Homeward Bound ~ Gloucester

Homeward Bound ~ Gloucester, circa 1930 Chester Walen/©Fredrik D. Bodin

This dory fishing schooner is racing to market in Gloucester. She’s wearing her winter rig: Topmasts removed with no upper canvas to improve stability – a requirement in fall, winter, and spring, when gale force winds and mountainous waves in the North Atlantic are typical. The rig, along with distant patches of snow in Stage Fort Park, suggest to me that this is springtime. Her crew is assembled on deck, preparing for docking, and probably quite glad to be home. Off the schooner’s bow is the Fort. The two large buildings were fish processing plants, sitting on what are now empty lots.

Image printed archivally from the original 5×7 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #A9157-420

Hope to see you at our Good Morning Gloucester/Bodin Historic Photo Spring Fling this Saturday. Starts at 6 pm!

Fred