The Martha's Vineyard Campmeeting Association began as a a real "camp meeting". The first shelters were tents. The tents were placed on platforms and at the end of the season, the tents were struck and stored until the next year. Our house is no different. There is a single typed sheet on the wall of our cottage that lists the previous owners. It is complete to the 1960's when it was typed, but there seems to be some gaps since then.
Our house was a tent in 1864 owned by T. Walker and was replaced by a cottage in 1865 by the same person. The tent platform is approximately 15 inches off the ground. This serves as the floor of the cottage. The frame is post and beam with very limited structural supports. The sides are tongue-in-groove planking. Which firms up the house.
The sills and floor joists are 3"x4" rough-cut lumber, 24" on center. The sills sit on brick and mortar piers. There are some wooden posts and even a log that provide some support. The floor has several sags that we will work to remove.
The first cottages were on the Tabernacle circle, which includes our house. The current steel Tabernacle was not built until 1872 so our cottage pre-dates that structure.
We will continue to research the house to determine its history as well as serve as a basis for restoration. We intend to make improvements but keep those improvements as authentic as possible.
These pictures were taken from the front porch so you get some idea about our location.
