The Tashmoo Cottage and Hideaway was but a dream when we, Ellen and Gary, put in an offer on the 299 Dagget Avenue property in the middle of a snowstorm in 1998.  A Christmas wish came through, when the offer was accepted, and this property became our future, December 24 of 1998.
        We hurried back to California, packed up 20 years of construction and art supplies, discontinued our lives on the West Coast, and headed for a future closer to both of our original birthplaces.  Ellen now happy to be half way home, to Norway, and Gary only a half day’s ride from ailing parents in Connecticut.
     On April 22, 1999, we were established on Island, signing the ownership commitment, and enthusiastically starting our lives on the beautiful Island of Martha’s Vineyard.

The first thing we discovered, was how hard it was to find a decent, affordable place to live on Martha’s Vineyard.

Our property was there, with the original building, 30' x 40 ‘, but unapproachable as the tenant was unable to fulfill her promise of moving.  With a 10 year old in tow that needed to have an address for school, we soon decided we had to find a more permanent solution than what a growing group of friends and clients were able to offer us.

That is how the Tashmoo Cottage was born.

The Cottage became a one-year family project with a lot of learning, living and laughter, incorporating our family into Martha’s Vineyard life.  We learnt we were “washashores”, of course, and that it would take us at least three generations to be considered islanders.

Our family grew into the island, and discovered that sharing, is required when you behold a jewel of a place, like Martha’s Vineyard. 

We wanted to be part of the sharing, and continued building space for vacationers to come see the paradise we had found.

That is how the Hideaway, New Wing, was born.

We connected the Hideaway, New Wing, to the Old Wing, and remodeled it to the standard of the new Wing.  Between the two wings, we found space for our own family to nest year round, while taking care of our guests in great discretion when vacation time was theirs.

Now, we have continually loved and cared for this property we share with you, for more than 10 years, and seen it develop from forested hills to groomed greens.
We are still washashores, of course.  But we love this island, every bit as much as when we first set our faith on it.  Not the least because of you.  We feel continually happy to hear the children’s laughter, smell the BBQs around the house and to chat over the fence with your excited family vacationing here. There is no greater pleasure than shared bliss.  We are happy to share this paradise with you, and hope your memories will enrich your family for years to come.
Welcome, Ellen & Gary