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Lane's Stone House, Duncan's Point
On October 11, 1849, Lane paid $368 for a small lot of land on Duncan's Point. On this lot, he and his brother-in-law Ignatius Winter built his seven-gabled granite house. According to accounts, the third floor of the house, built with either a vaulted ceiling (or glass according to some), was Lane's studio.
The stone house on Ivy Court, Duncan's Point, was completed in 1851 and Lane and the large Winter family moved into it. Fitz Henry lived in the Stone House for the rest of his life. His sister Sarah, her husband Ignatius Winter, and their seven surviving children, lived there also until they were evicted by a bit of legal and real-estate dealing by Lane's friend Joseph L. Stevens. After that, Lane lived in peace with a housekeeper, probably his cousin Mrs. Elizabeth Haskell Galacar and her daughter Allie, from 1862 until August 13, 1865, when he died. (1)
– Sarah Dunlap (June, 2015)
Reference:
1. Sarah Dunlop, and Stephanie Buck. Fitz Henry Lane: Family and Friends (Gloucester, MA: Church & Mason Publishing; in association with the Cape Ann Historical Museum, 2007), 61–63.
See also the Google Arts & Culture Online Exhibit Urban Renewal and the Fitz Henry Lane House by the Cape Ann Museum.
Related tables: Duncan's Point » // Residences » // Tuckerman, Stephen Salisbury »
Ivy Court was the name of the street where Lane built his stone house. "A path that became known as Ivy Court ran up the hill to the southeast from Locust Street. Lane built his stone house on top of the hill, along the southwest side of Ivy Court . . ."
From Buck and Dunlop, Fitz Henry Lane: Family and Friends, p. 152.
Also filed under: Chronology » // Residences »
Glass plate negative
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
Detail from CAHA#00279
The magnificent views of Gloucester Harbor and the islands from the top floor of the stone house at Duncan's Point where Lane had his studio were the inspiration for many of his paintings.
From Buck and Dunlop, Fitz Henry Lane: Family, and Friends, pp. 59–74.
Also filed under: Duncan's Point » // Gloucester Harbor, Inner / Harbor Cove » // Residences »
Glass plate negative
Also filed under: Residences » // Unitarian Church / First Parish Church (Middle Street) »
Newspaper
"...It was my good fortune, in the company of a few friends, to visit Mr. Lane's studio where are several fine paintings. Among these were a night scene, with the full moon shining upon the dark tranquil waters with a fire in the distance, which uniting with the soft rays of the moon gave it a most delightful effect. Also a view of Boston with its magnificent harbor, on which are many fine vessels, steamboats, &c. The picture represents a beautiful, calm day, with many fine craft all ready for sea, with their graceful shadows reflected so life-like in the waters, that one feels he too is standing on board, will soon be moving on that expanse which Mr. Lane has made so delightfully placid, that even the greatest coward would be allured into a sea voyage.
I suppose it is generally known that Mr. Lane stands highest– as a marine artist– in the world. Salmon by many was considered his superior, while others gave Lane the precedence. Salmon has passed away with the last year, leaving his immortal gifts and laurels to Europe, while Mr. Lane still lives to bring down the glorious clouds, and make the mighty ocean subservient to his tastes.–
May he long live to gladden the world with his precious gifts, and enjoy his delightful home which refined tastes are beautifying.
His residence commands one of the finest water prospects in town. Standing upon the threshold of his delightful home, we witnessed one of those glorious sunsets which can only be seen in our New England Springs, and as we looked abroad, my friend remarked,"truly, Mr. L. has made the waste places glad." –LOUISE.
[The view in Boston Harbor of which our fair correspondent speaks has been placed on exhibition for a few days in the Reading Room of the Marine Insurance Company. It is a rare specimen of excellence in naval painting. There is a type of almost all the various classes of vessels composing our marine, and so truthfully rendered as to defy criticism. –Ed.Tel]
Newspaper
"Between Lane's house & the Foster house was a tavern - a disreputable house where sailors hung out. On the corner of Middle & Pleasant was a Blacksmith shop & next door to Lane was David Harraden's house-carpentry shop & Mrs. Tarnox's shoe store." A description of Gloucester near Lane's house.
Also filed under: Newspaper / Journal Articles »
