Veronica Hoard , above, has had her eye on sculptor Alan Cottril 's desk-sized version of NL's Whale Tail fountain, which had been for sale in the MUSEUM SHOP for some time... (The Custom House is the recipient of the sculptor's plans, etc., relating to the fountain's creation.) She purchased it last week!

Storyteller Hank Savin's fans were back for Friday's New London Art Walk , above top . photo: Christina Corcoran
Custom House Maritime Museum
150 Bank Street, New London, CT, 06320 
Open Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 PM.
Waterways & Beeches
on view through December 20

Waterways & Beeches is both a retrospective of Denny Moers's water images, plus two prints from his recent collaboration -- a book of musings about beech trees by the late poet C.D. Wright,
Casting Deep Shade.

Waterways & Beeches  will remain on view through December 20, 2019.

NB: All works in the exhibition are for sale (including the book cover image).

Limited edition prints of original artworks can be ordered on Denny's website.
What's Up at the Custom House - December 1, 2019
New London Maritime Society - local friendly a uthentic
Telling the stories of New London's waterfront & preserving four historic maritime sites
We thank Arthur S. Liverant for bringing this sternboard to our attention. It's now ours!
Mary Elizabeth of New London paint decorated sternboard featuring white lettering on a black ground. New London County, Connecticut, possibly the Beckwith Shipyard in East Lyme, 1842 - 1848.
The East Lyme Historical Society describes the historical significance of the Beckwith Shipyard .
The Beckwith Shipyard was established by Jason Beckwith (b.1764) of Waterford and continued by his son, Jason Jr., and then by his sons, including James, and Daniel. Two other sons of Jason Beckwith, Jr., Gordon and Elisha, started a second shipyard at Strait's Bridge in East Lyme. The "E.K. Beckwith" listed on the Master Carpenter's Certificate of the Mary Elizabeth of 1848 is likely Elisha Beckwith.  The town of East Lyme was formed in 1839 and included parts of Waterford and Lyme. The Mary Elizabeth of New London of 1848 had a series of owners including Josiah Crocker, Jr. of Waterford and Thomas M. Latham of Ledyard. Other owners included Edwin Stoddard, Lorenzo D. Perkins, Christopher Allyn and Caleb Beckwith.
by Kevin J. Tulimieri
Nathan Liverant and Son, LLC
Provenance: There were two ships bearing the name Mary Elizabeth working out of New London, Connecticut in the mid 19th century. It is likely the sternboard is related to the sloop in 1848, which was a smaller single mast vessel. According to a handwritten history that accompanied the sternboard when purchased, the Mary Elizabeth of New London changed its district and trade in 1850, transferred to Key West, Florida. It is possible that the sternboard was removed from the ship at this time.

Information on the vessel "Mary Elizabeth of New London" can be found in the " Connecticut Ship Database, 1789-1939 " at Mystic Seaport, as follows:
The Mary Elizabeth of New London - 1848 - sloop
Vessel - Mary Elizabeth         
Type - Sloop   
Built - East Lyme, CT
Year Built - 1848        
Tonnage - 47 78/95  
Length - 48 ft. 4 in.     
Beam - 16 ft. 6 in.       
Draft - 7 ft. 2 in.           
Customs District - New London       
Trade - codfishery     
Years Registered - 1848 -1855         
Stern - square
Head - scroll  
Masts - one     
Decks - one
 
Name - Crocker, Josiah, Jr.    
Vessel - Mary Elizabeth         
Role - Master 
 
Name - Latham, Thomas M. 
Vessel - Mary Elizabeth         
Role - Master
Climb to the lantern of NL Harbor Pequot Light .
Visit Pequot Light, LIS's oldest & tallest lighthouse, by appointment.

Email us for a custom tour. We'll try to accommodate your schedule.

Christina is at the Custom House Saturday afternoons. Stop by and she'll take you over.    Children must be age 7 or older.
New London Maritime Society thanks our Friends & Sponsors 
John Steffian, Jr., The Maco Family Fund, Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Veolia Water, City of New London & CDBG
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SAVE THE DATE: Our HOLIDAY PARTY will be Thursday, December 12, at 4 o'clock!
Heading Here
We've only got a couple of weeks to fill the Toys for Tots collection box in our entry hall.
Our thanks to Veronica for bringing it to the Custom House again this year.

Elegant Japanese stationary: sticky-note octopi in nine pieces & a lovely calendar. We've only a few of each.
Please make a 100% tax deductible donation
New London Maritime Society
ANNUAL FUND   Donate Here
At the Maritime Museum, you will discover the enormous effect that the maritime world has on our daily lives. 

None of what we do at the Custom House would be possible without your support.
  • Keep watch on New London's waterfront 24/7 with our NL HarborCam. The HarborCam has had 10,00 views since last week.



  • Facebook the Custom House MUSEUM SHOP MUSEUM SHOP gifts have that extra feel good factor -- when you shop with us your purchases go towards supporting our museum, exhibitions, and educational programs.

The Custom House is available for   private rentals.   

Meetings, weddings, birthdays, GALAS, retreats.  Call 860.447.2501

New London Harbor Light, ca 1900, below.
print from glass plate negative, NLMS collection.
150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501
The Custom House Maritime Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 PM, or by appointment | 860-447-2501