Nantucket History & People

Exploring Nantucket, Nantucket History & People

“Guiding Light” for NCH

One of the first questions newcomers to Nantucket ask (after do people live here in the winter? and are there schools on Nantucket?) is often “does Nantucket have a hospital?”

The answer, of course, is a resounding YES. And thanks to years of dedication, determination, and dollars raised by generous donors and local residents, in February of 2019 Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s new facilities opened to patients. Thanks to an unprecedented $120 million capital campaign, the largest in Nantucket history, the new hospital was built entirely through private donations: debt-free, using no taxpayer dollars.

eye on style: Ack 4170
Nantucket History & People, Nantucket Style

Eye on Style: ACK 4170

If you know the meaning of ACK, either you love Nantucket or you’re a pilot. It was her love of Nantucket that inspired artist and photographer Susan Fairgrieve to start ACK 4170TM four years ago in 2017.

Susan and her husband first visited Nantucket in 2000: “My husband and I would always go to The Vineyard. When a friend suggested we visit Nantucket, we thought we’d give it a try. We did, and we never went back to The Vineyard!”

North Atlantic Right Whale
Island Science, Nantucket History & People

Standing up for the North Atlantic Right Whale

For more than 45 years Jean Rioux has advocated for the North Atlantic Right Whale and legislation to protect it. She has spent countless summers set up day and night on Main Street or Federal Street offering education, facts, and ways to help. Jean has collected thousands of signatures and shared her passion with each person signing. When COVID-19 struck the island last year, Jean was undeterred.

Nantucket Clean Team
Nantucket History & People, Nantucket Voices

Passion and a Dare

I looked out over a Nantucket beach one Saturday morning and saw people moving purposefully up and down the beach. I thought these early risers might be vacationers staking out a prime plot of sand for the day or perhaps beachcombing for shells and sand dollars. But as they came closer to the parking area where I stood, I saw that instead of swimsuits they wore long pants and gloves. Instead of beach towels they carried large trash bags. Their t-shirts were emblazoned with “Clean Team,” marking them as members of a very dedicated group of volunteers who help keep our pristine island clear of trash.