by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner Built in 1818 in Middletown, CT, the 340 ton Nantucket whaleship Planter left Nantucket on its first voyage on September 25 of that same year. Launched at a time when Nantucket whaleship owners were […]
Nantucket History & People
A 130-Year Vigil – Nantucket Lightship
~ by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner ~ The US government installed new experimental technologies on the lightships Nantucket and Cape May in 1934. A new type of short-range radio beacon was installed on the Nantucket to enable the lightship […]
Cranberry Harvest on Nantucket
~ by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner ~ A September 11, 1915 article in the Inquirer & Mirror announced that cranberries harvested from island bogs would now be shipped in barrels labelled “Island Brand.” The new labels would also include […]
Gold Fever
by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner Published by the island newspaper Mirror on September 3, 1849, Jethro C. Brock’s list of Nantucket people who went to California was printed as a broadside called A Correct List of Persons Belonging to […]
Here to Stay, and Glad of It
~ by Mary Miles, Looking bACK ~ Editor’s Note: This is an article written in 2003 for Yesterday’s Island/Today’s Nantucket by the inimitable Mary Miles, whose interviews with so many island residents entertained and enlightened us for years. An excerpt was republished in our print edition because Devaney’s art will […]
JFK Sailed to Island, Never Came Ashore
~ by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner ~ On September 1, 1963 President John F. Kennedy and his family went for a cruise on the yacht Honey Fitz and briefly visited Nantucket for a short time. The president and Jacqueline […]
Lives Saved by ‘New’ Radio Technology on Nantucket
~ by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner ~ On August 21, 1901 the U.S. Weather Bureau sent electrical expert Reginald A. Fessenden to Nantucket to study and conduct experiments at the new ‘Sconset Marconi wireless station. The station, which communicated […]
Benjamin Franklin’s Nantucket Relations
~ by Amy Jenness, author of On This Day in Nantucket History, available at Mitchell’s Book Corner ~ Abiah Folger Franklin was born on Nantucket August 15, 1667. Her father, Peter Folger, was a community leader who helped the first English families get established and also served as an interpreter […]
Nantucket Captured His Heart & Soul
by Richard Trust You might think Mark Donato was born with Nantucket blood running through his veins. After all, the energetic, peripatetic 64-year-old has been highly visible for 34 years as proprietor of the ’Sconset Market, active 17 years in the annual wine festival and in the Nantucket Island Chamber […]