Cuttyhunk History

  • Pre History

    Cuttyhunk, Elizbeth Islands, Cape Cod formed by glaciers retreating ice age. Notice

  • Early History

    Name Cuttyhunk derives from Indian name Poocutohhunkunnoh

  • 17th Century 1602

    Bartholomew Gosnold lands at Cuttyhunk. Stays 22 days. First settlement in America

  • 1641

    Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket solt to Thomas Mayhew. Mayhew given right to plant Elizabeth Islands

  • 1688

    Peleg Sanford bought all of Cuttyhunk, sold half to Ralph Earle of Dartmouth. His son RE Jr. became the first permanent settler

  • 1691

    Control of Cuttyhunk passes from the New York Dutch to the English Massachusetts Bay Colony

  • 1693

    Peleg Slocum of Dartmouth bought Cuttyhunk, Nashawena and Penikese and grazed sheep on the islands

  • 1688

    Ralph Earle Jr. becomes first permanent resident of Cuttyhunk

  • 1759

    Paul Cuffee, noted black mariner, born on Cuttyhunk

  • 18th Century

    Home of Cuttyhunk Pilots, guiding ships thru the dangerous waters of Vineyard Bay

  • 1765

    First Cuttyhunk Lighthouse erected

  • 1790

    Census: 103 people live on Elizabeth Islands

  • 1863

    Chilmark loses jurisdiction. Town of Gosnold formed. Cuttyhunk Fishing Club buys most of island from Slocum family

  • 1873

    Cuttyhunk school built

  • 1881

    Methodist Church built

  • 1888

    Bosworth House opened

  • 19th Century 1890

    Lifesaving station built

  • 1892

    Cuttyhunk Library built

  • 1892

    AQUATIC disaster of Sow and Pigs Reef. 5 islanders perish

  • 20th Century 1903

    Gosnold monument erected

  • 1913

    Avalon house built for William M. Wood

  • 1917

    Winter house built by Mr. Wood

  • 1920

    Wood buys Cuttyhunk Fishing Club

  • 1924

    Whaling bark WANDERER aground at West End

  • 1924

    Town Hall built

  • 1935

    Cuttyhunk Yacht Club founded

  • 1941

    Army installs coastal artillery and lookouts

  • 1947

    Old West End lighthouse replaced by steel tower

  • 1948

    Cuttyhunk Fishing Club sold to Moore family

  • 1956

    Cuttyhunk Yacht Club reorganized

  • 1959

    First International Swordfish tournament organized

  • 1964

    USCG Station closed

  • 1978

    Cuttyhunk Historial society founded

  • 1984

    Cuttyhunk Harbor Commission founded. Public moorings installed

  • 1987

    Ferry ALERT (1917) replaced by ALERT II

  • 1993

    Dump closes. USCG boathouse given to town. Fishing Club bought by Muriel Wood Ponzecchi, descendant of original owner

  • 21st Century 2004

    Cuttyhunk.net founded!

  • 2006

    NEW Cuttyhunk Ferry Company founded to complete with the ferry MV Alert

  • 2007

    Ferry MV Alert II stops service after 20 years