Perry’s Longboat Christening June 15th- Building an Icon

Please join us, The Perry Group, The National Park Service and Sandusky Maritime Museum June 15th 10am at the Shelby Street boat basin in Sandusky for the culmination of a year of historic wooden boat building to christen the newly completed Commodore Perry’s longboat.

Here’s the story about why we built this historic boat- Building an American Icon
Magazines, television and roadside billboards are awash with iconic images like the coke bottle, martini glass, Eiffel Tower, Einstein’s hair, Mickey Mouse “ears”, and the VW Beetle. But for many of us our passion for history takes us deeper into American imagery. The stopped tank in Tiananmen Square (1989), The plaintive woman in Kent State shooting photo (1970), and the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jimo (1945) are gripping memorable iconic images that resonate with us. Americans attach their own interpretation or meaning to these icons, for the “greatest generation” that photo from Iwo Jima stands for all that we fought so hard for in the Second World War. Before photojournalism, these iconic moments were captured by artists.

 

For me Commodore Perry aboard a rowing gig transferring his command from the Brig Lawrence to the Brig Niagara during the Battle of Lake Erie is one of these powerful iconic American scenes, the most famous painted by Ohio artist William Henry Powell in 1857. The scene has been painted repeatedly and it is “the image” that we attach to the Navy’s most steadfast motto, “Don’t give up the ship”. And while Perry is not the originator of that slogan, his love for his fallen friend James Lawrence, commander of the “Chesapeake”, propelled him to create the “DGUTS” flag that has made it one of our most well known historical American folklore images. Surprisingly, today the “DGUTS” flag image stands alone from the Battle of Lake Erie. For many Americans the slogan, the flag, even the painting are not necessarily attached to the heroic events that made Perry’s success in the Battle of Lake Erie become legendary in his own day.

 
There are dozens of versions of this iconic scene. From the black and white lithograph from Yale’s collection to the most famous Powell version that adorns the rotunda outside the halls of congress. When you see the painting of Commodore Perry being rowed from the Lawrence to the Niagara it is easy to identify immediately with the “never say die” outside the box thinking that made Perry an enshrined hero of the early American Republic.

 
About a year ago, The Perry Group had a notion that maybe this iconic image, this moment in time, could be recreated. What if we could build a replica of the rowing gig that Perry used to transfer his command and make it a part of the celebration for the Battle of Lake Erie bicentennial? We started to research these paintings to identify the type of boat he might of used. Since no one made sketches of the battle that September day in 1813, artistic license was employed in the various depictions.

 
Some of these paintings have as few as 6 men aboard, while others have as many as 10. Some show Perry carrying the “DGUTS” flag, others have the American Colors flying from the bow. One thing we can be fairly certain about, when Perry was being rowed to the Niagara the battle was still raging all about him. He probably did not have many able bodied men left after the Lawrence had been pummeled practically into splinters. I would also bet he did not want to draw overt attention to himself. Never the less the image we hold dear today is what we are after, but as historically correct as possible.

 
I can’t believe how lucky we are to have the opportunity to build one or our regions, perhaps the country’s most iconic historical Navy symbols. Our journey to find out more about this infamous boat, took us to Boston, Burlington (VT), Newport (RI) and Erie. We enlisted the expert eye of Bob Reynolds Grandson of Scott Matthews (Matthews Boat Company) to help us in this quest.

 
At first we were just looking for what appeared to be similar. The long boat, pilot gig, and jolly boat are all rowing vessels of the time period that came in various sizes and lengths. Some were designed for speed, others for carrying supplies, still others were for getting crew to and from shore. Since no one can be sure of what exact rowing gig had been aboard the Lawrence we started to research various styles that were common to the British fleet in those days.

 
On our fact-finding trip to the Erie Maritime Museum we interviewed Walter Rybka, current captain of the Niagara and naval historian. Walter set us on a quest to find an 18’6” six man rowing gig based on lines he shared with us from the Brig Grampus. That was the turning point in our search. After returning from Erie, Bob found a copy of the plans that had been drawn up for the construction of the Brig Niagara, which was “rebuilt” in the 1980’s. It turned out that the naval architect in charge of that reconstruction was Melbourne Smith from Annapolis area. He had done considerable research before drawing those plans. His research included a gig that would have been aboard the Niagara. We contacted him and he has been helping us to create a final plan for our new gig. This ongoing process will begin next month. Construction will be carried out by Riddle Boat Works of Vermilion, with the help of the Sandusky Maritime Museum and Bob Reynolds. We have only just begun to recreate an icon. We have secured a challenge matching grant to get started but we still need funds and materials to build this iconic craft. But I promise you will see it with your own eyes this year, in all its glory once again on the lake once again. Get involved, follow this amazing quest on our blog site “Chasing Perry’s Victory” (http://chasingperry.wordpress.com/) or on twitter @theperrygroup.

Beach Basket Bingo!

Ah summer on the islands, gentle breezes, warm summer nights, parties and family get-togethers and it’s all just a few scant weeks away. It seems to me that hardly a day goes by here in Put-in-Bay during the summer that you don’t hear someone ask: “where’s the beach?” I usually tell them “you’re on the wrong island” or “if you like rocks have I got a beach for you”.

It is hard for many visitors coming to Put-in-Bay to believe that an island like South Bass does not have a sandy beach. And in fact it did. 50 years ago, a beautiful sand beach at the end of Delaware Ave. (the main street downtown) was the envy of the islands. There was a bathhouse and wonderful sand to play in, sun bathe or just enjoy a leisurely swim. But over the years it fell into complete disarray. No sand, no kids, no beach, no fun!

But there is hope on the way. The Put-in-Bay Garden Club! Garden club? Yes really the Garden club. It was mid summer 2009, and a garden club was just a lunchtime daydream fantasy; Some friends sitting around talking smack about annuals versus perennials thinking out loud about why it might be fun to have a garden club on South Bass. Sally Duffy, the Put-in-Bay Garden Club founder thought “hey if they’re serious I’ll put a notice in the paper”.
It turns out if you print it they will come. The next month 35 like-minded people from plant killers (like me) to master gardeners got together at The Goat Soup and Whisky Restaurant. A month later they had officers and a mission; “Beautification of Public Lands”.
Of course beach restoration was not the first thing on the clubs “to do” list, the industrious group’s first task was to take on a visible public beautification project. So they raised money and purchased heavy wire baskets for the antique light poles surrounding DeRivera Park in the center of the Village. In May of 2010, a gaggle of volunteers descended on the Park installed, planted, fertilized and watered the new pole mounted flower baskets.

So now when you visit the island this summer you may notice that the difference between “just ok” and “wow” on the streets of Put-in-Bay is really those beautiful flower baskets. It takes a lot of love and dedicated volunteers like Kelly and Marti Farris, Bob and Diane Smith, Kim Stoiber, Skip Morrison, the Leopolds, Doug and Mary Meyers, Laureen Mooney (and so many more) to keep them alive especially during a drought like we had in 2010 and 2011.
But the club did not rest on their Laurels and Petunias alone. No, they decided to do something amazing. Take on the lost Sandy Beach at the end of Delaware. In August of 2010 the club learned about the “Adopt a beach” initiative started by the Alliance for the Great Lakes (http://www.greatlakes.org/). A group of Put-in-Bay Garden Club members and interested community folks got together, funded by a small grant from Barefoot Wines, took the first step and cleaned up the beach of the accumulated flotsam and jetsam that had piled up over the past decades. Finally you could see the sand from the muck.

A garden club group led by Jody Frimel, long time summer resident and owner of the Mill Hollow Nursery in Vermilion, took this process one step further in 2011. They formulated a plan for the beaches restoration and worked with Liz Knauer to write a grant under the state of Ohio’s “Nature Works” program administered by the ODNR. (The grant for 22k was awarded to the Village of Put-in-Bay this year).
On a warm Saturday morning last July members of the garden club and the Black Swamp Conservancy converged on the Delaware Avenue beach with shovels, rakes and other implements of reconstruction including heavy equipment loaned by Put-in-Bay Investments. With “technical help” from Lee Krendl and Craig Cox, they cleaned, sifted, moved and re-graded the beach. The group removed a dilapidated chain link fence and created a new live fence with a Yucca variety known as “Adam’s Needle” and Switch Grass. They planted 45 bushes and set the course for this year’s next phase.

With the awarded grant funds “in the bank” and a master plan created by the garden club in hand, the Village of Put-in-Bay now will take on a recurring drainage problem that has caused the constant erosion of beach sand. A new swale and increased drainage will now be installed that will divert the rainwater away from the beach. Regular maintenance, a large planter, and additional plantings will be part of this year’s sandy beach upgrade spearheaded by Jody Frimel, the Village of Put-in-Bay and the Garden Club.

Sally (McMonagle) Duffy, the current president of the garden club, spent summers as a child in the cottage compound once owned by Leona Blocker, adjacent to the Delaware Avenue beach. She has fond memories of the beach, and working at the old bathhouse with Viv Ladd. Three years ago when Sally ‘got this party started’ she joked that her mom would be rolling in her grave knowing that Sally, whose best previous effort was regularly avoiding having one, had started a garden club.

You can’t help but smile seeing what they all have accomplished in just three short years. I guess it really doesn’t take a green thumb to bring a little beauty to your community, just some vision and a rake. The Put-in-Bay Garden Club continues to grow (ouch)! Special projects like the phenology garden, seminars on xeriscaping, and summer home garden tours, keeps the members planting new dreams. So this summer bring your sunscreen, shovel and bucket. They’re building sand castles again in Put-in-Bay.

The Waiting Room- For Mom

Alzheimer’s (and/or dementia) is a disease that takes family and friends along on a journey to dark places with the afflicted loved one that they can never return from. We can only share a few brief momentary glimpses into their spiraling journey to that world. A place they can’t describe and we can only imagine exists. Inspired by existentialist writer John Barth’s “Night-Sea Journey” (from short stories collection “Lost in the Fun House”). I wanted to write my vision for what this journey is all about. Sitting here in the Alzheimer’s wing of a small nursing home bedside with my mom today as she heads to the gates of her final departure. I needed to write “The waiting Room”. In memory of Elizabeth Curtis McCarthy Huston 1930-2011

THE WAITING ROOM

Today I got the call that I am on the short list. It’s like winning the lottery. They told me to come ahead, get ready to establish my place in line, to remain near by and be ready for the call. My family has come and we have packed my apartment up, sold off the extraneous belongings and narrowed down what I need for the trip. I read that Ancient Egyptians used to plan for their astral passage, contemplating all they would need for their long journey to the next world. But this is different more real than that fictional journey. We are going to actually journey beyond the typical travel destinations. This is a trip of a lifetime.

My mother tried to take this trip but she got tired and missed the call. I will be ready and in position when they call. This is a chance of a lifetime.
I am sitting here in the waiting room today, my small quarters nearby. Food is provided and regular activities are organized to help pass the time. While life is comfortable here, days run into weeks and months. The staff tries to get us to go on “short” excursions away from the waiting room, but I know I need to be here. I’m not sure when I will get the call, but I am ready my bags are packed. Every morning I arrive early, often I am last to leave. Many sit here with me, some days we talk for hours other days we just sit in silence and contemplate our readiness. Some believe this journey is to another part of the solar system, others believe it is just a long cruise with a special guide who will take us past the known realms of our imagination. I have spent years reading and learning about the trip and I am certain that it will be all that they have promised.

It has been a very long wait. It is becoming so lonely to sit here. I have realized now that if I keep my focus I will be picked to move on. So many others sitting here have tired of the waiting and finally go back home. Some just don’t believe that anyone will get the call. They are waiting for nothing, lost their focus, and it drags down the hopes of the few who still have faith in the system. Some days I think back to my friends and life back home. I know they miss me, I miss them. We write letters back and forth from time to time. I enjoy hearing from them, but I don’t seem to have much to tell them these days. They don’t realize that this is a full time job. All my attention must be focused on being ready.

Day after day the group waiting here grows wearier. I can’t really spend time explaining to them why they need to persevere. I know the trip is worth the wait. I know this because I spent time with some of my friends and relatives who made the trip. I spent time visiting with them while they sat in the waiting room.

There are people here in the waiting room working undercover. Their job is to test us to see who is really ready to go. I am on to their tricks. I know that my actions and discerning perceptions, and insightful responses to their queries will impress them and allow me to be picked soon. Last night I had a dream, the call is coming today I know it. Then today I heard it…my name was called. It happened while I was meditating, focused on the coming journey. When I heard my name, I looked up to the messenger from headquarters. They came in person. I knew they would. I now realize that I don’t need much but my clothes and a few personal items and some photos. It was a cold journey out doors beyond the large waiting area. We have moved from that outer waiting room to the smaller inner waiting room. Just one “door “remains ahead. This is the staging area for leaving. I can tell this group has the same goals as I, to be picked for the next departure.

Time has passed now and some days I lose site of the reasons I am here. One day I had a sensation that came over me that I should go home, but it passed. From time to time someone will leave. I really don’t know where we are headed, sitting here day after day with this team of potential travel companions, we discuss the journey but only in code. The staff here in this room is still trying to weed us out, to send us away. I will resist.

I think it finally is my turn. I have been picked to make this trip. I have been preparing for weeks. I have focused on my diet and my mind is working on the task at hand. So many of the extraneous noises and distractions seem to be unimportant now. I keep my mind open and ready to leave at a moments notice. When they call my name I will be ready. It turns out that I need nothing but a positive attitude and willing spirit to go forward. No bags or clothes or special equipment is required. I spent the last few months shedding my mental ties to extraneous objects.

Mediation and determination are my main interests now. I work through the jobs at hand preparing to leave. Sorting through memories and motivation for this journey. I had no idea that this would take so long. Family and friends have come and gone. I know they linger, often hoping I will return with them. They want me to leave the waiting room. But after making such a concerted effort to be here I can see no reason to turn back. I know they love me and want the best for me. The days seem to drag into weeks, an hour like a month. Time is irrelevant. All around me has become a blur. Darkness seems to linger longer now. I lay here in my travel capsule, body and mind prepared, muscles relaxed. I can hear them coming, the count down has started.