What a Weekend in Martha’s Vineyard!

Professor Beach — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:32:28 +0000

One of my buddies, Deon Thomas, a restaurant owner in Oak Bluffs, invited me to Martha’s Vineyard. He lives on the the island and invited me to check it out. I met Deon in Anguilla where he operates the bar & restaurant at the KU Resort in Anguilla. The last time I was on Martha’s Vineyard was 25 years ago. I was only there for a day when I was visiting Cape Cod. I love to travel so how could I say no?

Living in the Fingerlakes Region (grape country) of New York, I’ve often wondered if there were grape vines in Martha’s Vineyard? Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the coast of Massachusetts. I took the one hour fast ferry from New Bedford, Massachusetts direct to Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard and walked from the ferry dock to my hotel. I spent the weekend exploring the entire island. I was searching for grape vines but found much more…

Because of my love for history, I had to visit the Flying Horses Carousel

Flying Horses Carousel

The Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs is the oldest operating platform carousel in America.It is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

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Oaks Bluffs Cottage Campground Historic District – Dates back to the 1800′s

The first camp meeting in what became known as Wesleyan Grove was held in 1835. In subsequent years the congregations grew enormously, and many of the thousands in attendance were housed in large tents known as “society tents.” A congregation from a church on the mainland would maintain its own society tent. Conditions were cramped, with men and women sleeping dormitory-style on opposite sides of a central canvas divider. Society tents were arranged in a semicircle on Trinity Park.

Over time, families began leasing small lots on which to pitch their own individual tents. In the 1860s and 1870s, the family tents were rapidly replaced with permanent wooden cottages. At one time there were about 500 cottages; today there are just over 300.

Many eminent members of the clergy from across the country have preached at the campmeetings in Wesleyan Grove. That tradition continues today, although services are no longer held day and night as they were in the early years.

Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association

The founders of the MVCMA were Methodists, and the original bylaws of the Association stipulated that all members of the Board of Directors had to be members of a Methodist church. However, the MVCMA has always been an autonomous organization and was never formally affiliated with the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church. Historical records document the participation of many non-Methodists at the early campmeetings, both in the congregation and in the pulpit.

Over time the MVCMA has become increasingly interdenominational, and the current members of the Board of Directors are affiliated with a wide variety of Christian groups. The religious services and special programs of the Association all have a strong ecumenical spirit.

Today the Campground is a community of summer residents and a smaller number of year-round residents who value the intimacy created by the crowding of cottages on small tent lots. Many of the cottages have been owned by the same families for generations. The residents of the Campground have a keen appreciation for the special traditions of which they are a part.

I couldn’t leave without a picture of the beach. It was a cloudy day and the beach was pretty much empty. The temperature was only in the 60′s when I was there… typically when I visit a beachtown, the weather is gorgeous but every one in a while Mother Nature sends a cold front through. Maybe it’s to remind us to be thankful for the nice sunny days that we have.

Oak Bluffs Public Beach

By the way, I never did see any Grapes or Vineyards – someday I’ll find out why this island was named Martha’s Vineyard. One thing I do know, is that I had a great weekend and looking forward to my next visit!

Make sure to visit Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information about Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.

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What a Weekend in Martha’s Vineyard!