These days, few Nantucket visitors realize this public passage exists and that thousands of photographs of this spot have been created, including more than one hundred postcard images which were mass produced between the 1870s and 1930s. The popularity of these postcards, now worth between $10-$75 each, sparked a huge copywrite dispute and competition between the island’s photographers of the time, even some merchants got involved and took sides. Who created the first postcard image of this fence and plant lined cobblestone path is unclear, but its view and unique cozy appeal is undeniable even in it's current neglected state.
Less than two blocks away, tucked behind Nantucket’s last remaining Quaker Meeting House, is a research library where the public can view a hundred of these famous images in person (Mon.-Thu.) and online (NHA.org) Some of the postcards feature drawn-in hollyhocks, while others featured children with puppies. Some images were black and white, others colorized by hand or screen printing. The image archive’s postcards, prints, and negative collection show the progression of image capture and distribution technology as well as the effects time have had on this spot.
Put your geocaching device away and use your eyes to find this hidden public alley and the small sized geocache hidden within fifteen feet of the stairs seen in the middle of the pictures. After you find the cache, create your own image of this passage and upload it to the geocache’s digital log.
About the area: Sorry, this wonky path is not stroller or senior citizen friendly and the area often needs cachers to visit who CITO.
REWARD for reading the entire cache page: Benchmark LW4180 is close by and even pictured in the old postcard images.