From the April 2, 1948 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
Saturday afternoon saw many a disappointed young face in Vineyard Haven and the Island in general — some fathers and mothers still had to take the youngsters to Main street to prove that the egg hunt, sponsored by the members of the Martha’s Vineyard Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, had been postponed until the next day.
But Sunday afternoon, however, brought an entirely different sight — youngsters from 2 to 10 years, approximately 300 in number, armed with bags of all sizes, from paper bags to gunny sacks, assembled at the Tisbury school and were escorted to the grounds owned by the St. John’s Holy Ghost Society where they and the several hundred adults who accompanied them, as spectators only, were welcomed by Post Commander Walter Purdy. The bandstand was decorated with the Post colors and those of the American flag.
Twelve hundred eggs, donated by the Post’s members and gaily decorated by their wives, were hidden all around the edges of the field. The number of eggs collected determined the prizes, with the exception of the grand prize egg, a golden one, which brought to the lucky finder, Claire Authier, a $10 bill.
Miss Katharine Cornell donated a large, blue Easter egg, filled with chocolates, to be used later as a powder dish, together with her autograph, as the first prize in the 2 to 4 class, which was won by Rosna Pachico. Stuart Levinson received a second prize an Easter bunny and a daily ice cream cone for the weeks was the third award, with Fred Ballacqua the happy recipient.
In the 4 to 7 year group, Seymour Gonsalves won a pair of skates as first prize, James Santos will receive a daily ice cream cone for two weeks as recognition of his second prize, and a dollar bill was Sandra Fisher’s third prize. In the last group, the 8 to 10 year olds, George Monroe received $5, Edmund Hickey $3 and Kenneth Harding, $1.
Many of the smallest children, so overwhelmed by the crowd and excitement and in tears because they had found no eggs, were given eggs by the members of the Post, who, having this in mind, had thoughtfully saved back six dozen. One of these children was Judith Cronig, who will also receive a daily ice cream cone for two weeks.
Music, supplied over an amplifying system, was a background for the hunt. The final treat was popsicles, about 500 of which were distributed to the children and other guests.
These were donated by the Gibbons’ Dry Cleaning and Vineyard Laundry. Other merchants who contributed to the day’s enjoyment were Brickman’s, Yates’ Drug Store and Leslie’s Drug Store in Vineyard Haven; the Herald Drug Co in Oak Bluffs and the Colonial Drug Store in Edgartown.
The members of the Post who organized this first egg hunt and their respective duties were: James Hearn, gathering and coloring eggs; Robert H. Hughes, advertising; George Pachico, directing children on the grounds; Robert Anderson, hiding eggs; William Gibbons and Walter Purdy, securing prizes and awarding them.
The Herald Drug Company of Oak Bluffs changed hands this week, being purchased from Charles A. Fuller, by Leon A. Braun, formerly of New Bedford, and Alfred J. Sampson of Brockton. The new partners are both registered druggists, and Mr. Braun is well known in Oak Bluffs, having been on the Herald staff for the past year.
Mr. Fuller purchased the business from the estate of the late William Nute, who died a number of years ago. From a run-down business and establishment, Mr. Fuller has developed and expanded the business, adding a restaurant and luncheonette and other features to make up one of the large year-round business establishments on the Island. The new proprietors intend to carry on all departments of the business as usual and to make no important changes of any sort at the present time, if ever.
Hjalmar R. Holand, authority on runes and on the expeditions of the Norsemen, who visited the Vineyard a year ago, spent two days here this week, to look for runic inscriptions on the Island. Mr. Holand was again accompanied by Frederick Pohl of Brooklyn. They stopped at the home of Mrs. George R. Furness.
On their way to the Island, Mr. Holand believed that they had confirmed a discovery by Mr. Pohl of the landing place of Leif Ericson at Bass River on Cape Cod. Mr. Pohl found which appeared to be three holes in rocks which may have been used as moorings, and clues which suggested the presence of a cemetery.
Mr. Holand said that this location at Bass River, on the property of Herbert J. Kaiser, fitted the requirements as no other spot does. Frederick Johnson of the Peabody Foundation for Archaeology at Andover will make an analysis of the soil at the possible burying place, to see if the belief that this was so used can be scientifically substantiated. No new discoveries were made by Mr. Holand and Mr. Pohl on the Vineyard, but they have not given up hope that runic inscriptions may be found here.
Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
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