My neighbor Bill Olver came over a few weeks ago with a stack of pictures showing his dad at the Martha’s Vineyard derby in 1954 and 1955. That’s Bill Sr. in the shot above holding a nice striper. (I’m guessing he wasn’t wearing those wingtips when he caught it.)
The derby was only a decade old when these photos were taken. It started in 1946 as a way of drumming up island tourism, and with the help of a massive publicity campaign and great prizes (island land, boats, canned hams), early derbies drew fishermen from all over the U.S. and from other countries, too. Then, most guys fished for striped bass from the shore. They’d take their buggies out onto the beach and maybe stay out overnight, cooking spaghetti dinners and ham-and-egg breakfasts on their tailgates.
Bill Olver Sr., who would run a fish market in my hometown of Haddonfield, N.J., went up to the Vineyard with Elmer Marshall, who owned five hotels and a restaurant on the Jersey Shore; a friend named Ed Thompson; and a guy he met working at RCA, Ed Lick.
Ed’s son, Bob, sent me a couple of stories after seeing these old pictures of his pop. Both of them, it turns out, involve pranks at the expense of Elmer.
- Bill Olver, Sr., Ed Lick, Ed Thompson on Martha’s Vineyard
“Around 1948 -50, Bill and my dad cut the body off a Model A Ford and built a beach buggy. Along about that time they began going to Martha’s Vineyard for the derby.
“There are two Vineyard stories that the guys told often.
“On one trip, when they were unpacking at the motel Elmer discovered he had forgot to pack shirts, so he borrowed one from Dad or Bill. He called his wife and requested she send six or eight shirts. When the shirts arrived Elmer was not there so my dad and Bill unleashed a plot.
“You have had to know Elmer. He was a fairly big guy who when excited his voice when to a range where only dogs can hear him. Well, the first night they went to dinner with Dad and Bill each wearing an ‘Elmer’ shirt. Elmer noticed and proclaimed, I’ll be damned, I got shirts at home exactly like the ones you guys are wearing. Coincidence was the reason Dad and Bill offered. The next night the same thing, except with different ‘Elmer’ shirts. This time, Elmer really got excited. His voice exceeded a dog’s range. Dad and Bill could not contain themselves and cut loose laughing.
“Only then did Elmer get it.
“Another night, one of the guys legitimately found a plug on the beach. When Elmer learned of the find he went off squeaking, You lucky so and so, etc, etc. and returned to casting. You have to understand, Elmer was very well off financially, but still, someone finding a plug caused him … unrest. So my Dad started throwing out a few plugs from his own plug bag.
“Of course Bill and Ed were in on the deal. My Dad grabbed his rod and as he began to walk toward the water, he exclaimed, Hey, here’s another plug! Elmer cut loose again. Awhile later, Bill walked back to the buggy and found a plug and of course let Elmer know about it. Then it was Ed’s turn. Elmer got so worked up, he quit fishing and began wandering around the beach in excitement looking for plugs.
- Derbyites Elmer Marshall and Ed Thompson
“Of course, none were found and he squealed on. He wasn’t told of the plot for a few days …
“Because of my Dad’s taking the time with me, I am blessed to have experienced untold joys in the world of surf fishing and gained an unlimited number of very close friends during my many years of casting and cranking. For this I will always be grateful to my Dad.”
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Hi David – I’ve been going to MV since 1944 and enjoyed reading your story about the guys and the derby.
I live in NJ but my heart and soul live on MV and I try to get there as often as possible.