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Patillo, Alex
Alex Patillo received "Beach Scene" in April 1862, according to the Cape Ann Advertiser, April 18, 1862. (His name seemed to be spelled both "Pattillo" and "Patillo".)
"One of the old reliable and standard dry goods firms of the city is that of Alex Pattilo [sic]. Mr. Pattillo [sic] is a veteran in this business and his house is antedated in town by one only. At 13 years of age he was apprenticed to the firm of James Mansfield & Son, in their dry goods department, afterwards with John C. Calef & Co., with whom he served eight years. In 1852 he embarked in business for himself in Center's Block, and in 1864 took the lease of the building occupying his present location at 120 and 122 Main Street, then known as Union Block. Some 18 years ago his establishment with others were burned, but nothing daunted he purchased the site and erected the present fine brick business block in which by honest dealing he has buit up one of the largest businesses of the kind on the cape, occupying two stories of the edifice. He is the oldest Gloucester dry goods man in active business at the present time, having seen 48 years of service, and is always abreast of the times in every essential pertaining to a wide awake business man. The needs of his establishment require the attention of 16 clerks throughout the year. He is a prominent member of the Baptist church, of which society he has been treasurer for 25 years, and is also treasurer of the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library. His father, Capt. James Pattillo [sic], was one of the most energetic and enterprising of Gloucester's master mariners who have done so much to build up the business of the town." (1)
– Sarah Dunlap
(1) James R. Pringle, History of the Town and City of Gloucester, Cape Ann, Massachusetts. (Gloucester, MA: Published by the author, 1892), 333.
Related tables: Alex Patillo Dry Goods » // Center & Co. » // J. C. Calef Dry Goods »
Newspaper clipping
Cape Ann Advertiser
Collection of Fred and Stephanie Buck
"LANE'S PAINTINGS were distributed on Saturday last among the subscribers, as follows: Harbor Scene, – Thaddeus Friend. View of Bear Island, – George Marsh. Good Harbor Beach, – Mrs. J. H. Stacy. Fancy Sketch, – Capt. Charles Fitz. Scene at Town Parish, – J. H. Johnson, Salem. Beach Scene, – Pattillo & Center. View near Done Fudging, – Ripley Ropes, Salem."
View related Fitz Henry Lane catalog entries (1) »
Also filed under: Alex Patillo Dry Goods » // Baptist Church (Old, First, 1830) (Pleasant Street) » // Center & Co. » // Center, Henry » // Done Fudging » // Fitz, Capt. Charles » // Friend, Thaddeus » // Johnson, J. H. » // Marsh, George » // Newspaper / Journal Articles » // Ropes, Ripley » // Stacy, Mr. and Mrs. John Hancock »
Newspaper clipping in "Authors and Artists "scrapbook
p.42
Cape Ann Museum Library & Archive
This painting was considered by far the best of the several paintings by Fitz H. Lane and was a view of Gloucester from Rocky Neck at the time Mr. Lane painted it in 1856. From this painting Mr. Lane had finished a number of lithographs which were sold at a very low price. This did not bring to Mr. Lane much ready money and he was somewhat disappointed so he mounted several of these on canvas, painted them in oil and sold them to several of his friends for $25 and there are a number of these at present held in Gloucester and valued very highly.
The original painting was given to the town about the time the new town house was built and was put on the wall back of the stage in the large hall. When the building was found to be on fire it was impossible to get into the big hall to save anything and so this picture was destroyed. It was a genuine regret that this happened because of its historic value and being considered as the best work that Mr. Lane had done. A study of the pictures finished by Mr. Lane from this original is very interesting and particularly by reason of the type of fishing vessel and shipping in the harbor. In the foreground of the painting is a fine type of the Surinamers of those days which sailed out of Gloucester and brought wealth to many Gloucester families.
