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:
Men and Wagon Outside J. H. Lambert Grocery Store
Paddlewheel Steamer "Island Home" and Schooners
Snow on Union Street after 1898 Gale
Snow Piled on Union Street after 1898 Gale
"Wharf Scene": Men, Rowboat, and Seaplane at Union Wharf
Ed Lord's Chandlery and Buildings at the Neck (Grove Street)
Paddlewheel Steamer Monohansett at Landing
Mrs. A. T. Tilton's Storefront, Main St. (Dentist Upstairs)
Wagons Outside Stephen C. Luce Grocery Store
Nomansland Boat at Harbor Shore c. 1925
Steamboat Pier & Uncatena at Union Wharf, 1907
Steamer and Vessels In Harbor
Early Vineyard Haven Shore From the Water
Hines Bridge and View of Beach Road
The Old Vineyard Haven-Oak Bluffs Drawbridge
Schooner Newburgh Through Union Wharf After 1898 Gale
Four People and Two Bicycles Outside Lane's Block
Motor Vessel "Three Bells"
View North on Main Street From Near Centre Street
Main Street, View North From Mansion House Corner
Schooner Newburgh Through Union Wharf, 1898 (Beach View)
Schooner "Augusta Hilton" Ashore at West Chop, 1923
View of Mill, Houses, Harbor, and East Chop
Man and Boats on Shore
View North on Main Street, From Near Centre Street
View North on Main Street, From Between Centre + Union St.
Aerial View of Downtown
Paddlewheel Steamer at Union Wharf
Martha's Vineyard National Bank Building
Innisfail Hotel and Surroundings, Oklahoma
The "Nobnocket" Club, Pier, and Surroundings
Innisfail Hotel, Buildings, and Road, Oklahoma
The Freighter Port Hunter, Afloat
Frank Vincent in Small Boat
View North on Main Street; A Sapling Linden Tree
Tugboats at Union Wharf
Main Street, Looking Toward Post Office From Near Owen Park
Main Street Looking South From Near Bank
Tugboats at Union Wharf
View of Downtown and Waterfront From William Street Area
View of downtown from location of Burt's Boatyard
Car and Carriages in the Mud
View of Downtown and Harbor From Hill
The Bethel Launch, "Helen May"
Steamer Naushon in Harbor
Hines Bridge and Beach Road
Charles B. Cleveland's Catboat, "Thelma"
Two Schooners After 1898 Gale
Schooners in Harbor After 1898 Gale
Lime Laden Schooner Bertha E. Glover Burning, 1898
Schooners in Harbor After 1898 Gale
Schooners in Harbor After 1898 Gale
Harness Factory #2, Renear Livery Stable, Manter Shoe Store
Renear's Livery Stable and Real Estate Office
Three Men Outside Stephen C. Luce Store; The Tashmoo Inn
"William Street Looking North Showing Stephen Lucas' House"
Shell Road Looking North From Vineyard Haven to West Chop
A Cove at West Chop
View of William Street
Looking Down Union Street and Union Wharf at "Newburgh"
Aerial Panoramic View of Downtown and Ferry Leaving Harbor
"Eben A. Thatcher" Tied Up at Union Wharf
Men in Front of the Post Office, Lane's Block
Wreckage of the "City of Columbus"
Steamer and Eben A. Thatcher at Union Wharf
Three Men Outside Old U. S. Marine Hospital
Moving the Bethel, Early 1980's?
Hine's Bridge and Beach Road
Moving "The Double Decker Restaurant" Building
Innisfail, Surrounding Buildings, and Road to Oklahoma
Union Wharf, Seaman's Bethel and Capt. Oliver's Store - 1900
Car in Snow
Folk (or Child's?) Painting of "Three Bells"
Catboat "On Time" and View of West Chop
View North on Main Street #39
Vineyard Haven Baseball Team Posing on Rocks
Motor Vessel "Three Bells"
Tugboats at Union Wharf
The Seven-Masted Schooner, "Thomas Lawson"
Schooner Augusta G. Hilton Grounded at West Chop, 1923
1880 Proposed Plan of Cottage Lots of West Chop
Bicycling on Ice at Vineyard Haven Harbor, 1912
View of Downtown From M. E. Steeple After 1883 Fire
Elijah Hillman at the Town Pump
John's Fish Market + Mike Fontes Paint Shop, Five Corners
Old Baptist Church and Surroundings Before the 1883 Fire
Paddlewheel Steamer Island Home in Harbor
Boat House on Harbor Shore
The Cromwell House
The Crowell House
Man in Horse-Drawn Sleigh
Bearded Man in Horse-Drawn Cart
Main Street Looking South, Near Ben Franklin Store
Main Street Looking North, Near Spring Street Intersection
View of Union Wharf from the Boat, c. 1960's
The Island Color Center Building at Five Corners
Innisfail Hotel
Tracks in Snow; Looking Up Union Street From Wharf
Schooner and View of Wharf and Downtown
Sailing Vessel "Natalie"
Paddlewheel Steamer "Martha's Vineyard" at Union Wharf
Stephen Carey Luce Jr., Aged 8, on Sled with Trained Goat
Sam Look and Another Man on Horse-Drawn Wagon
Paddlewheel Steamer "Martha's Vineyard" at Union Wharf
Vessel "Eben A. Thacher"
Downtown After the 1883 Fire - View from M.E. Steeple
Schooners Wrecked in Harbor After 1898 Gale
Two Men Outside E. Issokson Tailor Storefront
Group of Firemen and Flag-Laden Wagon
Old Tisbury School, Centre Street
View North on Main Street From Near Centre Street
Group of Workers (1903 Whitney House?)
Notes on Reverse of Group Photo (1903 Whitney House?)
Looking Northwest from Mansion House After 1883 Fire
Paddlewheel Steamer (Martha's Vineyard?) and Harbor
Mansion House Corner Looking West After 1883 Fire
Looking Northwest from Mansion House Corner After 1883 Fire
The Remains of the Mansion House After the 1883 Fire
Looking Northwest from Mansion House Corner After 1883 Fire
The Old Main Street Baptist Church, Before the 1883 Fire
Looking Down Main St. from Mansion House Before 1883 Fire
View From the M.E. Church Tower, Before 1883 Fire
View From the M.E. Church Tower After 1883 Fire
Corner Main and Beach Streets After the 1883 Fire
The Mansion House Chimney and Fireplace After 1883 Fire
The Dr. Roth House and The Great House After 1883 Fire
The Old Mansion House Fireplace
The Bottom of Church Street, After the 1883 Fire
The Bottom of Church Street, After the 1883 Fire
View of 'Ritter House' From Main Street After 1883 Fire
View Southeast From M.E. Church After 1883 Fire
View of Main St. and Mansion House Chimney After 1883 Fire
The Bottom of Church Street, After the 1883 Fire
Group Posing in Front of the "Red Norton House"
Group Posing in Front of the "Red Norton House"
The Ritter House and Surroundings After 1883 Fire
The Old Mansion House Fireplace, After 1883 Fire
Parade Marching on Water Street, 1919
View North on Main Street From Near Spring Street
Peakes and Lair Plumbing; M.V. Realty Co. (H. Cronig) Office
Wreck of Nova Scotia Schooner
Beach Road Boatyard After 1938 Hurricane
Aerial View of Marine Hospital
Beach Road Boatyard After 1938 Hurricane - View #2
Aerial View of Marine Hospital Area
Paddlewheel Steamer "Uncatena"
Union Wharf, Long Vessel, and Waterfront
View Southeast from the M.E. Church After the 1883 Fire
Mansion House Fireplace After 1883 Fire
View Southeast from the M.E. Church After the 1883 Fire
The Bottom of Church Street, After the 1883 Fire
The Remains of the Mansion House, After 1883 Fire
"River Queen," Carriage, Fish Market at Union Wharf
Tugboat "Whitefoot"
Building Surrounded by Low Trees [The Cedars?]
The Ritter House and Neighborhood After 1883 Fire
The Ritter House and Neighborhood After 1883 Fire
View South on (Flooded) Water Street After 1944 Hurricane
Mansion House Corner Looking West After 1883 Fire
Main Street, Looking North, From Near Spring Street
Flag-Decorated Schooners in Harbor
Writing by "Jump Spark Jim" West on Order Blank
Line to See Santa Claus at Linden Tree, 1970's
Tom Tilton and His Uncle Willard Tilton
"Patricia" Wrecked on Beach Road After 1938 Hurricane
Aerial View of Boat Yard, Wrecked After 1938 Hurricane
Women and Children Wading at Beach
Old Tisbury School, Center Street
L. E. Briggs Store, Main St.
Vacant Lot on Main Street (Now Mini-Mall)
Schooner at Union Wharf
"Wharf Scene": Two Tugboats at Union Wharf
The Sea Chest the Day Before It Was Razed, 1983
Rear of Ralph Look House (Sea Chest) Before It Was Razed
Paddlewheel Steamer "Martha's Vineyard" at Union Wharf
Gene's Service Station, Beach Road
Roth House
Roth House and Parking Lot
Association Hall After Fire in Boiler Room
The "City of Portsmouth" at West Chop Wharf
Boaters and Swimmers at Harbor Shore
Entering Vineyard Haven from Up Island on South Main Street
West Chop Cottages From Point Drive
A Girl's Camp in the West Chop Pines
Uncatena at Union Wharf, 1907
New Location of Fountain, 1979
Schooner in Harbor and Marine Hospital
General Woods Arrives to Dedicate WWI Monument
Bath Houses and Steamer Landing at West Chop
"Havenside Also"
View North on Shore From Union Wharf
Crowell Coal Co. Demolished to Make Room for SSA Parking Lot
Ocean Going Tug "Cheektowaga" Approaching Union Wharf
View of Town Before 1883; Bradley's Store and Home
Vineyard Haven From Near Present Beach Road Before 1883
Mansion House Corner Before 1883 Fire
Mansion House Corner Before 1883 Fire
View North on Main Street: Carriages, Fountain, Lane's Block
Wagon Outside Look, Washburn & Co.
View Down Beach Street Towards Five Corners
Albert Fischer in Doorway of Fischer Bros. Store, Union St.
View of Union Wharf, Union Street, + Water Street, c. 1960s
View of Union Wharf and Bethel Area, c. 1960s
View North on Main Street From Spring Street
View North on Main Street From Mansion House Corner
Aerial View of Beach Road Boat Yard and Tanks, 1938
Painting of Dr. Charles F. Lane
Schooner Newburgh Through Union Wharf, 1898 (Beach View)
Aerial View of Beach Road Boat Yard and Tanks, 1938
Schooner Alice S. Wentworth (Capt. Zeb Tilton)
1919 "40 + 8" Parade on Water Street - Marching Band
Main Street Near Lane's Block After Snowstorm
Paddlewheel Steamer "Uncatena" and Tugboat "Charl...", Wharf
Mansion House - View From Main Street
Collection of Wood Carving by Ben Chuck
Aerial View of Beach Road and Lagoon Pond Road, c. 1930
Tugboats at Union Wharf
Bethel Launch, "Helen May" in Harbor
"Dry Tortugas" - Capt. John Ivory's Home on Beach
Group of Men in front of Chadwick's Store, Main Street
Fischer Bros. Storefront, Union Street
Interior of Martha's Vineyard National Bank
Rebuilt Wharf Around Newburgh; Lumber Yard and Bethel
Interior of S.B.S. Store
D.A.R. Building and Liberty Pole Memorial, Main Street
The Old Vineyard Haven - Oak Bluffs Bridge and Sea Wall
A Look Down Union St. After 1898 Gale
Dukes County Garage, c. 1923
Dukes County Garage and Five Corners, c. 1923
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