In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder last summer, the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association decided to look into its history, forming a social justice, diversity and inclusion task force.
The charming doors of gingerbread cottages will open wide to visitors next Wednesday, August 9 for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association 22nd annual Gingerbread Cottage Tour.
Deliveries to Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs by way of the Camp Ground will continue for now, as the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association works with business owners on a plan to ease congestion in the area.
The Camp Ground at Oak Bluffs is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Michael J. Connolly, secretary of state for the Commonwealth and the new chairman of the Massachusetts Historical Commission, made the news public.
The Camp Ground, Mr. Connolly said, is an area “unique in the nation for its architecture, remarkable state of preservation and as the best example of a nineteenth century religious retreat.
Summer visitors play a large part in Vineyard activity and many who have spent summer after summer on the Island feel as deep an affection and admiration for Martha’s Vineyard as any all year-round resident. For forty-five summers Frank C. Lawton has spent at least part of every year in Oak Bluffs and, although his first arrival on the Island was at the age of six months, he recalls many interesting facts about the Vineyard’s earlier history, that occurred during his boyhood.
The modern town of Oak Bluffs traces its origin to a camp meeting held at the site, then a paradise or a wilderness — most people thought the former — in 1835. Hebron Vincent of Edgartown made this record of the first camp meeting, in his history, published long ago:
The first camp meeting held in this beautiful grove was in the year 1835, and commenced on Monday, the 24th day of August. A meeting has been held here every year since, excepting that of 1845, when it was removed to Westport Point.
This religious encampment has become an Institution, there is nothing like it in this country, and it is greatly increasing from year to year. In accordance with the recommendation of the agent of the Grounds, in his annual report, important measures have been adopted at the business meetings. Among the things ordered were the digging of an additional well and the setting out of shade trees. The erection of a two and one half story house has just been completed, under the general supervision of the Agent. The building is in modern style, thoroughly finished and painted 24 feet by 40.
