OFF TO FIDDLER'S GREEN
Lars Henning Hansen (1923-2009) Lars H ansen, lo ng the master rigger at South Street Seapo rt Museum, di ed o n 1 October 2009 in Florida, where he had moved several yea rs after a stroke, whi ch ended a long career as seafa rer and ri gge r. Born in D enmark in 1923, he went to sea in merchant vessels afte r World War II a nd ultimately settled in New York C ity because of his love for Am erican jazz. He worked for Banks Rigging in Staten Island, where he participated in ri gging South Street's four-masted barque Peking in the mid- l 970s. After coming to work at the So uth Street Seaport Museum in the mid- l 980s, he ren ewed Pekings ri gging in its entirety in the 1990s. H e li ved aboard Peking from 1987 to 2005, when illness forced his retirem ent from active work. His cabin was a shrine to jazz where he continued to receive visits from aging musicians who had played with Duke Ellingron and Count Basie, both of whom h e knew wel l. His space was crammed with jazz memorabilia and recordings, and the South Street waterfront often rang with jazz classics well into the small ho urs. Lars was notable not only for his rigging skills but for the depth of his nautical knowledge, which he generously shared with generations of apprentices and proteges. He also possessed enormous strength and stamina, often going aloft in total disregard of Master rigger Lars Hansen (right) was an enthusiastic and able wind and weather and often posing in the upper teacher. H ere, he guides Steve Geiss on splicing wire rope. reaches of the rigging for breathless photographers, for whom he was a favorite subject. The mutual att raction between him and young women was a matter of admiration and envy among his younger colleagues, and he was often to be seen of a summer evening perched on a chair on Pekings quar terdeck, eyeing the passin g crowd with quiet delight. He was indeed a legend in his time, and for all time. - Jack Putnam
SHIPMATE WANTED
H. Lee White Marine Museum 400 years of Maritime History
Open Daily 1-Spm July & Aug 10-Spm West 1st Street Pier, Oswego, NY www.hleewhitemarinemuseum.com 315-342-0480
Anne T. Converse Photography
Loo kin g for a si n g le wo man , 35 -4 5 + /-. " Co untry g irl - Tomboy ty pe" . Familiar w ith co mm e rc ia l m arin e e nvironm ent, i.e. ocea n exp lora ti o n, co nserva tion , researc h, tugs, fre ighters, fis hin g, sa ilin g, shipyard s, marin as. Amer ica n or intern ational , mi li tary o r naval acade my backgro und. A thl etic , ve ry act ive, outgo in g, res po ns ib le. Be w illing to work with and stand by her man and be at ease in a pi ckup truck o r hi g h tec h ameniti es . Value o pen co mmunicati on. Marriage and family minded. I ask a lot. I have th e va lues and comm on sense yo u want. Please wr ite and send picture or do yo u know someo ne who sho uld see thi s ad . 111 East 14th St., PMB 495, New York, NY I 0003
Neil/1, 1996, Cover photograph
WOOD, WINV ANV WA Tf'R.
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RememberillgNorih Amerio an and Irish Lighthouses tilrough the fine art of COW\te d C:l'05S •
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SEA HI STORY 129, WINT ER 2009-10
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Photographs by Anne T. Converse Text by Carolyn M. Ford
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STORY OF TIIE O PERA H OUSE
RACE OF NANrUCKEf
ACCENTS LIGHTHO USES
STARS AN D STRIP ES PENNA TS . A uth e nti c hi sto ri ca l des ig n ex qui si te ly handcrafted in the most durab le fabrics 4 ', 6', 8' and 12 ' sizes in stock-other sizes and desig ns by custom o rder. C ustom des ign and fa bricati on is o ur spec ialty. A lso in stock, a ll s izes U .S. , sta te , foreign , hi stor ica l, m a rin e a nd d ecora ti ve fl ags , b a nn e rs , penn ants, and accesso ri es. 77 Forest St. , New Bedford, MA 02740 508-996-6006.
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Live vicariously through the pictures and tales of Classic Wooden Yacht owners who lovingly restore and race these gems of the sea. 10"x 12" Hardbound limited edition 132 pages, 85 full page color photographs For more information contact: Anne T. Converse P: 508-748-0638 F: 508-355-0070 anne@a nnetconverse .com www.a nnetconverse.com
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