HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOS Memo re RR and Wyers Valley_201409251507534243Post Office Box 1408
Nantucket, MA 02554-1408
July 21, 2014
saperste@mst.edu 508-680-1337
From: Lee W. Saperstein
To: The Nantucket Board of Selectmen
Re: Town-owned property at Wyers Valley
Unable to attend the public session on the potential for the Nantucket Cottage Hospital to move
to Wyers Valley, I am writing to insert into your proceedings this historical note about the
Nantucket Railroad. The route of the Nantucket Railroad, on its way to ‘Sconset, lies at the southern end of Wyers
Valley. It runs through the wooded portion of the property from the pedestrian crossing on Old
South Road in front of 2 Fairgrounds Road to the eastern boundary at the end of Hinsdale road.
It is still very much present and can be seen on the ground and in the aerial photographs found on the Town’s GIS. Although the railroad was conceived in 1879 and built mainly in 1880, it originally went to ‘Sconset via Surfside and ran from the present location of the Sparks Avenue
Rotary along what is now Hooper Farm Road. Maintenance problems at the beach in Surfside,
led to the construction in 1884 of a direct route to ‘Sconset. It is this direct-route roadbed that
should be preserved as part of Nantucket’s history as a resort community. This letter does not address the issue of future hospital location; I’m sure that you will make the
choice that is best for Nantucket. Should that choice be Wyers Valley, please look out for the
historical Nantucket Railroad roadbed.