1944 Map of Squibnocket

About this map

Gay Head and the western reaches of Martha's Vineyard are captured here in the early 1940s, a landscape defined by its glacial terminal moraine and intricate coastal geology. The settlement of Chilmark serves as the inland anchor, while small fishing villages like Lobsterville and Menemsha cluster near the tidal inlets. Coastal navigation is guided by the Bay Head Lighthouse, which stands watch over the Vineyard Sound. This era reveals a maritime economy still deeply tied to the natural ponds, with Menemsha Pond and Squibnocket Pond nearly bisecting the island's narrow neck. Further south, the map includes the isolated island of Nomans Land, featuring its own Landing Field. The topography is marked by significant elevations like Peaked Hill and Prospect Hill, which offer views over the dramatic coastal erosion at Zacks Cliffs and Wequobsque Cliffs.