ABOUT COTTAGERS’ CORNER

A Historic Home for a Lasting Mission

The historic Oak Bluffs building at 57 Pequot Avenue became the headquarters of The Cottagers, Inc., in 1968 after the organization’s growing membership outgrew the living rooms and front porches where meetings had typically convened. Before its acquisition by The Cottagers, the building had served the town of Oak Bluffs as its Town Hall, fire station, and local jail. Recognizing the opportunity to establish a permanent gathering place for the organization, the membership, under the leadership of President Maggie Alston, voted to purchase the building along with three adjoining lots on Wamsutta Avenue for a reported $6,000. Dedicated to the organization’s future and mission, Cottagers Maggie Alston and Olivia Steele personally signed the mortgage to secure the purchase. The building was later named Cottagers’ Corner, and the organization was officially incorporated a year later.

A booklet labeled 'The Dukes County Savings Bank' with an illustration of a sailing ship on the cover, placed beside a printed mortgage statement or bank document.

Over the decades, Cottagers’ Corner evolved into a cherished community hub for meetings, educational programs, arts and crafts classes, social events, and fundraisers, while also opening its doors to Island organizations and youth programs during the off-season. The building became a safe and welcoming haven for young summer visitors, and many Cottagers today fondly recall the hours of fun, fellowship, and lifelong memories they experienced there as teenagers.

By 2022, after decades of continuous use, the aging building required significant structural and system improvements. In response, The Cottagers launched a $2 million capital campaign to revitalize the historic property.  Meticulous care was taken throughout the renovation to preserve the building’s historic and architectural character while modernizing the space to better serve the community. Recently reopened, Cottagers’ Corner continues to serve as both the headquarters of the organization and a welcoming community hub. The restoration included structural repairs, upgraded systems, improved accessibility through the addition of an elevator and accessible bathrooms, and a renovated kitchen designed to expand the building’s functionality for community events and programming.

Today, Cottagers’ Corner remains the only building owned by an African American volunteer organization on Martha’s Vineyard. Recognized for its important place in the Island’s African American history and cultural narrative, the historic landmark was added to the famed Martha’s Vineyard African American Heritage Trail in 2006, further cementing its legacy as a symbol of community, service, and cultural pride.

“For generations, Cottagers’ Corner has been a place where friendships were formed, stories were shared, and people came together in the spirit of community. Seeing it restored and reopened during our 70th anniversary makes this moment especially meaningful.”


Patricia R. Bush
President, The Cottagers
Photo Credit: Jenna Shepard, The Vine

OUR GALLERY

The Cottagers Through the Years

A thank you card from The Conservation Fund with logos of sponsors including Google, LaPhaar Capital Partners, Martha's Vineyard Bank, and The Boston Globe. The card also features logos of local Black-owned businesses and mentions partners such as Di
Woman wearing glasses and a white dress, smiling and holding a sign, at a social gathering under a tent with other smiling women in the background.
Three women smiling at an outdoor table with food and drinks, two women wearing sunglasses, one in a Purple scarf and white top, the other in a pink floral top, and the woman in the middle standing behind them in a blue top with a necklace.
Three women standing in a sunflower field, smiling, holding sunflowers, with a clear blue sky overhead.
Three women smiling outdoors in front of a stone building and grassy area on a sunny day.
An elderly woman with gray hair wearing a white sleeveless dress and a purple scarf, standing at a table with informational materials at an outdoor event.
Woman wearing a large hat, elegant dress, and jewelry, standing with arms outstretched indoors.
A woman standing and speaking to a group of children indoors, with a staircase and railing in the background.
Group of women dressed in white, standing outdoors, some holding roses, smiling, with green hedge background.
Two women standing behind a table at an outdoor market under a palm leaf pattern umbrella, with books and artwork on display.
Vintage truck with a sign for The Cottagers Inc. supporting island charities, parked on a street with people and a lamppost nearby.
Three smiling women standing outdoors, dressed in colorful attire, with greenery in the background.

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A woman sitting on a porch chair at a table, signing documents, while a young girl and other people stand nearby. The woman appears to be engaged in paperwork with others around.