Frozen In

Many of us don’t realize the severity of the winter conditions of the Eastern Arctic. The region’s native people, the Inuit, forge through winter blizzards and temperatures potentially as low as -53 degrees Fahrenheit.

A group of Inuit

Apart from the Inuit, who would be brave enough to venture into this frozen world? American whale ships and their crews, that’s who!

Between 1875 and 1919, Captain George Comer of East Haddam, CT, often sailed to the Western Hudson Bay. Though the conditions were harsh, the region became a second home to Comer, thanks in large part to his friendship with the Inuit.       

Mystic Seaport’s ground-breaking exhibition Frozen In: Captain Comer and the Hudson Bay Inuit, is an exploration of Captain Comer, his crew and the relationships they built with the Inuit. Comer made 14 voyages to Hudson Bay and his fascination with the region’s native people became a passion that helped reveal Inuit culture to the world.      

Through his strong relationship with the Inuit, Comer was able observe and document their culture and way of life. Comer would intentionally freeze his ship into the ice, trapping himself and his crew in Hudson Bay during the winter. This gave him an early start on spring whaling and provided months of close contact with his Inuit acquaintances.      

 

A reproduction igloo found within the exhibit boasts a toasty 30 degrees inside.

Comer collected more than 4,000 Inuit objects, and they now survive among several museum and private collections.  A group of these objects were carefully chosen for the exhibit, including tools, hunting gear and elaborately beaded Inuit clothing.  Also on view are personal mementoes, Comer’s camera and other equipment.  Selections from Comer’s 30 journals, 65 sound recordings, 300 photographs and 300 Inuit life masks are also represented.   

The cabin of the ship was the main gathering place for Comer and his crew.

Some of the country’s most highly-regarded museums loaned items for the exhibit, including the American Museum of Natural History, the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Yale’s Peabody Museum. Additionally, several other organizations as well as Comer’s descendents loaned objects.  Many of these items have never before been on public display and collectively, they provide a first-ever, detailed view of Comer and his relationship with the Inuit.

By the early 20th century, Comer had become the world’s foremost authority on the Inuit of Hudson Bay. His work has had a lasting impact and his collections offer an extraordinary view of a fascinating whaling captain and traditional Inuit culture.

Don’t miss this chance to learn about the Inuit, their culture and their icy region.  Due to popular demand, Frozen In: Captain Comer and the Hudson Bay Inuit, will remain open through October 2009.

This exhibit will transport you to the Arctic world of Comer and the Inuit. You will find a re-created igloo, (with an entrance you can actually climb through!), a full-size reproduction of the deckhouse where Comer and his crew spent most of their time, ingenuously crafted Inuit objects and striking enlargements of Comer’s remarkable photos.  Three sound and video programs provide visitors with an emotional and dramatic connection to Comer and the Inuit. 

Quaint “Little” Mystic

Mystic Seaport visitors are always commenting on the authenticity of the Museum’s village. Many believe this is how the grounds things looked in the 19th century. Well, it’s not. Most of the buildings are authentic, but have been brought in from other lcoations. For example, the Buckingham-Hall House was originally located on the Connecticut River. The land was being cleared for a bridge to be built and the “Buck” was in danger of meeting a wrecking ball. Museum officials swooped in and managed to save the home and had it transported to Mystic Seaport on a barge before putting it in its current location.

.

In fact, did you know that the current village grounds were originally home to a working shipyard? The Greenman Brothers Yard previously stood on part of the land the Museum sits on. The three brothers owned homes that are still on the grounds, one of which is open for visitors to explore. The road Mystic Seaport is located on is commonly known as Route 27. Locals, however refer to it as Greenmanville Ave. The three brothers had such a prominent business and influence on the community that this area of Mystic was even called Greenmanville! The Mystic area in general was a prominent shipbuilding community with more than a dozen shipyards lining the shores of the Mystic River during the nineteenth century. 

.

Old photographs, stories and written materials can tell you about what  Mystic was like in the past. However, Mystic Seaport has a much better option to offer. 

The Mystic River Scale Model located inside of Mystic Seaport.

Perhaps the Museum’s best kept secret is the Mystic River Scale Model. To better enjoy the Museum or absorb the deep history of the Mystic area, make the Scale Model your first stop on your next (or first) visit.

Arthur Payne, was the “imagineer” that created the Model. He began his work in 1958 and he continued to work on his little “Mystic” until his death in 2006 . He would often refer to the model as his life’s work.

Arthur Payne

There was a short hiatus in construction when funding had run out, but Arthur continued sketching and researching. In 1986, he began volunteering his time of about 30-40 hours a week in the model and countless other hours at home sketching, researching and constantly perfecting every minuscule detail. 

Though Arthur was never able to finish the model before his passing, his legacy continues to live on. Volunteers work hard to maintain the integrity and perfection that he strived so hard to maintain. Even his daughter, Anny, comes to lend a hand in the small world to carry on her fathers dream. 

The Greenman Brothers Yard, which now serves as the grounds for Mystic Seaport.

The model is scaled to 3/32′, which is equivalent to one foot. It’s hard to imagine having to etch, carve and paint such delicate detail

The famous clipper ship David Crockett can be seen on the river along with other boats that were original to the area. Main Street (which runs straight through downtown Mystic) still has the famous drawbridge. However, instead of the bascule bridge that sits there now (with large weights to assist in opening it,) a bridge that is attached to an oxen team is in its place. The oxen would pull the bridge open to allowing ships to pass through. On the shore, real life is depicted among the houses. People are going about their daily business and animals are even shown roaming fields.

The volunteers painstakingly look over every “little” detail, including the small animals, details on the houses and the people in the model. Even the boats are rigged accurately and show incredible detail and workmanship.

Many of the buildings seen in the model are still standing. This includes the three Greenman brothers homes seen above.

Yankee Magazine featured the Mystic River Scale Model in its September 2008 issue. For a slide show of other images not shown here, please visit http://www.yankeemagazine.com/slideshow/mystic.php. 

The Charles W. Morgan Embarks on a Restoration Journey

On November 1, 2008, the world’s last wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan, was hauled from the water for the first time in eight years for an extensive three-year restoration. Some of the places which will be restored have not been seen or touched since her initial construction in 1841.

Whaling ships such as the Morgan were home for many sailors during long whale hunts. The Morgan’s longest voyage lasted four years 11 months. Her shortest voyage was ONLY eight and a half months. A crew of up to 35 would work the vessel. The Morgan hunted three varieties of whales – sperm, right and bowhead – all of which were considerably easier to catch compared to any other species, and yielded the oil and bone the industry was looking for. The Morgan could carry up to 90,000 gallons of whale oil. 

 

Above and below are photographs taken after the Morgan’s initial lift. Notice her size and hull shape. The whaleship was an average size for her time period with a length of 105′ on deck and 133′ overall. The width of the boat (beam) is 27.7′. When sitting in the water, her draft (depth into the water) is 12.6′. However, fully loaded, she could draw as much as 17.6′(which is considered her registered depth. The vessel’s displacement is 313.75 tons which equals 627,500 pounds, or the equivalent of about 49 African elephants!

 

Stop by the Museum’s Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard on your next visit to Mystic Seaport and witness the Morgan’s restoration firsthand. It’s an event not to be missed!