Thomas Dresser, author, historian, tour guide
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.
Joyce and Tom celebrating the late afternoon in Menemsha.
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A few fun photos, thoughts about life on the Vineyard, and supplemental information might brighten the spirit. And here's a piece that celebrates my retirement. Check it out here. Enjoy!New Orleans, late February, 2013. Joyce and I drove down from Massachusetts and Amy flew in from Los Angeles to meet up with Curt and Jill and Vivienne and Gus. It was a great gathering, a foretelling of this summer's wedding!
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Tom and family.
front row: Gus, Vivienne, Dylan, Molly;
back row: Jill, Curt, Amy, Tom.
On Writing...
The opportunity to write presented itself shortly after the millennium, when I found myself unemployed and anxious to make my way in the community of Martha's Vineyard. I started writing for the Martha's Vineyard Times, followed by the Vineyard Gazette, and along the way contributed pieces to Cape Cod Life, Vineyard Style and Martha's Vineyard Magazine. That led to Tommy's Tour of the Vineyard, a couple of self-published ventures, In My Life and It Was 40 Years Ago Today, and the opportunity to write for the History Press. At present, spring of 2013, I have completed five books with History Press and am beginning research on a sixth: World War II on Martha's Vineyard. Look for publication early in 2014.
Jen, Shealyn and Jocelyn, enjoying the sunshine.
Jill and Curt, recently engaged, and even more recently married! (see wedding album on my Facebook page: thomas dresser
Joyce and an unnamed idol.
Tom and Henry, the youngest grandchild.
