Greenport History Blogger Revisits Turn-of-the-Century Sailing

This lad's father, Mr. H. Cook, ran a fish store here in Greenport and this is his son, H. Cook Jr. or so the photo is labeled. We are guessing 1910 or so but who would know.  Not a water skier in sight.

We are trying to figure out exactly where this picture is set - obviously Shelter Island is in the background and the boathouse and loading docks to the right don't give much of a clue as we found in looking at other pictures of the area; we can't quite place it although one hunch is near where the Ferry lands now. Just not enough clues but we are betting that is Dering Harbor back there.

The model boat is pretty amazing and hardly a toy but a labor of love that took weeks if not months to produce.

This Memorial Day, Greenport Harbor might be visited by some Tall Ships - the real deals and they will be available for "play" but perhaps not as much boyish fun as Mr. Cook Jr. might be enjoying.  The end, however, will be the same...adults looking at magical wind-driven ships and instant flashes of imagination with pictures of wind blowing over rushing waves, foam, snapping sails and the creak and groan of taught lines.