On a calm day, ocean waves lap on the beach less than 20 feet from East Chop Drive in Oak Bluffs. The edge of the road is already breaking up.
The changing shoreline on Martha's Vineyard variously fascinates, startles or horrifies people, depending on where they live or own property.
Holding Back the Tide
Piles of new sand placed along the entrance to Norton Point.
Piles of new sand placed along the entrance to Norton Point.
Norton Point as seen from the Left Fork entrance to South Beach.
Norton Point as seen from the Left Fork entrance to South Beach.
Norton Point dune restoration and Herring Creek.
Norton Point dune restoration and Herring Creek.
Norton Point entrance gate.
Norton Point entrance gate.
An excavator moves sand at Norton Point.
An excavator moves sand at Norton Point.
Norton Point Beach entrance.
Norton Point Beach entrance.
Katama Road is closed just before Atlantic Drive.
Katama Road is closed just before Atlantic Drive.
People climb over the large sand piles by the Left Fork entrance.
People climb over the large sand piles by the Left Fork entrance.
The corner of Katama Road and Atlantic Drive.
The corner of Katama Road and Atlantic Drive.
Looking west from the Left Fork entrance.
Looking west from the Left Fork entrance.
Heavy equipment is at work on South Beach.
Heavy equipment is at work on South Beach.
Atlantic Drive remains closed.
Atlantic Drive remains closed.
Waves break over fresh erosion signs on South Beach.
Waves break over fresh erosion signs on South Beach.
Portion of Herring Creek Road is closed as well.
Portion of Herring Creek Road is closed as well.
Site of the failed culvert near Atlantic Drive.
Site of the failed culvert near Atlantic Drive.
Wall now blocks the old Herring Creek.
Wall now blocks the old Herring Creek.
Old asphalt is revealed by new erosion at Right Fork.
Old asphalt is revealed by new erosion at Right Fork.
South Beach lifeguard station.
South Beach lifeguard station.
Looking East from Right Fork entrance.
Looking East from Right Fork entrance.
Tire tracks lead West from the Left Fork entrance.
Tire tracks lead West from the Left Fork entrance.
Workers have already begun forming new dunes on South Beach’s Left Fork, using dredged sand from Katama Bay and Herring Creek. Both water bodies had filled with sand after December and January’s storms.
End of an Era
The Donnelly house has survived numerous storms.
The Donnelly house has survived numerous storms.
House has been used recently as the South Beach lifeguard shack.
House has been used recently as the South Beach lifeguard shack.
Recent winter storms caused heavy damage to the building.
Recent winter storms caused heavy damage to the building.
Old beach signs and equipment waiting for summer.
Old beach signs and equipment waiting for summer.
Various lifeguard awards line the walls.
Various lifeguard awards line the walls.
Joel DeRoche and Becky Donnelly in front of the Donnelly house.
Joel DeRoche and Becky Donnelly in front of the Donnelly house.
Recent storms left scars on the exterior.
Recent storms left scars on the exterior.
Removing windows before demolition begins.
Removing windows before demolition begins.
The first blow.
The first blow.
The street-facing wall begins to come down.
The street-facing wall begins to come down.
Excavator moves debris to the dumpster.
Excavator moves debris to the dumpster.
Another wall is no more.
Another wall is no more.
Interior is now fully exposed.
Interior is now fully exposed.
Rescuing some furniture.
Rescuing some furniture.
Edgartown has been trying to bolster the beach after a trio of destructive winter storms.
Edgartown has been trying to bolster the beach after a trio of destructive winter storms.
After more than a century on South Beach, the Donnelly house was torn down Thursday.
After more than a century on South Beach, the Donnelly house was torn down Thursday.
Long used as a lifeguard building, the Donnelly house was the last in a long history of South Beach fishing shacks.