About Chilmark
The center of Chilmark, where you will find the town hall, the post office, the library, the school and several businesses, is called Beetlebung Corner. This name comes from the stand of tupelo trees behind the split rail fence opposite the little triangle. Years ago, wood from these trees was used to make small mallets called beetles, and wooden stoppers for kegs, called bungs.

For hundreds of years, Chilmark was a farming community. Photos taken in the last century show a rolling landscape closely grazed by sheep and outlined by beautiful stone walls. Before public roads, the people of Chilmark went around the town by crossing fields at openings in the walls which were blocked with wooden bars.

©1999 Best Read Guide/Martha's Vineyard
P.O. Box 66 (34 S. Summer St.) - Edgartown, MA 02653