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
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Thanks for printing that, Fred. I’ve seen the Baldwin there many times and in several pictures but, this is the first one I’ve seen where she is afloat. I’m still looking for a picture of her under sail. She was owned by the Rockport Granite Co. I’ve found several of her tied up but with other boats or piles of granite blocking a clear view of her.
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Great post. I’m glad we haven’t had conditions like that for you to post under this year.
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Check Leavitt’s “Wake of the Coasters”. I think there is a picture of her sailing there.
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I’v got Leavitt’s book and while the Baldwin is mentioned in two places, there is no picture of her.
I have a postcard of her in Lanesville but most of the boat is obscured by the wharf(it was taken at low tide).
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Awesome
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I have recently found two good pictures of the Stone Sloop “James Baldwin” in her prime and a lot of information on her. How can I post pictures here?
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