Home Page Contents:
                     * Brief Biography of Tom Dresser
                     * Martha's Vineyard Histories
                     * Booklets of New England towns
                     * Fiction
​                     * Treatises


 Brief Biography
​
Tom Dresser started writing at age 11 when he founded The Springdale News, in 1958.  He continued to edit the monthly neighborhood newspaper for more than a hundred issues, until he went off to college, some seven years later.  [The complete set of the The Springdale News is now available on line at the Gale Free Library.]
After college, Tom taught elementary school for a decade, then ran several Massachusetts nursing homes over two decades. Tom was again bitten by the writing bug.  Since 2000, his  byline has appeared on countless articles in the local press, and he has published more than a dozen pamphlets and books.
To keep busy during the endless winter of 2015, Tom worked on plans for his 50th high school reunion. Tom (and his wife Joyce Cournoyer) graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 1965.  Visit WRHS1965.com to check out the 50th reunion yearbook and their collective class 70th birthday bash in 2017.  Next high school reunion is 55 in 2020. 
 

Vineyard Histories
African Americans of Martha's Vineyard : From slaves to our President, the story is all right here.
Disaster off Martha's Vineyard : The worst shipwreck in Vineyard history was caused by human error.
Hidden History of Martha's Vineyard : Five topics discussed from the Underground Railroad to shipwrecks and graveyards.
Martha's Vineyard : A History : This book traces Vineyard history through the years.  Read a review here.
Martha's Vineyard in World War II : Who knew so much happened on the Vineyard during the war?
Music on Martha's Vineyard : The History of Harmony : Lots of magical musical moments took place on the Vineyard.
Mystery on the Vineyard : An unsolved murder is solved,  yet the murderer got away.  Read how this who-done-it was solved, decades after the crime.
​ A Travel History of Martha's Vineyard : This recent book includes varied means of unique transit used on Martha's Vineyard over the years, from steamships to a railroad and trolleys.
The Rise of Tourism on Martha's Vineyard: My latest publication traces the growth of tourism from the Methodist revival in the 1830s to Presidential visits by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
The Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard : Native Americans' claim to be the original inhabitants is borne out.
Whaling on Martha's Vineyard : The Vineyard provided many captains and crew for whaling vessels. Savor their story.  Order your copy today! 
Women of Martha's Vineyard : Through the years remarkable women have made valuable Vineyard contributions.


Booklets
Beyond Bar Harbor - The story of Mount Desert Island is a unique chapter in Maine's maritime history.
Dogtown : A Village Lost in Time - This account of rustic Cape Ann describes a community that time forgot; includes walks of intriguing aspects of this area.    
It Happened In Haverhill - The story of Hannah Dustin is only one aspect of this shoe capital of the northeast.
Looking at Lawrence - The Bread and Roses Strike took place in this old mill town.  And a whole lot more.
Tommy's Tour of the Vineyard - Visit the Vineyard from the comfort of your living room.  Based on a tour bus ride, but a good read in any case.  Useful for tourists in their cars as well!

Fiction
In My Life : This is a mostly fictional account of coming of age in the 1960s.
We've All Got Issues : Written circa 2003 and recently published, now available on demand.  

Treatises
It was 40 Years Ago Today : My take on the Beatles, tracing their stature through their lyrics.
Springdale News : 30th anniversary compilation of Holden's Oldest Newspaper.

To track down public events over the past five years, visit Past Promotional Events.
Listen to our interview on Music on Martha's Vineyard.  It was on The Point with Mindy Todd. Here's the link to the program: http://capeandislands.org/post/music-lives-martha-s-vineyard. 
​When President Obama visited the Vineyard on vacation, I was interviewed by a reporter from the Los Angeles Times about what attracts presidents to Martha's Vineyard.  I shared my thoughts.

Books are available at:
Alley's General Store - West Tisbury
Bunch of Grapes - Vineyard Haven 
Camp Meeting Museum - Wesleyan Grove, Oak Bluffs
C'est La Vie - Oak Bluffs
Edgartown Books - Edgartown
Martha's Vineyard Hospital Gift Shop - Oak Bluffs 
Martha's Vineyard Museum - Edgartown
​Menemsha Market - Menemsha
Phillip's Hardware - Oak Bluffs

                                                                (Kindle edition available on Amazon.com)
                                                                Find us on Facebook : thomasdresserwrites

    Contact me at thomasdresser@gmail.com.  
    Phone: 508 693-1050 
    To order a book, use the Paypal button on the specific book screen, or request on this order form.
    All books are $20 unless otherwise noted.  
    Postage and handling is $2.50.    
    [Dogtown and Tommy's Tour booklets only $10!]
    Mailing address is:
    Tom Dresser
    PO Box 749
    Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

Picture
Tom Dresser, enjoying his mid-life chassis, a 1948 Jeepster.

Book Launch for A Travel History was May 6, 2019.  
Looking forward to many events to highlight this exciting new book on the whaling industry.
Foreword by Herb Foster.
Lots of images of trains, planes and automobiles.
​Great tales to read and enjoy.






Picture
Tom Dresser, hawking his wares, at the Tisbury Street Fair, July 8, 2013. Photo by Shelley Moore Christiansen.