“Cradle to Grave;” “Launched and Lost;” “Birth to Death.” No matter what theme is applied to these 28 photos that Ed Coffin collected over the years and donated to The Penobscot Marine Museum near the end of his life, they are spectacular and represent scenes gone forever. They were pulled together for the Camden (Maine) public Library’s annual “Maritime Month” where each of these images, hung up as big and beautiful prints, will be displayed until the end of April. Don’t miss seeing them in all their glory if you can. But if a visit isn’t in the cards, you can see them here where they’ll be hanging out permanently. You can also order your own prints direct from the Museum using the catalog number displayed in parentheses at the end of each caption.
Ed Coffin, a WWII veteran who spent his active duty at sea and in peril, moved with his wife Barbara to Owls Head in 1949. For more than sixty years, he collected historic photographs, most of which depicted ships and ports. Ed was a dear friend who passed away last year (2018) at age 94, so when I was asked to help select and caption some of his 2,500 photos, I jumped at the chance. You can click on any one of the following photos and it will fill your screen as well as display a short caption near the bottom. After you enlarge one image, you can go to the next or the previous one by using the arrows at the right and left margins (or use the r&l arrows on your computer’s keyboard). There’s also a slideshow option in the caption bar. (Maynard Bray for PMM & OCH)
Aren Carpenter says:
Thank you For another great series of archived photos. I could look at them all day. OCH is the best thing I ever bought
Peter Gossell says:
Great Photos.A wealth of detail. An amazing amount of timber (Aussie term) used in building these vessels and most of them didn’t sail all that long.
Thanks for the Link.
Greg Stamatelakys says:
If someone can, please explain the function of the large athwartship’s pipe shown on the bow of the vessel in the first photo.
Maynard Bray says:
Hi Greg,
It’s the galley stovepipe, set up in hopes of having a good draft on either tack.
Greg Stamatelakys says:
Maynard,
I missed spotting the uptake from the cabin roof starboard forward, but it would seem the pipe is mighty large. Perhaps a vessel in her last days, the value of a well fired galley stove outweighed the need for much sailing ability.
Thanks!
Bruce Cresser says:
Thank You the pictures are great as well as the history.
Ben Fuller says:
Ed collected these prints from many places. Unfortunately while he wrote down information about the subject, he rarely noted the source. In many cases he borrowed prints and had them copied. When I look through them I often stop and think I’ve seen that somewhere, but can’t think where. So if anyone knows the source, let the museum know and we’ll add it to the record.