Martha’s Vineyard in the Roaring Twenties: Radicals and Rascals

On Saturday, May 27th at 3:00 PM, at the West Tisbury Library, local author Thomas Dresser will give a presentation about his new book, Martha’s Vineyard in the Roaring 20s, Radicals and Rascals. Thomas Dresser has written several books on the history of Martha’s Vineyard. This is one of his favorites. Why? It was exciting to find similarities between the 1920s and the 2020s, from the pandemic and prohibition to women’s right to vote and immigration restrictions. And there’s much, much more. Tom grew up in central Massachusetts, taught third grade for a decade, then spent 20 years in nursing home administration. Joyce, a high school classmate, invited Tom down to the Vineyard for a weekend visit, back in 1995. Tom and Joyce celebrate 25 years of marriage this spring.

Kutter, a Mexican rescue miniature Schnauzer, joined Tom and Joyce in 2022. He is much loved (and spoiled) by Tom and Joyce’s collective five children and nine grandchildren.

This new book will be published May 22, 2023, with a foreword by Island teacher, writer, photographer, and historian Chris Baer.