From the January 7, 1949 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:

More than three hundred members and friends of the Martha’s Vineyard Improvement Association attended their New Year’s Eve ball at the Tisbury school auditorium to bid farewell to Old Man ‘48 and to give the Youngster of ‘49 a rousing welcome.

H. F. Bardwell, president of the association, welcomed the guests and presented Theodore C. Howes, who was master of ceremonies. The music for dancing was provided by Arthur King’s orchestra and the dancers were kept on their toes until the closing hour, 1 a.m., Jan. 1, 1949.

The prize waltz was won by Mrs. George W. Goethals and George Flanders. Mrs. Goethals was presented with a double string of pearls which was donated by the Island Shop.

Promptly at midnight the grand march was started and directed by Mr. Howes, favors and streamers were distributed and the official proclamation was made to start the Happy New Year’s greetings, all joining in the community singing of old favorite songs.

The entertainment numbers were introduced by Mr. Howes during the early part of the evening. Edward Ballantine’s piano selections were much enjoyed and greatly appreciated, The Vineyard Male Quartet was at top form and added very much to the entertainment. Arthur Look and Hollis Smith with their accordion and violin selections gave an excellent performance and Louis Paiva, with his guitar, always a favorite combination, played several well received numbers.

Mrs. Albert L. Scott Jr. served as general chairman and was assisted by Miss Edith M. Barter, Mrs. Abeel D. Osborne, Mrs. Ashley B. Sturgis, Mrs. Donald E. Tilton and Mrs. William R. Wigley as patronesses. Mrs. Scott was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mr. Bardwell from the association. The decorations were by Theodore Meinelt.

Refreshments were served during the entire evening and were under the direction of Mrs. Goethals, Mrs. Burnham Litchfield, Mrs. Richard Williams, George Fathers and Frederick Melchoir. G. Stanley Garland was in charge of tickets.

The entire proceeds from the ball will go toward furthering the aims of the association, which, its adherents point out, it is hoped will benefit the Island and every Islander in every way possible so that all may not only work together but play together and get the fullest enjoyment from living.

The gathering at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on New Year’s Eve, passed that hat, at the conclusion of the “watch-night” observance, for the March of Dimes. Forty-five dollars were collected for this fund, to be credited to the Island quota.

A small whale, or a blackfish, twenty-two feet long, has landed on the Seven Gates Farm beach. Positive identification had not been made early this week, but old-timers have pointed out that the blackfish is not a lover of cold weather, while the right whale was formerly in season in this locality, only in winter.

The store building recently moved to the corner of Beach street and Howard avenue, Vineyard Haven, by the Cronig Brothers, is soon to be opened as a paint shop and store. Michael Fontes Jr., who has been established as a contract painter and decorator for a number of years, announced this week that he has a lease of the building. Mr. Fontes will stock the store with his paint and wallpapers, and maintain an office in the building. He expects to be open for business within weeks.

So far it’s an open winter, openly arrived at. The gardens are still yielding produce — not that it’s being grown any more, but it is kept in the natural semi-refrigeration of the ground. The birds are aloof, due to the continuing bounty of nature, though if you keep your eyes open you may see some distinguished visitors — such as the cedar waxwings that called in the Gazette feeding space early this week.

The days have begun to lengthen, and the cold ought rightly to take hold and strengthen. But winter remains stand-offish (these words, written on Tuesday, may be subject to amendment, but no matter what happens, the outdoor tranquility with which the week began is a permanent part of the record). One feels like going out and planting peas and spinach, especially since the 1949 seed catalogs have arrived. Could they have come at a more auspicious time, what with the friability of the soil, scarcely caught by the nightly freezes, and the softness and sweetness of the air?

As the new year comes in, we don’t see so much of the sun; the days are still short. But somehow or other there is more light, lemony and cool, or steel blue and neutral, or rosy in the dawn and afterglow. The sea, which has had many smooth days lately, acts as a less accurate but more genial reflector than the new mirror at Palomar. Much of the time it almost seems a source as well as a reservoir of light.

If this be winter, make the most of it. But of course these words already tremble with the premonition of gale and falling temperature.

Compiled by Hilary Wallcox

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