Howard Blackburn’s Bartender, circa 1910 Anonymous/©Fredrik D. BodinSwedish immigrant Nils Lund settled in Gloucester to work as a fisherman. About 1910, he took time off from fishing to tend bar for the legendary Howard Blackburn. The Blackburn Tavern was located at 289 Main Street, where Halibut Point Restaurant is now. Chiseled into the front of the building in large letters: Blackburn 1900.
Albin and Nils Lund, Schooner Natalie Hammond, circa 1920 Anonymous/©Fredrik D. Bodin
In the days of sail, fishermen would sign on to schooners headed for destinations they wanted to travel to. Nils and his brother Albin fished their way to Sweden and back several times. The photo above shows the mustachioed Lund fishermen, Albin on the left and Nils on the right. The two brothers found brides in Gloucester, with Albin’s wife Josephine owning a boarding house on Main Street, next door to today’s Crow’s Nest tavern.
Printed archivally in the darkroom from 6×7 cm copy negatives. Original prints supplied by Lillian Lund Files. Image # AC960901-03#05 (bartender Nils) and # AC010129-01#07 (brothers at sea)
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
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Good Morning Gloucester 
I LOVE Fred’s Pics & Stories to go with them! Keep it up Fred! ❤ ❤ ❤
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We always look forward to seeing the wonderful photos of Gloucester’s past on the blog and in the store. Thanks!
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These are just great! Love all the old time photos and history of Cape Ann! Please keep them coming!
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this photo of the crew of the natalie hammond appears on page 226 of john morris’ excellent book “alone at sea”. steve olsson (in the middle of the group facing the camera) was john’s grandfather, and was lost with his dory mate while fishing on the oretha f. spinney in 1935. this is a case where one picture leads to a thousand words. it’s one hell of a story. published by commonwealth editions in 2010, available at dogtown books, the bookstore, cape ann museum, etc. also available for checkout at the sawyer free library (bless them…). fred, i’ll let john know you’re keeping the story alive..
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You are so right, Infamous Fred, one picture does lead to 1000 words and more stories. I just got an email from David Cluett: “For what it’s worth, sandwiched between the Lund brothers in the Natalie Hammond photo is my great-grandfather, Stephen Olsson, also a Swedish immigrant and Gloucester fisherman, who died at sea in 1935. Thanks for the photo!” All of this new information goes with the photo on my database, to share with anyone interested.
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My grandmother, Minnie Nelson Lannon was from Gloucester. Her parents were Swedish and they ran a boarding house in Gloucester. I don’t know much more than that but if anyone else does, I would love to hear from them.
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