Wandering the Working Waterfront of Vineyard Haven
Wooden sailboats are prominent feature in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Wooden sailboats are prominent feature in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Ferries shuttle in and out all day to and from Martha’s Vineyard’s main port of entry.
Ferries shuttle in and out all day to and from Martha’s Vineyard’s main port of entry.
Steamship Authority wharf is busy 365 days a year.
Steamship Authority wharf is busy 365 days a year.
Gannon and Benjamin's wooden boat building business is piece of this eclectic working waterfront.
Gannon and Benjamin's wooden boat building business is piece of this eclectic working waterfront.
Michael Correa Volkman brings in a tender after checking the tall ships.
Michael Correa Volkman brings in a tender after checking the tall ships.
Hauling boats for the season at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard.
Hauling boats for the season at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard.
Four waterfront parcels owned by the DeSorcy family could be sold.
Four waterfront parcels owned by the DeSorcy family could be sold.
Black Dog properties include year-round tavern and tall ships charters.
Black Dog properties include year-round tavern and tall ships charters.
Bottom painting during off-season preparing for 2020.
Bottom painting during off-season preparing for 2020.
Townspeople believe that the waterfront should be preserved and remain largely the domain of water-dependent and water-enhanced businesses.
Townspeople believe that the waterfront should be preserved and remain largely the domain of water-dependent and water-enhanced businesses.
When lying down on the job is the only way to do it — providing some hands on help at the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard.
When lying down on the job is the only way to do it — providing some hands on help at the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard.
R.M. Packer Company is fuel supplier and marine barge operation.
R.M. Packer Company is fuel supplier and marine barge operation.
From the Steamship wharf to the Lagoon Pond drawbridge, decades old, family-owned businesses line the Vineyard Haven waterfront. Among them are the Black Dog Tavern and the Black Dog Tall Ships, wooden boat builders Gannon and Benjamin, the Vineyard Haven Marina, the Martha's Vineyard Shipyard, and R.M. Packer Company.
The waterfront architecture is haphazard, but that is perhaps Vineyard Haven's charm — not quaint, per se, but certainly unique, plus it's rare for any town today to look much the same as it did 50 years ago.