About
The Vineyard Preservation Trust owns and manages twenty historic sites on Martha’s Vineyard. Located in four Island towns, these include a heritage center, a farm, two churches, one green space, two formal gardens, and fifteen exhibition and event spaces. Our properties represent four centuries of American functional architecture and maritime and tourism economies contributing to the Island’s rich cultural heritage. Two are National Historic Landmarks, and nine are part of National Historic Landmarks via local historic district designation.
Mission
For more than 45 years, the Vineyard Preservation Trust has acquired, restored, and managed historic landmarks, preserving Martha’s Vineyard’s unique character and keeping its heritage as part of the community and its visitor’s daily life.
History
Since 1975, Vineyard Preservation Trust (formerly Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust) has acquired, preserved and managed the endangered historical landmarks of Martha’s Vineyard, restoring living institutions to their rightful place in island life and ensuring that they will remain landmarks for life.
Martha’s Vineyard is a small island with a long, rich history dating back first to the Native Americans followed by Colonial settlements in the 1600’s. As a popular summer and vacation destination for people from across the United States and the world, the pressures of development and progress have, over time, threatened the central features of this vibrant island community. The iconic, irreplaceable landmarks now in the Trust’s care were badly deteriorated, and in many cases threatened by demolition, when the Trust assumed ownership and undertook their restoration and permanent care. Now saved, each of these landmarks continues to play a central role in contemporary life while preserving the authenticity and historical character of the island.
Over more than four decades, Vineyard Preservation Trust has grown from a small non-profit with one property in Edgartown to an organization responsible for the stewardship of 20 key properties in four towns, all of which are enjoyed by island residents and visitors alike. The organization’s membership is now at more than 3,000 individuals and it is estimated that members of the public visit our properties more than one million times each year.
Staff
Vineyard Preservation Trust offices are located upstairs in the Dr. Daniel Fisher House at 99 Main Street in Edgartown, MA, and are open year-round.
Tours, exhibit galleries, and heritage center are located in The Carnegie Heritage Center at 58 North Water Street in Edgartown, MA.
Nevette Previd
Executive Director
508-627-4440 x 115
nevette@mvpreservation.org
Gretta Hehre
Office Manager
508-627-4440 x114
gretta@mvpreservation.org
Sandy Burt
Venue & Events Manager
508-627-4440 x116
sandy@mvpreservation.org
Julie Hatt
Special Events Manager
508-627-4440 x 120
julie@mvpreservation.org
Tammy DeGregorio
Finance Director & HR Coordinator
508-627-4440 x 110
tammy@mvpreservation.org
Jeanne White
Visitor Services Coordinator: The Carnegie
774-549-9107
thecarnegie@mvpreservation.org
Sissy Biggers
Community Engagement Manager: The Carnegie
774-549-9107
sissy@mvpreservation.org
Jamie Meader
Flying Horses Carousel Manager
508-693-9481
jamie@mvpreservation.org
Board of Trustees
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CHAIRMAN
John E. Klein
VICE CHAIRMEN
Brooke R Brown
Nancy T. Caraboolad
Deborah Crews
J.B. McCall IV
Joseph Sollitto, Jr
Victor Zollo, Jr
CLERK
Alvin Johnson
TREASURER
Elizabeth D. MacKenty
EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR
Nevette Previd
EMERITUS
Patrick J. Ahearn
Carole M. Berger
Alison M. Convery
Robert G. Cox
Robert C. Graham, Jr.
Michele M. Hedley
Sarah B. Rorer
TRUSTEES
Lynn Allegaert
Deborah Barnes
Kelsey Biggers
Richard J. Canty
Gerret C. Conover
Drew Conway
Tana Gibson
Melissa M. Hedley
Sheila A. Hoerle
Alice B. Indelicato
Gail Kittenplan
Virginia L. Mortara
John P. Murphy
Ian Murray
Shep Murray
Elizabeth R. Neuhoff
Deborah A. Nugent
Amanda T. Phillips
Richard N. Purington
Rosalie Ripaldi Shane
Mary B. Stanton
Margaret C. Tattersall
Twanette Tharp
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Audrey H. McCargo
Dorothy F. Chaffee
Scott T. Earl
Theodora A. Ellis
Patricia Morgan
Nancy Morris
Joan W. Norton
Joyce M. Wright
Reserve a property
Several of the landmarks in Vineyard Preservation Trust’s care are available to rent for weddings or performance venues. Please visit our Reserve a Property page for more information.