Preserve What Remains Of The Star Of The Sea Hostel In Surfside

To the editor: I was moved by your recent article on the former Star of the Sea Hostel. For me - and for many others - the hostel was far more than an affordable place to stay. It was a gathering space, a cultural crossroads for people from all over the world, many of whom could never have afforded summer hotel prices on Nantucket. It stood as a symbol of what once made the island feel open, accessible, and welcoming.

During the years I spent there, I hosted drum circles, community dinners, and spontaneous gatherings that brought strangers together in the most natural way. It was soothing simply sitting in that historic edifice with all the doors open, letting the ocean breeze sweep through as people shared stories, music, and laughter. Others hosted everything from tarot readings to Qigong and yoga sessions. It was a true respite from the rest of town—a place where you could breathe, connect, and just be.
There were starry nights spent watching for shooting stars, and long evenings around the bonfire sharing stories and bonding. The Star of the Sea was one of the rare places where Nantucket’s spirit of community was lived, not merely remembered.

I’ll never forget the moment the first mansion went up just beyond the hostel, blocking the ocean view and cutting off easy access to the shoreline. It felt unsettling— as if something shared had quietly become something private. Then more mansions followed, each one casting a longer shadow - literally and figuratively - over a place that once belonged to the community as much as to the island’s visitors.

Now, with new ownership and an uncertain future, many of us who knew the hostel as a sanctuary can’t help but hope it will be preserved in some meaningful form. Not just as a structure, but as a rare part of Nantucket’s communal fabric. The question of what comes next is not only a practical matter - it’s a cultural one.

Thank you for keeping the community informed about this latest chapter in the property’s story. I hope future conversations will include not only its architectural and legal history, but also the lived experiences and community spirit that made the Star of the Sea such an irreplaceable part of Nantucket.

Respectfully,
Charles Dundee