Author: Sharon

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

Cape Ann – a Farming Town

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Goose Cove, circa 1890 Charle E. Dennison/ ©Fredrik D. Bodin
Gloucester and Rockport have historically produced nearly everything they needed: Ships, anchors, tools, rope, lumber, granite, fish, produce, and milk. Our first farm was established in 1658 by James Babson, and was located at the Babson Cooperage property in Rockport. Gallery visitor Laura Kerr told me that she and her husband counted eighteen working dairies on Cape Ann. In my shop, I display bottles from Bass Rocks Farm (George C. Nugent),  D.J. Spittle Dairy, Doctor Babson Farm (Washington Street in Riverdale), Kerr Farm (Riverdale), Lanes Dairy (The Best Milk – From Our Dairy to You), Lanes Farms, and O’Neil & Newman (West Gloucester). I wish I had more information and bottles.
 F. Maynard Tucker’s Vegetable Truck, 1930 Alice M. Curtis/ ©Fredrik D. Bodin
Photographs printed from the original 5×7 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Images # JW-001 (Cow) and A8457-037 (Vegetable Truck)
Dr. Babson’s milk bottle, from Fred’s collection.
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

New Auction House Opens in Gloucester!

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A week from this Wednesday, on October 5, Walt Kolenda will be holding his first Gloucester  auction in the Cape Ann Industrial Park. I’ve been helping Walt open box after box of the contents of the estate of Wentworth Professor of Aviation, Lockhart Smith, of Saugus, MA. There are old (back to the early 1900’s) aviation magazines, original flight training manuals and handbooks, antique aviation collectibles, ephemera
( collectible written and printed matter), memorabilia, postcards, awards, etc.We unearthed a bunch of very cool old hobby model kits of airplanes, cars, ships, spaceships, robots, and more. There is plenty of antique/vintage glassware, lighting, pottery, porcelain, jewelry and who knows what else!


If you’re looking for furniture, the auction will include mission oak chairs, a solid cherry drop front desk with glass bookcase, a hand painted Asian cabinet, a Hoosier cabinet with Tambour doors, pine corner shelf, and other  really nice pieces.Walt moved to Gloucester in August of  2010, and although new to the area, has been in the auction/antiques business for about 30 years. He’s very excited to be holding his first Gloucester auction and plans on making it at least a monthly event, with special event auctions added as needed.

The monthly auctions will take place on the 1st Wednesday evening of each month at 6pm, inspection starts at 3pm the day of the sale.

There will be no buyer’s premium for this auction. Terms of payment accepted are cash, known checks and credit cards.

Walt is also an antiques appraiser and webmaster at his online appraisal site, auctionwally.com

To see more pictures and details go to his Auctionzip.com page.

The background story on the estate being purchased here can be found on  www.auctionwally.com/news

If you have any questions about this or future auctions call 978-636-3101 or email to wkolenda@gmail.com

Location:

17 Kondelin Rd.  #7
Gloucester, MA 01930

The auction starts sharp at 6pm (inspection 3-6)

New US Citizens! Congratulations Jane and David!

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Jane and David Beddus (from England) became US citizens on Wednesday. Their reason? They fell in love with the people of Gloucester. And we love them!

 Welcome, David and Jane!

Brian King entertained the party-goers with an American Songbook of tunes.

As American as … They served apple pie and ice cream!

Gray’s Hardware, the Talking Machine, and Four Generations

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   Talking Machine Sign for Gray’s Hardware, Gloucester, circa 1900 Anonymous/ ©Fredrik D. Bodin
My research for Gray’s Hardware began a week ago when I got an email from Lynn Gray. She’s the great granddaughter of Charles A. Gray, who founded the store more than a century ago, and wanted to know if I had any photos of it. As you can see, I have a picture of Gray’s Talking Machine sign (or is it a horse-drawn billboard?). Lynn loved it, but what she really wanted was the front of the building, which was located at 129 Main Street (where Growing Pains is now). I was on a mission.
I called up an old friend and retired lobsterman, who grew up going to Gray’s for onion and potato sets (bulbs), nails, screws, and hardware.  He said it was the first shop on Cape Ann to sell Kodak photo supplies. I think they were also the first “phonograph parlor” here, which were springing up nationwide since the Talking Machine’s invention in 1877 by Thomas Edison. My friend’s circa 1900 post card appears below, showing they named the intersection “Gray’s Corner.”
From Lynn Gray: “Gray’s Hardware was built in the early 1870’s. It was started by my great grandfather, Charles A. Gray, and was later run by my grandfather Charles J. Gray. My dad, James Gray, used to ride an old fashioned bicycle with the large front wheel around Gloucester as advertising for the store. He lives and works at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH. If anyone has a picture of my dad on that bicycle, now THAT’s something I’d like to see :)”
If you can help Lynn find her father on that bicycle – please let me know!
Talking Machine photograph printed from the original 5×7 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image # A9357-002
Post card from a private collection.
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

What’s up for Dog Day?

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From the Beacon
Gloucester —

The question

Dog lovers of all ages will descend up on Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for Cape Ann Animal Aid’s Dog Day. The event draws an estimated 300 people annually – not to mention a great deal of canine companions – and has grown in popularity since its inception in 2003. What is Cape Ann Animal Aid’s Dog Day?

 

The answer

“It was started as an event for families to do with their dogs, as well as a fundraiser for the shelter,” explains Nancy Tarbox, PR Coordinator for Cape Ann Animal Aid. “This is a fun event that brings dog owners together with each other, and it also gives families a chance to do things together with their dogs without spending a lot of money.” Both families and dogs are invited to participate in a variety of activities, including an expo featuring various vendors and community groups, agility courses, contests and games for dogs, dog nail-trimming, low-cost micro-chipping for dogs, demonstrations, activities for kids like bouncy houses, raffles, prizes, food and drinks. There is a $10 participation fee for all dog activities, and the first 100 participants get a free T-shirt commemorating the event. “This is a great chance for adults, dogs and children to do something together,” says Tarbox. “The agility course helps children to bond with their dogs, as well as adults. The event brings pet-owners together, which helps them to learn from each other. People get a chance to see pet businesses and learn how they can make their relationship with their pets less stressful and more fun. This is a good chance for many pet businesses to show people what they have to offer. This is also an inexpensive event for the whole family.”

Read more: Your questions answered: What is Dog Day? – Gloucester, MA – Wicked Local Gloucester http://www.wickedlocal.com/gloucester/archive/x462628526/Your-questions-answered-What-is-Dog-Day#ixzz1YDFxwgR1

The Brooklyn Bridge and Lower Manhattan

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Brooklyn Bridge New York City, circa 1910 Charles H. Cleaves/ ©Fredrik D. Bodin
The Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883 as the longest suspension bridge in the world (5,989 feet) and the tallest free standing structure in the Northern Hemisphere. Rockport attorney and photographer Charles H. Cleaves (1877–1937), who had interests in Cape Ann granite quarries, probably made this photograph to show how our granite was used. Although the bridge’s clearance at high tide is 135 feet, this full rigged ship still had to step her topmasts to pass through. Three tugs tow the ship down the East River and out of New York Harbor.
I have driven, walked, and bicycled over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, where I was born. The bridge really is a National Treasure, the Eight Wonder of the World, and I have sold her many times.
Printed from the original 4×5 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image # A9645-027

Fred Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Ten years ago, Magnolia honored the victims of 9/11

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After 9-11, Magnolia residents gathered on the beach to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The Castle on Salt Island

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 Castle on Salt Island, 1919 Alice M. Curtis/ @Fredrik D. Bodin
I encounter locals, and even Brier Neck residents whose homes overlook Salt Island, who don’t know about the castle that was situated there. Here’s the story:
In the fall of 1919, the Fox Movie Company built a wood and plaster facade of a Gothic castle for the silent film Bride 13. This was a 15 part serial, or cliff hanger. The plot revolved around the kidnapping and ransom of thirteen beautiful damsels by a ruthless Moroccan pirate and his motley crew. Action scenes included the firing of a 450 pound cannon, a hot air balloon escape, US Navy battleships and submarine, a schooner wrecked and burned in Brace Cove, and the dynamiting of the castle as the movie’s finale.

Where is this film? I’d love to know. All sources indicate that Bride 13 was either lost or destroyed, as happened with many silent films. The reference used for this post was the May 1972 Yankee Magazine article, Lights! Camera! Disaster!, authored by the late Joseph E. Garland of Gloucester. Thanks, Joe–you gave us so much–we miss you.

Photograph printed from the original 5×7 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image # A8357-053
Fred Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Kayaking out to Kettle Island

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Yesterday my friend Walt and I kayaked (into the wind) from Magnolia Beach to Kettle Island. It’s not that far, but at high tide it seems a lot farther. Once we reached the island, we climbed the rocks like kids to the top. The view was fantastic! Coming down was a challenge and leaving the island proved to be another challenge. The wind had picked up , but we paddled hard and rode the waves back to the beach. Exhilarating!

Sharon Lowe Photography

Joe Garland 1922-2011 RIP

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A Cannon Salute, and Farewell to Joe Garland

By Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times Staff Writer

“Joseph Garland, Gloucester’s historian, spent the last moments of his life in his beloved house by the sea.

One of the last sounds he heard on Tuesday was a cannon salute, a tradition he treasured; he would often give boats passing by a round from his own small cannon.

Garland’s family brought him home from the hospital Tuesday afternoon under hospice care. He would have turned 89 on Sept. 30. But he spent his last 90 minutes of life surrounded by family.

“When we brought him into the house from the ambulance, the (schooner) Lannon was heading out to sea with a sail excursion,” said Rob Carlson, his stepson. “We got him set up in the bed, and the Lannon was heading straight into port and we fired the cannon to get their attention. They immediately changed course and came over and gave a salute, fired their cannon and we fired back for them.

“About 10 minutes later,” he said, “Joe was gone.”

Helen Garland, his wife, said the bed was set up for him to look out at the harbor and the city.

“He was peacefully aware and was squeezing my hand right up to the end,” she said.”

To read more on Joe’s passing, please click here  and for Richard Gaines’ article.

My dad was a great admirer of Joe and although he loved Joe’s books, I remember heated discussions over city policies. After my dad passed, my mom and I stopped to talk with Joe as he worked on his sailboat across the road from his house. He will be sadly missed at the Schooner Races this weekend. It was always a treat to hear his voice announcing the schooners passing by the boulevard during the Parade of Sail.

To quote John F. Kennedy-
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back from whence we came. ”

Rest in Peace, Joe. The sea will always be your home.

Schooner Adventure Wins the Mayor’s Race

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Adventure Wins! 1991 ©Fredrik D. Bodin
Three years after her 1988 arrival in Gloucester, Schooner Adventure won the Mayor’s Race for the second time. Race day was crystal clear and very windy, which Adventure, with her 6,500 square feet of sail, took advantage of off the East Gloucester shore. The 122 feet long knockabout schooner was built in Essex (MA) in 1926. She fished until 1953 as the most productive dory fisherman ever.
Now listed as a National Historic Landmark, Adventure is being restored to sail again as a floating classroom. Although she won’t be sailing this year, Adventure will be offering a full schedule of events during Gloucester Schooner Festival: http://schooner-adventure.org/
Note: To help Schooner Adventure, I granted them publicity and promotional rights to this photo and to Adventure Wins! 1988. You can see another photo of Adventure on our distillery Ryan & Wood’s Knockabout Gin label.
Printed archivally in the darkroom from my original 6×7 cm negative. Image # FDB910901-02#09

Fred  Bodin

Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

The Essex Dragger Newton

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Dragger Newton, Essex, 1930 Anonymous/ © Fredrik D. Bodin
In view of the arrival of our newest Essex-built Schooner Ardelle, I thought it appropriate to show you another arrival in her time. The 116 feet long by 23 feet wide Newton. The Dragger Newton was built in the A. D. Story Shipyard for the Boston Trawling Company. Decorative flags and lines on the bow tell us she’s ready for the September 10th, 1930 launch. The Newton’s sister ship, the Brookline, was launched on December 18th of the same year.
Printed from the original 4×5 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image # A9145-373

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