We wanted to do a feature about boating/yachting, but had a rather meager crop…luckily, Picturesque Stamford gives us a good picture about what yachting was like c.1892, with sketches and detailed descriptions of three yachts.
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| Sloop Yacht “Eclipse” | Schooner Yacht “Sylph” | Sloop Yacht “Pocahontas” |
Postscript: Jane Flounders pointed out that this looks like iceboating, and Ron Marcus adds: “…it appears that they depict ice boating, which along with ice skating was a well loved winter recreation on New England ponds. In addition to ice skating races on Holly Pond in the Cove, they may possibly have ice boated here as well. The large expanse of ice in the background could fit this area. Unfortunately, without any discernible landmarks in the photos, this will have to remain a supposition.” (The irregular line in front of the boat in the lower image represents a crack in the very fragile photo.)
“Christabel” painted black
Almost looks like an unofficial town meeting. The man in the center in the white hat is Homer Cummings, twice mayor of Stamford, and Attorney General of United States. On Halloween night, 1906, Homer Cummings cast the deciding vote to buy 95 acres of land for a public beach, which was first known as Halloween Park and later renamed Cummings Park. (Shippan History)
The only person identified in the photograph is Flora May Downing, who is at top, left of the mast. Downing, secretary to the Headmaster of Stamford High School and the Board of Education, took professional quality parade pictures in 1913.
Luders Marine Construction
Photos of the Hurricane of 1938 (Walter Wheeler Collection)
Postcards: Fun at the Beach (Shippan Point)
Other Photo Archivist Selections of the Month
Photo Collection Information
© Stamford Historical Society