This photograph, titled “A Unique Couple”, was turned into a postcard in 1891 by island photographer, Henry Wyer. He donated the proceeds from its sale to the couple, Mr. Charles H. Chase and Mrs. Ann Elise Morselander Chase. Both Charles and Ann were blind and according to an 1891 newspaper report, they “even maintained their own home, could sew, and read braille without assistance.” In this day and age we know that people with disabilities of course can not just live and love just like any other person, often their disability results in their developing other skills that non-disabled people do not possess, including the ability to more acutely observe their environment and detect obvious abnormalities.
Bring a writing implement and please remember to close the cache securely so its contents stay dry and well hidden.
VISITING GEOCACHERS - About the area: This cache is next to Jetties Beach which is Nantucket’s most popular beach for families with young children. The water is warm, shallow and calm. Pet dogs are not permitted on beaches with lifeguards on Nantucket. There are bathrooms, items to rent and purchase in a shop, food, a bar, bathrooms, a playground, and a shuttle to and from other parts of the island. This is also a popular location for many fundraisers and concerts. In Spring and summer often a portion of the beach is roped off due to the presence of nesting Piping Plovers, an endangered bird species. In early Spring and Fall kite surfers can be seen on windy days surfing and hovering over the waters here. In winter the Surfside parking lot is used as a dumping ground for clam shells. This attracts many seagulls and rats here which in turn attracts visiting snowy owls who have been seen standing in the dunes waiting to strike.