A Publication of the Nantucket Historical Association

Spring 2010

Volume 60,No. 1HistoricNantucket

In Memoriam

Walter Beinecke Jr.(1918–2004)

Board of Trustees

Janet L. Sherlund, PRESIDENT

Kenneth L. Beaugrand, 1STVICE PRESIDENT

HamptonS.Lynch Jr., 2NDVICE PRESIDENT

Thomas J. Anathan, TREASURER

MelissaD. Philbrick, CLERK

C.Marshall Beale

RobertH. Brust

ConstanceCigarran

WilliamR.Congdon

FranciN. Crane

DenisH.Gazaille

NancyA.GeschkeFRIENDS OF THE NHA REPRESENTATIVE

WhitneyA.Gifford

GeorgiaGosnell, TRUSTEE EMERITA

Nina S.Hellman

MaryD.Malavase

SarahB.Newton

Anne S.Obrecht

ElizabethT. Peek

ChristopherC.Quick

DavidRossFRIENDS OF THE NHA REPRESENTATIVE

Melanie R. Sabelhaus

L.Dennis Shapiro

NancyM. Soderberg

BetteM. Spriggs

William J.Tramposch

executive director

editorial committee

MaryH. Beman

Richard L.Duncan

Peter J. Greenhalgh

Amy Jenness

Cecil Barron Jensen

Robert F.Mooney

ElizabethOldham

Nathaniel Philbrick

BetteM. Spriggs

James Sulzer

Ben Simons

Editor

ElizabethOldham

Copy Editor

EileenPowers/JavatimeDesign

Design & Art Direction

NANTUCKETHISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

| HistoricNantucket

Spring 2010 | Vol. 60, No. 1

HistoricNantucketA Publication of the Nantucket Historical Association

HistoricNantucketwelcomesarticlesonanyaspectofNantuckethistory.Original research; firsthandaccounts; reminiscencesofislandexperiences; historic logs, letters, andphotographsare examplesofmaterials of interest toour readers.

©2010by theNantucketHistoricalAssociation

HistoricNantucket (ISSN0439-2248) ispublishedby theNantucketHistoricalAssociation, 15BroadStreet,Nantucket,Massachusetts. Periodical postagepaidatNantucket,MA, andadditional entryoffices.POSTMASTER: Sendaddress changes toHistoricNantucket, P.O.Box1016,Nantucket,MA02554–1016(508) 228–1894; fax: (508) 228–5618, info@nha.orgFor information log on towww.nha.org Printed in the USA on recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks.

Preservationwasenlightened self-interest”Walter Beinecke Jr. and theNantucketHistoricalTrust

BETSY TYLER

A consortiumof visionaries

6

InMemoriam:Walter Beinecke Jr.

JIM LENTOWSKI

Eulogy delivered atWalter Beinecke Jr.’smemorial service

14

MySatisfactions in Life

WALTER BEINECKE JR.

A statement of his personal philosophy

4

From theExecutiveDirector 3WILLIAM J. TRAMPOSCH

RememberingWalter Beinecke Jr. 16BRIDGETTE BEINECKE

BARBARA AND ROBERT BENNETT

JOAN CRAIG

JOE LOPES

MARY MALAVASE

NANCY SEVRENS

NHANewsNotes 20

COVER:Walter Beinecke Jr., byBeverly Hall

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BEVE

RLY

HALL

“

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F R O M T H E E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

CapeAirFlight503RememberingMr.Beinecke

WILLIAM J. TRAMPOSCHExecutive Director

romabove, it is hard

to tell where shore ends

andwater begins atGreat

Point. Land’s subtle

submersion is replacedby a long

and gently trailing arc of frothmarking

themeeting of Atlantic andNantucket

Soundwaters. And, soon, even this

liquid boundary becomes

imperceptible, but not before it

invitingly points us in the direction of

our famedwhaling fleets. Fromabove,

the contrast betweenour fragile island

and the endless sea is so clear; from

here, crystal visionprevails and it’s

easier to imagine our past: one can

almost see the legions of ship that have

rounded the point; whatwere those

journeys like?Whatwere our young

forebears feeling as home faded from

view?

Fortunately, we live on an island that

is not only rich in history but as rich in

vision, forwithout such vision, how

could somanyhave repeatedly

launched out into the vastness?Today, it

is our good fortune thatwewho ask

suchquestions have placeswherewe

can find answers, a veritable campus of

institutions towhichwe can go to satisfy

our own imaginations and curiosities.

Such legacies did not comeourwayby

default.Thousandswith vision

precededus, and they havemade it so.

This issue ofHistoricNantucket

celebrates one of our greatest

visionaries,Walter Beinecke Jr.

Mr. Beinecke sawbeyond the daily,

and focused clearly on the core heritage

attributes ofNantucket.With clarity he

imagined the island’s“better self,” and

he knew that our future identity and

economicwell-beingwould dependon

the effective stewardship of our

significant past. Lately, the legacy of

Walter Beinecke Jr. was the topic of one

of our Food forThought gams.This

particular session (one of twenty-two

free talks offered annually at theNHA)

drewmore than 185participants, all

coming to listen toBeinecke’s

daughters—AnnOliver, DeborahBeale,

andBarbara Spitler—share their

reminiscences of their father.Manywho

came towatch and listen left having

spoken at length about the influence of

this greatmanupon themandour

island.

We at theNantucketHistorical

Associationhavemany reasons to be

forever thankful toMr. Beinecke.Not

only did he contribute hundreds of

important artifacts andphotographs to

our collections, hewas also

instrumental in bringing us the Peter

FoulgerMuseum, theMuseumShop,

LeroyTrueHall in the oldWhaling

Museum, and theThomasMacy

Warehouse. Furthermore, he brought a

significant preservation voice here

through the formation of the

Preservation Institute:Nantucket (PI: N).

From its beginning, this programof the

University of Florida has had a

significant effect on the preservation

ethic here. I donot think our island

would be aNationalHistoric Landmark

had it not been forWalter Beinecke Jr.;

and,without him, I donot believe that

PI:Nwould be focusing next on the

potential of our islandbecoming a

WorldHeritage Site.

“An institution is the lengthened

shadowof oneman,” said Emerson.Had

hemet Beinecke, hewould have had

(likeWebster) a picture to gowith his

definition.We are extremely grateful for

theBeinecke family legacy, especially for

institutions like ours that are here

because of it!

FBILL TRAMPOSCH

Fortunately,we live on an island that

is not only rich in history but as rich in

vision,for without such vision,

how could so many have repeatedly

launched out into the vastness?

| HistoricNantucket

My satisfactions in life have always come out of being associatedwith something thatwas

bigger than I am,andusually associatedwith peoplewho are smarter than I am.But, I

have played an influential part in building twohospitals. I have been a trustee of two

different colleges.One of themhas been anear lifelong,happy interest.The other onewas

not so happy,but taughtme lessons. I have played ameaningful role, in someplaces, in

historic preservation,nationally. I have been active in a lot of things inmyhometown,

Nantucket. I have never felt that businesswas themajor thing.Part of thatwas luck.

I had a lucky start,but I have also had lessons along theway, that business is not themost

important thing. I am sorry for peoplewhodonot get somethingmore out of it.Because

just gettingmoney out of it is not enough. I tell the kids they have to get two things out of

everything they do: if it is called business, they have to get fun anddividends. I say fun,but

that is shorthand for fulfillment, satisfaction; the feeling that you are doing something that

is useful.Then youdohave to have enough of theworldly goods to take care of yourself and

your kids.But that does not have to be themajor emphasis of your life; if it is you are on the

wrong track.Now,with that describingmyphilosophy for them, I have to say that is not

true ofmyself anymore. I amnot going out to start new things at seventy-three.

My Satisfactions in LifeBYWALTER BEINECKE JR.

Excerpted from a 1990 interview ofWalter Beinecke Jr. with Professor Samuel Proctorof the University of Florida’s School of Architecture in the College of Design, Construction, and Planning.

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preservation was

Enl ighten ed Sel f-In te re stBY BETSY TYLER

WALTER BEINECKE JR. ANDTHE NANTUCKET HISTORICAL TRUST

X

lthough he came from a privileged

background, Walter Beinecke Jr.

(1918–2004), was essentially a self-made man,

engaging in business ventures that

ranged from selling cars

to raising cattle.AHechose not to complete high school, instead joining theMerchantMarine at theage of fifteen and sailing toChina and Japan, andhedid not attend college either,butwas later awarded four honorary doctoral degrees.He knewhow tomake abuck, andhe felt an obligation to give someof it away. In an oral-history interviewconducted by Samuel Proctor of theUniversity of Florida in July 1990, Beineckeexplainedhis choice to avoidwhat he termed the“social life,” opting instead to spendhis free timedevoted to projects that interested him, benefited others, and, coincidentally,were profitable.Nantucketwas one of those projects.

I could havemade a conventional Americanmistake and been so career or businessmotivated that I could have spent my whole life like that. But I did learn enough toavoid that.The substitute that I took instead of a social lifewas the volunteer system.

Through theNantucketHistoricalTrust (NHT), a nonprofit organizationhehelped to establish, Beinecke funded far-sighted efforts to document, preserve,and restore the historic architecture that is perhaps the island’smost significantasset.TheNantucketHistoricalTrustwas established ahalf-dozen years beforeSherburneAssociates, the commercial armof Beinecke’sNantucket enterprises,and it took over thework begunby theNantucket Foundation, created in 1940 byKennethTaylor, EverettU. Crosby, Austin Strong, andothers. Civicmatterswereof primary importance to the earlier organization,whichwas particularlyinterested in towngovernment, funding a detailed comparative survey of thetaxes and expenditures of the townand county for a ten-year period, from1931 to 1940.The foundation also established theKennethTaylorGallery intheThomasMacyWarehouse on StraightWharf andbegan collectingNantucket art, which led to the development of the Artists Association of

Walter Beinecke Jr. in 1968, by Beverly Hall.

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Nantucket.Many of themenwhowere involvedwith theNantucketFoundationhaddied orwere no longer active by 1957,whenWalterBeinecke Jr., HenryB. Coleman, andGeorgeW. Jones founded theNantucketHistoricalTrust, whosemissionwas broad enough tocover just about anything theymightwish to do, as Beineckeexplained in a 1958 letter to EverettU. Crosby:Its charter is asbroadaswecouldmake it simplybecausewe feltthat no one is smart enough to really foresee the changes thattimemay bring to us or our desires,but in spite of the broad lib-erties provided in the charter,we have narrower andmore spe-cific goals. Our intent was and is to provide a financial andbusiness vehicle for protecting the physical appearance and en-vironment ofOldNantucket.

Themenagreed that theNantucketHistoricalTrustwould takeover ownership of theKennethTaylorGalleries, nominees of theNHTwould become“sponsors,” or boardmembers, of theNantucket Foundation, and eventually, when all theNantucketFoundation sponsors haddied or retired, theNHTwould assumethe role of that foundationwhile pursuing its own course.

• • •Walter Beinecke Jr. first came toNantucketwith his parents,WalterSr. andKatherine, in 1923,whenhewas a five-year-old child.Hewas suffering frommastoiditis, an ear infection, and a seriouschildhood affliction before antibiotic therapywas available; hisdoctor had recommended aperiod of convalescence and fresh air.NewYorkCity neighbors of theBeineckes, Frank andWilliamJefferson, offered the family the use of their summer cottage inSiasconset, at 10 Sankaty Road.That cottagewould be theBeineckes’ summer getaway for fifty years; they rented it eachsummer after their first visit, and eventually persuaded theJeffersonbrothers to sell it to them in 1934.Walter Jr., knownasBud,andhis sister, Betsy, developed strong attachments to the islandafter spending their youthful summers in ’Sconset, andboth ofthemeventually bought their own summer houses on the island.It was duringWalter’s later visits toNantucket, in the late 1940s,withhis first wife, Jean, and their three daughters, that an interest in thearchitecture andhistory of the islandwas awakened. Jean’s parents

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Fred von Klemperer, Jean Burrell Beinecke, Bud Beinecke, 1930s.From an album kept by Jean Burrell Beinecke.Gift to the NHA from herdaughters—Ann Oliver, Deborah Beale, and Barbara Spitler. A97-40b

10 Sankaty Road, the Beineckes’ summer home in ’Sconset;Mrs. Beinecke’s ever-present gladiola arrangement can be seen insecond-floor center window. S9800

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Old SouthWharf, 1930s A97-53a

Old SouthWharf, 1968—SherburneAssociates’ Boat Basin P11562

Mrs. Morris’s ice cream shop,favorite stop for ’Sconset’ssummer children. A97-61f

Windy Cliff, WalterBeinecke’s house inNantucket Town. A97-67a

| HistoricNantucket

had a summer home in town, and the young couple rented acottage near them, rather than in ’Sconset.Walter didn’t enjoysitting on the beach, andhis bad eyesight did not allow for tennisand golf and similar pastimes, but hewas not one to be idle. As hewalked aroundNantucket he sawopportunities.The islandwas onthe verge of change in themid-twentieth century, asmore andmore people began to travel and vacation in the summers, in an eraof prosperity thatwas accompanied bywidespread ownership ofautomobiles.He felt certain thatNantucketwas going to beinundatedwith short-termvisitorswhodid not own summerhomes, andwhowould need accommodations and services thatthe towndidnot have. According toBeinecke, in a 1990 interview,therewere twoways to approach the imminent growth onNantucket—watch it, or influence it. He chose the latter route, andbefore he established SherburneAssociates—thewell-knownbusiness enterprise that cleanedup the harbor front, built the boatbasin, and acquired commercial real estate—he established theNantucketHistoricalTrust.The trust is lesswell-known today, but itwas the bedrock of hisNantucket plan, funding someof the town’smost important preservationprojects, from restoring the JaredCoffinHouse to supporting theHistoric AmericanBuildings SurveyofNantucket, andhelping to establish theUniversity of Florida’sPreservation Institute:Nantucket.It is remarkable that Beinecke’sNantucket interests began as a

“hobby.”Hewas living inNew Jersey in the 1950s, and traveling350,000miles a year on a grueling schedule—Mondays in Portland,Oregon;Tuesdays in SanFrancisco;Wednesdays in Los Angeles;Thursdays in FortWorth; andFridays inNewYork—whileworkingfor Sperry&Hutchinson, the family business. Later, hewasinvolved in a large-scale ranching operation in Florida, and in a

business calledChristmasClub, the familiar bank-savings service,andhehadbegunhis serious volunteerwork as trustee of acommunity hospital inNew Jersey, so his time for thinking aboutNantucketwas limited.The diversity of his interests, andhisenthusiasmand involvement in them, is a testament to hisseemingly boundless energy and vision. Beineckewas only onNantucket about twodays aweek at the beginning of hisNantucket“project,” and, as he stated,I havewonderedwhatwould have happened tome orNantucket; I amnot sure that either of us could have stood it ifI hadhada full-time careerhere. Iwouldhavedriven everybodyin town crazy if I had been able to last it outmyself.

Beinecke’s concern for the future development of Nantucketprompted him to found theNantucketHistoricalTrust, a nonprofitorganization that would be fundedwell enough—thanks to aninitial donation by his parents andmany personal contributions—to acquire historically important residences to protect them fromcommercial use, and to fund improvements to public buildings.Beineckewas joined in the trust by twomenwhowere longtimeleaders in theNantucket community: Henry B. Coleman, who,with Charles E. Congdon, foundedCongdon&ColemanRealEstate and Insurance Company in 1931; andGeorge Jones, aNantucketHigh School graduatewith an engineering degree fromM. I.T., who owned and operated the South BoatYard for twodecades.The 1957 event that prompted the coalition of thesemen

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BEINECKE WAS JOINED IN THE TRUST BY TWO MEN WHO WERE LONGTIME LEADERS IN THE

NANTUCKET COMMUNITY: HENRY B. COLEMAN, WHO, WITH CHARLES E. CONGDON, FOUNDED

CONGDON & COLEMAN REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE COMPANY IN 1931; AND GEORGE JONES,

A NANTUCKET HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WITH AN ENGINEERING DEGREE FROMM. I. T.W

George Jones, 1923 (left); Charles E. Congdon (middle); Priscilla, Carrie,and Henry Coleman, September 1921 (right). P18494, SC48, A88-50b

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was their awareness of a plan to turn the 1832mansion at 72MainStreet into an inn and tavern. Beinecke recognized that such amovewould threaten the historic residential neighborhood ofMain Street, which he considered to be one of themain attractionsof the island, and that it would expand a trend, already begun at 1Liberty Street—theGreyGull Restaurant, and before that a florist’sshop, operating in an early-eighteenth-century dwelling—to usehistoric dwellings for nonresidential purposes. He encouraged theNantucketHistorical Association to acquire the property, butwith2,000members and one yearly businessmeeting, theNHA’sadministrationwas not prepared to act quickly, even if it had thefunds, which it didn’t. So Beinecke established theNantucketHistoricalTrust to buyWallaceHall at 72Main Street and tackleother preservation issues, hoping all thewhile that the townwouldeventually wake up and see that the historic architecture ofNantucket was its primary asset. Beinecke’s philosophywas thatcommerce and preservation go hand in hand, as he stated in the1990 interview:In the case of historic preservation,whichwas kind of thedirectionmy interest in Nantucket took, itmeant that you hadto find somepatternwhere youmake people support the goalsof historic preservation,not just because theywere beinganiceguy and throwing a little something into your tin cup, butbecause it was going to be to their advantage.Theywere goingto get something for themselves out of it.

In 1961, a few years after saving 72Main Street, which is still aprivate residence long after a twenty-five-year deed restrictionexpired, theNHTundertook itsmost impressive challengewhen itset out to restore theOceanHouse,whichwas in a state ofdisrepair.The imposing three-story brick building at the corner ofBroad andCentre Streetswas originally a private home, built byJaredCoffin in 1845, just a year before theGreat Fire consumed allthewoodenbuildings in the downtown, fromBroad Street toMainStreet, and fromCentre Street down to, and including, thewharves.Coffin’s grandhomewas one of the brick sentinels—alongwith thePacific Bank, the Pacific Club, and the Folger building at thenorthwest corner ofOrange andMain Streets—that stood in the

smoldering ruin of the town. Coffin sold his house to theNantucketSteamboatCompany the next year, and it becamea“public house.”The preeminent hotel in town, knownas theOceanHouse until therestoration, it had gradually declined over the years, andbeenalteredwith verandas andotherVictorian embellishments in thelate nineteenth century.DuringWorldWar II it was navy barracks,andwhere the garden is today, on the corner ofGay andCentreStreets, was awoodenbarracks building,with another barracksbehind the building onAsh Lane.The property after thewarwas,according toBeinecke, totally decrepit, and a liability to the historictown.TheNHTundertook an ambitious plan to restoreCoffin’smansion to itsmid-nineteenth-century grandeur andmake it aclassy year-round facility thatwould attract awell-heeled clientele.Theywould create jobs; boost the local economy; and, in the end,

Top left: Postcard of the old Ocean House circa 1930s. Scan gift of EmmaWard, SC777-74. Top right:Architect H. Errol Coffin’s rendering of plan forrestored Jared Coffin House. Above:H.Marshall Gardiner’s postcard ofWallace Hall, 72Main Street, PC-Main-General-16.

| HistoricNantucket

make aprofitablemarriage of preservation and commerce.Beinecke felt that it was politically important to employ local

tradesmen and artisans in the restoration, and to teach localworkerssomeof the skills, like casting plastermoldings, thatwere necessaryin the sensitive remodeling of historic interiors.TheNHTalsoopened a cabinet shopwhere amaster cabinetmaker supervised andtaught techniques for refinishing the antique furniture that hadbeenpurchased fromdealers aroundNewEngland for use in the newlyrestored inn.H. Erroll Coffinwas the architect of the two-year-longrestorationproject, and JamesHendrix of theWilliamPahlmaninterior-design firm,was the consultant.Beinecke’s secondwife,Mary Ann, aweaver,was an important

contributor to the interior decoration of the inn; establishing theNantucket School ofNeedlery (precursor ofNantucket Looms) grewout of her interest in creating hand-woven andhand-stitched textilesfor the inn’s twenty-six guest rooms, its parlor, and reception area.TheNHTbought the building at 16Main Street in 1961 to houseNantucket Looms (the businesswas sold to AndrewOates, whowasthe original designer for the JaredCoffin house textiles, andhispartner,WilliamEuler, in 1965), and itmoved from its temporary

location at 26-28Main, a building the trust hadpurchasedwith theexpress purpose of removing a year-roundbar, the Spa, fromMainStreet, and securing the liquor license for the JaredCoffinHouse.Nantucket Loomsproduced all the fabric used in the restored

house for curtains, bedspreads, canopies, upholstery, and even staircarpet—in allmore than 6,300 hundred yards of textiles, allproduced locally.TheNantucket School ofNeedlery did not play asdirect a role in refurbishing the historic interior, but it was part of amovement begunby the trust to foster locally produced finecraftwork thatwould be sold in upscale shops, andwould benefitlocal craftspeople.The JaredCoffinHouseopened inMay1963 to rave reviews, and

was featured in Interiorsmagazine and InteriorDesign in 1964,Historic Preservation in 1966, and inArchitecturalDigest in 1967.TheNHT’s annual report for 1964 stated that the restorationof the JCHousewas“performedby the trust for thebenefit of thehistoric andcultural atmosphere ofNantucket” at a total cost of $500,000.Thebusinesswas leased to several short-termmanagers beforePhil Readtookover asmanager in 1966, becoming the gracioushost of theestablishment,withhiswife, Peggy,working alongside.Theirmanagement of the innwas so successful that after five years ofleasing theproperty, Beinecke agreed to sell it to them.The trust didnot undertake anyothermajor house restorations, but didpurchaseprivate historic dwellings and sell them topeople intent uponrestoring themand living in them, including 1Liberty Street, 15Gardner Street, 21Union, and25Union, the latter apropertybequeathed to the trust.Documenting the historic architecture of the townbecame a

focus of the trust in 1965,whenMarie Coffin, former secretary oftheNantucket Foundation,was hired by theNHT to conductsurveys of tenNantucket buildings for theHistoric AmericanBuildings Survey, a federal project begunduring theRooseveltadministration, and administered by theNational Parks Service, toprovidework for scholars and students of architecture. In order forlocal buildings to be surveyed,which included awritten history ofthe property, technical details of construction, andmeasureddrawings, there had to be a local sponsor.TheNHT took on thatrole for seven summers, housing architects and students fromCornell University, ColumbiaUniversity, and theUniversity ofFlorida, all ofwhommade the drawings andwrote the technicalsurveys, and keepingMarie Coffin on the payroll as historian. SoonthereweremoreNantucketHABS. documents in the Library ofCongress than therewere for any other town in the country, andthey are recognized as one of the primary sources for the study oflocal architecture. (To viewHABS reports forNantucket, see theLibrary of Congress’s searchable site“Built in America,” athttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query)Blair Reeves, a professor of architecture at theUniversity of

Florida, arrived to participate in theHABSprogram in the latesixties.He changed the standard of the surveywhenhe suggestedthat streetscapes andneighborhoods should be included, not justindividual buildings; in otherwords, it was important to see theforest aswell as the trees, a concept thatwas in concertwith

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Above: PI:N Class of 1981. P22003

Left: “Hank the Bank”Kehlenbeck, president of thePacific Bank; Edouard Stackpole,director of the NantucketHistorical Association; Bill Klein,director of the Nantucket Planningand Economic DevelopmentCommission; and Blair Reeves,director of the PreservationInstitute: Nantucket, circa 1980s.P12717

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Beinecke’s own vision for the town. Reeves proposed that instead ofusing students just to do the architectural surveys, thework could bepart of their formal academic training, earning themcollege credits astheyworked each summer inNantucket—their architecturallaboratory.With theNHT’s support, Preservation Institute:Nantucket(PI:N)was born in 1972,withReeves as director.What Beinecke saidabout the program in 1990 still rings true:ThePreservation Institutehasalwayshadmuchmore recognitionoutside Nantucket than in Nantucket. Themajority of the peoplehere do not knowanything about it. It does notmake any noise orsplash locally, it just does its business. But on a national basis—well, every state has a state historic preservation office they callSHOPS. . .outof the fifty states,sevenof them[directors] are gradu-ates of our little program. . . . It is disproportionately important inthe preservationmovement all over the United States. But locally,nobody knows or paysmuchattention to it.

PI:N is still going strong. Its permanent space is the second floor ofSherburneHall at 11Centre Street, one of the first buildingsconstructed after theGreat Fire of 1846. In 1986, the propertywaspurchased on creditwithBeinecke’s help, renovated to the tune of$1,000,000, anddivided into seven condominiumunits; six unitsweresold to fund the purchase and restoration, andPI:Nowns theseventh. PI: N students convene there every summer, and theycontinue to contribute to theHistoric AmericanBuildings Survey,whichnow includes 159Nantucket reports.In 1968, Beinecke discussedwithCornell University a study of the

urbanplanninghistory ofNantucket that resulted inwhat Beineckecalled a“historical reconnaissance” of the town:AnHistorical Surveyof the PhysicalDevelopment ofNantucket:A Brief NarrativeHistoryandDocumentary SourceMaterial, a first effort in the exploration oflocal urbandevelopment, published in 1969. Copies of the study are

rare, but canbe read in theNantucketHistorical AssociationResearch Library and at the Atheneum.In addition to the important preservationwork ofHABS and

PI:N, theNantucketHistoricalTrust contributed funds forrestorationprojects of theCongregational Church onCentre Streetand theUnitarianMeetingHouse onOrange Street, and it boughtproperty onNorthWater Street that it donated to theNantucketHistorical Association, anticipating the building of the Peter FoulgerMuseum.The trustmadedonations of scrimshawandpaintings totheNHA, and it underwrote the publication of books aboutNantucket—includingArt onNantucket,byRobertDicurcio, andEdouard Stackpole’sWhales andDestiny. In 1986, the trust began aprogramof planting trees in town, offering homeowners the choiceof linden, ash, elm, horse chestnut, and gingko trees if theywouldplant them“where it enhances the public vista.”WhenBeinecke sold theNantucket properties ownedby

SherburneAssociates in 1987, theNantucketHistoricalTrustwasliquidated aswell, but someof its programs, such as PI:N,continued to receive support fromOsceola Foundation, anotherBeinecke family foundation. In recognition of his contributions tohistoric preservation,Walter Beinecke Jr. received the President’sHistoric PreservationAward in 1988, presented to himbyPresidentRonaldReagan; and in 1994 he earned one of preservation’s highestaccolades, the Louise duPontCrowninshield Award of theNationalTrust forHistoric Preservation.His far-sighted vision forNantucket,his dedication to the preservation of the town’s built heritage, andhis years of hardworkwere summedupbyhimwith this simplestatement: “Youhave to understand that it was a labor of love.”

Betsy Tyler is anNHAResearch Fellowandauthor of twenty-ninehouse andpublic-buildings histories published by theNantucketPreservationTrust.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award in 1994 (left); President Reagan presents the President’s HistoricPreservation Award to Beinecke in 1988.NHA Collection, gifts of Bridgette Beinecke, 2008.37.1, 8.

| HistoricNantucket

Good afternoon.We gather to reflect on apersonwhose name is synonymouswith

the changes that have occurred onNantucket during the past half-century.Walter

Beinecke’s touch affects each of us in thewaywe live onor enjoy this island and in

thewaywenowappreciate the island’s unmatched architectural heritage and

traditions.

As a relatively youngperson,Walter began implementing his vision for the

island, a vision that relied on soundbusiness and economic principles, good

planning and execution, the preservation and reuse of historically important

buildings, open-space preservation, respecting tradition, andhaving a concern for

the needs of the island’s year-round residents.

In business, his approachwas to concentrate on strengtheningwhat he

consideredwere the island’smost engaging andmarketable elements: its

connection to the sea, its town center, its irresistible sense of place, its remarkable

architectural consistency, its people, andhoweachof these factors complemented

one another.

When theneeds of his business pursuitswere unmet by on-island resources,

Walter satisfied them in innovativeways. Someof youwill remember a nonprofit

entity called theNantucketHistoricalTrust, whichhe established to provide an

organizational structure underwhichhe could attract to the island the

construction anddesign talents needed to restore his newly acquired properties.

Among the numerous projects thatwould feel the trust’s refreshing touchwere

the JaredCoffinHouse, ZeroMain Street, the formerNantucket Loomsbuilding,

theWhite ElephantHotel, and the tumble-down fish shanties inwhat today is the

I N M EMOR I A M :Walter Beinecke Jr.�

BY JIM LENTOWSKI

This eulogywas delivered atWalter Beinecke Jr.’smemorial service onAugust 11,2004.

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Nantucket Boat Basin. Recently arrived talented craftsmen

and the island residents they trained shared creditwith

Walter for the rebirth of these important islandproperties

and celebrated their success as profitable businesses.

During the busy ’60s and ’70sWalter also generously

sharedwhat he always referred to as his“threeW’s”—work,

wisdom, andwealth.He actively participated in several

entities that included the for-profit Nantucket Electric

Company andPacificNational Bank, and thenonprofit

Nantucket CottageHospital, NantucketHistorical

Association, theDepartment of the Interior’sHistoric

AmericanBuilding Survey, theNationalTrust forHistoric

Preservation, andPreservation Institute:Nantucket, which

he founded in 1971.

Walter also found time to devote to the preservation of

Nantucket’s open spaces—for the benefit of all. In 1963he

was one of nine people, visionaries like his friends Roy

Larsen andRipleyNelson,who incorporated the

Nantucket Conservation Foundation.

Formore than forty years,Walter’s contributions as

incorporator, trustee, officer, landdonor, and advisor have

benefited theConservation Foundation andNantucket.

His personal contributions of valuablewaterfront at Cisco

andLittleNeck; shrubland inTomNevers; amini-forest in

Miacomet;moorlands on theMadaket Road; and a

partneringwithRoy Larsen andArthurDean to protect the

1,200 acres that incorporate theMilestoneCranberry Bog

provide ample evidence of his commitment.

I was fortunate to connect regularly withWalter—

usually via an unexpected, early-morning call from

him—benefiting fromhis counsel, encouragement, and

farsightedness.The last such occasionwas about a

month agowhen he traveled to the island and attended

an early spring trusteesmeeting.Mustering all his

strength,Walter spoke quietly butwith heartfelt passion,

praising his twenty-five fellow boardmembers for their

vote tomove aheadwith the $20-million purchase of the

Nantucket Field Station. It was, he said, “the gutsiest one

that’s ever been done” in all the years that he’d been

associatedwith the foundation. After themeeting, he

admitted tome that the enormous physical effort that it

took for him to attend themeetingwas rewarded by the

outcome of the vote.

Walter’smajor obsessionwas undoubtedly saving

historically important structures, but running a close

secondwas howhe felt about land conservation and good

planning.His tenacity, good judgment,well-honed

business sense, andpassion forNantucket and its people

have left uswith an incredible legacy. It will be impossible

for anyone to talk aboutNantucket’s past fifty years

withoutmentioning him.His ambitious vision for the

island lives on andwill, in someway, forever touchus and

generations ofNantucketers to follow.

JimLentowski is the executive director of theNantucket

Conservation Foundation.

During the busy ’60S and ’70S Walter also generously shared

whathe always referred to as his “threeW’s”—

work,wisdom, andwealth.

| HistoricNantucket

R E M E M B E R I N G WALTER BE INECKE JR .

SharedMemories

Therewasnever a timewhen Ididn’t knowWalter Beinecke Jr., as hismother andminewerebest friends, andBud, as hewas called formanyyears, andhis sister Betsy and I, grewup together in ’Sconset in thesummers andNewYork in thewinters. As a child, Budwas active andveryfull ofmischief, and I recall that this sometimes resulted in some ratherseveredisciplinary action. Aswewere growingupweall enjoyedoursummer activities together, andBudwas alwayspopularwithour groupoffriends and fun tobewith. In the later years, beforeweallmarried, Iremember that heused to regale us allwith tales of his experiences duringhis time spentwith theMerchantMarine, and then later onused toentertainuswithhis renditionof the tobacco auctioneers chant,whichheperfectedduringhis employmentwith theAmericanTobaccoCompanyselling Lucky Strike cigarettes.WhereverBudwas, therewas alwayssurprise andexcitement.Hewas thebest of friends.

GrowingupwithBudBY JOAN PENNOCK CRAIG

Longtime friendofWalterBeinecke

From left: Joan’s mother, Christine Pennock; Bud; Joan; Betsy Beinecke,circa 1925. Courtesy of Joan Craig, SC663-6

Ocean Park, Siasconset SC612-34

Spring2010 |

Remembering“Bud”BY BARBARA AND ROBERT BENNETTBarbaraBennettwasalsoMr.B’s longtimepersonalassistantat SherburneAssociates.

WemetWalter “Bud”Beinecke in the summer of 1928. Wewere livinginBoston andhad gone to ’Sconsetwith ourmother, who ran an innatOceanPark (one year later it becameWadeCottages.)HighPorch,theBeinecke residence,was steps away.Wewere very young andBudwas a longway from teen years. Our brother Budwas about the sameage asWalter. (In the twenties, it seemed that boys of a certain agesomehowwere frequently calledBud—BudGifford, BudEgan, BudBennett, BudClute, and, of course, BudBeinecke.) It took a long timealtogether for“Mr. B.” to becomeWalter.In 1930, at the end of our third summer in ’Sconset, our family

moved toNantucket. Still too young to drive, Bud hitchhiked to townto visit (more often than not hewas later picked up by the familychauffeur).When hewas old enough to get his driver’s license, heand his sister, Betsy, bought amodest oldModel A Ford known as“Fifty-fifty,” whichwas succeeded by a better car (twenty percentbetter) called“Sixty-sixty,” and thismade for amuch easiercommute to town.Along theway, Buddecided itwas time for Barbara to learn to

drive, but after she drove off the Surfside Road into the bushes hedecided itwas not such a good idea—and to this day she still doesnot drive!Bud andourmother sharedmutual respect and affection; she

always referred to himas her“third son,” andhe always visitedwithherwhen inBoston.When a tad older, Budworked on a freighter thattook him toChina, andwe took the journey vicariouslywhenhereturned, laden, of course,with gifts—though adoghehad acquiredwas stolen en route.Although knownas a rich young kid, he never acted the part, and

was always very generous.At an appropriate age, BudBeinecke entered St. George’s School in

Newport (perhaps not happily). Our older sister, Ann, painted a vividpicture of St. George and theDragon and sent it off to himat school,alongwith brownies thatwemade for him from time to time.Our family returned toBoston in the forties.Walterwas

a lifelong friend, andover the yearswemet himat preservationmeetings,Nantucket Sons andDaughters gatherings in theBostonarea, inWilliamstown, and, of course, on visits to the island.When, in 1981, the twoof us returned to the island to livewewere

delighted to be a part of the community’s heartwarming tribute paidtoWalter at theYachtClub in September.Later that year, we invitedHenry Petzel for someholiday cheer, and

Henry, a headhunter, asked, “What is Barbara going to do?” towhichwe responded,“Goodquestion.” Thenextmorning he called to tellus about a positionwithMr. B., and the rest is amatter of record.

Citation on the occasion of the RecognitionReception at Nantucket Yacht Club, 1981.

In the latemorningof theZeroMainStreetfire (Tuesday,December 18, 1979), itwasstill smoldering andwewere standingaround in the street, all of us in shock.TomDowling,whohadbeenworking late in theoffice, haddiscovered the fire and called it inat around2 A.M.He calledMr. B,whowas inWilliamstown, andhe got here as soonaspossible.Wewere allwonderingwhat todo,and I turnedaroundand sawhimstandingtherewith tears runningdownhis cheeks. Inhis office on the second floor,whichwascompletely destroyed,were artworks fromhis personal collection—several of themhisfavorites. I putmyhandonhis armandsaid,“Mr. B,we are allwaiting for you to tell

uswhat todo.”Withinminutes he seemed to growacouple of inches, and startedbarkingorders.Whatever couldbe salvaged—including file cabinets thatwere full of soaking-wet papers—wastransported to themeeting roomsat theHarborHouse, andwithin twodays SherburneAssociates hadafunctioningoffice—all of us inmakeshift cubicles, dryingout andgetting ready for thenext season. Andthat is leadership.

TheZeroMainStreet Fire,1979BY NANCY SEVRENS

Nancywas the SherburneAssociatesPropertiesManager.

Nancy Sevrens

| HistoricNantucket

Onenight theweatherwas gettingbad—windy and rainy.

Walter and Iwerewalking around thedocks andnoticed that a ladywhose yachtwasparked right belowtheAnglersClubwashaving a little trouble, soweoffered tohelpher. She thankedus, andweallwent onourway. A little later,Walter and I cameback to thedock and shewas there, too. She looked like shehadhada fewandwas all dressedupandwearinghighheels—imaginehigh-heeled shoes on thedock and thecobblestones! Wehelpedher get aboard and sheofferedus adrink, butwe saidno thanks andwentup totheAnglersClub tohaveone. A fewdays later she turnedupatWalter’s office andaskedhimwhohislawyerwas, because shewasplanning to suehim.WhenWalter askedherwhat for, she saidbecause theweatherwas sobadand sowere the streets.

Wenever heard fromher again.

Walter and IBY JOE LOPES

Joewas theDockmaster at theBoatBasin.

Joe Lopes

r e m e m b e r i n g w a l t e r b e i n e c k e j r .

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I had the great pleasure of lovingWalter for eleven years and the deeppain of losing him.With our agedifference,we always knew that unless Iwas runover by a truck that hewould predeceaseme.Duringhis final illnessWalter often sat in a chair next to a small display casewhere he keptwhat he toldmysonswere his“treasures.”Onewas a one-inch-diametermetal button.Thesewere popular in the1960s to protest something.This buttondisplayed the logo of the companywithwhichWalter’s familywas associated and itwas surroundedby a red circlewith a hashmark through it.Theywere sold insomeof the gift shops to protest SherburneAssociates and its influence on the island’s development.In that same case is one of the napkin rings thatwere given as favors at a dinner party twenty-twoyears later.The occasionwas a fall dinner attendedbyNantucket folks to honor this efforts. On topofthis cabinetWalter kept pictures of all his children and grandchildren.What he really treasuredwerethe people he loved andwho lovedhim in return.

EveryonewhoevermetWalter has a story to tell about him.Hewas a great storyteller himself. As a self-described“peddler,” he also followedMarkTwain’s advice about embellishing a good story.The peoplewhohave sharedhis life know the real stories. I amgrateful that I amamong thosewhowere touchedbyhis presence.

Walter frequently quoted SirWinstonChurchill’s admonition to“Never give in. . . NeverNEVERNEVER!”

“Touchedbyhispresence”BY BRIDGETTE BEINECKE

Bridgette andWalter Beinecke in SanAntonio, April 1999

My first summer jobonNantucketwas in 1973, in the reservations office at theWhite Elephant, and Irememberhis visiting theproperty andbeing extremely gracious to anewcomer.

After I hadworked there for about ten years,Mr. B askedme to takeon the jobofmerging the sales officesfor theWhite Elephant,HarborHouse, andWharfCottages, eachofwhichhad its own reservationsoperationwith individual phonenumbers. Computerswouldbe involved, and I had to tell him that I didn’thave the skills needed toperformsucha job.Hepersisted, however, and toldmehewould engage expertsto create the software, but thatmyexperiencewouldbe invaluable because I knewwhat the end resultshouldbe. I countered that theworkwouldbedone in theoff-seasonand if therewere snowdays Iwouldhave tobewithmychildren, andhe saidnot toworry, that it never snows inAugust and that’swhenhereally neededme.

WhenSherburneAssociateswas sold inDecember of 1986,Mr. Bwrote a letter to eachmember of thestaff.The salutationwas“Dear SherburneAssociate” (he always toldus thatwewerepart of the company,not just employees). In the letter, this is howheanswered aquestionpeoplehadoften asked:

What is Sherburne? Are we a commercial real estate operator, or in the hotel business, or the restau-rant business, or themarina business?My answer has been that Sherburne has been a promotionalspirit inwhichwe earnour livings pleasing the resort publicwhilewearemindful of our obligationsto the special community inwhichwe live.

Mr.BBY MARY MALAVASE

Marywas the longtime reservationsmanager for the lodgingproperties ownedbySherburneAssociates.

MaryMalavase

NewsNotes&Highlights

| HistoricNantucket

MARCH 27–JUNE 13

Gift of theWhale:The Iñupiat

BowheadHunt—ASacredTraditionPETER FOULGER GALLERY

WHALING MUSEUM

13 BROAD STREET

APRIL 22–DECEMBER 31

APassion forPeople:40Years

ofNantucketPortrait

PhotographybyBeverlyHallWHITNEY GALLERY IN THE NHA

RESEARCH LIBRARY

7 FAIR STREET

• Opening Reception,April 22, 4 P.M.

MAY 28–NOVEMBER 8

Visions ofHer:Portrait Photography

byNantucketYouthHADWEN & BARNEY CANDLE FACTORY

WHALING MUSEUM, 13 BROAD STREET.

• Members Opening Reception,May 28.

JULY 2–NOVEMBER 8

“Sometimes thinkofme”:

NotableNantucketWomen

through theCenturiesPETER FOULGER GALLERY,

WHALING MUSEUM, 13 BROAD STREET.

• Members Opening Reception, July 1.

JUNE 4

Greater Light:ALookAheadApreviewof the 2011 opening ofGreater

Lightwith a glimpse at the restoration in

progress. For details, call (508) 228–1894,

ext. 0.

8 HOWARD STREET

2010ExhibitionHighlights2010

E X H I B I T I O N DAT E S

MARCH 27–JUNE 13

Gift of theWhale:The IñupiatBowheadHunt—ASacredTraditionPeter Foulger Gallery, Whaling Museum

The Iñupiat Eskimos have lived andhunted in theArctic region of Alaska for overfive thousand years. Central to their lifestyle and survival is the bowheadwhale, aprimary source not only of food, buildingmaterials, andbarter goods, but also ofart, legends, and cultural identity.The Iñupiat communities continue to pursue thebowhead in their annual hunts, which occur in the spring and fall.Theymanage thehunt in a cooperative agreementwith theAlaska EskimoWhalingCommission andthe federal government throughNOAA.The InternationalWhalingCommissionhasallotted the Iñupiat a block quota of 255 bowheadwhales between 2008 and 2012.Theymay strike between sixty and eightywhales in their annual season.Theaverage annual number ofwhales landedhas been forty-one over the past ten years,out of a population estimated at over ten thousandwhales, which is steadilygrowing.The exhibition features the photography ofBillHess,whodocumented the

bowheadhunt in his bookGift of theWhale:The Iñupiat BowheadHunt—ASacredTradition.Withpatience andopenness,Hess earned the trust of the Iñupiatcommunity, andwas invited to document the hunt.His photographs share astartling anddeeplymoving portrait of a community fully engaged in the pursuit ofthe bowheadwhale.The exhibition provides a glimpse into a contemporary societythat owes its survival to the hunting ofwhales.In addition to photographs, the exhibition features the documentary filmThe

Eskimoand theWhale;Arctic carvings in ivory from theNHAcollections; thebuilding of a traditionalUmiak bywooden-boat builderCoreyFreedman; Iñupiatmusic; speakers/presentersBillHess,RobertHellman,BillTramposch,BenSimons, and an Iñupiatwhaling captain.

Spring2010 |

APRIL 22–DECEMBER 31

APassion forPeople:40YearsofNantucketPortraitPhotographybyBeverlyHallWhitney Gallery in the NHA Research Library, 7 Fair St.

Exhibition is open during Library hours.

APassion for Peoplewill showcasephotographerBeverlyHall’soutstandingeye forportraiture through fourdecadesofNantuckethistory.The retrospectivewill openawindow into the remarkablechanges thathaveoccurredonNantucket in the last fourdecades,and theevolutionand resilienceof the individuals and familieswhohave lived through those times.Topresent the full scopeofHall’swork, theexhibitionwill feature several hundred imagesonmultiplepresentation screens inaddition to traditionally framed images.Organizedbycategories, the screenswill allowvisitors to enjoyindividual topics, suchas“Characters,”presentingher remarkableimagesofRussell Baker andofMadaketMilliewithMr.Rogers; or“Artists,”highlighting thegallery sceneonSouthWharf in the1970sandbeyond.Hall’swork captures an important chapter inNantucket’s postwarhistory, a time that is increasingly important torecordandshowcaseaspart ofNantucket’smodernhistory.Theexhibitionwill behighlighted inaBrownBag lecturebyBeverlyHallanda seriesof gallery talksby theartist.

JULY 1–NOVEMBER 8

“Sometimes thinkofme”:NotableNantucketWomen through theCenturiesPeter Foulger Gallery

Themajor 2010 exhibition in the PeterFoulgerGallery of theNantucketWhalingMuseumwill be “Sometimes think ofme”:NotableNantucketWomen through theCenturies.The exhibition focuses on thecolorful lives andhistories of outstandingwomen from four centuries ofNantuckethistory. It will be theNHA’s first large-scaleexhibition exploring the history of theisland’s remarkablewomen. Suchfascinating individuals asWampanoagmaidenWonoma,whalingwife and journalkeeper Eliza Brock,whalingwife andjournal illustrator SusanVeeder,scientistMariaMitchell,abolitionistMary Ellen Pleasant,andmany contemporaryNantucketwomenwill bepresented in lively detail usingtheNHA’s rich collections ofartifacts, logbooks, andmanuscriptmaterial.“Sometimes think ofme”

reminds us to recall and explorethe lives ofNantucket’s lessfamiliar, but no less remarkable,inhabitants—the island’srepresentativewomen.“Sometimes think ofme”will

feature thirty-two individualswhose lives are the subjects of“embroiderednarratives” byNantucket needlework artistSusanBoardman. In the greattradition of historicNantucketschoolgirl samplers, aswell as the legacy ofwhaling illustrations inlogbooks and journals, Boardman’s embroiderednarratives havegrown to encompass a history-in-brief of thewomenofNantucketfrom the earliestNative Americanperiod to contemporary times.Amajor feature of the exhibitionwill be an accompanying book-

length catalog,written by islandhistorian andNHAResearch FellowBetsyTyler.The catalogwill fill amajor gap in theNantucket literatureas an accessible, thoroughly researchedhistory of a broad range ofoutstanding islandwomen, past andpresent.Other features of the exhibition and related programmingwill

include voice-over readings of selected passages from the journals,logs, and letters of thewomen featured in the exhibition, presentedwith still images on the Foulger projection screen; a lecture byBetsyTyler, presenting the history of thewomen in the show (summer); andthe Friends of theNHA lecturer at the beginning of August AntiquesShowweek, Sena JeterNaslund, author ofAhab’sWife.

MadaketMillie, by Beverly Hall

Susan Boardman’s first embroiderednarrative

Portrait of Susan Veederby an unidentified Chineseartist, circa 1850s.Gift of Barbara Johnson,1994.28.1

MAY 28–NOVEMBER 8, 2010

VisionsofHer:PortraitPhotographybyNantucketYouthHadwen & Barney Candle Factory

Visions ofHer:Portrait Photography byNantucketYouth featuresmodernportraits ofNantucketwomencapturedby teens fromtheNantucketBoys&GirlsClubandNantucketHighSchool.Thephotographs showcase theessenceofwomen theyoungphotographers admire, aswell as the island itself. Bonus filminterviewsoffer abehind-the-scenes glimpse into thecreative spiritof theproject.

| HistoricNantucket

NewsNotes&Highlights

NHAand theNantucketWineFestivalTheNantucketWine FestivalWineAuctionDinner—whichbenefits theNHA—will be heldon Saturday,May 22, 2010, at theWhite Elephant.According toDenisToner,NWFpresident andfounder, “TheWineAuctionDinner is one of oursignature festival events, and theNantucketHistorical Association is the festival’s charitypartner andbeneficiary for theWineAuction.Just as history and tradition are essential tounderstandingwine, theNHA is central topreserving the history and traditions ofNantucket. Proceeds from theWineAuctionsupport theNHA’s expanding schedule of educational programs for children.”Theauction dinnerwill be sensational this year, with the culinary talents ofBrookeVosika,executive chef at the Four SeasonsHotel in Boston, andwines providedby JorgeOrdóñez,president and founder of Fine Estates fromSpain.”

A limitednumber of tickets is still available; if youwould like topurchase tickets to theWineAuctionDinnerdirectly fromtheNHA,please call Stacey Stuart at (508) 228–1894,ext.130.For oranyother festival events,go to onlineatwww.nantucketwinefestival.com.

SpecialToursof theNHAGosnoldCenterWhat do six hundredpieces of period furniture,twenty-five hundredwhaling tools andimplements, eight hundredpaintings, antiquescrimshaw, exotic South Seas artifacts, Nantucketsilver, ivory pie crimpers andwalking sticks havein common?They are someof themore thanthirty thousandpieces in theNHA’s collectionpreserved in theGosnoldCenter.For those interested in participating in a guided

tour of theGosnoldCenter, theywill be offered inMay, July, August, andOctober.These interpretivetours provide awonderful glimpse into thematerial culture ofNantucket’s historic past.Prepayment and registration are required.Discounts are available forNHAmembers.Formore informationabout the tour,please call(508) 228–1894,ext.0

33rdAugustAntiquesShowShowbegins August 6th at Bartlett’s FarmThe 33rd annual August Antiques Show is scheduled tobegin onAugust 6 and run throughAugust 8.The showandpreviewpartywill once again be held under a grandwhitetent at Bartlett’s Farm, 33Bartlett FarmRoad.We arepleased to acknowledge that the prestigious AntiquesCouncil—anorganizationdedicated to ensuring thequality of antiques andhistoricalworks of art—willcontinue tomanage theAugust Antiques Show.Themajor fund-raising event for theNHA’s preservation

and educationprograms, this year’s show is being chairedbyBarbaraHathaway.TheAntiques Showweekwill kick off onTuesday, August

3, at 6 P.M., with a lecture by Sena JeterNaslund, author ofthe best-selling book,Ahab’sWife.The evening issponsored by the Friends of theNantucketHistoricalAssociation, and the lecturewill be held at theWhalingMuseumwith a reception immediately following.For the seventh consecutive year, the August Antiques ShowPreviewParty is sponsored

byEatonVance InvestmentCounsel, andwill be heldThursday, August 5, 6–9 P.M.

TheAugustAntiques Showhoursare FridayandSaturday,10 A.M.– 5 P.M. andSunday,10 A.M.–4 P.M.,Bartlett’s Farm,33Bartlett FarmRd.To learnmoreabout the 33rdAugustAntiques Showor to reserve tickets,please call Stacey Stuart at theNantucketHistoricalAssociationat (508) 228–1894,ext.130,or visitwww.nha.org.

NHAOffersFREEPrograms forChildrenofElementary-schoolAgeFor the first time, theNHA’s educationdepartment is offering freewinter programmingforNantucket’s school-age children and theirfamilies.Held everyTuesday,Wednesday, andThursday afternoons in theDiscovery RoomoftheWhalingMuseum, from2 to 4:30 P.M., theprogramsbegunonFebruary 16will run throughApril 29 andwill resume in the fall.Eachweek, childrenhave the opportunity to

exploreNantucket history throughNantucketNarratives—an afternoonof stories and activitiesinspired byNantucket—and can investigateartifacts from theNHAcollection, enjoyeducational crafts and games, try on colonialclothing, examine oldNantucket photographs, orread books aboutNantucket history.Theprogramsaremadepossible byagrant fromtheNantucketGolfClubFoundation.

Wine Festival artwork by Kerry Hallam

Barbara Hathaway, 2010August Antiques Show Chair

Spring2010 |

ART INSPIRED BY HISTORY:

Early-AmericanArts andCraftsClasses at1800HouseThis year, 2010,marks the sixthseasonof educational programs atthe 1800House.Dedicated tocelebrating and revivingNantucket’srich tradition in historic decorativearts and crafts, classeswill begin onJune 22 and run throughmid-October.This yearmany an attempt has beenmade to add to thediversity of class offerings, including eleven classes geared to the interests ofmen. Also new for2010, some classeswill be offered for the youth in our community; three of the instructorswillgive lectures in theWhalingMuseum; and specific one-dayworkshops designed toaccommodate busy local residentswill be offered in the fall.The classes include, but are not limited to,Half-Hull CatboatModels, Chair Caning andFiber

Rush, SailorsValentines, Folk-Art GameBoards,DécoupagedWoodenTrays, and aNest ofShaker Boxes. A number of one-day andholidayworkshopswill also be offered.

Class size is limited in some instances.Fee includes allmaterials.Reservationsandprepaymentare required,NHAmemberdiscounts available.Please go towww.nha.org/1800house for fullcourse listingand registration information.

NewNHAStaffMembersIn January,RebeccaMillerbegan inthe newly created position of Assistantto the ExecutiveDirector. An islandresident for the past eleven years,Miller attended theUniversity ofPittsburg andAlbright College; she hasa strong background in customerservice andmultitaskingwithin anoffice environment. “I amextremelypleased to announce the appointmentof RebeccaMiller,” saidNHAexecutivedirector BillTramposch. “Her

interpersonal skills andher numerous and successful years as an administrative assistant atthe executive-search firmofWitt/Kieffermakeher a real asset to the organization.”Also hired in January—to fill the secondnewly createdposition ofHistory Educator—

MarjanShirzadwill focus onNantucket’s youth, towork at imparting to themadeeperunderstanding and appreciation of the island’s rich history and international significance, andimbuing themwith pride of place.TheHistory Educator position is being underwritten by thegenerosity of an anonymousdonor. Shirzadhas anM.A. degree inVisual Anthropology fromGoldsmithsCollege,University of London, and aB.A. from theUniversity ofVirginia. She hasvast experience in the development and implementation of youthprogramsutilizing newmedia applications.

MembershipReminderTheNHA receives no operating funds fromstate, local, or federal sources, but relies onmembership and gifts from individuals—in addition to annual contributions—toprovide the vital core support for ourcuratorial, research, preservation, andeducational activities. If you knowofsomeone interested in becoming amember,or need additional information for your ownmembership, please call (508) 228–1894, ext.116, and ask for BethMoyer. Importantbenefits at every level are: unlimitedadmission to ourWhalingMuseumandhistoric properties, a subscription to thispublication, our yearly calendar of events,discounts at theMuseumShop, and the useof theNHAResearch Library.

Exceptional eventsbeginwithunforgettable venues…Celebrate your historicmilestone eventssurroundedbyNantucket treasures.TheNantucketHistorical Associationpropertiesarewonderful locations forweddings,welcomeparties, rehearsal dinners,receptions, cocktail parties, and corporateevents. Surround your guestswith elegant artand important objects that bring the story ofNantucket’ past to life at ourworld-classmuseum. Located in the heart of town, themuseumaccommodates both small and largegatherings—aperfectmix of state-of-the-artand old-world design.Your guestswill alsoenjoy breathtaking views ofNantucket harborfrom theprivate rooftop observation deck.

Please call SusanBeaumontat(508) 228–1894,ext.131,fordetails abouthostingamemorable party in theWhalingMuseumorotherNHAproperties.

Chair Caning and Fiber Rush class at the 1800 House.

RebeccaMiller andMarjan Shirzad

PeriodicalPOSTAGE PAID

at Nantucket, MAand AdditionalEntry Offices

P.O. Box 1016, Nantucket, MA 02554-1016 www.nha.org

HistoricNantucket

THE HERITAGE SOCIETYTHE HERITAGE SOCIETYPlanning today for the NHA’s TomorrowPlanning today for the NHA’s Tomorrow

For further information, consult your financial professional or contact Cristin Merck.508 228 1894, ext. 114 email: cmerck@nha.org

he Nantucket Historical Association invites you to join forward-

looking donors who have included the Association in their wills.Your

gift will help build financial stability to continue the NHA’s mission

for future generations.

T

WarrenJagger