HISTORY OF SQUIBNOCKET*
"Nearly 150 years ago, several exclusive striped bass fishing clubs were started along the New England
coast organized by some of the most prominent citizens of the time. One of the most famous was the
Squibnocket Club, formed on the cliffs of Squibnocket Point in Chilmark. Members were mostly New
York tycoons and also included Secretary of State Elihu Root. Among the visit
ing anglers were President
Chester Arthur and the renowned naturalist Dr. Louis Agassiz. Affairs of state and industry were settled
in the clubhouse, after the day's catch was weighed, and instructions were dispatched to Washington
and Wall Street by club carrier pigeons. Fishing was done from eight bass stands or piers which ringed
the rock strewn point assigned by lottery to the anglers who usually fished in coat and tie assisted by a
chummer responsible for bait, setting a chum slick, gaffing the fish and otherwise attending to club
member needs. The clubhouse was a good sized building near the cliff's edge with a large living room and many
bedrooms. Living was far from spartan. The club imported a well trained manservant from New York to
take care of every comfort who was called Squibnocket Willie. What is now called Squibnocket Beach
was known as Squibnocket Landing because it was a major Chilmark port of entry. Ships regularly off
loaded cargo and passengers bound for up-island towns. A few years after the Squibnocket Club came into existence, the Providence Club was started on land
adjacent to it on the north near the mouth of a man made herring run from Squibnocket Pond to the
sea. The members were mostly from Providence and often personal friends of the Squibnocket group. These clubs flourished for years with excellent fishing. According to club logs, the best year was 1875
with 36 strippers of 40 pounds or more. The Hornblower family acquired the property in 1926 which consisted of 900 acres in Chilmark and
Aquinnah. Fishing continued in various forms since this time. Over 300 Aquinnah acres were sold to
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the '70s. The remaining 550+ acres became Squibnocket Farm with
approximately 400 acres and Squibnocket Associates with approximately 150 acres. Over 2/3rd of
these lands are protected under conservation restrictions with Vineyard Open Land Foundation. Currently, there are only 13 homes in this Squibnocket area." they now need a bridge to these home... 300ft. 13ft in the air 60 pilings..... home values are in jeopardy.
