These photographs were collected by local historian Stan Lair (1902-1987) during the 1970's and 1980's from a wide variety of sources. He supplemented them with his own modern photos (included here) as well as handwritten notes on the back (and sometimes the front) of most of the images. We have transcribed his notes, as well as any captions or signs visible in the image. [Additional comments (marked [W.R. 1999]) have been provided by Walter Renear of Vineyard Haven.]
Sorry, but I cannot make copies of these photos available at this time. Try the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society, who may have copies of some of these photos in their files.
Can you identify something in one of these photos that is not noted - a person, building, location, or event? How about the time period? Or do you know where one of these photos came from? Please Let me know!
Index to Photographs:
Original Chamberlain Photograph of the Log Raft (photo lost)
Garbage Scows Built by Dugan + Colby for U.S. Navy
Owen Park, 1930's
Ships in Vineyard Haven Harbor
Looking South Down Main Street Near Spring Street
Down Main St. from the Mansion House Corner
Mrs. Revel's Ice Cream Parlors, Main Street Vineyard Haven,
Vineyard Haven Wharf and Madison Edwards, 1946 Boat Strike
Marion Wright, Thankful Downs, Lizzie Downs, & Ethel Fischer
"New" Renear's Garage (1922)
Miles Renear in Toy Car, South Side of Church St.
Renear's Garage, South Side of Church St.
Ferry at Union Wharf (Scene from Owen Park)
SSA Freight Shed Before Demolition, Union Wharf
MV Naushon at Union Wharf; SSA Freight Shed in Background
Down Beach St. from Mansion House Corner after Snowstorm
Car in Front of Renear's Garage
Men and Car in Front of Renear's Garage
Renear's Garage - South side of Church St.
Men and Women in Decorated Car, Parade
Sheriff Renear, Jack Carey and Others Outside Renears Garage
Puppy and Truck in Street Outside Masonic Hall
Calling Card: Edward J. Flaherty, Chief of Police
Walter Renear and Three Women in Car
Walter Rheno & Lafayette Esquadrill on Leave, World War I
Howard Whitney (L) / ("Scotty") Walter Scott (R)
Mrs. Walter Renear and Car on Church Street
Two Cars at Renear's Garage: "1932 Progress 1922"
Women by Trees on Shore (Cedars at West Chop?)
Jack Carey, Wm. J. Look, and Walter Renear in Decorated Car
Vineyard Haven Main St. in 1874
Looking down Union St. V.H. 1898
Illustration of Baptist Church, Holmes Hole, 1837-1883
Theola Hammett, Dorothy Willoughby, and Priscilla Webb
SSA Freight Boat Passing West Chop
Fishing Boat Grounded on Owen Park Beach, Oct. 20, 1980
Granville Manter House (Back View)
Clement Cleveland House Beach St. (razed)
Mildred & Leslie Tilton behind Tilton's Drug Store
V.H. After the 1883 Fire (View From Methodist Steeple?)
Four generations of Tiltons: Welcome, Thomas, Tod, and Tommy
Two Figures Outside West Chop Lighthouse
Class Picture - Tisbury School?
Buildings on Beach North of Union Wharf
Fishing Boat Aground on Owen Park Beach After 1980 Storm
"Water Street where once flowed Bass Creek"
Schooner 'Alice Wentworth'
Cars and People at Owen Park (Waiting for an Arrival??)
Large Group of Older Women (In a Schoolroom?)
The Topsail Schooner Shenandoah Under Full Sail
Islander at Union Wharf (Photo from Bethel)
Power Boat Pushing Schooner 'John B. Norris'
Mansion House Corner After the 1883 Fire
Christ M.E. Church / Rev. Edgar James Curry with Shovel
C. F. Lane Signature
Gifford Boat Yard, Beach Rd.
"Drive to West Chop" (Davies House; "The Folly")
Wreck at Vineyard Haven Harbor
View of the Bottom of the Old Spring St. Standpipe
Car Exiting Renear's Garage
Wagon Outside Look, Washburn & Co. Grocery Store
Ridewerth Lodge
View of Main Street from Methodist Steeple After 1883 Fire
Steamer Passing Small Shorefront Houses, West CHop
Cars Parked on Beach St.
Clement Cleveland House, Beach St. (Later Razed)
Men and Carey Luce (as Boy) Outside Stephen C. Luce Store
Map of Holmes Hole, 1775, from the Des Barres Chart.
Water St.: Crowell Coal and Tilton Lumber Yard Buildings
Schooner Newburgh Through the Dock After 1898 Gale
Two Boys in Front of Car
Aerial View of "The Neck" (Grove St., etc.) and West Chop
Aerial View of Mink Meadows Area Looking Toward Harbor
Aerial View of James Pond?
Aerial View of Mink Meadows, Looking North
Aerial View of Mink Meadows?
Aerial View of James Pond
Aerial View of 'Turtle Hole' on the West Side of the Lagoon
Aerial View of James Pond?
Vineyard Haven After the 1883 Fire, View From Steeple
View of Vineyard Haven, Wharf, and Harbor
Lumber Schooner 'Augusta G. Hilton' Ashore at West Chop
Main St. Before the 1883 Fire
Wood Carvings of Ben Chuck
Looking Down Church Street Toward Lane's Block
"Glimpse of Lake Tashmoo from Cow Pasture"
Luther West House and Farm on South Main St.
Fischer Bros. Storefront
Main Street Looking North Toward Lane's Block
Houses along Howard Ave. (Lagoon Pond Rd.) & Marine Hospital
A Few Days Before the SSA Freight Shed was Demolished (1980)
A Few Days Before the SSA Freight Shed was Demolished (1980)
Large Gathering of People, Dressed Up (Who are they??)
Main Street, Looking North Toward Lane's Block
View North Across Lagoon to Bridge
Fields, Farm, and Windmill on State Road
Field, Rocks, Farmhouse, and Windmill on State Road
FM Radio Tower (WVOI)
FM Radio Station and Tower (WVOI)
FM Radio Tower and Fence (WVOI)
FM Radio Station (WVOI)
Renovated Lair House on Center Street
Renovated Lair House on Center Street
Makonikey Hotel (From Newspaper Clipping)
House Seen Up Driveway Through Trees (Where is this?)
Two Men Walking Past the Tashmoo Club, West Chop
Children in Parade Passing Dukes County Garage, Five Corners
Large Schooner from Nova Scotia After Storm
Schooner (Newburgh) at Union Wharf
"View of Beach, Showing West Chop"
Two Men and a Woman on Stairs, West Chop Lighthouse
Dr. Roth's 1903 'Rambler' Automobile
Bell Ringing Under Linden Tree - 1981 Iran Hostage Return
Carriage Passing West Chop Cottages on Point Drive
News: 'This "Baby" Little Solves His Transportation Problem'
Cars and Crowd at Five Corners, Looking Up Beach St., 1970's
Coastwise Wharf Co. Inc.
Schooner Through the Dock After 1898 Gale
Wrecks in Harbor (After 1898 Gale?)
Bangs House Dedication Plaque (West Chop Post Office)
Old Methodist Church? (View South on William Street?)
Deep Snow Drifts Next to Dukes County Garage
Crowell Coal Co. Advertising Card
View of Marine Hospital, Skiff Ave. Area and Harbor
Crowd After the Bicentennial Parade, Edgartown, 1976
The Old Methodist Episcopal Church
New Tisbury School Dedication, 1929
Downtown Vineyard Haven after the 1883 Fire (Steeple View)
The 'Nickerson' at the Port Hunter Wreck, 1918
Sailors Free Reading Room, Hatch Road
View of Bass Creek Toward Marine Hospital
Nineteen Men Posed in Parking Lot (...who are they?)
Main Street from Church St. Lookin North; Linden Tree
Horse Races (King Benton, Alert, Mable, and Others)
Two in Costume for Bicentennial Celebration, 1976
Costumed Women, Bicentennial Celebration, Owen Park 1976
Costumed Women, Bicentennial Celebration, Owen Park 1976
Costumed Girls, Bicentennial Celebration, Owen Park 1976
Photographing Group, Bicentennial Celebration, Owen Park 197
Photographing Group, Bicentennial Celebration, Owen Park 197
Small Boats on Shore Near Five Corners
Charles Sayle, Miss Jane Ashman, and Capt. Zeb Tilton
Dr. Lane's Signature
Fourteen Ocean-Going Tugs at Union Wharf
Car and Casino at West Chop
Boats, Docks and Union Wharf
Cows Grazing at Tashmoo Overlook
West Chop Post Office at Christmas
Sailboat and Ferry Passing East Chop
Capawock 'Photoplays' Theater: 'Back to God's Country'
The Old O.B.-V.H. Bridge With One Trolley Track Visible
V.H. Harbor from Owen Park 1981
Painting the Town Hall, June 1981
Painting the Town Hall, June 1981
Crowell Coal Co. Advertising Card
Crowell Coal Co. Advertising Card
West Chop Cottage Lots Advertisement
Crowell Coal Co. Advertising Card
Celestino Oliver at Dukes County Garage
Small Buildings on the Shore, Vineyard Haven Harbor
Map of Martha's Vineyard (New England Steamship Co. map?)
Cars Parked in Front of Dukes County Garage, c. 1923
Cars Parked Near Dukes County Garage
Howes Clothing Store - Special on Black Cotton Socks
S.B.S. Employees 1914-1916
Sailors' Free Reading Room Advertisement
Steamers 'Plymouth' and 'Georges Creek' at Union Wharf, 1915
Schooners, Waves, and Wrecks in the Harbor in the 1898 Gale
Transfer Steamer "Maryland" on the Beach After a Storm
Frank Bodfish in the Doorway of His Father's Blacksmith Shop
Children With Sign and Towels Outside Centre St. School
View Through Grass Down Howard Ave Toward Marine Hospital
Riders and Car at Riding School on Main St.
Aerial View of Beach Road from the Bridge toward the West
Map of Vineyard Haven
Mrs. Revel's Ice Cream Parlors, South Main Street
Class Picture, Tisbury High School 1919-1920 Year
Bass Creek, Marine Hospital, and Distant View of Innisfail
Plan of Cedar and Ocean Bluffs (West Chop Developments)
Soldiers in Parade From Union Wharf
McCall Plaque at the Gay Head Town Hall
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Boatyard on Harbor Shore
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Construction of South Slip at Union Wharf, 1981
Do you have any suggestions, corrections, or comments about this web page? Email me at cbaer@vineyard.net