Welcome
to the African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard.
We are a not-for-profit organization dedicated
to research and education. This site is a chronicle of
the experiences of African-American people on the island of
Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, USA. This work is
an ongoing historical project. The site will continue to grow
as Student Work and additional research is created and posted.
The navigation links above provide much information about
our organization and services we offer. The map below has
hyperlinks to locale-related pages on people and events on
the trail. You can also view the Heritage
Trail Web Site Map here, or view our Interactive
Map here (we're still building this application).
We thank you for visiting, and we welcome your support!
Please note: we are currently revamping the AAHT web site.
This is a process that we wish to do live as time permits.
We appreciate your patience!
Heritage Trail Spotlight: Can We Save the William Martin House? History Remains Hidden On Chappaquiddick
Tucked off the main road on Chappaquiddick
Island, hidden behind loose overgrowing brush
just past the Chappy Store, stands one of the most
historic landmarks on Martha's Vineyard.
It's virtually unknown, unmarked. A photographer making
pictures of this home was asked by passersbys: why
are you doing that?
The answer is that this was the home of the one of
the first african-american sea captains in American
history, the documented first on Martha's Vineyard,
William A. Martin. The great grandson
of an enslaved woman from Guinea in Africa, and the
grandson of Edgartown 'wise woman' Nancy Michael,
William Martin rose to prominence as the Island's
only whaling captain of color. In a time when black
history is hitting a forefront in the United States,
the ownership and condition of this remarkable building
is of utter importance. This house tells a vital part
of this historic story.
The building itself is in fairly good shape, although
it looks a bit dilapidated and run down, its roof
covered by a fading threading tarpaulin. Yet the facade,
the windows, the doors, the walkways, and the ancient
wooden planks that Captain Martin and his wife, Wampanoag
Sarah Brown tread upon are still there.
The property, currently owned by Dr. Tom Doyle of
Rhode Island is now for sale. The question is: how
can we as a community gather to purchase, renovate,
and celebrate a veritable museum of black history?
JOIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL IN OUR QUEST
TO SAVE AND CELEBRATE THE ISLANDS HISTORY.
Sites on The African American
Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard
An Invitation to join
us The AFRICAN AMERICAN
HERITAGE TRAIL of MARTHA’S
VINEYARD “There is no life that does
not contribute to history” - Dorothy West
Dear Friends of the African American Heritage
Trail of Martha’s Vineyard,
We are appealing to all of our supporters and friends everywhere
of community history to contribute to our annual appeal on
behalf of the Trail.
This year, we have dedicated three new sites bringing the
total number of sites on the Trail to 22, and have engaged
the entire sophomore class at the Vineyard’s Regional
High School in an extensive research project into the Island’s
African American history. The students will travel the entire
island visiting all of the sites and will have a soul food
lunch provided by the Heritage Trail and the Wampanoag Tribal
Council, Education Committee in Aquinnah. In addition to
all of these activities, we have supported the campaign
to save the Bradley Memorial African American church, given
tours of the Trail and further developed our web site. These
ventures are exciting and rewarding and expensive.
We are a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation and any contributions
made to the Trail can be claimed on tax returns as a legitimate
expense. FOR EVERY CONTRIBUTION $50 AND ABOVE, WE WILL MAIL
OUT AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF “LIGHTING THE TRAIL: THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD”
AND A COPY OF “AFRICAN AMERICANS AT HOME ON AN ISLAND”
BY JILL NELSON.
All contributions should be mailed to: African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s
Vineyard,
P.O.B. 596, West Tisbury, MA 02575
We wish all who visit our site a safe and happy fall and
holiday season, and hope to see you traveling the Trail
next year.
Elaine Cawley Weintraub, Ed.D.
Board President and co-founder Carrie Camillo Tankard, co-founder, Board Member
Heritage
Trail Media
Oak Bluffs, The Inkwell, and the Heritage Trail received some
coverage in this piece by capecodonline:
