Initial Impressions 2.0 #13 - Photo Day Trip 2

#13 – Photo Day Trip 2

1. I can’t remember the last time I woke up at 5am to head out on a day off for a photography trip. It’s been probably 7 years. What was originally a ‘quick’ trip with my buddy Steve to The Gurnet (a private beachfront community in Plymouth, MA) ended up stretched out late into the afternoon. It was well worth the early wake-up.

2. The reason for the early start was a stop shooting a famous tree in Duxbury known simply as the ‘gumdrop tree.’ This is due to its nearly perfect gumdrop shape. My buddy Steve and I pulled off the road and snapped a ton of amazing photos.

Duxbury's gumdrop tree

3. Two things to take from this gumdrop tree stop: 1. Egrets don’t care if you want them to help you make a photo better, they will do the opposite just to be jerks. 2. There may or may not have been a drunk cyclist riding by. He was one of three who rode by but made it a point to shout out asking what we were shooting. If he wasn’t a little sloshed he sure sounded it.

4. After being a passenger on the drive around the sandy roads of The Gurnet and Saquish in Plymouth I can say I’d never want to drive those myself. So tight and winding, you need perfect skills to navigate them. Guess that’s why the speed limits marked around there are 5mph.

5. Gurnet (Plymouth) Lighthouse is a fun place to photograph. On this trip, they were doing an excavation of a lot of soil for testing for lead since there’s also a centuries-old fort on the grounds. I briefly thought about not crossing the plastic orange fencing to get some shots, briefly. C’mon, what else would you expect from me?

Sorry, I didn't even see the excavating going on.

6. The Gurnet definitely has a cool vibe to it, no wonder why many of the people out there have passed down the old homes to family. Also, no wonder why some rich jerks want to steal some of that vibe for themselves by building houses that don’t fit in out there.

7. If you’re on the Massachusetts South Shore, grab a freshly made bagel with one of the varieties of cream cheese at Gunther Tooties. Several locations. I got a french toast bagel, toasted, with honey cream cheese. Highly recommended. Just enough of a sugar rush to get me through the arduous task of photography.

8. I finally got the famed Draco the Dragon on camera. It is a metal dragon sculpture that guards a house on Rt. 3A in Duxbury. It was featured on WCVB’s show Chronicle. How did I capture it? A slow-motion video on my phone as we drove by and then grabbed a screenshot when I paused the video. Pretty crafty.

9. Damon’s Point in Marshfield is a great spot to shoot not only a decaying old building that used to reside along railroad tracks that are no longer there but also a nest of bald eagles somewhere along the shore of the North River. There were no eagle sightings but there was a cute dog catching tennis balls in the nearby water. Every time it dove into the water I whipped my head around thinking it might be an eagle diving for fish. No such luck. There were plenty of seagulls since I never see those.

What are you looking at?

10. There are four huge coastal defense/fire watch towers along the Massachusetts South Shore. These are all concrete and look pretty cool. No clue if they are ever open for people to climb but they are all in Marshfield including the village of Brant Rock. Interesting for history lovers.

11. Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse sits 1¼ miles off the coast of Cohasset and Scituate at its closest. However, that is a private community with no access for common folks like us. So our best hope for photos of the lighthouse is Sandy Beach in Cohasset. This is 2¼ miles from the lighthouse. Luckily it stands 89 feet tall so it can be seen like a gray cigar. There is a large rock outcropping that can get you a slightly better photo than standing on the beach. Only now when traversing those rocks do I realize how dangerous it is and really doesn’t make the photo any better. I guess I’m older and wiser, or at least older.

12. Fort Revere in Hull is a haven for visitors but more specifically photographers. I believe that nearly every time I have gone there I see at least one other person with a real DSLR camera. The crumbling fort covered in graffiti makes for some amazing shots.

13. Fort Revere also gives a great vantage point of nearby Boston Light which is the oldest in the country. Surprisingly this was a rare time that a giant cargo freighter wasn’t passing by the lighthouse. It seems to always be the case since it’s a busy shipping lane, but alas not this time.

14. It can be like playing with fire when I go on a long drive as a passenger due to severe motion sickness. However, I must say that the Dramamine made with ginger root did a good job. I was out for roughly 9 hours as a passenger and felt strong when I got back into my own car. Recommended for anyone who suffers like I do.

15. In an interesting bit of psychology we visited Old Scituate Lighthouse. It’s being renovated and is surrounded by scaffolding. Steve mentioned that with the scaffolding the lighthouse somehow looked shorter than usual. Once he said that it looked shorter to me as well. The mind does play tricks on you.

16. I did manage to create a couple of time-lapse photos while at Fort Revere. I reenacted a pair of selfie poses inside one of the creepy corridors. One from 2017 and one from 2010. They came out good and were fun full circle type moments. Plus I’m glad that I didn’t look like I had aged terribly in the new photos compared to the old.

Fort Revere: 2017 on the left, 2024 on the right.

17. Overall it was a fun trip, not quite 200 miles driven. It definitely turned out to be much more than a quick trip to The Gurnet.

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In My Footsteps 4K New England: Fort Revere Park, Hull, Ma.

In My Footsteps: Trip 99: New Bedford, Massachusetts

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 99:  New Bedford, Massachusetts

December 2, 2010

            An historic seaport matched in importance only Gloucester that’s what New Bedford is.  Nicknamed ‘The Whaling City’ it was one of the largest whaling ports in the world during the 19^th century.  That history is still a big part of what makes New Bedford a popular destination for travelers.  However the whaling history is only the tip of the iceberg as I was pleased to learn.  In addition to the New Bedford Whaling Museum there are forts, historic homes, and some extraordinary cobblestone streets.

Fort Rodman, Clarke's Point Light on top.

            The first place I visited when I arrived in New Bedford was a pair of old forts strategically placed on Clarke’s Point, the southernmost point of the city which sticks out into Buzzards Bay.  Fort Taber is a living breathing artifact.  It is two buildings, an earthen fort and granite fort side by side along the breezy shores.  The earthen fort was built during the Civil War in 1861.  It was built first as Governor John Andrew and Mayor Issac Taber could not wait for state or federal aid to help build the granite fort at the dawning of the Civil War.

The much larger, granite structure next to the earthen fort was started shortly thereafter; the United States War Department stopped construction in 1871.  It was locally finished in 1898 and named Fort Rodman after Civil War Lt. Col. Logan Rodman of New Bedford.  The Clark’s Point Lighthouse, which once stood alongside the granite structure, was placed on the second tier of the fort and is easily visible today.   The many windows of Fort Rodman have been sealed shut using brick.  However there have been holes chipped into these bricks making it possible to see inside and even for me to get my camera inside to snap photos of the courtyard.

Garden at Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum

Despite being two different buildings with two different names, the area is usually mistakenly simply called Fort Taber.  The granite fort is kept under lock and key but the earthen fort can be entered, though beware as vandals have sprayed graffiti inside and littered as well.  It is not as large as Fort Revere in Hull but walking through the darkened tunnels of this fort is creepy yet exhilarating.  You can almost feel what it was like when the fort was active 150 years ago.

Butler Flats Light

Not to be missed is a spark plug lighthouse known as Butler Flats Light.  It is quite a ways out if you walk the long pier which stretches out from Clarke’s Point.  It is a lot closer to shore as you’re leaving the forts.  There are a few spots to stop along East Rodney French Boulevard where you can get a much better view of the lighthouse at the mouth of the Acushnet River.  Built in 1898 Butler Flats Light was the replacement for Clarke’s Point Light.  That lighthouse stood along the shore from 1799 until 1869.  Once Fort Rodman had taken shape a new wooden structure was built on top of it where the lantern was relocated.  The stone lighthouse tower stood until 1906. 

One really nice historic home in New Bedford is the Rotch-Jones-Duff House.  It was built in 1834 for a whaling merchant named William Rotch Jr.  The house has three names, one for each of the families that lived at the house at different times.  The Rotch family obviously when it was first built in 1834, the Jones family starting in 1851, and the Duff family starting in 1935.

New Bedford Whaling Museum

The house has a more golden yellow color which looked impressive with the sun softly shining on it.  However the best part of this twenty-eight room mansion actually is outside where the amazing garden resides.  The garden encompasses a full city block and even in the late autumn it was a sight to behold.  It is said that the current garden is more in line with the time that the Jones family lived here.  There is a knee-high hedge maze which wraps around patches of beautiful flowers, some of which were still colorful even at this late stage of the season.  I would put this location on my list when planning a visit to New Bedford in the warmer months.

One area that needs no time frame to be enjoyed is a virtual time warp back to the 19^th century.  In the historic district of New Bedford, near the waterfront, there is a block of streets which are still lined with cobblestones.  Just walking these streets is a magical experience but when that is coupled with the fact that nearly every building you pass is significant it makes it a nearly perfect place to explore.

The Whaleman's Chapel from Moby Dick

Of course most people know of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, established in 1903, it is probably the most visited spot in the entirety of New Bedford.  Inside there are more than 200,000 artifacts from the past few centuries which give a complete history of the whaling industry in New Bedford and the entire ‘Old Dartmouth’ area.  This museum is a must see for all visitors.

The home of another rich whaling and banking industry pioneer Andrew Robeson is famous for having its 500 ton frame moved some 400 feet in 1978.  The federal-style(brick) home built in 1821 was in line to be torn down in the name of progress but it was saved by the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE(WHALE).  It was painstakingly moved inch by inch from Second Street and turned ninety degrees before it came to rest at its current locale on Williams St.  That story is enough to warrant a visit when passing through New Bedford.

The cobblestone historic district has so much to see that it would be impossible to list it all.  I can only tell you to park and walk, you will be sure to find some amazing places.  Of course the Whaling Museum needs to be seen and don’t forget the historic forts out at Clarke’s Point.  New Bedford is one of the most historic seaports in the country and I can’t recommend a visit enough.  Have fun and happy traveling!    

For more In My Footsteps items follow my Twitter Feed, view more photos at the In My Footsteps fan page on Facebook, or visit my homepage at ChristopherSetterlund.com.   Thanks for reading! 

Directions:  Fort Taber/Rodman: From I-195 West take Exit 15 into New Bedford.  Follow John F Kennedy Memorial Highway until you need to bear right onto Rodney French Blvd.  The Fort Taber/Rodman site is on the right at the end of the road.

            Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum:  From I-195 take Exit 15, continue onto JFK Memorial Highway for 1.7 miles, turn right at Union St., turn left at 7^th St., follow it .2 miles to house on right.

            New Bedford Whaling Museum:  From I-195 take Exit 15, continue onto JFK Memorial Highway for 1.5 miles, turn right at Elm St.  Take the 2^nd left onto 1^st St., museum is on left.  

References:  Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum.org

Fort Taber.org

            New Bedford Whaling Museum

In My Footsteps: Trip 63: Hull, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 63:  Hull, Mass.

July 8, 2010

            Though it is the fourth smallest town in the state of Massachusetts in terms of land area, Hull is home to many very well known attractions.  This peninsula of land, sticking more than two miles out into the water is bordered on the east by Massachusetts Bay and on the west by Hull Bay.  It is a thickly settled beach front town where nearly every home has a view of the water.  It is filled with tightly packed houses that all seem right out of early-20^th Century postcards. 

Looking north along Nantasket Beach.

The main attraction of Hull, besides its tremendous view of the Boston skyline, is Nantasket Beach.  The name ‘Nantasket’ comes from the Massachusett Indian tribe’s word meaning ‘at the strait.’  The beach is considered to be one of the finest in New England and is made special by the fine light gray sand left behind by glaciers.  During the summer getting a parking spot is next to impossible even though the beach itself is nearly two miles long and there are many parking lots to fill.  The view from the beach is great as well as you can see down the coast toward Cohasset and the great Atlantic Avenue drive that I mentioned in my Cohasset article.   

The Paragon Carousel

The Nantasket Beach Reservation is twenty-six acres and includes the fantastic Paragon Carousel which is where I parked to take in the beauty of the famous beach.  As I stated above, parking was at a premium so I needed to park a few streets away from the beach.  The Paragon Carousel is one of the only remnants of Paragon Park.  This was an amusement park built along Nantasket Beach in 1905 as a safe place for families to enjoy when the area had been overrun with con-men and thieves.  The park at one time included the ‘Giant Coaster’ rollercoaster ride.  This is significant because after the park closed in 1984 the ride was dismantled and sold to Six Flags in the Washington D.C. area and operates as ‘The Wild One.’  Besides the carousel there is a really neat clock tower connected with the old Paragon Park which still stands.  The rest of the former park’s grounds are filled with condominiums now.   

            Continuing along the narrow strip of land that makes up Hull I stopped at Mariner’s Park which sits on Fitzpatrick Way.  It is a small marina where many boats were sitting on this day.  There is a great view of the Spinnaker Island Condominiums from behind the marina.  Spinnaker Island used to be known as Hog Island and is only accessible by a quarter-mile long bridge.   Another reason why I stopped at Mariner’s Park was for the view across the street. 

Fort Revere

            Only a short walk away, where Fitzpatrick Way and Nantasket Avenue meet there is a short wall and from there you can see out into Boston Harbor and the Brewster Islands.  I stood on the wall and was mesmerized by Boston Light located about a mile off shore.  However, as good as this view was, there was an even better view to come of the same area.

The first time I happened upon Fort Revere it was purely by accident.  I was trying to get to a higher vantage point to snap a few photos of Hull from up on Telegraph Hill.  It was after climbing a concrete wall at the back end of Hull Cemetery that I first came face to face with the awe-inspiring Fort Revere.  The eight acre park sits comfortably about sixty-feet above seal level which gives you an even better view of the Brewster Islands than from ground level. 

The observation tower at Fort Revere.

            Fort Revere was built in 1776 and has a clear view of the surrounding landscape from Boston Harbor south to Cohasset Harbor.  Straight out to the east sits the amazing Boston Lighthouse.  Located on Little Brewster Island, this current lighthouse was built in 1783 although the station itself was begun in 1716.  Even more amazing is the fact that the island station is shared by the lighthouse with five other houses each more than a hundred years old.  On a clear day the ‘younger’ Graves Lighthouse can be seen behind Boston Light.  Built in 1905, it is grey in color and is best seen by boat.  Near the parking lot at Fort Revere Park there is a map of the Brewster Island which will allow you to place names with the land.

            Fort Revere is a maze of concrete tunnels and steps.  It is an earthen fort much like Fort Taber in New Bedford.  Inside the shadowy halls of the fort there is a lot of graffiti which is a shame but it is still a really neat walk going through each of the halls.  I have read numerous articles saying that Fort Revere is haunted but while I was there I did not hear or see anything unusual.  Granted I was there both times on sunny and bright days, not at night, so who knows.  

            On the other side of Telegraph Hill sits an octagon-shaped water tower that doubles as an observation tower.  It is a pale yellow in color and while I was there a lone turkey was wandering the grounds.  The observation deck used to be accessible for a few hours on the first Saturday of the month, but upon returning I was saddened to see a sign that said that people would no longer be allowed to climb up inside.  I can only imagine the view from up inside.

            My visit to Hull was packed with amazing sights despite the relatively small area that the town encompasses.  I highly recommend taking a walk on Nantasket Beach, a ride on the incredible Paragon Carousel, and then a walk through history at Fort Revere.  It’s all so close together that you can really take your time and enjoy it.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Directions:  Nantasket Beach: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  There are several beach parking lots on the right.  Paragon Carousel is located on the corner of Nantasket Avenue and Wharf Avenue.

            Fort Revere: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  Take a left at Fitzpatrick Way which becomes Nantasket Ave. again.  After a mile take a sharp left at Farina Rd., continue onto Ft. Revere Park.

References:  Paragon Carousel

            Paragon Park Memories

            Hull, Ma. - Official Town Site

            Dept. of Conservation & Recreation - Fort Revere

In My Footsteps: Trip 18: Scituate, Cohasset, & Hull, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 18: Scituate, Mass.; Cohasset, Mass.; Hull, Mass.

February 3, 2010

            The coastal towns from the Cape Cod Canal up to Boston make up what is called the ‘South Shore.’  Of all of these towns Plymouth is the most well known being that it is the original landing spot of the Mayflower in 1620.  However there are many other towns with just as much history as Plymouth.  A drive along some of the coastal roads will bring you past some amazing waterfront views and some incredible homes.

            My trip began by taking Route 3 north to Exit 12.  I headed east toward the beautiful town of Scituate.  Incorporated in 1636 with a name that comes from the Wampanoag Indian term for ‘cold brook,’ Scituate was primarily a fishing community from the onset.  Route 3A is the main road through Scituate and gives you a great view of the harbor along North River.  On this snowy morning an old fishing house located out in the river near Damons Point Rd. had the look of a 19^th Century painting.  It reminded me of how New England must have looked in winter back then.

            The main attraction in Scituate is the historic Old Scituate Lighthouse(left).  Built in 1811 and located on Cedar Point in Scituate this lighthouse played an important role in the War of 1812.  It was on this spot that Rebecca and Abigail Bates, the ‘Lighthouse Army of Two,’ scared off the British troops by playing their drum and fife loudly.  The British feared the sounds were of the approaching Scituate Militia and retreated.  After being out of service for over 130 years the lighthouse was once again made visible from sea to aid passing vessels.  Cedar Point is a magnificent area, close to Museum Beach, with several houses more than a hundred years in age close by.  It retains the feel of a small fishing village and would be perfect to walk on a warmer day.

            A few miles north of Old Scituate Light, and two and a half miles offshore, sits another historic lighthouse: Minot’s Ledge Light.  Located off the coast of Cohasset the best view of this light is from the end of Glades Road, or North Scituate Beach, although they are not great views and it can be easily obstructed by some large offshore rocks.  Cohasset was originally part of Hingham but became its own town in 1670. 

The current Minot’s Ledge Light which stands 97 feet tall is actually the second built on the spot.  The first Minot Light was built in 1850 and was subsequently destroyed in a storm a few months later.  The third lighthouse lens(left) from Minot Light can be found on the grounds of the Cohasset Sailing Club.  The club is located along Cohasset Cove in the Government Island Historic District.  The Cohasset Yacht Club is across the cove with the historic 17^th Century Bellarmine House located high on a hill at the end of White Head Road.  It is visible from the Sailing Club as well. 

            Following the coastal roads north next brought me to the little town of Hull.  This peninsula of land, sticking more than two miles out into the water is bordered on the east by Massachusetts Bay and on the west by Hull Bay.  The fourth smallest town in land area in the state, Hull is a thickly settled beach front town.  It is filled with tightly packed houses that all seem right out of early-20^th Century postcards.  The main attraction of Hull, besides its tremendous view of the Boston skyline, is Nantasket Beach.  Considered to be one of the finest in New England, the beach is more than a mile in length along the eastern coast of Hull and the Nantasket Beach Reservation is twenty-six acres and includes the fantastic Paragon Carousel.  The sight of this eighty-two year old wonder will surely bring out the child in every adult.  It is open to be ridden beginning in April.

            A hidden gem can be found in an unlikely place.  In a quest to gain a higher vantage point to snap a few photos of Hull I came to Hull Cemetery which sits on Telegraph Hill.  I wanted an even higher shot and after climbing a concrete wall found myself face to face with the awe-inspiring Fort Revere.  Complete with a clear view of the Brewster Islands dotting Massachusetts Bay, this piece of American history can be passed by easily. 

            Fort Revere was built in 1776 and has a clear view from Boston Harbor south to Cohasset Harbor.  Straight out to the east sits the amazing Boston Lighthouse(above).  Located on Little Brewster Island, this current lighthouse was built in 1783 although the station itself was begun in 1716.  Even more amazing is the fact that the island station is shared by the lighthouse with five other houses each more than a hundred years old.  On a clear day the ‘younger’ Graves Lighthouse can be seen behind Boston Light.  Built in 1905, it is grey in color and is best seen by boat.

            Fort Revere(left) is only a maze of concrete tunnels and steps, much like my New Bedford trip this piece of history has been desecrated with graffiti by thoughtless people.  If you can get past that fact it is a great walk.  On the other side of Telegraph Hill sits an octagon-shaped water tower that doubles as an observation tower.  The observation deck is only accessible for a few hours on the first Saturday of the month, best to plan ahead for that.

            There is much more to the South Shore of Massachusetts than Plymouth.  The drive from Scituate up through Hull was one amazing sight after another.  There were some areas that felt like small Midwestern towns with the cozy shops lining the streets.  Then there were endless amounts of incredibly lavish homes each one worthy of a second and third look.  In the end the lighthouses and the walk around Fort Revere will be my lasting memories of this trip.  What will yours be?  Have fun and happy traveling!  

Directions: Old Scituate Light: From Rt. 3 north take Exit 12, merge onto Church Street heading toward Marshfield.  Turn left onto Old Oak St., and continue onto Union St for 3.3 miles.  Union St. becomes Bridge St., turn right onto Rt. 123 for 1.8 miles. Turn onto New Driftway at the rotary, this road becomes New Kent St., Kent St., and Front St. in that order.  Turn right at Jericho Rd. and continue onto light.

            Cohasset Sailing Club: From Rt. 3A north turn right onto Henry Turner Bailey Rd., turn left at County Way this becomes S. Main St., turn right onto Summer St. after 1.3 miles.  Follow with a slight right onto Border St., turn left at Government Island Rd. after a half mile.  The club is on the left. 

            Nantasket Beach: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  There are several beach parking lots on the right.

            Fort Revere: On Rt. 3A north turn right onto Rt. 228 North.  Continue onto Hull St. which becomes Nantasket Ave.  Take a left at Fitzpatrick Way which becomes Nantasket Ave. again.  After a mile take a sharp left at Farina Rd., continue onto Ft. Revere Park.

References:  Scituate Historical Society

                     Minot's Ledge Lighthouse

                     Paragon Carousel

                     Boston Light