What's New

Edwina B -- Now in Residence at the Norton Boathouse

The historic catboat Edwina B, a gift to the Preservation Trust last year, is now docked at the Norton Boathouse on the Edgartown harbor. The classic craft's new home isn't far from her place of birth, in what now is also a Preservation Trust property -- the Old Sculpin Gallery. The "Old Sculpin" was the nickname of Manuel Swartz Roberts, the legendary Edgartown boatbuilder who launched dozens of boats from the shed which is now home to the Martha's Vineyard Art Association.

Memorial Day 2011: Alley's Farm Stand Opens

Behind Alley's General Store in West Tisbury is an addition to the business which has proved hugely popular since its debut in the summer of 2009: Alley's Farm Stand. Now, in addition to claiming the title of "Dealers in Almost Everything Since 1858," Alley's also deals each summer in almost everything that's fresh and tasty, grown at farms across Martha's Vineyard.

Alley's Farm Stand opens for its third summer season over the Memorial Day Weekend, 2011.

Trust Joins April Friend-Raiser in Washington, D.C.

One of the most satisfying developments of the past winter and spring has been the growth of new connections between the Preservation Trust and the Oak Bluffs summer community as a result of our restoration work at Union Chapel. On April 27, we were invited to be the guests of Ann Walker Marchant at her home in Chevy Chase, Md., for a gathering of Oak Bluffs summer residents from the Washington, D.C. area. Some thirty people attended, about half of whom are involved with the summer worship program at Union Chapel. It was a great opportunity to tell the story of the Trust's restoration work at Union Chapel, and of our work across the Island more generally.

April 2011: Whaling Church Bell Returns to Its Tower

The town bell is ringing the hours once more in Edgartown after being returned to its tower on April 30. The return of the 1843 bell completed a restoration project begun in January, and funded by two $25,000 grants from Edgartown's Community Preservation Act account. This project called upon the skills of a number of Vineyard and New England craftsmen, including Greg Blaine, John Anderson, Mike Fuss, Steve Ewing, Baxter Cranes & Riggers Inc., Associated Roofing, and firms in New Hampshire and Massachusetts who sandblasted old parts and cast new ones.

April 2011: Flying Horses Carousel Opens for Season

The historic Flying Horses Carousel opened for the 2011 season on Easter weekend, after a round of serious restoration and maintenance work over the spring. After receiving fresh paint and new woodwork on two sides of the building, the carousel looked as lovely as it must have in its first season 135 years ago. The opening of the carousel is such an iconic moment in the Island season that it was featured ina front-page photo in the Vineyard Gazette.

April 2011: Off-Season Maintenance at Alley's Store

Alley's Store in West Tisbury is looking great this spring after the second-largest infusion of maintenance money in all its years under ownership by the Preservation Trust. This work has involved a new roof, new shingles on two sides of the store, replacing most of the exterior trim and painting of all of it, much-needed electrical work and an upgraded alarm system.

May 2011: New Balcony Pews for Union Chapel

Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs has fresh paint on its balcony floors and a completely new set of balcony pews, thanks to a fund-raising collaboration with the chapel's congregation. The pews were fabricated over the winter and spring from southern yellow pine at the Keyland Kitchens shop on Martha's Vineyard, working from designs based on historic photos of the chapel interior.