, Submissions to the Intelligencer are welcome. For guidelines, please which called for “research to be done to a significant degree in the Gale contact [email protected]. Letters to the editor intended for Huntington Library,” she encouraged many high school students to find publication are also welcome and may be emailed or mailed to: the excitement of exploring Island history using the resources of the Susan Wilson, Editor, Dukes County Intelligencer. P.O. Box 1310, Museum archives. The contest became a part of the American Heritage Edgartown, MA 02539. curriculum at the High School. When Ann left the Museum, she worked with high school juniors on the Community History Project, “CHiP,” researching local history. She also taught a popular course on Island history to adults. She will be remembered for her passion for collecting Vineyard history. From the Executive Director Membership Dues Student ..........................................$25 Following in the footsteps of the late Ann Allen (see below), the Individual .....................................$55 MuseumTHE has opened DUKES these pages to welcome COUNTY the papers of students (Does not include spouse) assigned to research Island history. Family ...........................................$75 This is the second edition featuring student work and we are hopeful Sustaining ...................................$125 thatINTELLIGENCER this new tradition will become a fixture in the growing collaboration Patron .......................................$250 between the Museum and the Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools. Benefactor ..................................$500 OneVOL .of 52, the N objectivesO. 1 of the Museum© 2010 is to strengthen our relationshipFALL 2010 President’s Circle .....................$1000 with the schools, to have a more active participation in curriculum development, and to be a greater resource for all grades and subjects. The Memberships are Rescue on Skiff’s Island Shoal, 1910: tax deductible. Museum’s collections are an unparalleled asset to scholars of all ages and The Heroism of Capt. Levi Jackson and His Crew educational levels, and we especially enjoy having the youngest scholars For more information on membership by Herbert R. Ward ................................................................ 3 levels and benefits, please visit delve into our archives. Indeed, I am here partly because of a formative www.mvmuseum.org experienceInventive Islanders I had with of aYesteryear: painting in a museum while I was in junior high school From in western Annals Massachusetts. of the U.S. Patent Office Students bybenefit Chris by Baer understanding .......................................................................... how their Island connects to the 15 greater world.Student The Museum Histories, benefits by a being Special a partner Section: in the excitement ofMedicine their discoveries. on Martha’s Vineyard To Our Readers by Carter D’Angelo .............................................................. 31 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, Through the Years This issue of the Dukes County Intelligencer especially fulfills one of by Dana Jacobs ........................................................................ 41 the key tenets of the mission of the Martha’s Vineyard Museum: to add ....David Nathans Polly Hill and Her Arboretum to the historic record. Two articles cover new ground as Herb Ward by Clare Boland .................................................................... 49 writes about the wreck of the Mertie B. Crowley with passion and a In Memoriam personal connection and Chris Baer, a frequent contributor to these Ann Coleman Allen pages, brings to light the unusual number of inventors who have had a Founding Editor:1934 Gale Huntington–2010 (1959-1977) Vineyard connection. We are delighted to be able to again offer three George W. Adams, Editor (1978-1979) pieces of student work, on three very different topics: a history of Main Ann ColemanEditor Allen Emeritus: served Arthuras Librarian R. Railton and Archivist (1979-2006) of the Martha’s Street, Vineyard Haven; the evolution of medicine on Martha’s Vineyard; Vineyard HistoricalJohn Society W. Walter, (now MVM) Editor from (2006-2008) 1988 until 1993. During and, a short biography of Polly Hill. her years with the Museum she worked to share her passion for Vineyard history.The DukesThrough County the Intelligencer Regional High is published School by Historical the Martha’s Essay Vineyard Contest, Submissions to the Intelligencer are welcome. For guidelines, please whichMuseum. called Subscription for “research is a benefit to be done of membership to a significant in the degree Museum. in the To join,Gale or contact [email protected]. Letters to the editor intended for Huntingtonto renew your Library,” membership, she encouragedplease visit www.mvmuseum.org many high school students and click to on find the publication are also welcome and may be emailed or mailed to: the“Membership” excitement button. of exploring Island history using the resources of the Susan Wilson, Editor, Dukes County Intelligencer. P.O. Box 1310, Back copies of the Intelligencer are available for sale in the Museum library. Museum archives. The contest became a part of the American Heritage Edgartown, MA 02539. Authors’ queries and manuscripts for this journal should be emailed to [email protected] at the High School.or addressed When to Annthe Editor, left the Dukes Museum, County she Intelligencer worked , withP.O. Box high 1310, school Edgartown, juniors onMA the 02539. Community History Project, “CHiP,” researchingArticles in localthe Intelligencer history. She do also not necessarilytaught a popular represent course the opinions on Island of the historyMuseum to or adults. its officers. She will Every be remembered effort is made for to her confirm passion dates, for collecting names and events in published articles, but we cannot guarantee total accuracy. Vineyard history. ISSN 0418 1379 Martha’s Vineyard Museum Board of Directors, 2010-2011 Elizabeth Beim, Chair Nathaniel Benjamin • Jonathan Blum • John Botts Eve Vincent Codding • John R. Ettinger • Gail Farrish Sheldon Hackney • Charlotte Hall • Mark Charles Lapman Douglas Leavens • Mark Alan