National Register of Historic Places

William Street Historic District

Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts
Listed
January 27, 1983
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
83000571

About this property

The William Street Historic District is a historic district in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The district includes houses on William Street from Woodlawn Avenue in the north to several houses south of Camp Street. It represents the single best preserved area of mid 19th century houses in Vineyard Haven. One of the earliest English settlements on the island of Martha's Vineyard (now in Massachusetts) was a place called Holmes Hole. Eventually incorporated as part of the larger town of Tisbury, Holmes Hole was eventually renamed Vineyard Haven, reflecting its status as the island's major port. Williams Street was the second street of note laid out in the town, running parallel to Main Street. The street was developed by Thomas Bradley, who also counted a mill in West Tisbury among his businesses. Laid out in 1831, a series of houses were constructed along the road between 1830 and 1860, most in the Greek Revival style. These houses were all built by local builders, apparently without the benefit of architectural guidance. Most of the houses have not had significant alterations, and some continue to be owned by descendants of the original purchasers. The first houses built were typically 1+1⁄2-story structures with 4 windows. The historic district encompasses all of the properties from Woodlawn Avenue in the north to Camp Street, extending about three houses south of the latter. There are only a few modern houses in this stretch, as well as an old schoolhouse. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. National Register of Historic Places listings in Dukes County, Massachusetts

Location

Tisbury, Dukes County, Massachusetts
41.45525, -70.60448

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Ritter House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Tashmoo Springs Pumping Station
Industrial
1.1 mi
West Chop Club Historic District
Industrial
1.8 mi
West Chop Light Station
Industrial
1.9 mi
East Chop Light
Industrial
1.9 mi

Nearby Battles

British Raid on Martha's Vineyard
1778Revolutionary War
5.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was William Street Historic District listed on the National Register?

William Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 1983.

What type of historic resource is William Street Historic District?

William Street Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for William Street Historic District?

The period of significance for William Street Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near William Street Historic District?

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