Age: 1926
Size: 8 x 10"
Weight: 1 ounce
Maker: Acme News Pictures
Frame/Mat Size: N/A
Provenance: MA. estate
Description: Two images of the first race of the fishing schooners 'Columbia' and 'Henry Ford' on October 14, 1926 off Gloucester, Massachusetts. Captains were Ben Pine and Clayton Morrissey
Condition: Toning, corners bumped.
History: The GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL is the annual commemoration of the significance of the classic fishing schoonerto the history of Gloucester, the oldest fishing port on the East Coast. For three days, the City's harbor hosts a uniquemix of old and new, as modern day fishermen share their home port with the traditional vessels of an earlier era.The GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL is organized by the Gloucester Schooner Festival Committee with the support ofMaritime Gloucester, the City of Gloucester, the U.S. Coast Guard, and numerous corporate sponsors.The town was an important shipbuilding center, and the first schooner was reputedly built there in 1713. The community developed into an important fishing port, largely due to its proximity to Georges Bank and other fishing banks off the east coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Gloucester's most famous (and nationally recognized) seafood business was founded in 1849 as John Pew & Sons. It became Gorton-Pew Fisheries in 1906, and in 1957 changed its name to Gorton's of Gloucester. The iconic image of the "Gorton's Fisherman", and the products he represents, are known throughout the country and beyond. Besides catching and processing seafood, Gloucester is also a center for fish research.In the late 19th century Gloucester saw an influx of Portuguese and Italian immigrants seeking work in the town's flourishing fishing industry and a better life in America. Some present-day fishermen of Gloucester are descendents of these early immigrants. The strong Portuguese and Italian influence is evident in the many festivals celebrated throughout the year. During the Catholic celebration, St Peter's Fiesta, relatives of fishermen past and present carry oars representing many of the fishing vessels which call Gloucester their home. Saint Peter is the patron saint of the fishermen.Seafaring and fishing have been, and still are, very dangerous undertakings. In its over 350-year history, Gloucester has lost over 10,000 men to the Atlantic Ocean. The names of each of the known lost are painted on a huge mural in the main staircase at City Hall, and also on a new memorial cenotaph on Stacy Boulevard. The list has continued to lengthen despite increased safety requirements.