World War Two

April 16, 1943

Airport Is Carved Out of Wilderness

Vineyard Gazette
The airfield on the central plain of Martha’s Vineyard is beginning to shape up as something more than raw earth, mud, and the destination of building materials trucked over the roads from the st
World War Two
Naval Auxiliary Air Facility
Martha's Vineyard Airport
August 31, 1945

Experimental Base a Well-Kept Secret

Vineyard Gazette
The well-kept secret of the Army's experimental base at Katama during the fall and early winter of 1943 is disclosed at last, in this issue of the Gazette. Ten miles of heavy pipe were delivered, with other equipment, beginning in August, and during the following months five one-mile lengths of pipe were laid in the ocean with the aid of tugs, and welded together into an experimental pipeline under conditions similar to those which would be encountered in laying a gasoline supply line under the English Channel.
World War Two
South Beach

1942

July 24, 1942

Unexploded Depth Charge Lies in the Edgartown Harbor

Vineyard Gazette
World War Two
PT Boats
Edgartown select board
One of three PT boat of the United States Navy, leaving Edgartown har­bor yesterday afternoon, dropped a live depth charge loaded with TNT in the outer harbor and the charge failed to explode. A radio report to the office of the Coast Guard at Vineyard Haven was made immediately, and two boats turned back, one of them tieing up for a second time at the Edgartown Yacht Club wharf to make a report of the incident.
 
The charge was still unexploded this morning.
 
July 10, 1942

Government Takes Steamer Naushon

Vineyard Gazette
World War Two
Naushon
Steamships and Ferries
The Naushon, pride of the Island Fleet of steamers, yesterday took her last look at the Island which she has served since she was built in 1929. For the last time she breasted the Island waters which on countless trips have offered their caress or attacked her with savage force. She has been taken over by the federal government and will play her part in the war effort, in some capacity not divulged.
 
July 10, 1942

Was Island Institution: After 84 Year Island Fair to Be Discontinued This Year at Least

Vineyard Gazette
Agricultural Fair
Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society
World War Two

After eighty-four consecutive years of existence the Dukes County Agricultural fair will be discontinued, for this year at least. State premiums have been cut to a minimum, and the receipts normally expected from the gate and other sources of revenue are not expected to be sufficient to cover expenses. Such was the announcement made by George G. Gifford, secretary of the association, yesterday. Charles G. Norton is the president of the association.

July 7, 1942

Vineyard Will See Many Soldiers Soon, Here For Maneuvers

Vineyard Gazette
World War Two
Martha’s Vineyard is going to see soldiers, and many of them, during the next two or three weeks.
 
Large scale maneuvers are to be undertaken here, and the Army is announcing the plan in order to obtain the cooperation of the public. It is important that no one should feel disturbed by the field exercises or by the appearance of troops simulating conditions of an actual campaign.
 
July 3, 1942

P.T. Boats Drop In

Vineyard Gazette
World War Two
PT Boats
Edgartown, its ears unconsciously expectant of the crash of bombs, had a thrilling experience Monday morn­ing when the quiet June air was blasted by what sounded like nothing less than a fleet of bombing planes. The sky proving as blue, and benig­nant as it should on a proper June day in Edgartown, the population, or a large part of it, followed the sound to the harborfront, and was rewarded by the sight of a fleet of menacing looking mosquito boats.
 
May 8, 1942

4,883 Register for Sugar on Vineyard

Vineyard Gazette
World War Two
Rationing

Statistics released last night by Arthur B. Lord, superintendent of schools, who was in charge of the sugar rationing registration for the Island, show little evidence of hoarding, with one town, Gay Head, issuing books to every person who applied, and also reveal some interesting facts about the Island population as compared with the census figures for 1940. They show no such great drop in population as had been rumored and even believed, and one town, West Tisbury, has grown ten per cent since 1940.

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