On The Vineyard: Summer Vacation in 1940 and 41 with the James Family | Narrated by Bow Van Riper

[@kjmav10135]

Oh this brings back memories! I was an au pair on the Vineyard in the 70s-in West Chop, right across from the lighthouse. It was magical. Mink Meadows, Menemsha Harbor, the Carrousel in Oak Bluffs. Like a dream. Thank you for bringing it all back to me. Great memories.

[@katherinekunhiraman5969]

Thank you for this! Family associations with the Vineyard go back to the 1930s but my personal journey dates from around 1946. Memories are sharp. We moved from West Tisbury to Chappaquiddick in 1951, in transition from an agricultural community to a summer paradise. I used to watch "Jaws" whenever I felt homesick; thanks to this, I can have a more pleasant and relevant return! Bless my beloved islands!

[@kevinchambers1101]

What a treasure. It reminds me of my stay in the 70's.

[@joansafford8922]

Our family first arrived at Martha’s Vineyard (and a camp on Abel’s Hillat the shore of Chilmark Pond) in the summer of 1947. We (now four generations) have returned to South Abel’s Hill most summers since then. The Island pictured here (except for the more formal dress) is very close to my memories of “down-island”, Edgartown, Menemsha, Lobsterville and what was then “Gay Head.” We had neither electricity nor a telephone and the caretaker for the property brought blocks of ice twice weekly for the icebox (and fresh chicken once a week). Chilmark Pond was broader and deeper with many docks extending into the pond, and there were two or three rows of dunes between the pond shore and the ocean. The dunes still held duck-hunting shacks and the dunes opposite our camp had a building with a room to store umbrellas etc, two changing rooms and a flush toilet! Thank you so much to the James Family and the MV Museum.

[@charleswright759]

This is unreal! I first visited the Vineyard in the early 70's, and it's amazing how similar it was then to the 40's and still holds the charm.

[@lukaskendall]

Wow, this is fantastic! Thanks to everybody for making it available.

[@nikipatton2844]

This is wonderful - what a view into history! Thanks to the donor and thanks to Bow for narrating...

[@vasmazzotta9043]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@robjohnson59]

Great video! Not much had changed when I was making the same crossing with a stop at Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs and then on to Nantucket. This was 25 years later in the mid sixties and on the steamer Nobska. Thanks for the memories.

[@TheVineyarder]

such a treat to watch! Thank You for posting this great little film of our island

[@MVMuseum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheVineyarder]

I would still like to see the film "This is Our Island",narrated by Katherine Cornell back in the 60's-I havent seen it in decades

[@Ochenter]

Lovely footage.

[@richardpellegren1857]

I was on the vinvard in summer1975 and watched JAWS.The big challenge was to jump.off the foot bridge on the inlet,which I did!!.What a mental image you would get when you were in midair!!!😮

[@cindypackardrichmond7610]

We stated coming to Chappy in 1953. The film makes my heart sing

[@katherinekunhiraman5969]

Hello Cindy. Hope everything is well with you. Kakie

[@rgbeee.1826]

💜💜💜

[@GlenSpCO]

amaing