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OAK BLUFFS

Now considered one of the three top places for Negroes of the affluent set to vacation in, Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, is one of the major towns of Martha's Vineyard. It is known for its superb climate, rolling natural beaches, beautiful harbor and gracious unhurried New England living; its Annual Tennis Tournament and now its dinner to aid African students.

Blacks have vacationed, worked, entertained, and owned businesses in Oak Bluffs since the late nineteenth century.

The town records document the fact that among the first Black families to settle on School Street and sections of the Highlands were the original Shearers, who came in 1900; the Lincoln Popes, the Carrie Jones, the Roberts, the Lippmans, the Saxtons, the Colemans, the Watt Terrys, the Sandridges, the Cassey Jones, and the Ashburns.

During the late twenties the new migration of Black homeowners included Harry T. Burleighs, the distinguished composer; another generation of the Shearer family, namely, Miriam and Johnny Walker and her brother Benjamin, (Bennie) Ashburn, a distinguished Public Relations practitioner; Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the Charles Fishers, the John Turners, the Lincoln Popes, the Liz Whites, the Dixons, the Colonel Lucases, and Dr. Lucien Browns, whose daughters, the DePasses, the Coefords and the Llewelyns, and their children are today's occupants of the first house near the waterfront on Ocean View Avenue; the Brankers, the Johnsons, the Gus Billups and the Scotts.

A third migration of Blacks came at the end of World War II. This trek was highlighted by Belford Lawson, a distinguished Washington Attorney, purchasing Gloria Swanson's mansion to invade the East Chop Waterfront; then the Dr. C. B. Powells, the Dr. Pattersons, the Doctors Jones, the Ed Brookes whose son Ed served Massachusetts as its Attorney General and now its United States Senator; the Murphys; the Cohens, the Jock Millers, and the Dorothy Wests. There was also a third generation of Lippmanns, Romaine, Coco and sister Emily Robertsen; the Doctors Stents, the Al Lockharts, the Charlie Fishers, the Goldsberry, the Dr. Marshall's, the Herbie Jacksons; the Sandridges; the Reverend Evans, the Browns, the Townes, the Bonitos; the Judge Mitchells; the Curtin McClains; the Billups, the Andersons, the Maitlands, the Brankers, the Whites, the Merrill Thomases, and the Doctors Lee.

And like other vacation spots, the town of Oak Bluffs went into limbo. Many of the old residents stopped coming to the town as their children came into their majorities or decided to vacation elsewhere because of the times, new ideas or a desire for travel to newer far away places.

The entire Cape was brought to life again when a family by the name of Kennedy, one of whom was then President of the United States, established their family compound as their official summer residence.

With the Kennedys came also a new migration of Black homeowners to revitalize the Town of Oak Bluffs.

Among the young new breeds were: the Doctor Julian Andersons, the Arthur Funns, the Jan Cables, the Bill Prestons, the Dr. Barrows, the Dr. Alexanders, the Maggie Austins, the Ewell Finlays, Doctor Buster Goldsens, the Joe Overtons; the Jimmy Hicks; the Judge Watsons, the Judge Evans, Dr. Halings, Dr. Freemans; the Jimmy Bacons; the Covenys; the Maynard Jenkins; Dr. Ivory Manleys; the Jimmy Beards; the Bill Jones; the Marches; the Dr. Rollins; the Robert Andersons, the O'Briens; Dr. Boles; Bishop Childs; Maggie Alstons, incidentally the president of the Cottagers, the Island group of property owners; the McClains; the Russells; the Mel Patricks; the Colonel Harry Loftons; the Fred Weavers; the Dr. Warehams; Jackie Robinsons; the Lee Simmons; the Stanley Nelsons; the sykes; the George Guilds the Dorothy Hunters; the Lowes; the Chambers; the Beaches; the Roaches; the Lem Wells; the Huberts; the De Fossetts; the Charitys; the Dr. Patersons; and the Admirals of the Black Fleet who docked their 65 foot pleasure yachts at Church's Pier.

And with the new breed came added changes in the form of entertainment in Oak Bluffs. Tennis, golf and yachting hunting, fishing summer theatre production, and the annual dinners for African students flowered.

The annual Oak Bluffs Amateur Tennis Tournament began some fifteen years ago when the new breed just visited the courts to bat the little white ball over the net among themselves. As friendly competitors became more proficient, the tournament took on a new light.

In recent tournaments some outstanding amateurs like Althea Gibson, Bill King, Dr. Jones, Vaughan, the Lincoln Popes, the Townes, the Hilton Davis, Randy Johnson, Larry Joseph, the Burnetts, the Mitchells or the Haylings, the brothers Branch have played their hearts out on the Labor Day weekend matches for prizes donated by Rupert Knickerbocker Beer Company.