Author: Sharon

My passions include photography, music, people, teaching, learning, taking risks and asking "I wonder what would happen if I..."

Winter – Not Over Yet!

Posted on by Sharon

After the Storm, Long Beach, 1931   Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
In early March of 1931 a severe winter storm traveled across the United States. Chicago endured the second largest recorded snowfall in its history, up until that date. When the great storm reached the East Coast, it pummeled the shores of New Hampshire and Massachusetts with huge waves and extremely high tides. On Cape Ann, the 25 year-old Dog Bar Breakwater experienced 12-ton granite blocks tossed into Gloucester Harbor, and the severing of the cable to Breakwater Light. Long Beach, located in Gloucester and Rockport, had its boardwalk washed away. In the photo above, the Long Beach Hotel sits on the left. Below, the photographer shot toward Rockport in the opposite direction.
After the Storm, Long Beach, 1931   Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
As a result of the March 1931 Storm, Dog Bar Breakwater was reinforced with rip-rap on its ocean side, and Long Beach’s wooden boardwalk was replaced with the concrete boardwalk we use today.
 Hampton Beach, NH, March 1931
Printed from the original 4×5 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #8345-041 (Long Beach showing hotel)
Printed from the original 5×7 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #88657-134 (Long Beach looking toward Rockport)
Photo of Hampton Beach from the Lane Memorial Library collection, Hampton, NH

Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Heyday of East Gloucester Square, 1930

Posted on by Sharon

East Gloucester Square, 1930 Anonymous/©Fredrik D. Bodin

I’ve been saving this photograph for a blizzard. Nary a snow storm’s come along, so I’m posting it now as a reminder of what winter could have been. The camera lens is pointing down East Main Street, with Highland Street in the center left, and the curve on the right at the telephone pole leads to the current laundromat and Duckworth’s Bistro on East Main. The store on the extreme left is J.C. Dade’s Hardware. The view is remarkably similar today. At one time the Square had three markets (Dutch’s, Powler’s, and First National); Wishnick’s barroom, Kirby’s pharmacy, Mrs. Fine’s seamstress shop with pants pressing, Jensen’s Shoe Repair, and two physicians (Doc Quimby, with Doctor Torrey next door). I’d like to thank Paula Parsons and Deb Callahan for this negative, and the East Gloucester fisherman who shared his childhood memories of East Gloucester Square. Please comment with your own remembrances.
Printed archivally from the original 6×7 centimeter film negative in my darkroom. Image # A9267-056.
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Celebrate Jack Kerouac’s 90th birthday

Posted on by Sharon

Come celebrate Jack Kerouac’s 90th birthday
with a screening of
Henry Ferrini’s film on Kerouac, “Lowell Blues”
introduced by Peter Anastas
with a reminisence of when Kerouac visited Olson deep in the 1960s.
Monday, March 12, 7:30 p.m.
126 East Main Street
(please park across the street)
For more info call Annie Thomas, 978-283-7738
http://gloucesterwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LowellBlues.jpg

The Stone Sloop Albert Baldwin

Posted on by Sharon
Stone Sloop Albert Baldwin, 1934 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
I’ve been waiting fruitlessly for a Nor’easter snowstorm to post a winter photograph. It looks like tomorrow’s little storm could be my last opportunity, so I’m taking it. This is the Sloop Albert Baldwin, iced in off Rocky Neck. The 90 foot long Baldwin was built in 1890 at the James and Tarr shipyard in Essex. She was designed with extra reinforcement for transporting granite along the New England coast. The pilings in the photo are remnants of the Rocky Neck ferry pier, which was at the present public parking lot. Abandoned and derelict, the sloop was still rotting away when I came to Gloucester in 1980. About ten years later, the Sloop Albert Baldwin was cut up and hauled away.
Printed from the original 5×7 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #A8857-149
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

The Hotel on Pavilion Beach from Fred Bodin

Posted on by Sharon
The Pavilion Hotel, Gloucester, circa 1880 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
The Pavilion Hotel, built in 1849, was Gloucester’s first true resort hotel. It was located between Stacy Boulevard and Fort Square, on the edge of downtown. The Gloucester Telegraph called it “the first specimen of architectural good taste ever seen here.” The Pavilion featured a two level veranda with dramatic harbor views, fine dining, a saltwater pool, bowling, and accommodated 150 guests. The beachfront of the hotel, called Crescent Beach at the time, is now called Pavilion Beach. On a foggy night in October of 1914, the 65 year old Pavilion Hotel, then named the Surfside Hotel, was consumed by fire. The building which we call the Tavern now sits where the Pavillion once was.
Printed archivally from the original 8×10 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image #A88810-003.
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Where Zat?

Posted on by Sharon

I was out shooting yesterday and stopped here for a lunch break. Any guesses where I was parked? I can tell you it is in Gloucester. 🙂

Check out more of my photos here!

Update-                                                                                                                                        Wes was the first person to identify my location! Here’s his answer: “You were at the end of a little pothole filled dirt road in west Gloucester by the traintracks (which would be on your left). It’s a little beach area looking out on the water. Nice shot!”  Check the comments to see the others who got the answer as well! Congrats to all!

Thanks!      ~ Sharon

The Cape Hedge Inn, circa 1950

Posted on by Sharon
The Cape Hedge Inn, Land’s End, Rockport, circa 1950 Don Felt/©Fredrik D. Bodin
The Cape Hedge Inn was located at the end of South Street in Rockport, between Cape Hedge and Pebble Beaches. Across the street was the over flow guest house, and the little shack to the right of it was a hot dog stand. In the later 1950s and 1960s, the inn was called the Sandpiper by its new owners. Sadly, the Sandpiper burned in 1978. All that remains is a crumbled foundation.
The Cape Hedge Inn, Land’s End, Rockport, 1954 Anonymous/Fredrik D. Bodin
Aerial printed archivally from the original 4×5 inch film negative in my darkroom. Image #a9245-578
Sandpiper Inn printed digitally from a post card.
Fred

Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

The Last Schooner

Posted on by Sharon
Schooner Andrew & Rosalie, Gloucester, circa 1935 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
The last Gloucester-built fishing schooner was the Andrew & Rosalie, which was constructed and launched in 1930 at Burnham’s Railways (in the area now called Harbor Loop). With a 20 foot beam, her deck was 92 feet long and she carried 4,600 square feet of sail. The schooner was renamed American Eagle in 1941 by new owner Captain Ben Pine. In 1984, after 53 years of hard fishing with the Gloucester fleet, she was purchased and rebuilt by Captain John Foss for the passenger trade. Berthed in Rockland, Maine, Schooner American Eagle can be seen in Gloucester every September for the Mayor’s Cup Race, which she’s won eight times. http://www.schooneramericaneagle.com/
Schooner American Eagle, Gloucester ©Fredrik D. Bodin
Images printed archivally in my darkroom from the original 6×7 centimeter negatives.
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Main Street, circa 1880

Posted on by Sharon
Main Street, Gloucester, circa 1880 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
Here’s another very old photograph, of similar vintage to the City Hall image I posted two months ago. The camera angle is from the Bradford Building on Main Street. In the distance is Beacon Hill and Governor’s Hill. The steeple on the left is today’s Universalist Unitarian Church, and the one on the right became Temple Ahavat Achim in 1950, sans steeple. Main Street is still without trolley tracks, which arrived in 1884. The small street in the middle left is Center Street, bordered now by Gabrielle’s Antiques and  Passports Restaurant. In the lower right is Hancock Street, passing between a pharmacy (note the mortar and pestle on the building’s exterior) and Ellery’s Furniture. Those shops are now Menage Gallery and The Curtain Shop respectively. To my eye, Main Street looks pretty much the same. Lucky for us.
Printed archivally from the original 4×5 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image #A8845-068.
By the way,  I’m waiting for our first significant snowfall to post something special from the collection. Mayor Kirk and Duckworth’s will like this one.
Fred
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

The Mount Washington Hotel

Posted on by Sharon
Joey edit-
Here it is back in 2002 from almost the same exact perspective.  Man I miss that car.-
DSC00365The Mount Washington Hotel, 1903 N.L. Stebbins/©Fredrik D. Bodin
In 1900, wealthy Pennsylvania industrialist Joseph Stickney began construction of the Mount Washington Hotel, located in Bretton Woods, NH. Two hundred and fifty Italian artisans were hired to build the steel-framed Spanish Renaissance structure. When finished in 1902, the hotel accommodated 600 guests, with a staff of 350. It had its own railroad station, post office, electric power plant, telephone system, and 6,400 acres for golf and recreation. Look closely between the two flagged towers, and you’ll see the electrified banner: MOUNT WASHINGTON. The photograph also shows the 1903 Glidden Automobile Tour, organized by the fledgling American Automobile Association. The purpose of the tour was to foster public acceptance of the automobile and draw attention to the primitive road system, which was unpaved, unmapped, and suitable only for horse travel. This was one of the first motorized endurance races.
Early Glidden Tour
Today the grand hotel thrives as the year-round Omni Mount Washington Resort. It’s a National Historic Landmark featuring a 25,000 square foot spa, two four-diamond dining rooms, and a renovated speakeasy: the Cave. In 1902, hotelier Joseph Stickney successfully charged $10 per night "in season" – twice the going rate at the time. You can book a room at the Mount Washington tonight for $199.
Fred

Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

The Old Freeman House

Posted on by Sharon
Old Freeman House, Gloucester, 1928 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
The Davis-Freeman house, built in 1709 on 17 acres, is a first period colonial house located at 302 Essex Avenue (Route 133). It’s named after owner Charles Freeman, a descendant of eighteenth century Gloucester slaves. For many years the house served as a tavern on one of the two roads into Gloucester before 1950. From the late 1930’s to the early 1950’s, the Freeman house was the Stage Coach Inn, a restaurant serving lunch, tea, and dinner: “In this old tavern – one of the earliest – you’ll enjoy our hospitality and delicious food in an atmosphere of the old stage coach days.” The photograph below shows owner Harriet Johnson in the doorway of the house. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Freeman house is owned by Wellspring House, a Cape Ann organization assisting families and individuals to become financially self-sufficient.
Harriet Johnson, 1928 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin

Printed from the original 5×7 inch film negatives in my darkroom. Image #A8557-063 (house), and A8557-061 (Harriet)
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Need office supplies? Now you can get them at Seaside Graphics!!

Posted on by Sharon

The crew at Seaside Graphics were incredibly accommodating during the mad holiday rush with my calendars. I couldn’t be more grateful!

As I ran in and out of the store, I hardly noticed the new additions to the stuff that’s available! Bill Liacano, Seaside’s owner, showed me the incredible items on the wall. I spent some time last week checking out the office and artist supplies that Bill’s added like:

copier paper, notebooks, tape of all kinds, Prima colored pencils, architectural rulers and templates, drawing pads, binders, sale order books, file folders, thermal paper, label paper, invoices, color copier paper, batteries, iPhone accessories, closed/open signs, calligraphy sets, pens, sticky notes, gift certificates, adding machine paper, perforated business cards, USB drives, money receipts receipts for credit cards and terminal paper, printable fabric paper, Velcro, foam core, poster board, and if you can’t find what you need there’s a Suggestion Box!!

Seaside Graphics                                              27 Railroad Ave.                                  Gloucester, MA  01930 www.seasidegraphics.com

Dog Bar Breakwater

Posted on by Sharon
Dog Bar Breakwater, circa 1906 (note lack of rip rap on the ocean side on right) Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
Dog Bar Breakwater extends nearly half a mile from the tip of Eastern Point across the entrance to Gloucester Harbor. It not only shelters the harbor, but also covers the treacherous Dog Bar Reef, for which it is named. Construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began in 1894 and continued until December 1905. The foundation of the structure is granite rubble taken from Cape Ann quarries, and is capped by 12 ton granite blocks supplied by the Cheves Granite Company of Rockport. A total of 231,760 tons of granite were used to build the breakwater. A small tower lighthouse marks it’s outermost extremity.
Ledge Hill Trail, Ravenswood, 1919 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
Eastern Point Light and Dog Bar Breakwater are located at the end of Eastern Point Boulevard, The adjoining  parking lot and breakwater are part of Massachusetts Audubon’s 51 acre Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary –http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Eastern_Point/index.php
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930