Jarvis & Mills, Northport Shipyard

Edward Lange (1846-1912), Yacht: Cleo, 1873, Watercolor and lead pencil on paper, 13.125 x 19 in. (framed), Collection of Mr. Robert Kissam

The North Shore was known for its shipyards long before Lange arrived in 1870. Scenes of boats and ships undergoing repair were commonplace next to its many docks bustling with activity. In Northport, Lange would have been most familiar with the shipyards of Jesse Carll, Jesse Jarvis, and Oliver Hartt. Their businesses played host to a variety of tradespeople including shipwrights, sailmakers, sawyers, carpenters, caulkers, and blacksmiths. Each skilled craftsperson performed a vital role in both the construction of new vessels and in repairs that them operational.

Edward Lange (1846-1912). On the Ways, Northport, 1882. Watercolor and gouache on paper, 9.6875 x 7.25 in. (unframed); 15.5 x 12.6875 in. (framed). Preservation Long Island purchase, 1991.61

One of the most essential parts of a shipyard was its sail loft, where vast quantities of cloth material was laid out, measured, cut, and sewn to specifications. In this painting, Lange included the sail loft of Robert Mills behind a ship sitting in Jesse Jarvis's shipyard. This scene is one of just two known snow scenes by the artist. Several years later, Lange returned to sketch Mills's sail loft for inclusion in a composite picture of the town of Northport—this time capturing several figures at work in the yard.

Detail, Edward Lange (1946-1912), Northport. L.I., 1881, Albumen photographic print, 11.25 x 16.5 in. (framed), Huntington Historical Society, 2017.1.2; Detail, Edward Lange, On the Ways, Northport, 1882

Edward Lange (1946-1912), Northport. L.I., 1881, Albumen photographic print, 11.25 x 16.5 in. (framed), Huntington Historical Society, 2017.1.2

Today, one of the oyster sloops that patrolled Long Island's coastline in the nineteenth century still actively sails its waters. The Priscilla, crewed by volunteers from the Long Island Maritime Museum, is the only workboat that survives from the oyster fleet that sailed the Great South Bay. Elisha Saxton, a shipwright in Patchogue, NY built the sloop in 1888. For over seventy years, the Priscilla passed in ownership from bayman to bayman. This oyster sloop remained in service longer than others because of its speed and capability to dredge in both light and heavy winds. Now, after undergoing extensive restoration at the Long Island Maritime Museum, the Priscilla and its crew offer the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a Long Island bayman.

(Priscilla, Long Island Maritime Museum, Photo courtesy of the author.)