East of William Street, West of Main Street,
North of Drummer Lane, South of Woodlawn Ave.,
including Colonial Lane (Smith Ave.)This map is derived from part of a December 1914 map of Vineyard Haven made by the Sanborn Map Company of New York.
Numbers and KEY added by Stan Lair, c. 1980.
KEY.
Numbered, bold quotes are from a brown looseleaf notebook titled -1914- Buildings in Vineyard Haven by Number By Stan Lair which accompanies these annotated maps.
Non-bold quotes are from the audio tapes From Martha's Vineyard National Bank to Around West Chop and William Street Vineyard Haven by Stan Lair, 1979.
Bracketed notes were compiled from a variety of sources by C. Baer.
43. "Mrs. Georgina Savage -- Spaulding House"
"The Spalding's house. This was once owned by Rebecca Pope. She was mother of Bessie Stanton, who lived across the street on William Street, and the house of course has been remodeled quite a bit."46. "John H. Crowell -- Civil Engineer -- (Hyatt)"
"The John Crowell House. That's an old house, too. They're all old houses along here, most of them are anyway. Now I recall in John's house, John Crowell House, the stair rail going upstairs from the first to the second floor - actually the rail was part of the heating system, one of the pipes. It went right up and acted just like a regular stair rail, and it was heated of course. Keep your hands warm going upstairs or something. But John was a surveyor, John Crowell was a surveyor. Had a little Maxwell. He always wore leggings, I suppose so the bushes and stuff wouldn't snag on his pants when he was in the woods. His helper was Lyman Vinto[?], a little bit of a man that was always with him and the two of them together were quite a team, going along in that old Maxwell."47. "Crowell House -- 'Chestnut Cottage)"
"The Chestnut Cottage. The Crowell family lived here for quite a few years. I believe a Mrs. Lyman lived there at one time. She was some relation to the Strahns, who operated the Havenside Hotel."
48. "Virginia Crawford -- (Dave Golart)"
"Virginia Crawford house, at one time was Charles West's. I believe he was the lighthouse keeper at West Chop."
49. "Charles S. Norton -- Real Estate -- Stable"
"The Charles S. Norton house. This is right on the corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Main Street. He was the father of Bayes Norton and Helen Norton, Helen Andreson.""(Charles S. Norton House)- fronting on Main St. -the north side is on Woodlawn Ave. and the West side is on William Street." - Stan Lair in Reference to Sketches of Old Homes in Our Village.
[Mrs. Howes Norris adds in Sketches of Old Homes in Our Village:
"The house now owned by Charles S. Norton and known as the Richardson house, was built about two hundred years ago at Lamberts Cove and floated down to this village on a raft about one hundred years ago.
At one time a school was held in this house, and during its history two families have kept house at the same time, -- both using the open fireplace for cooking. The house used to stand nearer Main Street and William Weeks, a blind man, owned it then. Mrs. Richardson purchased it of Tristram Luce and in 1832 it was moved back, the roof changed and a piazza added.
On the opposite side of the street is the house now owned by the heirs of Mrs. S. P. Lee. This house was also moved rom Lamberts Cove, and its low quaintness tells its age."]
[Old Houses in Vineyard Haven 1712-1830 adds:
"Owned by Mrs. Morison Sharp. Built in Lamberts Cove in 1720, on the familiar slant- roof, single chimney plan in use then. It was moved to Holmes Hole by sea in 1820, dragged up from the beach by many yokes of oxen. At one time, a school was held there. Once two families occupied it, both using the same fireplace for cooking. Late in the nineteenth century it was owned by a Mrs. Richardson, who had it moved back from the street, a full upper story added, the big central chimney taken out and the piazza added. A succession of owners since then have not made radical changes in the house."]
83. "Mrs. Simon Rheno -- Roomers --- (Beetle House)"
"The Rheno house, one time was owned by Laura Robinson, and is operated now by Mrs. Rheno as a rooming house."84. "Ellis Manter Shoe Store + Job Printing"
"Then we come to the E. H. Manter Shoe Store, which has since been moved. It was right on the corner of the next lot, though. That building was moved all over the place, and finally wound up down on Lagoon Pond Road, where it is the Color Center."85. "Ellis Manter -- (Mrs. Mayhew)"
"The E. H. Manter house, now belongs to Mrs. Mayhew. Also, Dr. Marchant lived there at one time."86. "Content Luce --- (Dan Alisio)"
"The Dan Alisio house, at the present time. Ida Luce lived there. She worked for Ernest Tilton for a good many years. Also a Dr. Bullett owned it for awhile."87. "Shubael Vincent -- Carpenter (Frank Vincent)"
"Shubael Vincent, he was father of Frank Vincent. Frank Vincent had the cat boat, the On Time. (In fact he had two of them, I believe.) And he would bring over our Sunday papers, take parties out for sails, and was always for hire - anyone who wanted to get over to the mainland."[This is probably the house listed in Old Houses in Vineyard Haven 1712-1830 by the Tercentenary Committee as:
"Owner, Mrs. Frank Vincent. The house is obviously a very old one, excellently kept up. The early part dates from the return of a Revolutionary soldier, Malachi Baxter, after fighting at Bunker Hill. The present owner's husband was a descendant of Baxter through his daughter and granddaughter. Except for the addition of the piazza, there have been no structural changes in the house since it was built here."
88. "D. A. R. Building"
"The DAR building. Once was the Nathan Mayhew School, I believe in the 1820's, 1830's, along through there. Well, this is the site of the flagpole that was blown up by the three girls during the Revolutionary War, so the British wouldn't utilize it as a mast for their ship, these three girls blew the pole up with gunpowder, and there was a plaque on the pole telling all about it."[In 1921 Mrs. Howes Norris wrote in Sketches of Old Homes in Our Village: "The Mayhew Schoolhouse was erected about one hundred years ago by Mr. Nathan Mayhew, for school purposes; but it was often used for religious purposes."
[Old Houses in Vineyard Haven 1712-1830 states: "The Nathan Mayhew School House was built in 1828 for a 'north end' school. It was built by Nathan Mayhew, who also taught the school there for several years. On Sundays the building became the Congregational Church, and the name 'Mayhew Chapel' has stuck to it. Eventually both school and church found other quarters and the little building was given over to business, until its purchase in 1903 by the Sea Coast Defense Chapter, D. A. R. It holds an excellent small historical collection."]
89. "Capt. Lawrence Smith -- (Col. Edward Roth)"
"Across Colonial Lane is the Edward Roth house. This was once the Lawrence Smith house."90. "Mrs. Mary J. Foss - (Moved to Franklin St. Rudy Fiebech -- Nanci Dator)"
"Mrs. Foss - I recall Mrs. Foss' house, 'cause she always had a parrot out on the porch, and of course kids would notice those things. That house was moved from there, and finally wound up at the corner of Franklin and Tashmoo Avenue. Len White occupied it for awhile, Mrs. Fiebech, or Rudy Fiebech and his wife, and was moved to enlarge the Brewer Cocoran property. Directly across from Owen Park - I believe there is a stone wall right in that area right now."91. "Capt. Leander C. Owen"
"The Leander Owen house. This is a real old house - 1800's - I recall Jenny Gamsby living there. I believe she was the daughter of Mr. Owen. And that is a real old house."[Mrs. Howes Norris adds in Sketches of Old Homes in Our Village:
"The old Owen Homestead across the way was built in 1805 by Edmund Crowell, who was a tailor by trade. He married Deliverance -- or Dilly as she was called -- daughter of Lieut. Timothy Chase of the Revolutionary War.
"Mr. Crowell had a shop in the corner of his yard which is now an ell to the house. In the parlor of the house, the wainscoting and cornice is quite elaborate and it is said the work was done with a Jack knife, but the most interesting feature of the room is a painting done on the wood panel over the mantelpiece. It was the work of Miss Jane Norton when the house was just finished; Miss Norton taught school in the village but belonged in North Tisbury. The picture represents a village street with a field in the foreground; a row of houses three stories high., with a chimney at each end, face us; and men in knee breeches and women in old style dress appear.
"A coach has dashed up to the Inn, which we know by the sign hanging from a nearby tree; and carts of hay and a dog are seen. The coloring is extremely dark and it is not a work of art but is most curious and interesting. This house has always remained in the family."]
Stan Lair adds in the Reference: "(The Old Owen Homestead)- on the west side of Main St. -slightly north of the entrance to Owen Park. The parlor mentioned was removed -piece by piece and reconstructed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington."
[Old Houses in Vineyard Haven 1712-1830 by the Tercentenary Committee notes:
"Owned and occupied by Mrs. Emory Morse. Built in 1805, by Edmund Crowell when he married Deliverance Chase. Four generations of their descendants lived here before it was sold 'out of the family'. In the parlor of this house was a remarkable over-mantel painting on the wood panel. It was done by an Island woman when the house was built, and the woodwork in the room was delicately carved in the style of the times. It was the inspiration of a recent owner, Mrs. Gustav Murman, to present the whole room to the Smithsonian Institution, thus preserving a priceless period piece for following generations."]
92. "Childs House -- Brewer Corcoran"
"The old Corcoran House. That's been there awhile, but not that long. Seems to me it was built by a man by the name of White. The Van Riper House."93. "Robert F. Cleveland"
"The house that used to be on the corner there was Lawrence Smith House. That has been moved. I don't know where it was moved to, but it has been moved. When Brewer Corcoran bought the house next door, he had it moved to make a larger estate for himself. I recall Burt Cleveland living there at one time."94. "Myra Wade -- Meriweather Walker -- - Carey Lucky"
"Mrs. Walker's house. Mrs. Meriweather Walker, General Walker. And that is still in the family today, I believe."95. "Dr. Edward Green --- (Pangborn)"
"Dr. Green. Dr. Green had two daughters, and one of them is living in the house right now, with her husband."96. "William A. Robinson (Little Willie)"
"William Robinson house. That's the man we used to call 'Little Willie.' Civic-minded man, he was always in the forefront on Arbor Day, leading the school kids up to plant trees, and all that sort of thing. And I seen his pictures in different plays. Willie Robinson."97. "Chaney Norton -- (G. G. Hammond -- Elmer Rogers)"
"The Henry Chaney Norton House, and now Gardner Green Hammond remodeled the place, did a lot of work there, and finally it was Elmer Rogers' home. And now it is unoccupied."
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