Sections

3.1.15

Island Home

Steve Spofford’s latest career began with an internet photo gone viral. A lifelong woodworker and retired shop teacher, he fashioned a birdhouse in the shape of the old Islander ferry, presented it to his sisters, and posted it on the Facebook group I Grew Up on Martha’s Vineyard. “By the next morning I had 100 likes and people were asking if I would sell them,” he says.

Spofford, who grew up on the Island, initially refused the offers, but the requests kept rolling in. Over the summer he devised a way to construct the birdhouses in batches of 50. Today, he has completed approximately 140 birdhouses, each handmade and hand-painted, and has established a mini Steamship Authority production center at his home in Marietta, Georgia, to keep up with demand. “I have some retired friends – they asked me to teach them woodshop, so they feel like they owe me a little bit,” he says. “I have three or four guys drilling holes, assembling stuff, and my wife is a big help.”

For Spofford, 65, this latest, unexpected pursuit has been an invaluable opportunity to reconnect with the Vineyard, which he visits every year but left in 1968 to join the Navy. “It’s amazing. My wife and I reflect on it often. One memory begets and another memory begets another. People I haven’t talked to in forty years have contacted me. Some don’t even order a birdhouse, they just want to catch up.”

Along the way, he’s helped others rekindle their own Vineyard remembrances. An estimated 25 percent of the birdhouses have gone to people who grew up on the Island but now live all over the country – in California, Florida, even Alaska. “The emotion that this one piece has stirred in people who grew up there, and how many times they rode the ferry…,” he says. He’s heard from one woman who went into labor on the old Islander, and another whose ancestor was captain of the ship. “It’s almost like they were thanking me for just reminding them of the boat. They just thank me so profusely. It’s just been fun, what can I say? It’s just been a blast.”

Islander birdhouses cost $85, including shipping, and take approximately 30 days to complete. For more information, email sspofford@bellsouth.net.

Comments (5)

Dan Hastings
McLean Va.
Steve love the bird house!! I remember, I think 1948, when my dad,trumpet,Al Huntington , piano, Ray Brown,drums, Aubbie Towers,alto Sax, played the welcoming ceremony of the old Islander into service. This took place where the cars parked and everyone was dancing and all us kids were running around the boat . Seems like yesterday!!! thanks again!! Dan. Class of 60 flying horses 1950 - 71
December 25, 2015 - 12:09pm
Lucy Axtell
East Chop
Hi, Iwant to order one of these wonderful bird houses, but email given just gets to this TIMES site. HELP. Thanks, LUCY tegevilkitty@hotmail.com
September 4, 2017 - 2:04pm
Maureen
Edgartown
Would love to purchase the Ferry birdhouse
June 11, 2020 - 2:57pm
Robert Edwards
Edgartown. robertace4@comcast.net
I would love to purchase one Ferry birdhouse? Please advise.
November 12, 2021 - 8:19am
Jeanne shumrak jkshumrak@gmail.com
Oak Bluffs
Hi…Do you still make the Islander Bird Houses???? Would love to order one…thank you Jeanne
June 15, 2023 - 5:40pm