Farewell . . . And Hello

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • August 24, 2020

Farewell . . .


It is always sad to say, “Good-bye.” I never do – I always say, “I will see you later” – and often, I do. On August 15, we said good-bye to our Executive Director of just over five years, David Gagnon. It seems like he just arrived. In five years, Dave accomplished quite a lot for the Maria Mitchell Association. Under his leadership, we expanded programming, grew our internships, created brand new programs, and reached an ever growing audience. Dave always had a smile on his face, was always willing to roll up his sleeves and get dirty – literally – and to be a cheerleader for the MMA and the hard work of the staff. We thank him for everything that he has done for the MMA – and most importantly for YOU – and we wish him the best in his new endeavors – and more time with his first grandchild!


. . . And, Hello!


And then you have a brand new face in your midst – though this face is familiar to many! Today, we officially welcome Jason Bridges as the MMA’s Interim Director. He has already been hard at work catching up with staff, listening to what we have all been working on, and rolling his sleeves up to help out. We may be quieter at the MMA due to the ongoing COVID-19/Coronavirus Pandemic, but that has not slowed our research, the work that goes on in and around our sites and buildings daily, and the programing that we are now able to offer you following the guidelines of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And Jason is jumping in, assisting, and bringing some new ideas to the MMA table.


These times remind me of a Girl Scout song – “Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.” (Oh yes, I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout.) But really, as the Mitchell House curator, I have to provide you with a Maria Mitchell quote – what sort of curator would I be? So with that, from Maria:


We have therefore a circle whom we call friends, giving a name to the whole, which perhaps in its singular occupation might be used for the combination. Out of the whole circle we may make up a single friend. We love them all but we love the union of all better. – Maria Mitchell


While Dave is on to new things, he will still be a part of us and the MMA. Jason will add to that in his time with the MMA and with all of us. The union of what they bring to the MMA and all of us, makes the MMA stronger and better and builds upon both of their guidance so that we can make sure the MMA gives you – and the land, sea, and sky of Nantucket – all that you need to appreciate and protect the world around us.


JNLF

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Top O’ the Ridge!

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 29, 2026
In April and early May, at long last, the Mitchell House roof was replaced. (I noted this in an earlier blog.) I had also noted that the roofwalk, given the condition it was in and its location – sitting on the ridge – had to be replaced. They had thought they could jack it up – as they have done with other walks – but the Blizzard of February 2026 that was ALL wind (83 MPH winds – read Category 1 Hurricane) and no real snow, made the walk impossible to treat in such a manner (read: crumble). So, after much discussion, review by our preservation easement holder, and permits, as well as some fundraising, we are replacing the roofwalk. The prior walk was not the original. The original blew off in a gale in the late nineteenth century, replaced at some point in the 1930s, and likely replaced again in the 1960s or 1970s. Then, since that time, it was heavily repaired. Its framing members were notched to accept the ridge boards (read: peak) of the roof and I think that may have been an original way to construct a walk. Makes perfect sense – and gives the walk more support and a lower profile. It was after all about putting out chimney fires and preventing roof fires. People copied what worked – and there have been a few others noted to be built in this manner still. It presents an issue though – because if you need to work on the ridge board or close to it – you cannot get to it easily – I guess you may be able to access it to some extent by lifting the deck boards of the walk. The new Mitchell House roofwalk will sit about six inches above the ridge – which will also allow air to circulate better over the ridge and the shakes in that area. That is the only thing that will really be different. It is protected by a preservation easement – as part of the Mitchell House’s easement – and frankly, even if we did not have an easement, we would not want it to look any different. So keep your eyes to the skies at 1 Vestal as we work to re-build the walk. With a special thank you to Barber and Sons and Lydon and Sons. JNLF

Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 22, 2026
1875, June 20. A meeting of the Officers of Congress was called at the house of Mrs. Hanaford, 5 Summit Ave., Jersey City. The weather was intensely cold. I went to New York on the 19 th and stopped with my friend Mrs. Clapp, 100 W. 54 St . . . .It was a question who should preside. Mrs. Hanaford thought the Chairman of the Executive Committee should and I had been told that I should, etc. The question was decided by the non-arrival of the Chairman of Ex.Com. I called them to order at an hour after the time appointed. Of course I made many blunders, as I have never presided before, but I continued for 4 hours. We did a few good things . . . The thing most weighing on Maria’s mind at this meeting was the looseness of membership for the Congress. She felt people were not being vetted properly in some areas of the country and thus they may allow in “undesirables.” I would take this to mean women who were not entirely behind the cause of the Congress and the Association for the Advancement of Women. I am not surprised by her suspicions and likely she was correct – one could see naysayers gaining access to this group and trying to destroy it from the inside. The women’s rights movement would have many schisms within it as people disagreed and broke into smaller factions.  Another important thing to point out is that Mrs. Hanaford is Nantucket-born Phebe Coffin Hanaford. Raised a Quaker, like Maria, Coffin Hanaford would become the first woman Universalist minister in New England – among many other firsts. She grew up with Maria, attended and taught at the Coffin School here on Nantucket, and was a founding member of another women’s organization, Sorosis, which Maria was also a founding member of. It’s nice to see two sister Nantucketers continuing to work together as adults – far from home! JNLF

Pick A Picket

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 15, 2026
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