Historic photographs of Gloucester’s fishing industry dating back more than a century are the center of a new exhibit, “Down to the Sea,” which opens Saturday at the Cape Ann Museum Green.
The free exhibit, which features 26 photographs by Ernest L. Blatchford (1868-1947), will run July 12 to Sept. 28 at the Janet & William Ellery James Center, CAM Green, 13 Poplar St. in Gloucester.
“Blatchford’s photographs offer not only a remarkable visual record, but also a deeply personal window into Gloucester’s fishing industry during a time of great transition,” said Oliver Barker, director of Cape Ann Museum. “They speak to a way of life shaped by hard work, close-knit community, and an enduring connection to the sea.”
Born and raised in Gloucester, Blatchford worked as manager of the Gloucester office of the New England Fish Company, located on Duncan’s Point. His second-floor office overlooked Gloucester’s bustling Inner Harbor, providing a close look at the city’s fishing industry in the age of sail.
“Blatchford was a member of the Cape Ann Camera Club and used his photographic skills to capture the gritty yet often beautiful face of Gloucester’s working waterfront, the vessels that plied the harbor’s waters, and people who made their living in the fisheries,” according to an exhibition statement.
The photographs will be accompanied by objects selected from Cape Ann Museum’s maritime collection, including an intact trawl tub, a full-scale inshore dory, and a model of the Little Giant passenger ferry, which appears in several of his photographs. Also on view are tools, fittings, and gear to provide some insight into how the fishing schooners were constructed and outfitted.
The featured photographs represent about 10% of the museum’s digitized collection of Blatchford’s work.
There are related programs for this exhibit, starting with a lecture on Aug. 2, “Mending Movement: Sail Repair in the Early Maritime Atlantic,” presented by Emily Whitted, a doctoral candidate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research focuses on early American history, material culture, and the history of technology.
On Sept. 6, there will be a CAMTalk with Photo Archivist Madeline Schatten who will share materials from Blatchford’s fellow amateur photographers and insight into the history of the Cape Ann Camera Club. On Sept. 27, K.D. Montgomery, executive director of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, will give a presentation on the region’s maritime and shipbuilding heritage.
Due to limited parking, timed parking reservations for vehicles are recommended. For details on the opening event for members and for more information, visit www.capeannmuseum.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.