tourists' general registry agency. 317 



Tourists' General Registry Agency. 



Nantucket had grown so rapidly in favor as a 

 summer resort, and the hotels and boarding houses had 

 multiplied so fast, that a great deal of vexatious delay 

 and inconvenience was experienced by visitors, who 

 were desirous of securing at the earliest possible 

 moment their telegrams and express packages, and 

 intelligence of the whereabouts of their friends who 

 were known to be upon the island. Appreciating the 

 wants of the travelling public, the proprietor of one of 

 the largest boarding houses in town suggested to Mr. 

 E. K. Godfrey, in 1880, the necessity of a place where 

 all visitors to the island could register their names, and 

 thus avoid the trouble which had before been expe- 

 rienced. Accepting the suggestion, Mr. Godfrey 

 opened in July of that year the Tourists 1 General 

 Registry Agency, for the accommodation of summer 

 visitors. The agency is in reality a directory, reading- 

 room, and bureau of general information combined. 

 By the payment of a small fee for registering, visitors 

 are not only certain of receiving their telegrams and 

 express packages promptly, but have free access to the 

 reading-room at all times (Sundays included), are sup- 

 plied free of cost with writing material, and can have 

 all questions relating to the island answered in a cour- 

 teous manner. The agency has been found to be of 

 great advantage also to those who desire their mail 

 matter directed to its care, thus securing it sooner and 

 avoiding the confusion liable to arise from a similarity 

 of names. The agency also forwards to its patrons all 

 letters directed to them arriving or remaining in the 



