Old and new happenings around New Gretna and vicinity
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Hi Mr Stemmer,I love reading your blog. I am attaching a photo of a Win Salmon's pen and ink drawing that I purchased at an auction. I was just wondering if you or any of the readers know what house it is of.ThanksSandy Cullen
A little silver fish we have to blame
For how our town got its name.
We’ve heard of towns from East to West
With names that seem to suit them best.
Bean Town - Big Apple - The Windy City
Now most folk think that’s pretty witty
To name a town for a thing unique
But to name a town for a fish? That’s cheek!
Wondering how it came to be?
Come back to long-ago with me.
When the bay and river produced the wealth
And added to the people’s health.
Long ago in a different clime
We can watch the scenes flash through our mind.
Up in the north in the cold and deep
Off
In the days of March when the wind is raw,
When the ice in the river begins to thaw
Something stirs within their heart,
And like their fathers before- off they start.
They take the long and ancient trail
Every season without fail.
This silver fish with streamline frame.
It never gained the sport man’s fame.
Cared not a wit about its fate.
Called it worthless, call it bait.
But how could they know of a time and place
And this lowly fish in the watery trace?
How could they know of the native here,
About the folk that counted this fish so dear?
They packed the fish in a barrel of brine.
Kept it in the cellar til winter time.
When breakfast came at early morn,
Wood stove burning to keep them warm.
Smoke from chimneys hangs over town
And smell of pancakes turning brown.
Salt fish poached and served up hot
With plenty gravy poured on top.
Think it strange fare as well you may
But this was the start of the bayman’s day
Let’s turn back now to a scene in the bay
The wind picked up since break of day
Nor-wester’s blowing cold and clear
A sail in the river is drawing near.
The boatman leans out over the side
Shouts “Let ‘em know far and wide.
The shoal of fish came through the bight.”
To him it was an old familiar sight.
The silver sides flashing in the sun.
The multitudes in the migration run.
It was Sunday morn this day in the Spring.
The Presbyterians were gathered and had started to sing.
The lad that was spreading the news all around
Had turned the corner and headed up
He knew the baymen, all but a few
Would be there in church in their usual pew
He pushed on the door. It flew open wide.
“Boys you better put churching aside.”
He shouted so loud his voice in a quiver.
“Hurry up boys...
‘HERRIN’ UP RIVER!”
The meeting broke up to the preacher’s dismay
How could a fish lure them away?
I’ll leave you with your thoughts on this.
Here in the town that was named for a fish.
Pete The diamond shaped window in the front peak of the house makes it easier to possibly identify the house in the pen and ink drawing. While driving through New Gretna yesterday I saw no house with this type of window in the peak. I think my grandfather's house has one these windows on the side of the house but not in the peak. I only drove down N. Maple and Rte. 9 so there are more houses to check but I wonder if the house is either no longer standing or from somewhere other than New Gretna?
ReplyDeleteJim McAnney
Pete,
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the house in question that Win Salmon,s painted could possibly be the old Chalkley Sears house on So Maple Av. I believe Win and his wife, Ann Ddowns,) lived there at one time. NowIi may be mistaken. IT's the same house that Tiny and his wife ( Jack Mathis's daughter) live now.
Don Maxwell
Don,
ReplyDeleteI checked out Tiny and Betty Jean's house on South Maple Avenue mentioned in your comment. It's definitely not the house in Win Salmon's sketch. I guess we'll just have to keep hunting. It may not be a New Gretna house. Could be from Tuckerton or West Creek.
Pete S
Pete S
Pete,
ReplyDeleteDid I see right?? Was on Rt 9, New Gretna when it looked like a diamond shaped window in a house across (nearby) from the liquor store. Is it possible Win took slides of the house years ago and embellished the painting a bit with the gingerbread trim? If so, he could have made the photo he probably used, copied from the reverse side. Also, he was known to use a little artists privilege now and then. Its a fact he did just that in the painting I have of Tuckerton Lake where he reversed the Methodist Church and Frazier home. Home now demolished. Oh well.
Shirley W
Shirley,
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check it out the next time I'm in Tuckerton.
Pete S
I'm curious as to the value of this picture. Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteSigned;
Nozy in NewGretna ; )
I have a oil painting by Win Salmons Do you know anything about his art work. Thanks Nick
ReplyDeleteI have a oil painting by Wil Salmons do you know anything about his art? Nick
ReplyDeleteI have a painting by Win Salmon'sI live in New Gretna I found the painting in my attic. Any interest. Nick
ReplyDeleteHi. Do you still have that Win Salmons painting? If so I would be interested in buying it.
DeleteThis house looks like the house on Hammonton Rd & West Road.I believe it to be that house as my family lived in that house from 1963 to 1974. It had a wrap around porch and if I remember correctly the attic windows were diamond shape.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle Thomas Jefferson Allen was a friend of Win Salmons who painted a picture of said uncle and it hung for several years over the bar in the Grapevine restaurant. I think it started out over the bar in the Carlton House restaurant. Then was moved to Grapevine. Not sure what happened to it after that.
ReplyDelete