The West Island Weather Station KA1WBH

09/14/2026

CIRCA 1929 VINTAGE FISHING BOAT PRINT DISCOVERED
"This worn and torn print, stored for decades in a photo junk pile, was destined for the trash can. Then I took a second look." MLBaron
Albert Cook Church was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1880, the son of a tugboat captain. His hobby of photography developed into a vocation as a result of his early exposure to the sea and New Bedford harbor.
Source: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/.../hig.../manuscripts/mss-33/
For Albert Cook Church, the background was just as important to frame his classic fishing vessel photos inside New Bedford Harbor. This recently discovered F/V SEA ROVER print is probably one of the most thought-out photos I've seen in the Church series of 1920's boats he took in the harbor. This may have been taken from Union Wharf in Fairhaven.
After a closer look, the man at the wheelhouse window - likely the Captain is wearing a white shirt and tie. It appears a light was placed inside, overhead, to illuminate the man nicely. A closer look also showed a crewmember to the right of the wheelhouse behind the rigging.
The angle of the starboard side with Palmer's Island in the background (lower right) revealed the keeper's home and lighthouse. All the buildings would be washed away in the 1938 Hurricane, some 10 years later, except for the light.
This amazing photo also captured the vessel with modern gear at the time, along with a motor and sail. The markings below the wheelhouse indicate Sea Rover, New Bedford, Mass. Curiously, the name appears twice at the bow; perhaps the larger letters were added for better visibility in the photo.
This rare century-old print had the caption SEA ROVER, written by hand in ink on the bottom, with the pencil markings still visible before pen and ink were applied. A collection of more Albert Cook Church photos, at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nbwm/albums/72157607559720337
Compiled by MLBaron Historic Archives

09/13/2026

NOTHING TO SEA HERE
For the first time since 1941, there has not been a single hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean through September 12th.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2581150659060442
*ML's Note: There's a couple of contributing factors that fizzled out The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season (so far).
El Niño: A strong El Niño event has created high wind shear and hostile conditions for storm strengthening.
Saharan Dust: Plumes of dry air and dust from Africa have moved across the Atlantic and blocked tropical development.
File Photo: Hurricane Maria's remnants glided across the sky over Hoppy's Landing, September 25, 2017.
MLBaron File Photo for westislandweather.com

09/13/2026

1939 LIGHTSHIP CHART - A QUIET DUTY UNTIL ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE
"I’ve heard it said of lightship duty: “You’re either bored to death or scared to death.” Steve Kennedy
This vintage nautical chart depicted lightships assigned to various locations around Buzzards Bay in 1939. *ML's Note: It is doubtful this would have been published after WWII broke out in 1941. Lightships were an important aid to navigation, with crews manning the lights 24/7.
"I had not seen this before. As well as Coasties from the Vineyard Lightship, we also had seamen from the Hen and Chickens who would stay with us when storm-bound. Though names escape me now, I loved them all as uncles, and my father and mother so enjoyed having them when at night after supper sea stories from the lightship men would be told -- and new or old stories, repeated or not, we would enjoy every word, every laugh, even tears. Hard duty but made great men of them. The duty is now gone; their memory lives on for me and always will." Seamond Roberts
Crews had to withstand long hours and exposure to the worst conditions the sea could toss at them. The ships and men were to remain at their posts at all times, even during hurricanes, until properly relieved.
Two tragedies come to light just ten years apart when this chart was printed. In January of 1934, the SS WASHINGTON sideswiped the NANTUCKET, but the vessel somehow survived, went in for repairs, and returned to service.
Five months later, luck ran out for the fairly new 4-year-old 130-ft lightship. The RMS OLYMPIC, sister ship of TITANIC, rammed and sank the lightship. (illustration right) Seven crew members drowned with only four survivors. Ironically, this much-traveled route by ocean liners would have seen the RMS TITANIC traverse it 22 years prior, 50 miles off Nantucket.
The Hurricane of 1944 sank the VINEYARD SOUND lightship (lower left) off Cuttyhunk. Gusts of 135 MPH and huge waves pounded the ship. Divers discovered and theorized that a huge mushroom-shaped anchor at the bow broke loose, causing a huge gash in the hull, allowing the seawater to rush in. The ship quickly sank, and drowned all twelve crew members. An additional 350 sailors drowned at sea on Navy ships sunk in the storm. September 14, 1944.
Source: http://www.mwdc.org/Shipwrecks/vineyardsoundlightship.html
Working on a lightship was considered to be the most dangerous profession in the marine service.
*ML's Note: The ship with masts sheared off remains nearly on station, upright in about 80 feet of water to this day, as if in perpetual vigil.
Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10231643527903110&set=pcb.10231643439900910
Painting (right) by Charles Mazoujian (right inset) USCG photos.
Compiled by MLBaron for westislandweather.com

09/13/2026

"People ashore in Westport Harbor reported seeing bright lights in the middle of the night out where the lightship was located. Most likely, the crew had fired off flares to try to signal for help, but ashore, some wondered if the vessel had been attacked."
September 14, 1944

09/12/2026

AFTER A BUSY SEASON - The ferry Martha's Vineyard returned to the Steamship Authority Repair & Service Facility in Fairhaven, MA, on September 12, 2026, at 8:30 AM. The ferry departed Fairhaven and headed back to work at 2PM.
Harborcam for westislandweather.com

09/11/2026

HALF-OF TOWN HALL WEATHERVANE SNAPPED OFF
The once-ornate weathervane on top of Fairhaven Town Hall lasted only 50 years (upper left) before the Hurricane of 1944 snapped it off. Most weathervanes from the late 1800's were top-heavy, ornate, and vulnerable to stormy winds, especially in the Northeast.
"Unlike modern, streamlined aerodynamic pointers, late-19th-century weather vanes featured large, multi-dimensional shapes like scrolls, banners, and complex figures. High gale winds exerted massive structural pressure on these wider profiles, often bending the center shafts or tearing the vanes entirely off their mounts."
Source: https://www.denninger.com/history.htm
In a 1944 report, the Fairhaven Tree Warden stated more trees were lost in town with the '44 Hurricane than in the Hurricane of 1938.
Even though the weathervane survived the infamous Hurricane of '38, it came crashing down from 135 feet (upper left) on the front lawn of Town Hall, September 14-15, 1944. It's unclear where the wrecked vane (upper center) ended up, but it certainly didn't go back up.
The car wreck entangled in the trees (bottom left) was likely a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie Station Wagon.
Video of the 1944 Hurricane aftermath in Fairhaven here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWw9mjKPM0g
A re-attached replacement weathervane was simple but expected to weather future storms more effectively. In its 82 years, the replaced weathervane survived countless storms, including several hurricanes, blizzards, and other unnamed gales. There's no indication that the vane required repairs through the decades until 2026.
Note: The First Congregational Church a few yards away lost a 100-foot steeple in the Gale of 1869 and never replaced.
Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10231450673521871&set=pb.1588891101.-2207520000&type=3
The weathervane lost its rear half, or fletching tail, with only the direction arrow still pointing to the right wind direction, as observed in the recent photos (right inset) Sept 11, 2026.
It's unclear when or where the broken-off piece fell or if it was trapped in a gutter.
The remaining half, likely to fall off soon, was still reading the correct wind direction.
Access to make repairs won't be easy at 135 ft. In 2021, the top of the Oxford School cupola required a huge crane provided by A-1 Crane Co. and was restored by Keith Silvia of Keith Silvia Custom Builders, who was also a Selectman at the time. Source: https://fun107.com/fairhaven-oxford-school-cupola-returns/
Town officials weren't aware of the issue as of post time. One BPW member said the weathervane should be replaced.
Stay tuned!
Compiled by MLBaron

09/11/2026

Remembering 9-11. Twenty-five years later.

NOVUS ORDO SECLORUMOn rare occasions this huge 18ft x 12ft US Flag...

09/09/2026

ISLAND WORKHORSE
The M/V SANKATY built in 1981, returned to the Steamship Authority Service & Repair Facility at Fairhaven MA, September 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
She has an expansive open rear deck to haul large trucks and tractor trailer rigs to and from Martha's Vineyard and the mainland.
*ML's Note: The original repair facility in Woods Hole was torn down in 2018.
Sean O'Connor who works at the Steamship Authority added,
"Repair facility in Woods Hole was closed in 1998. Fall River State Pier was used as the SSA repair facility for a couple of years until Repair was moved to Main Street in Fairhaven."
Harborcam for westislandweather.com

09/08/2026

CIVIL WAR ERA SKYLINE
The earliest known photo of The Palmer's Island Light also revealed the Fairhaven skyline - decades before Henry Huttleston Rogers changed it, in the late 1800's. The tall steeple (left) of The First Congregational Church on Center St would fall in the great Gale of 1869. It was never replaced. The small steeple to the far left was atop Phoenix Hall - now Euro at Center and Main St. The steeple in between the light and tall steeple was the Unitarian Church on Washington St - later the Boys Club. Some of the buildings visible along the shore, remain in place.
Volumes of history have passed by the light in New Bedford Harbor for over 175-years.
"A lighthouse was built on the northern point of the island for $1,951 by Charles M. Pierce, a mason. It was first lighted on August 30, 1849, by William Sherman (sometimes spelled Shearman), the keeper. The 24-foot tower was built of rubblestone, with wooden windows and floors." Source: http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/palmers-island-light-history.html
*ML's Note: A house and a few structures were washed away in the Hurricane of 1938 and never replaced. Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231281344968763&set=a.1030636538031
Compiled with graphics by MLBaron.

09/07/2026

SUPERYACHT PODIUM RETURNED TO FAIRHAVEN.
Roger Penske's Superyacht PODIUM returned to Fairhaven Shipyard, from Washington DC. on September 7, 2026 at 1PM.
President Donald Trump and IndyCar owner Roger Penske teamed up to host the inaugural Freedom 250 Grand Prix street race in Washington, D.C., on August 23, 2026, as part of America's 250th birthday celebrations.
Bypassing standard congressional channels via an executive order, Trump and Penske Corporation brought the historic open-wheel street race to the nation's capital.
Trump watched the race alongside First Lady Melania Trump, UFC CEO Dana White, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Roger Penske.
Roger Penske had tried for 20 years to bring a top-tier race to D.C., an arrangement that came together quickly through their public-private coordination.
The Superyacht has typically docked at Fairhaven Shipyard this time of year, before heading to Florida around the first week of October. Link of interest: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10228126038528074&set=a.1030636538031
Harborcam for westislandweather.com