WEST TISBURY · MARTHA’S VINEYARD

The land beneath MVPCS

A dated evidence collection for 420 and 424 State Road: aerial photographs, satellite imagery, historical maps, registry evidence, newspaper references and archival scans. Compiled 23 September 2026.

Read the illustrated guide · Download source catalog · Read methods and limitations

What is established?

The school dates to 1996, and a 1972 USGS map depicts woodland across the tract. The two current assessor parcels total about 7.26 acres. No earlier named building or farm has yet been demonstrated at the exact school footprint.

The oldest acquired map is dated 1698. Earlier community history and nineteenth-century archival records provide context; they are not established links in the school’s chain of title.

Key missing evidence: the full 1996 deed instrument, its cited plans and earlier deeds, a pre-1996 aerial, and any probate records tied to verified former owners. The collection includes an actual deed-index screenshot, not the full deed.

Precise next-retrieval targets

Compare the same ground

1999 aerial with current parcels2025 aerial with current parcels
1999
2025

Cyan and gold: current FY2026 assessor parcels. Source: MassGIS. Latest acquired imagery is 2025; not a live 2026 view.

Browse the evidence

Source reference
P01 · Exact tract

Current assessor parcels: 420 and 424 State Road

FY2026 · Acquired

Town 327. Parcels 16-96 and 16-96-3, owner Options in Education Inc. Assessor geometry is not a legal survey. Both cite one deed: Book 675, page 665, 29 April 1996, $240,000. Reported lot areas sum to 316,245 sq ft (7.26 acres).

Original source ↗
Files & rights (1 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS

1996 acquisition deed: registry index and document details
P02 · Exact tract

1996 acquisition deed: registry index and document details

1996-04-29 · Acquired

Book 675/page 665; document 2683; two pages; $240,000. Grantors indexed as Cournoyer Mary E TRS and Middletown Village Trust; grantee Options in Education Inc. Easement reference 682/724. This is an index screenshot, NOT the deed instrument or a survey. Viewer failed; full deed scan was not acquired.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (2 files)

Public registry record; interface © Avenu Insights & Analytics. Screenshot retained as research evidence.

2025 aerial orthophotography
A2025 · Exact tract

2025 aerial orthophotography

2025 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2023 aerial orthophotography
A2023 · Exact tract

2023 aerial orthophotography

2023 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2021 aerial orthophotography
A2021 · Exact tract

2021 aerial orthophotography

2021 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2019 aerial orthophotography
A2019 · Exact tract

2019 aerial orthophotography

2019 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2013–2014 aerial orthophotography
A2013_2014 · Exact tract

2013–2014 aerial orthophotography

2013–2014 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2008–2009 aerial orthophotography
A2008_2009 · Exact tract

2008–2009 aerial orthophotography

2008–2009 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2005 aerial orthophotography
A2005 · Exact tract

2005 aerial orthophotography

2005 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. Dataset year or year range; an exact local flight day was not established.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

2003 aerial orthophotography
A2003 · Exact tract

2003 aerial orthophotography

2003 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. MassGIS 2001/2003 metadata: island photography acquired April 2003

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

1999 aerial orthophotography
A1999 · Exact tract

1999 aerial orthophotography

1999 · Acquired

Georeferenced tile mosaic at zoom 18, 914 × 914 pixels. Unmarked original and derived parcel overlay supplied. Same extent for all nine dates. MassGIS statewide flight-status map (2000)

Original source ↗
Files & rights (4 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS; public MassGIS imagery, subject to source metadata.

MassGIS flight-status map establishes the Vineyard image year as 1999
A-DATE · Date verification

MassGIS flight-status map establishes the Vineyard image year as 1999

2000-04-13 · Acquired

Vineyard coverage is colored for 1999; the service name alone says only 1990s.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (2 files)

MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS

Source reference
A-2003-DATE · Date verification

MassGIS 2001/2003 imagery metadata

2003 · Reference / metadata checked

The metadata specifies April 2003 photography for the islands. The service name is orthos_2001_tile_package. Collection filenames use the island acquisition year, 2003.

Original source ↗
Files & rights (0 files)

    MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS

    Sentinel-2 cloudless annual satellite mosaic
    S01 · Vicinity

    Sentinel-2 cloudless annual satellite mosaic

    2024 · Acquired

    Regional satellite context, about 3 km across on the ground. Annual mosaic, not one exposure or a live image. Approximately 10 m source pixels; WMS display pixels are smaller. Sentinel-2 cloudless - https://s2maps.eu by EOX IT Services GmbH (Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024)

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (2 files)

    Sentinel-2 cloudless - https://s2maps.eu by EOX IT Services GmbH (Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024); CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

    USGS Vineyard Haven quadrangle
    T1951 · Exact tract / vicinity

    USGS Vineyard Haven quadrangle

    1951 · Acquired

    Surveyed 1942; revised 1951; the USGS record identifies a 1952 print. Scale 1:31,680. This edition does not show forest shading: white ground must not be read as cleared land. Magenta parcel overlay is a modern reconstruction from FY2026 geometry, not a historical boundary or surveyed alignment. Full original geospatial PDF included.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (3 files)

    USGS; United States government work, public domain.

    USGS Vineyard Haven quadrangle
    T1972 · Exact tract / vicinity

    USGS Vineyard Haven quadrangle

    1972 · Acquired

    Planimetry from 1939 aerials and 1942 field work; revised from 1969 aerial photographs; field checked 1972. Scale 1:25,000. Green woodland tint crosses the current school parcels. Map scale and labels limit interpretation of individual small structures. Magenta parcel overlay is a modern reconstruction from FY2026 geometry, not a historical boundary or surveyed alignment. Full original geospatial PDF included.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (3 files)

    USGS; United States government work, public domain.

    Plan of Tisbury made by Thomas Dunham, dated April 1831
    D25152j880 · Regional / nearby context

    Plan of Tisbury made by Thomas Dunham, dated April 1831

    April 1831 · Acquired

    A town plan from before West Tisbury separated from Tisbury in 1892. Broad location context; no parcel-level georeferencing performed.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    Eldridge's map of Martha's Vineyard
    D79408315w · Regional / nearby context

    Eldridge's map of Martha's Vineyard

    1913 · Acquired

    Island map and historic road geography. Does not establish the owner or use of the exact modern school lots.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    Chappaquiddick and Christiantown - Letter to Gov. Elbridge Gerry from Chappaquiddick and Christiantown Indians, October 28, 1811
    Dc821mx42g · Regional / nearby context

    Chappaquiddick and Christiantown - Letter to Gov. Elbridge Gerry from Chappaquiddick and Christiantown Indians, October 28, 1811

    October 28, 1811 · Acquired

    All four scans acquired. Community correspondence relating to Christiantown and Chappaquiddick, not a conveyance of the school parcel.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (4 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    Report- Christiantown Indians
    D7366dr72r · Regional / nearby context

    Report- Christiantown Indians

    1861 · Acquired

    All sixteen scans acquired. Government report about Christiantown; not proof that the present school tract belonged to or was used by a particular person.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (16 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    [Chart of Nantucket Island and the eastern half of Martha's Vineyard]
    D7h149z539 · Regional / nearby context

    [Chart of Nantucket Island and the eastern half of Martha's Vineyard]

    1776 · Acquired

    Eastern Vineyard / Nantucket chart. Regional coastal context only; its coverage and scale do not resolve the school tract.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    Mayhew Chapel, Christiantown
    Dz890s049v · Regional / nearby context

    Mayhew Chapel, Christiantown

    [ca. 1890–1940] · Acquired

    Nearby Christiantown chapel, not a prior building on the school site. Date range follows the repository catalog, circa 1890–1940. Photographer Edward Lee Luce; Martha’s Vineyard Museum.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Rights status not evaluated. / Contact host institution for more information.

    Chappaquiddick and Christiantown - Inventory of Estate Ownership, 1828
    D0p09bk77g · Regional / nearby context

    Chappaquiddick and Christiantown - Inventory of Estate Ownership, 1828

    December 15, 1828–December 16, 1828 · Acquired

    All six scans acquired. A community property inventory for Christiantown and Chappaquiddick, listing household dwellings, improved land, woodland and livestock. The word estate refers to property here; this is not a will or an established decedent probate inventory. It has not been linked to the school title chain.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (6 files)

    No known copyright restrictions. / No known restrictions on use.

    North Tisbury to Seven Gates Farm
    Dpc28bt615 · Regional / nearby context

    North Tisbury to Seven Gates Farm

    October 7, 2011 · Acquired

    Unaltered regional oblique aerial, North Tisbury to Seven Gates Farm. The school footprint has not been located in this photograph. Attribution: David R. Foster, Harvard University.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Copyright (c) David R. Foster / This work is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License (CC BY-NC-ND). / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

    Simon Athearn map of Martha’s Vineyard
    H1698 · Regional context

    Simon Athearn map of Martha’s Vineyard

    1698 · Acquired

    Photographic reproduction; modern caption below the image cropped out. Glare and limited resolution are inherited from the reproduction. Historical original is old enough to be public domain; acknowledge Harvard Forest as the reproduction source.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Historical map reproduction supplied by Harvard Forest; no separate image license stated on the retrieved page.

    Des Barres: Buzzards Bay and western Martha’s Vineyard
    H1781 · Regional context

    Des Barres: Buzzards Bay and western Martha’s Vineyard

    1781 · Acquired

    Small reproduction. Useful for regional landform and coastal context; no exact school-site claim. Historical original is old enough to be public domain; acknowledge Harvard Forest as the reproduction source.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Historical map reproduction supplied by Harvard Forest; no separate image license stated on the retrieved page.

    Henry Laurens Whiting landscape map reproduction
    H1850 · Regional context

    Henry Laurens Whiting landscape map reproduction

    circa 1850 · Acquired

    Hosted reproduction associated with Whiting’s mid-nineteenth-century surveys. The source discusses surveys of 1844–1852 and a later chart. Do not treat the file label as an exact date for every mapped feature. Historical original is old enough to be public domain; acknowledge Harvard Forest as the reproduction source.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Historical map reproduction supplied by Harvard Forest; no separate image license stated on the retrieved page.

    Walling map of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties
    H1858 · Regional context

    Walling map of Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties

    1858 · Acquired

    Low-resolution regional reproduction. Too coarse to establish a building or ownership at the school footprint. Historical original is old enough to be public domain; acknowledge Harvard Forest as the reproduction source.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (1 files)

    Historical map reproduction supplied by Harvard Forest; no separate image license stated on the retrieved page.

    Source reference
    N1995 · Exact tract

    New Charter School Makes Progress

    1995-12-08 · Reference / article checked

    Contemporary report: the organizers were still looking for a location after examining about 25 possibilities.

    Original source ↗
    Files & rights (0 files)

      Vineyard Gazette; article copyright retained by publisher. Short reference and paraphrase only.

      Source reference
      N1996a · Exact tract

      Vineyard Public Charter School Opens Admissions for Fall Term

      1996-02-09 · Reference / article checked

      Reports selection of a State Road site near Indian Hill and Lambert’s Cove, with modular classrooms planned.

      Original source ↗
      Files & rights (0 files)

        Vineyard Gazette; article copyright retained by publisher. Short reference and paraphrase only.

        Public Charter School Is Days Away from Island Launch
        N1996b · Exact tract

        Public Charter School Is Days Away from Island Launch

        1996-09-06 · Headline screenshot + reference

        Describes new school construction in wooded surroundings: a post-and-beam central area and four portable classrooms. Headline/byline/date screenshot included; article text remains at the publisher.

        Original source ↗
        Files & rights (1 files)

        Vineyard Gazette; article copyright retained by publisher. Short reference and paraphrase only.

        Source reference
        N1997 · Exact tract

        Island Public Charter School Wins Permission for Expansion

        1997-07-25 · Reference / article checked

        Reports permission for a 36-by-32-foot classroom addition.

        Original source ↗
        Files & rights (0 files)

          Vineyard Gazette; article copyright retained by publisher. Short reference and paraphrase only.

          Source reference
          N2009 · Exact tract

          Charter School Cuts Ribbon on Four Brand New Classrooms

          2009-09-17 · Reference / article checked

          Reports a roughly 3,500-square-foot addition with four elementary classrooms and supporting spaces.

          Original source ↗
          Files & rights (0 files)

            Vineyard Gazette; article copyright retained by publisher. Short reference and paraphrase only.

            Source reference
            R-SCHOOL · Exact tract

            MVPCS school history

            1996 / retrospective · Reference / not cached

            School account gives opening date as 16 September 1996.

            Original source ↗
            Files & rights (0 files)

              Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

              Source reference
              R-OIE · Exact tract

              Options in Education: organizational history

              Retrospective · Reference / not cached

              Retrospective account places land/construction activity in 1995. The dated 1996 deed, assessor year-built field, and contemporary newspaper reports support 1996 for acquisition and opening; retain the discrepancy rather than silently combine the dates.

              Original source ↗
              Files & rights (0 files)

                Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                Source reference
                R-TOWN · Regional context

                West Tisbury town history

                1671 / 1892 · Reference / not cached

                Tisbury dates to 1671; West Tisbury became a separate town in 1892. Earlier records may therefore be under Tisbury.

                Original source ↗
                Files & rights (0 files)

                  Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                  Source reference
                  R-TRIBE · Regional context

                  Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah): history

                  Deep history / present · Reference / not cached

                  Tribal account describes at least 10,000 years of Wampanoag presence on Noepe. This is Island-wide history, not archaeological evidence excavated from the school parcel.

                  Original source ↗
                  Files & rights (0 files)

                    Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                    Source reference
                    R-CHRIST · Nearby context

                    Christiantown Woods Preserve

                    1659 / later · Reference / not cached

                    Land Bank history places the neighboring Christiantown community in a seventeenth-century setting. No historical reservation boundary has been matched to the school lots in this collection.

                    Original source ↗
                    Files & rights (0 files)

                      Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                      Source reference
                      R-HF · Regional context

                      Harvard Forest historical maps collection

                      1698–1901 · Reference / not cached

                      Repository page for the Athearn, Des Barres, Whiting and Walling reproductions.

                      Original source ↗
                      Files & rights (0 files)

                        Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                        Source reference
                        R-WHITING · Regional context

                        Harvard Forest: Whiting’s landscape map

                        1844–1860 · Reference / not cached

                        Explains Whiting survey history and the landscape reconstruction. The reproduction in this cache is not sufficiently georeferenced for a parcel-level land-use assertion.

                        Original source ↗
                        Files & rights (0 files)

                          Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                          Source reference
                          R-MVM · Unverified leads

                          Martha’s Vineyard Museum maps collection index

                          Various · Reference / not cached

                          Catalog leads: 1985 assessor map 2012.035.017; 1895 West Tisbury Road 2012.035.033; 1896 Middletown Road 2012.035.027; circa-1900 Quannowill/Mingo Christiantown map 2012.035.014 and annotations 2012.035.013; Banks reconstruction of Christiantown in 1709, 2012.035.012. Images not acquired, and overlap with the exact school land is unverified.

                          Original source ↗
                          Files & rights (0 files)

                            Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                            Source reference
                            R-TISBURY · Unverified leads

                            Tisbury town records finding aid

                            1669–1927 · Reference / not cached

                            Potential route to early town land divisions. No document from this collection was matched to the school tract in this research.

                            Original source ↗
                            Files & rights (0 files)

                              Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                              Source reference
                              R-MVC2004 · Exact tract / reference

                              Martha’s Vineyard Commission minutes

                              2004-04-15 · Reference / not cached

                              Indexed text describes DRI 423-M5, a 750-square-foot addition and kindergarten trailer removal. Original PDF download denied (HTTP 403); not in cache.

                              Original source ↗
                              Files & rights (0 files)

                                Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                                Source reference
                                R-MVC2008 · Exact tract / reference

                                Martha’s Vineyard Commission minutes

                                2008-06-12 · Reference / not cached

                                Relevant school expansion record identified; PDF download denied (HTTP 403). Not in cache.

                                Original source ↗
                                Files & rights (0 files)

                                  Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                                  Source reference
                                  R-MVC2014 · Exact tract / reference

                                  Martha’s Vineyard Commission minutes

                                  2014-05-08 · Reference / not cached

                                  Indexed text describes DRI 423-M7 and a 2,090-square-foot science addition. Original PDF download denied (HTTP 403); not in cache.

                                  Original source ↗
                                  Files & rights (0 files)

                                    Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                                    Source reference
                                    R-2026 · Exact tract / reference

                                    West Tisbury planning agenda

                                    2026-02-05 · Reference / not cached

                                    Search-index text referred to 317-square-foot conference and 734-square-foot office additions on map 16, lots 96 and 96.3. Original returned HTTP 404. This is a proposal reference, not proof of completed work.

                                    Original source ↗
                                    Files & rights (0 files)

                                      Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                                      Source reference
                                      R-1994 · Exact tract / gap

                                      1994 coastal aerial service

                                      1994 · Reference / not cached

                                      Queries in two coordinate systems returned blank NoData at the school tract. No 1994 image is included; this is not proof that no usable 1994 photograph exists elsewhere.

                                      Original source ↗
                                      Files & rights (0 files)

                                        Source retains its stated rights; reference only.

                                        No entries match this search.

                                        This offline catalog distinguishes acquired files from references. Each item retains its own rights and attribution; there is no blanket license for the collection. Historical boundaries have not been inferred from modern parcel outlines. See the README and source catalog for methods, acquisition gaps and reuse terms.