From Gazette editions of November 1936:

Island interest in the election this week centered about the contest for county representative. For the first time in many years a Democratic nominee was on the ballot and, possibly for the first time, an independent opposed the Republican nominee. Joseph A. Sylvia of Oak Bluffs, who won the Republican nomination in the primary, was victorious over Allan Keniston, independent of West Tisbury, and Paul Bangs, Democratic nominee of Tisbury.

From an “Interesting Vineyarders” column:

Capt. Edward A. Perry of Oak Bluffs, a descendant of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, is one of the survivors of the era of wooden ships

Catch of the Day

From Gazette editions of October 1986:

The Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby will no longer be sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce. The announcement came from Karl Buder, chamber president, at the derby award ceremonies at the Edgartown Yacht Club.

Leading Lights

From Gazette editions of October, 1961:

Ernest E. Duarte of Makonikey has taken the contract to repair the lighthouse tower at Tarpaulin Cove and to make a general clean-up of the government reservation there. The work will begin as soon as settled weather allows the necessary crossing of the Sound with equipment and material. A building mover among other accomplishments, he anticipates unusual activity in this department during the coming months.

Nest Eggs

From Gazette editions of October, 1936:

George M. Jenks of North Tisbury, at the age of 86, took for his bride Mrs. Elizabeth Hallett Hammett, 71, at the Jenks home on Wednesday evening. Mr. Jenks has renamed his residence the Love Nest. The bride was dressed in dark plum wool crepe. Mr. Jenks, a champion jig dancer of the Vineyard, was nattily attired for the occasion. He is still active as a farmer.

Border Lines

From the Gazette Fence File:

The boulder-strewn hills of the Vineyard are enduring but many of the relics of a more recent past are not. Consider the split rail fences of fragrant cedar. A generation ago they were familiar in the landscape, though not so much as the stone walls.