Signs: Welcome to Seamen. Sailors' Free Reading Room, Library and Chapel, on Union Bluff, Vineyard Haven. All seamen, of whatever nation, and the public are earnestly invited to visit the above named institution, and to attend public worship there...*

*... Sunday forenoons and evenings, and Thursday evenings. Bell rings half an hour before service. Free seats. Free gospel. No contribution-boxes. No respect to persons on account of dress, color or religious opinions. 'The word of God is not bound' to any sect, party or nation. In front of the premises there is a good wharf affording about seven feet of water for landing, also at head of the same there is a well of fresh water and all the means for filling casks in boats. The Reading-room is supplied regularly with twenty-five different newspapers including dailies, semi-weeklies and weeklies, giving the marine news for the Atlantic coast, besides representing the religious views if several Christian sects. ...

Can you identify any people, things, places, or events in this photograph? How about the time period? Or do you know where this photo came from? Email me at cbaer@vineyard.net.

Date: 1875
Location: Vineyard Haven - Neck - Hatch Road
Keywords: churches; libraries; museums; shells; minerals; fossils; curiousities; Indian relics; mail boxes; Bethels