The Gloucester Fleet, circa 1930 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
This classic harbor scene is one of the most popular photographs in the gallery. It’s not just the interesting content, but also the artful composition, with reflections in the water that I’ve seen in Emile Gruppe’s renowned oil paintings of that time. The fishing and seine boats packed together in Harbor Cove recall the days when fishing was the big business. Mackerel seiner Angie & Vence is on the left, and the Jupiter is third from the left. The white seine boats are filled with seining nets with cork floats. The Gloucester Coal and Lumber building sits in the background, topped by its 35-ton steam derrick (crane). Coal was loaded onto barges, and lumber was carried away by lumber schooners. The company was founded in 1903 by tugboat captain Charles “Cap” Heberle, and is now called The Building Center. The Heberle family still owns it and often visits the gallery.
Image printed archivally from the original 4×5 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #A8345-012
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Like us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto
Good Morning Gloucester 
Wonderful old picture, Fred I have a similar one but, nowhere as clear as yours. It’s amazing how that steam derrick on the Gloucester Coal & Lumber Co. dominates the skyline from almost any direction. I remember when they took it down after WW-2. Thanks for posting it.
LikeLike
Thanks for the history lesson, Fred/EJ. When I saw the photo, it reminded me of a more romantic, simpler time, but perhaps that’s just an “illusion.”
LikeLike