Obscure Facts On Martha's Vineyard Island Quiz

Answer: Dukes County in the Province of New York

From 1683 to 1691, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the outlying islands belonged to New York. They were transferred to the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691. Martha's Vineyard and the outlying islands remained in Dukes County; Nantucket Island became Nantucket County.

Answer: retain the possessive apostrophe

The United States Board on Geographic Names was created in 1890. It first required that the apostrophe be dropped, but then reversed its decision in the early 20th century. It has allowed only five places in the United States with a possessive apostrophe in the spelling.

The others are Ike's Point (NJ), John E's Pond (RI) not to be confused with John S Pond (RI), Carlos Elmer's Joshua View (in this case Joshua refers to the trees not an individual) (AZ), and
Clark's Mountain (OR) was approved at the request of the Oregon Board to correspond with the personal references of Lewis and Clark.

Answer: It is extinct.

The heath hen existed in large numbers all along the East Coast in the early 1900's. Its numbers began to drop as people discovered it was good to eat. It survived on Long Island and the Vineyard for awhile, but then died out on Long Island. Efforts were made to save it on the Vineyard, but by 1930, there were only three males left.

They were gone by 1932. It has been said that the heath hen was responsible for the 1620 Pilgrims' survival, more so than the turkey.

Answer: Its construction was on schedule with no delays.

There is no schedule for the Ferry as it takes just 10 minutes for the trip between Edgartown and Chappaquidick. It sails when there are passengers and/or vehicles wanting to cross.

Answer: East

First-time visitors to the island find the terms up-Island and down-Island strange. Its usage is tied to nautical terms which was second-nature to Island residents for hundreds of years. When a ship sailed east, the wind was at their backs, so they were sailing downwind; when the ship returned, it sailed upwind or west.

The term down-East, common in Maine, has its origin in the same nautical terms.

Answer: Wash-ashore

There are many terms for residents of the Vineyard, depending on the length of the residency. There are summer residents, year-round residents, off-islanders, and Vineyarders. Wash-ashore is a relatively new term, a slang term equivalent to newbie, while Vineyarder is a term used for many years, and is a term demonstrating pride.

It originally applied to someone born on Martha's Vineyard, but has evolved to mean someone who makes their permanent home on the Vineyard.

Answer: Gingerbread Cottages

The Gingerbread Cottages were built as replacements for the tents which were pitched each summer by visitors of the Methodist Church in the Campground Meeting Association area.

Answer: Deaf community

Martha's Vineyard had a high rate of hereditary deafness which was 20 times higher than the national average. This community developed the Martha's Vineyard Sign Language which helped the deaf successfully integrate into society.

Answer: Getting the gold ring

Riders on the merry-go-round can grab rings as the horses go around. Among the brass rings is a gold ring, which entitles the collector to a free ride. The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest carousel still operating in the United States. It's near the boat dock in Oak Bluffs and attracts tourists as they arrive for a day of Vineyard sights.

The Flying Horses are one of the first places my family goes when we visit Martha's Vineyard.

Answer: On a tombstone

I have seen some unusual gravestones when visiting cemeteries in search of ancestors' final resting places, including "though greedy worms devour my skin and gnaw my wasting flesh..." and "prepare for death for die you must, and with your parents sleep in dust". This sentiment, "At Last! A Year-Round Resident" seen in a small, Vineyard cemetery, demonstrates a great sense of humor.