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Historical Materials: Gloucester Buildings & Businesses
Historical Materials » Gloucester Buildings & Businesses » Steepbank
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Steepbank
View related Fitz Henry Lane catalog entries (9) »
Steepbank (sometimes spelled "Steep Bank") was a house near Fresh Water Cove which, in Lane's time, served as a summer estate for brothers, Eben and Theron Dale. It had been built for “an artist” named “Mr. Eddy” in 1845, was next owned by a “Mr. Homer,” and then by a “Mr. C. B. Fessenden." Around 1858 it was purchased by Eben Dale.
Related tables: Dale, Eben B. » // Fessenden, C. B. » // Fresh Water Cove »
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds
1543 plan 0141_0002
The third of the three plans has the references on it. "Plan showing the taking of land, flats and beach for Stage Fort Park…1898..."
Includes a reference to the home of Mary Turnbull which is Steepbank.
Also filed under: Maps » // Stage Rocks / Stage Fort / Stage Head »
Stereograph card
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
Also filed under: Gloucester – City Views » // Half Moon Beach » // Historic Photographs » // Stage Rocks / Stage Fort / Stage Head »
Newsprint
From bound volume owned by publisher Francis Procter
Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck
"We visited the studio of Mr. Fitz H. Lane a few days since, and were much pleased in examining some fine paintings from the pencil of this talented artist. Among the collection was a view of Long Beach, in this town, with which we were particularly interested.
The scene is taken immediately after a storm. The waves with their snowy crests are rolling in upon the beach, breaking against the sides of a vessel which has been driven ashore. In the background is seen the residence of Mr. Fessenden, and the surrounding scenery; on the right are visible the high headlands near the residence of Mr. Geo. Hovey, while stretching far away in the distance may be seen Fresh Water Cove, Dolliver's Neck, and the Old Pine Tree, the whole forming a beautiful picture and true to Nature.
Several other paintings were in process of completion, one a beautiful sunset scene, which was really beautiful to gaze upon; also a view of a gale at sea, with a gallant ship plunging madly through the waves, forming a striking contrast to the mild placid scene of the picture at its side.
Mr. Lane's paintings are true to nature, and in viewing them one can but admire the skill and genius of this talented artist, We advise all lovers of the art, who wish to spend an hour pleasantly, to visit the studio of Mr. Lane on Locust St. We can assure them that they will come away highly gratified, and have an earnest desire to call again." (1)
(1) See p. 2, column 3, Courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society
44 x 34 in.
Henry Francis Walling, Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport, Essex Co. Massachusetts. Philadelphia, A. Kollner, 1851
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
"Map of the Towns of Gloucester and Rockport, Massachusetts. H.F. Walling, Civil Engineer. John Hanson, Publisher. 1851. Population of Gloucester in 1850: 7,805. Population of Rockport in 1850: 3,213."
Also filed under: Annisquam River » // Brookbank » // Dolliver's Neck » // Fresh Water Cove » // Gloucester Harbor, Outer » // Maps » // Norman's Woe » // Stage Rocks / Stage Fort / Stage Head » // West Gloucester – Little River » // Western Shore »
Stereograph card
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
Taken from Steepbank, on the western side of Gloucester Harbor, and showing a small boat at anchor in the cove, then the Neck, and the sea beyond.
Also filed under: Dolliver's Neck » // Fresh Water Cove » // Historic Photographs » // Lone Pine »
Letter
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive, Gloucester, Mass.
". . . will fully appreciate all that I have done in my garden, in ornamenting it, with flowers and plants, Rustic Arbours and Statues, and I only wish that you could be here to witness and enjoy his [Dr. J. L. Stevens] expressions of delight and interest, when a new flower attracts his attention, or some beauty of arrangement meets his eye. Samuel [B. Stevens of Castine] he tells me came up with the expectation of going on a voyage to Australia, but when he arrived in Boston he found the vessel with her compliment of men, and it is very uncertain if he goes in her. Your Mother and all at home are well. I yesterday made a sketch of Stage Fort and the surrounding scenery, from the water. Piper has given me an order for a picture from this point of view, to be treated as a sunset. I shall try to make something out of it, but it will require some management, as there is no foreground but water and vessels. One o’clock, it is very hot, the glass indicates 84° in my room, with the windows all open and a light breeze from the east, this is the warmest day . . .
. . . than devoting it to you. Since writing you last I have painted but one picture worth talking about and that one I intend for you if you should be pleased with it. It is a View of the beach between Stage Fort and Steep bank including Hovey’s Hill and residence, Fresh water cove and the point of land with the lone pine tree. Fessenden’s house, likewise comes into the picture. The effect is a mid day light with a cloudy sky, a patch of sunlight is thrown across the beach and the breaking waves, an old vessel lies stranded on the beach with two or three figures, there are a few vessels in the distance and the Field rocks likewise show at the left of the picture. I think you will be pleased with this picture, for it is a very picturesque scene especially the beach, as there are many rocks which come in to destroy the monotony of a plain sand beach, and I have so arranged the light and shade that the effect I think is very good indeed, however you will be better able to judge of that when you see it, the size is 20 x 33. . ."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds
1543 plan 0141_0001
The third of the three plans has the references on it “Plan showing the taking of land, flats and beach for Stage Fort Park…1898…”
Includes a reference to the home of Mary Turnbull which is Steepbank.
Also filed under: Field Beach / Crescent (or Cressy's) Beach / Long Beach » // Maps » // Stage Rocks / Stage Fort / Stage Head »