Entries categorized as ‘People’
This week we meet Shannon McKenzie, assistant to the vice president of watercraft preservation and programs. Shannon’s office is located in the Museum’s Shipyard, giving her an up-close view of the activity surrounding the Charles W. Morgan. Shannon was at the Morgan haul out last November (of course!) and snapped a photo of her then four-month-old son, Sammy. She plans to take another picture of her son the day the Morgan goes back into the water, capturing just how much her little man has grown during the restoration project.
1. How long have you been employed at Mystic Seaport?
SM: I have been working here for about 3 years. My husband and I moved to Mystic four years ago from Cape Cod where we both worked at Sea Education Association. When I was sailing with that school, I took a winter off and worked as a rigger here while Amistad was being built. It was that experience that made me want to come back to work here.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
SM: The best part of my job is the people that I work with and the variety of work that I do on a daily basis. There is always something new and exciting going on in the Shipyard outside of my window. I have learned a lot and been exposed to all sorts of different techniques, tools, organizations and legends in the industry.
3. What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
SM: I get directed all sorts of inquiries from the public. People call up who want to donate trees, boats, tools… I often end up tracking down whether or not we want to accept these donations. Some are more complicated than others, and some people have a history with the items which makes them vested in what will ultimately happen to their donation.
I also get calls from people all over the country who are looking to find out some specific fact, group or individual or technique that is maritime related. It is often a challenge to help them hunt down the answers. Although, frankly, sometimes I just Google to find them the answers and I still come away sounding like a wealth of knowledge!
4. What’s the funniest or most notable on-the-job experience you’ve had?
SM: Coordinating the WoodenBoat Show is my most notable. It is such a huge event, takes so much time to plan for and requires the coordination of all of the departments at the Museum. Standing on the VRC overlook eating a popsicle on Saturday afternoon knowing that there are over 5,000 people on the grounds and a waterfront full of wooden boats is a great moment. Although, going out on the water in those little race boats right after that sure was fun, too!
5. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
SM: Right now, my favorite thing is hanging out with my little boy who celebrates his first birthday this week. There really is nothing I would rather do, which is a good thing, since entertaining him takes up all of my free time! We have a little sailing skiff that we take him out in. It isn’t the same as the off-shore voyaging that I used to do, but I’ll take my time on the water in smaller stints now. I also enjoy gardening and did the Master Gardner program when I lived on the Cape. My brother and his family and my parents all live close by, so I spend a lot of time with them as well.
Shannon was photographed by Dennis Murphy.
Categories: People
Tagged: Mystic Seaport, Staff
Don Treworgy, May 2009, at the naming of the Treworgy Planetarium
We are saddened to share the news that our beloved Don Treworgy, Mystic Seaport staff member for 48 years, died on September 13.
Today, on this bright and clear September day, we are comforting one another by sharing our stories and recalling this exceptional friend, scholar and gentleman who would not have failed to recognize the simple joys of a glorious late summer day.
Please join us here, in the comments section of our Mystic Seaport blog, and share your stories about life with Don, who made us all richer for the time we spent with him. Honor him with your humor, your recollections, your discoveries and your memories.
If you’d like to look back at some Mystic Seaport photographs of Don over the years, click here.
And if you have photos of your own to share (and you know how important stories, people, photos, history and archiving were to Don!) please share them in our Donald Treworgy Remembered Flickr group.
Mystic Seaport remembers Don Treworgy
Categories: People
Tagged: Don Treworgy, Mystic Seaport, stars in the sky, Treworgy Planetarium
This week Aaron Bulger put down his hammer long enough to tell us a little bit about himself. Aaron is a Facilities Department carpenter, although his workday isn’t necessarily limited to plying his carpentry skills. This ex-marine comes across as friendly and self-assured and pleased to be on staff at Mystic Seaport.
1. How long have you been employed at Mystic Seaport?
AB: Two and a half years. Prior to coming on staff, I was building houses in the area. However, I saw the writing on the wall when all we were building was a couple of houses a year. It was time to make a change.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
AB: Definitely my co-workers. There’s a wealth of experience in our group electricians, plumbers, carpenters, grounds keepers, cleaners they’re all great. I really respect all the experience wrapped up in these people. It’s a learning experience working with them, and they deserve to be mentioned. (Robert Erfe, Ron Lemar, John Crane, Steve Sisk, Josh Barrett, Jack Yates, Ron Wiggins, Mr. Brown, Brian Banning.)
3. What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
AB: Getting the most bang for our buck in maintaining 30 plus acres of buildings and grounds. It isn’t like building houses, where the builder or potential owner dictates what he or she wants, regardless of cost.
4. What’s the funniest or most notable on-the-job experience you’ve had?
AB: It’s not exactly an on-job experience, but during my first month on staff, I tagged along with a school group to learn more about the Mystic Seaport village buildings, etc. At the Hoop Shop, the interpreter was a little taken off-guard by a student’s question of why belts were used to drive the machinery. The interpreter answered because gears were not invented yet! The teacher just looked a little surprised. I had to stifle a laugh.
5. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
AB: Top of the list is spending time with my two-year-old son, Ben. I’m lucky to have quite a bit of quality time with him. I’m working on my Liberal Arts degree at Three Rivers College in Norwich, but there’s always time for a little special fun with Ben, like trying our hands at painting pictures, going to the beach, etc.
Aaron was interviewed by Trudi Busey and photographed by Dennis Murphy.
Categories: People
Tagged: Mystic Seaport, Staff
This week the spotlight falls on Jennifer Pictou, the Museum’s Supervisor of Educational Programs and a person with interests and talents that will delight, surprise and maybe even shock you!
1. How long have you been employed at Mystic Seaport?
JP: I’ll be completing my first year next week. For 16 years I worked in the field of public programming, alias culture and community programming, and for 6 years prior to coming on staff here, I worked for the Pequot Museum.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
JP: Approximately 28,000 school children matriculate through Mystic Seaport’s various programs some from as far away as Ohio. I really enjoy working with their teachers and acting as a liaison with our teaching staff. I handle the daytime programs and Hallie Payne supervises the overnight programs.
3. What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
JP: Keeping Museum programs current with school programming and legislation requirements like No Child Left Behind. That entails being up-to-date on priorities and trends in all areas of education. Our Museum programs are designed to help teachers prepare students for the CT Mastery Test by using current curriculum frameworks. When they come to Mystic Seaport, it’s not just a field trip we try to make it a fun learning adventure.
4. What’s the funniest or most notable on-the-job experience you’ve had?
JP: Fishing a student’s digital camera out of the Mystic River not an easy task. His camera flew out of his pocket while he was cranking the rope making apparatus. It turned out the camera was an inexpensive disposable, not the expensive kind I thought it was! Oh well, it was still important to him.
5. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
JP: It’s hard to name just one. My newest passion is taking my Standard Schnauzer, Rosco, to play flyball. It’s a sport where teams of four dogs race a track, retrieve a ball and return it. Fastest team wins. I’m training Rosco at My Dog’s Place in Mystic for his first tournament with the “Seaside Sprinters.”
My ongoing passion is something I have studied for over 20 years. I’m a 3rd degree Black Belt in Ketsugo (a form of mixed martial arts). I compete in tournaments four times a year and have been a regionally rated fighter in the AKL/PKL (amateur and professional karate league); I’ve also won championships in Ju-Jitsu (throwing). I have taught martial arts to students age 5 to 75, but I feel strongest about teaching and encouraging women to learn self-defense. Martial arts is a great stress reliever and self-confidence builder for anyone.
Time permitting, I enjoy making jewelry, but right now I’m busy doing research for my Master’s thesis in American and New England Studies with an emphasis on museum work, of course!
Jennifer was interviewed by Museum Volunteer Trudi Busey and photographed by Dennis Murphy.
Categories: People
Tagged: Staff
While America lost a legendary journalist and beloved voice with the death of Walter Cronkite last Friday, Mystic Seaport has lost a dear friend.
In addition to the numerous and remarkable career highlights we’ve been reminded of this week, Cronkite was also an avid sailor, a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, with the honorary rank of commodore, and a longtime trustee of Mystic Seaport. Former Mystic Seaport President and Director J. Revell Carr took a few moments to recall the Walter Cronkite that he knew.
“Walter truly loved the ‘mystique’ of Mystic Seaport – he loved coming in on his yacht Wyntje, tying up at the Cruising Club Dock and just wandering around. Like so many others visiting by boat, he reveled in the Museum after the other visitors had left. He allowed himself to drift back in time among the evocative images of Mystic Seaport at twilight or dawn. On one occasion, as I made my way down to visit with him after the Museum had closed, I found him standing on the dock with a video camera, making his own home movie of Mystic Seaport. I made some remark about the ageless scene before him as I approached and he made me back up and repeat the words and the approach to be recorded by his camera.
Walter Cronkite aboard his yacht Wyntje.
Obviously, he was a man of endless curiosity who was fascinated by the Museum’s exhibitions but who enjoyed even more glimpses into the stored collections with the myriad of wonders from paintings and models to bizarre curiosities.
He was always responsive when we called on him to contribute his image and voice to films about Mystic Seaport. While his schedule made it difficult to regularly attend Board meetings, he participated in the Museum’s activities whenever he could. At a Mystic Seaport benefit auction held at Sotheby’s in New York, various celebrities got up and auctioned items. Peter Yarrow, of the singing group Peter, Paul and Mary, had just gotten the audience, including most of our Trustees to sing “Puff the Magic Dragon” and then sold an autographed copy of one of his albums for some vast price. Next up was Walter, who said, “Obviously, the way to get really large bids is to sing!” Walter then sang the description of the reticulated ivory box he was to auction, to the delight of the audience and the significant benefit of Mystic Seaport. A rare moment.
Walter Cronkite in front of the Charles W. Morgan at Mystic Seaport.
On an occasion when he was at a Board meeting in the Munson Room, toward the end of the meeting, amid nearly fifty people virtually all clad in blue blazers, Walter got up and went into a fairly long oration about the group and their attire, but no one could figure out where it was leading. Ultimately he got to the point that someone was “out of uniform” and produced a blazer button that he had found on his way into the room. A perfect way to end a long morning of intense work by the Board.
Walter was just a regular guy, who had casual conversations with those moored around him or people he encountered in the Seamen’s Inne. Once when he had spent the night at my house, we stopped in the Old Mystic Store where he picked up the New York Times and chatted amiably with the astonished store clerk. Just a regular guy.”
Categories: Museum Grounds · People · Trustees · Volunteers
Tagged: in memoriam, J. Revell Carr, Museum trustee, Walter Cronkite
I’ll wager that most staff and Mystic Seaport visitors tend to take for granted the signage found in Museum exhibits. But those specialized and creative designs are the work of Arleen Andersen, exhibit graphics specialist for the Museum. Arleen’s “workshop” is located at the far side of the Collection Research Center at Mystic Seaport.
Arleen Andersen
1. How long have you been employed at Mystic Seaport?
AA: I‘ve worked at Mystic Seaport for 21 years. I’m from Long Island, but I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. It is beautiful out there, but I missed the ocean and I convinced my husband to move back East.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
AA: My job lets me be creative, which is great. I enjoy the close contact with maritime history here at Mystic Seaport, through the collection and the people. Working with those at the Museum who know that history best makes it possible for me to graphically interpret that information for visitors.
3. What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
AA: Getting everything done that needs doing. Of course, nothing ever runs smoothly! Also, it’s important to me to try to keep things fresh and new for Museum visitors. Just keeping exhibit graphics in good shape can be a challenge.
4. What’s the funniest or most notable on-the-job experience you’ve had?
AA: There was a period when there were special times for staff sails aboard Brilliant. Sometimes it was just a short-term sail; sometimes an overnight. It was wonderful. As for funniest, once a co-worker and I went to Elm Grove Cemetery to gather nuts for a display in the VRC. We wondered what people who saw us might be thinking! The same goes for anyone who saw us trying to match restaurant oyster shell halves for the Museum’s Oyster House exhibit. Every day is a new experience!
5. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
AA: Spending time with my family. I have two children, a son and a daughter, who practically grew up at Mystic Seaport – taking advantage of some of the programs offered to youth, and as they grew old enough – working here. I have my own sailboat, so you’ll find me sailing on the Mystic River, time and weather permitting. Other than that, I enjoy gardening, usually with my dog Luna at my side.
Arlene was interviewed by volunteer Trudi Busey and photographed by Dennis Murphy.
Categories: Exhibits and Buildings · People
Tagged: Mystic Seaport, Staff
If you’ve stopped by the
Maritime Gallery recently, you may have noticed that all of the art in the current exhibition,
Plein Air Painters of the Maritime Gallery, has a central theme – the beauty of Mystic Seaport. Open through September 1, the exhibit details the Museum’s picturesque scenery, all of which was painted on grounds this past June. (For those unfamiliar with the term, plein air artists follow the tradition established by painters in the 19
th and 20
th centuries – choosing an outdoor venue rather than an indoor studio to work their craft.)
.
I was able to observe some of the painters at their easels last month and learned a little bit more about their craft…
.
I spoke with William Hanson, who has been a part of the Mystic Seaport Plein Air Painters for all of the 13 years it has been a Museum event – more recently by invitation only. At the other end of the spectrum, I met Brechin Lee Morgan, for whom this was an “exciting” first.
Maritime Gallery artist Leonard Mizerek painting on grounds last year.
Both extolled the virtues of natural light for capturing the essence of their paintings. “So inspiring” is how William describes the Mystic Seaport setting. Brechin feels the realism of on-site painting trumps studio paintings, where imagination is the key component.
Maritime art is William’s emphasis. Today, near Mystic Seaport’s shipyard, a rowboat with a wood-filled shed as backdrop caught his attention. He thinks the smaller 6” by 8” size he mounted on his easel may have greater “sale” appeal in today’s economy, although his repertoire includes paintings of different sizes.
Brechin chooses his subject by walking around the Museum until a scene strikes him as being dramatic enough to capture on canvas with his acrylics. This day the huge live oak timber in the H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard was his subject. “It reminds me of timbers I imagine were used to build Noah’s Ark.” He considers himself fortunate to be included as one of Mystic Seaport’s Plein Air Painters.
William’s and Brechin’s paintings, along with those of their fellow Plein Air Painters, will be on display and available for purchase in the Museum’s Maritime Gallery all summer. Come take a look.
For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/gallery or call 860.572.5388.
Blog post written by Trudi Busey.
Categories: Events · Exhibits and Buildings · Museum Grounds · People
Tagged: Exhibits, Maritime Gallery, Mystic Seaport
With summer knocking on the door, Mystic Seaport staff members are ramping up in anticipation of the thousands of visitors expected to visit the Museum this season. Our gate staff members, led by Sally Ackley, are primed to welcome visitors, answer questions and assist in a myriad of other issues.
One of Sally’s team members, Goran Buckhorn, tells this unique story about a visitor from Norway. Their paths crossed in the Museum’s Visitors Reception Center (VRC) several years ago.
The man was traveling alone. He was 85 years old. He had read a 1975 article about Mystic Seaport in a boating magazine and was determined to come to America, come to Connecticut and come to Mystic Seaport!
He made it, with a little help from police, who stopped and questioned him as he walked along highway I-95. After checking his passport and learning his destination, they drove him to Mystic Seaport.
Out of concern for the elderly gentleman, Goran assisted him first in getting some food, then helped him find decent lodging nearby. When the traveler told Goran, “I think my wife thinks I’m dead…I haven’t spoken to her in several days because I don’t know how to phone Norway from here,” Goran helped him make the call.
For three days, the gentleman enjoyed Mystic Seaport, snapping many photos, especially of the L.A.Dunton. Back in Norway, he was making a model of the fishing schooner and wanted to see the vessel in person.
Mission completed, the man was ready to head back home to Norway – but he had missed his flight out of Hartford. Wrong day! Once again, Goran managed to get him on a flight the following day.
To Sally Ackley and her VRC staff, it’s all in a day’s work!
Categories: Museum Grounds · People
Tagged: Mystic Seaport, Staff
If you don’t already know Web Manager Jonathan Greene, prepare to be blown away by his many-faceted work history at Mystic Seaport. With an Associate’s Degree in web design and animation and a BS in the digital recording arts from New England Tech, who knows what the future holds for Jonathan.
1. How long have you been employed at Mystic Seaport?
JG: I was hired in July 2001. I was 17-years-old and it was my first job. The Museum Store manager said she hired me because I wore a tie for the interview! I became manager of the North Gate store before Event Network took over management; then I worked in the café where I made the fudge. Those two jobs were my favorites. I also worked in the wholesale department and handled technical needs, managed cash registers, and worked with artwork and prints. Actually, my family has a long tradition at Mystic Seaport. My great grandfather, grandfather, and mother all worked for the Museum. When you visit the schoolhouse, look for the initials “KIRK” and “MK” carved into one of the desks. “KIRK” is the nickname from my grandfather’s last name, Kirkpatrick, and MK are the initials of my grandmother. My grandfather was instructed to help make the new schoolhouse desks look old, so he carved those initials.
2. What’s the best part of your job?
JG: Since I have held so many different jobs at the Museum, I’ve gotten to know many people personally. I really enjoy seeing and talking with them on a regular basis; it’s like an extended family here. The best part of my current job is realizing that just one slight change made to our website might have a worldwide impact and encourage someone visiting our website to come and visit Mystic Seaport. That’s powerful stuff!
3. What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
JG: Keeping up with technology. It’s kind of frustrating when you’re aware of some terrific new technology, but realize the cost is too prohibitive for the Museum to purchase. Setting up the eBay and Amazon connection has helped alert folks to what the Museum Store has to offer. The other challenge for me has been balancing tasks as I transitioned from job to job. I still get questions related to former positions I’ve held.
4. What’s the funniest or most notable on-the-job experience you’ve had?
JG: Most notable is probably an experience I missed by a year. I would have loved being on staff when the Amistad was launched. Thinking back, I was excited at the prospect of meeting TV reporter, Geraldo, who had moored his boat at Mystic Seaport. Along comes this guy wearing pink tights, riding a bicycle, who wanted gate admittance so he could get aboard his boat. It was Geraldo. That sort of cured me of my youthful fascination with celebrities. I realized they’re just ordinary people like you and me.
5. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
JG: I’m a movie and movie trivia buff. I also like playing video games and enjoy photography – and you can imagine – the computer is ever present!
Jonathan was interviewed by volunteer Trudi Busey and photographed by Andy Price.
Categories: People
Tagged: Mystic Seaport, Staff
It’s (nearly) summertime, and the livin’ is easy, as the old song goes.
And speaking of songs, we’ve got a fabulous lineup of Music on the River this season, and when we say Music ON the River, we mean ON it. Join us on board Sabino, our 101-year-old steam ship, for a special downriver cruise every Wednesday evening and enjoy the acoustic sounds of some of the area’s finest musicians, performing live.
We kick off the season tonight, June 10, with a preview of our 30th annual Sea Music Festival. Geoff Kaufman—well-known folk musician “with a pinch of salt”— is on deck with his songs of the sea, songs of the earth, songs of the heart and the spirit.Whether singing sailor songs with his quartet, Forebitter, environmental songs on board the Sloop Clearwater in the Hudson River or in solo performances at coffeehouses and festivals throughout the United States and Europe, Geoff has entertained and touched audiences near and far.
A cash bar and light snacks will be available. Tickets are $25 per person ($22 for members). Tickets may purchased online or by calling the Sabino Dock Office at 860.572.5351.
Event series sponsored by Shipyard Brewing Company.
Categories: Events · People · Sabino
