Happy Birthday, Ellery!
On Thursday this week - April 2 -
Capt. Ellery Thompson
would have turned 121.
(photos are from past events)
There is no better subject at the Custom House than
Ellery Thompson
. Through Ellery's stories and painting, he is the embodiment, and chief chronicler, of the area's
life aquatic
for much of the 20th century.
We thank
Marian Krepcio
,
at left, above (2018),
for keeping the flame alive over the decades since Ellery's death in 1986, as well as for her ongoing generosity to the museum; and thank
Andrew Blacker
,
top right (2016),
for spurring our terrific Ellery Thompson exhibition at the Custom House. We also thank
so many more
from the community, among them
Morgan McGinley
,
above (2018),
for the gifts of Ellery Thompson articles and paintings that have made our collection so strong. And thank you, Brian Rogers
(see below)
...
New Online Exhibit from the McGuire Library
"Remembering Ellery"
begins with the captain's boyhood reminiscences and then covers highlights of his life at sea -- events that became so public after Joseph Mitchell's profile of Ellery appeared in the
New Yorker
in 1947. The exhibition draws from Ellery Thompson's two autobiographies, the collection of paintings at our Museum, and Ellery's papers and unpublished writings preserved by Marion Krepcio of Stonington. Special thanks are due the
Day
for permission to use several photos and articles, including Morgan McGinley's 1976
"Memories of an old salt."
--Brian Rogers
_______________________________________________
Also highly contagious
kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.
Don't wait to catch it.
Be the carrier.
We are doing all we can to help stem the spread of coronavirus.
- the Custom House Maritime Museum is closed until further notice. We look forward to welcoming you in the near future.
_______________________________________________
Custom House Maritime Museum
150 Bank Street, New London, CT, 06320
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As it turns out,
Pawlonia tomentosa,
or the Empress tree, is considered an invasive species in Connecticut. As a result, we will
not
be giving out seedlings this spring.
Thanks to everyone who called the Custom House last week to let us know!
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What's Up at the Custom House - March 29, 2020
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New London Maritime Society - local friendly a
uthentic
Telling the stories of New London's waterfront
& preserving four historic maritime sites
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New London Maritime Society thanks our Friends & Sponsors
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John Steffian, Jr., The Maco Family Fund, DOCKO, Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Veolia Water, City of New London & CDBG
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We're asking you,
our 1,000+ weekly email-blast readers, to
please become members of the New London Maritime Society.
We're raising money to cover
minimum overhead expenses
while the Custom House Maritime Museum is closed due to the coronavirus epidemic. Our monthly need is $4,000. Any donation will help.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to keep us afloat!
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What to do???
We have wonderful new items arriving every week in the
MUSEUM SHOP
: books, sailor bunnies, sardines, more books!
Great
things!
We've considered posting MUSEUM SHOP items w/ prices online, and doing road-side delivery on Wednesday afternoons.
For the present, however, we'll hold off.
We're currently hunkering down , per the Governor's orders.
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Support New London Maritime Society with both your Spring & Fall bulb purchases.
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Detail of the new-to-us model of Latimer Reef Light, donated by
Robert Wadsworth
-- Capt. Bob of Niantic's Sunbeam Fleet.
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In 2016,
Andrew Blacker gave the Custom House this dramatic painting of Latimer Reef Lighthouse by Ellery Thompson, painted late in his career.
The lighthouse, itself, currently is privately-owned.
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Pierce Rafferty shared this photo and the one to the right, from the Henry Ferguson Museum collection on Fishers Island.
Above, lighthouse keepers at Latimer after 1899.
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This photo shows the
lighthouse painted with a brown band. Latmer Reef Light dates to 1884 and is what we now call a 'spark plug' light. (Did they even have
spark plugs back in 1836? ) Originally painted white, the band was added in 1899.
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from
LighthouseFriends.com: Located about a mile north of Fishers Island’s East Point, Latimer Reef is reportedly named after a James Latemore. During the Revolutionary War, the courageous Latemore embarked in a skiff to spy on a British Fleet at anchor in Fishers Island Sound. An alert redcoat aboard one of the vessels spotted Latemore’s small craft, and a boat gave chase. Latemore ran aground on his namesake reef, and the British soon captured him and took him back to their fleet. At sunrise the following day, Latemore was hanged aboard one of the British frigates then received a watery burial in the Sound.
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Support New London Maritime Society with both your Spring & Fall bulb purchases.
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- Keep watch on New London's waterfront 24/7 with our NL HarborCam.
- Facebook Custom House Maritime Museum to read about our events & exhibitions throughout the world. Our PortVision screen identifies ships in the harbor -- like the one above turning towards Fort Trumbull.
- Facebook the Custom House MUSEUM SHOP for gifts with an extra feel good factor -- when you shop with us your purchases support our exhibitions, & educational programs.
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- We're on Instagram! nlmaritime
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Below
, the Briney Bank garden last week.
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150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320 | 860-447-2501
The Custom House Maritime Museum is closed until further notice | 860-447-2501
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