I had the week off from my real job, so I took some time and wandered aimlessly from museum to beach to museum to… well you get the idea. Well, I was in the Custom’s House in New London, CT. They have a nice set up, and we started talking to Susan, the director of the museum. Once we started talking, of course I started bragging about my grandfather, Alton Beaudoin. She is going to be displaying one of his knotboards, the ships wheel in my signature, a series of sample boards, and other pieces there. Being that it is my grandfather, I am going to insist that they put his WWII hat on display with the knots as that was his proudest possession.
If anyone has or knows anyone with pictures, stories, or other other stuff that might help with the display.. if any of you found inspiration from him and his battery acid strong coffee, please share as well. Any pictures of your work, I am not sure at Susan will include it, but I would appreciate it as part of a legacy to the knotted mess he started in this family
Of course, once set up, I 'll put pictures on my website. Any comments can be shared here, but additionally I’d appreciate emails to matt@mysticknotwork.com
thats my part of the deal. I need good pictures of his work as I can’t figure out how to take pictures through glass. There will only be a small sampling to display as we could probably fill 3000 sqft if all his stuff was put together in one place..
First delivery of 7 sample boards, one framed knot board, a ships wheel, a few articles about him, and ‘small pieces’ delivered today. The Museum Director expects the show will be open before the Wooden Boat Show next weekend, so people attending there (Vince) might be able to sneak over to New London and have a look.. I’ll post more as I learn it. I am working on my uncle to get the best work there. He has a board that is 6’ x 8’ or so… when it was being built, it was larger than the pool table that supported it…but either way, there is a good representation of stuff to show off.
My part of the deal: Susan promised professional pictures of the show and a good write up for my grandfather. When I get them, I’ll put them on the website to share…
Anyone know or know of anyone who knows any stories about Alton Beaudoin, we could use them to add dimension to the ‘story.’
Thanks as always guys…
Matt
feel free to forward or cross post to similar venues.
totally unformatted, but those curious, I scanned the newspaper arcticles about my grandfather for the museum.. here is a link to the scans. Note: NO FORMATTING.. just raw scans
Matt - There will be a number of us from the UK at the October Meeting in New Bedford - Hope you are going to put on a display for us in the Whaling Museum. Some of us are also planning to re/visit Mystic after the meeting too.
Gordon,
I have committed to leave the museum in New London with the exhibit until Aug31. It is about 2 hours west of New Bedford, and are only open from 1-5pm. This is their site. They have a picture of my grandfather at work on their front page. Please contact them to see if we can get special arrangements from Susan. http://www.nlmaritimesociety.org/ I did take a bunch of pictures of his work. It will be up at www.mysticknotwork.com/grandpa2.html tonight.. just a photo dump for now.
My little ropework business is driving me insane right now, I can’t tie knots fast enough to meet demand this year. I wish I could commit more time to the show. I can do the best I can to get to New Bedford myself, but I can’t really steal from the show.
My grandfather was born January 1913 as Alton C. Beaudoin. He was the son of a young lady 1/2 Indian from the NY/Canadian border. Samuel Beaudoin is his father. Shortly after he was born, Samuel and my great grandmother divorced. Alton was brought to an orphanage where he spent 10 years. During that time she married grandpa Bly. She brought back Alton and they continued with their life. There are family stories about alcohol and such, but ultimately, on his mother’s death, Alton returned to his birthname in 1952. My grandmother, father, and uncle were all known as Ethel Bly, Thomas Bly, and James Bly before the name change. A lot of this part of our familiy history I am just learning. I knew he was in an orphanage, but didn’t know much of our root geneology down his line before looking at this exhibit. I should know my great grandmother’s name, but it escapes me. (it begins with a vowel, E or I).
VERY large source pictures, scaled for viewing, but not for bandwidth. Please take what you want so long as you credit Alton C. Beaudoin. (Also, if anyone has customers that need beach trinkets made…sailor knots, monkeyfists, and macrame cr-stuff… send em my way)
Gordon,
I have committed to leave the museum in New London with the exhibit until Aug31. It is about 2 hours west of New Bedford, and are only open from 1-5pm.
