Nantucket - August 18, 2005
Back to Jon Vermilye's Photo Page

Index

Another day, another walk. I have been walking to & around the Sanford Farm, Ram Pasture & Woods, owned & maintained by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc. Because Nantucket is an Island, it is fairly obvious that there is a limit to how much land is available for building. One of the steps to help preserve island land was to form the Nantucket Islands Land Bank Commission. The Land Bank derives most of its income from a 2% transfer tax on most real estate transactions. As of August 12th, the revenues for this year are $10,652,273.82. This money is used to buy & set aside land. Sounds like a lot of money, but with an average vacant lot now selling for $976,000.00 and the average home selling for $1,926,000.00 it doesn't go as far as one would think. Anyhow, between the Land Bank & the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Inc 300 acres of Nantucket including 6.6 miles of walking trails have been purchased and made available to the public. A great place for a quiet walk.

After breakfast we headed out for the "Oldest House" #2. As I mentioned yesterday, this is the official oldest house. Built in 1686, it's pretty old! Actually, neither of the oldest houses are the actual house - both have burned down more than once. This one was struck by lightning in 1987 and literally exploded rather than burned, and had to be rebuilt. They worked on it for a number of years - it is now open for tours.

Carol & Luann & the Oldest House	Description of the Lightning Strike	Carol & Luann & a Spinning Wheel

After the Oldest House, we headed for the Windmill. This is the oldest working windmill in the United States. They grind a couple hundred pounds of corn meal a week- the mill could do more than that, but that's all they can sell. The entire top of the mill is turned so the sails are into the wind. Carol & Luann can't decide which way to go so they are both pushing! We had a tour of the mill - the insides are interesting. Because all the hardwood trees had already been burned as firewood or turned into houses, the mill was build from driftwood (from wrecked ships) and pinned together with wooden pegs. At one time there were at least 4 mills, but as the whaling industry died, the mills were turned into firewood. Luckily, this one survived.

Carol & Luann & the Mill	The Mill

After lunch it was time for a trip to the Whaling Museum. I let Carol & Luann do this & instead, walked along the docks to check out the boats & more flower collections. I believe the large, black boat called the Highlander is owned by the Forbes organization. Don't know who owns the smaller one, but it isn't that small! The last flower photo is of the windows of the Wharf Rat's Club, a rather infamous Nantucket organization.

The Highlander	A Boat	Flowers	Flowers at the Wharf Rat's Club

While waiting in the Grand Union parking lot for Carol & Luann, I added 2 more license plates to our collection. Even though we started recording license plates with our kids when they were little, we haven't been able to give it up. Last time we were here we found 35, so far this year we are up to 23 + D.C. & Nova Scotia. Believe it or not, one year we saw both Alaska & Hawaii! By the way, it is cruel to sit in a car in the Grand Union parking lot. This is a big lot close to the docks & much of town, and one of the few places that has 2 hour parking, so cars cruise the lanes looking for a spot - it's always full. If they see you in a car or even anywhere near one holding keys, drivers stop & wait for you to leave, at least until the person behind them gets frustrated waiting & gets them to move on. I guess you could look back & wave each one off, but I'd rather sit & read my book.

After the Whaling Musuem it's back home for dinner.

Next