Nantucket has a strong building code, you can build anything so long as it’s made from cedar grey and trimmed with white. Ha ha. Those that try bright yellow or taupe get the message pretty quickly that it’s not acceptable. The Quakers have left quite a legacy of keeping things as simple as possible…until you see some of the ‘new money’ homes.
The island has a history of strong women eg. Lucretia Mott, abolitionist and suffragette; Maria Mitchell, US’ first female astronomy professor in the 19thC, who discovered a comet which as a result became known as “Miss Mitchell’s Comet”. She won a gold medal prize for her discovery which was presented to her by King Frederick VII of Denmark – On the medal was inscribed: “Not in vain do we watch the setting and rising of the stars”. Harriet Swain who went on whaling expedition with her husband; all the women who owned businesses in”Petticoat Row” when their husbands were away whaling.
Went on Sue Ellen’s history of Nantucket walking tour this morning, followed by Gael’s bus tour this afternoon…both great to do on a grey, drizzly day. Learnt a lot about the transition from farming to whaling to tourism as the island’s economic drivers; the impact of the town fire in 1846 and Quaker religion/culture.