Didn't do much but a little of everything
I’ve had an incredible time reading Ian Ludders’ annotated journal of Dalton Raynes from 1897. While I’ve been under the weather, this dense publication has been a welcome escape.
The book, titled “Didn’t Do Much But a Little of Everything"
Ludders takes a sparse diary of an 18-19 year old boy in 1897 and transforms it into a captivating glimpse into coastal and island life during the early 1900s. Through his meticulous research and time spent with Bob Quinn, Ludders brings this era to life. His understanding of his place in the narrative and his interest in the contrast between oral and written histories allow us to peek over his shoulder as he makes discoveries and learns about island life, fishing, and the ways of life that Dalton would have experienced that year. Ludders’ outstanding research, paired with Bob’s wise, kind, and understanding approach through stories, observations, and his guiding words, ensure the narrative leads us to a most successful conclusion. What a duo! I look forward to any future collaborations these two might get up to.
Two years ago, on December 26, 2023, I happened upon an impromptu meeting at the Rockport Library with Bob Quinn, George Jennings, Gordon Bok, and Ed Porter. These two parties gathered, by coincidence, to review a collection of photographs curated by George. The meeting was an amazing 2+ hours of observations, stories, and remembrances. They shared tales of coasting schooners, fishing schooners, mail runs, high school graduations, Annie and Ruben, kids pumping out the coasters as they loaded for NYC with granite, the changing of place names, John Duke, Monty Haskell, sailing the first years on the Clearwater, general puzzlements and proposed solutions on how jobs and tasks were completed in the past and how they are done today. Each of us had unique insights to contribute to the discussions. With a lull, another photograph would spark a new question and new observation, leading us down a different path with fresh ideas and perspectives. It was a truly remarkable moment, free from expectations, with the walls of schooner photos serving as a captivating backdrop. If not for the need for food, we could have easily continued for several more hours.
That afternoon, akin to Raynes’ 1897 diary, was a special occasion that I’ll have in my memories for years to come.
And for another day, as I reside in Appleton, my next endeavor is to delve into the families Ian mentioned who departed Eagle Island and relocated to Appleton over a century ago. This is a fun connection for me, and I’ll need to reach out to the historical society to facilitate this research.