File:The tourist's guide to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard (1902) (14781489544).jpg

Identifier: touristsguideton01bost (find matches)
Title: The tourist's guide to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects:
Publisher: (Boston) J. F. Murphy
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
the famous AdmiralSir Isaac Coffin. His version of the institu-tion of the town pump, which is one of thenovelties of Sconset, is: Years ago whenNantucket was in its prime as a fishing port,the residents secured their water from a mam-moth hogshead. As the prosperity of thetown became manifest a well was deemed anecessity and, accordingly, at about the closeof the Revolutionary War the pump was boughtand paid for by subscription in pounds, shill-ings and pence, amounting to, in Americancoin, about $140. The Macys, Coffins and Starbucks werethe agitators that secured the town pump. In 76 a gala time was had in celebration ofits hundredth anniversary. To-day the pump performs its function quiteas well as the day it was made; but its work-ings are somewhat more varied. As the han-dle goes down the snout jumps up to meet itand from out, comes forth a clear sparklingliquid, that is the pride of Sconset. Siasconset, or as locally termed, Sconset,the pride of the Islanders, the Mecca of the
Text Appearing After Image:
76 NANTUCKET. merchant and paradise of all, is situated witha calm face to the eastern pranks of the Atlan-tic, where, if coolness and purity there be con-tained in the wild winds of the universe, thisdear spot of an Isle has it. The grass pavedstreets of the dimensions of side-walks,might lead a stranger to think that teamsnever traveled in some of these queer lanes.Upon the cottages, over the doors, bustsand figures which once, probably graceds®me ill-fated ship, are seen. Sections ofwhale-bones, resembling the scythe of grimold Death, adorn the sides and an occasionalwhales jaw decorates some dilapidatedshanty. The shanties, themselves, look as ifthey were thrown together by the waves,shingled in a spurt of delirium and propped upby seaweed. The course of the streets musthave been laid out by the ocean and the struc-tures planted thereon. As one passes one ofthese *cottages he would not find it a greatexertion to touch the roof. The paths thatmasquerade under the guise of streets

Note About Images