Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Weathervane Wednesday ~ A Whale

Every Wednesday for almost two years I've been posting photographs of weathervanes located in or near the Nutfield area (the former name for the land where Londonderry, Derry and Windham, New Hampshire are now located). Most are historically interesting or just whimsical and fun weathervanes. Today's weathervane was found on Long Island. Have fun guessing where you may have seen this weather vane.

Do you know the location of weather vane #96? Scroll down to see the answer....

click to enlarge


Today's weather vane was spotted in Cold Spring Harbor, on Long Island, New York, at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.  It is a primitive two dimensional whale figure, painted black.  There seems to be some evidence of gilding on the nose of the whale. The museum is next door to the historic home of Captain James Wright, built in 1894.   This part of Main Street is known as "Captain's Row" because most of the beautiful historic homes were built for sea captains.  Cold Spring Harbor had a long history of shipping and whaling.


Thar She Blows

From 1837 until the Petroleum Age began
The Village of Cold Spring Harbor L.I.
owned, manned, equipped & aided a fleet of
Whaling Vessels.  The most noted were-

379 ton ship TUSCARONA 6 voyages 1837 - 1851
167 ton bark BARCLAY  7 voyages 1839 - 1847
273 ton Bark MONMOUTH 7 voyages 1841 - 1862
370 ton ship N. R. TALMADGE 4 voyages 1843 - 1855
437 ton ship RICHMOND 2 voyages 1843 - 1848
281 ton bark ALICE ? voyages 1844 - 1858
523 ton ship HUNTSVILLE  5 voyages 1844 - 1858
478 ton ship SPLENDID  5 voyages 1844 - 1860
579 ton ship SHEFFIELD  3 voyages 1845 - 1859

Each voyage lasted from 3 - 4 years & 38 voyages
returned in all.  Sperm oil  3,354 bbls.
Whale oil 79,2?6 bbls.  Whale bone 757,805 lbs
In memory of these ships, their daring Captains
Hardy Sailors & for???? Owners
This testimonial is erected
A.D. 1932


Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum website http://www.cshwhalingmuseum.org/

--------------------------

Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

1 comment:

  1. Cool. This is the first I've heard of the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum. I enjoyed learning the date of the whaling voyages: "From 1837 until the Petroleum Age began," which apparently meant until about a year into the Civil War. This helps me get more perspective on Moby Dick, which I've often taught. And also on Queequeq, the "tattooed savage" character. I like this.

    ReplyDelete