Many Mattapoisett residents passed by the house at 20 Water Street when it was recently renovated. To the passerby, it was just another village home undergoing a facelift, but the renovation unearthed one of the greatest treasures Mattapoisett has ever received – the Clifford Ashley Whaling Coast mural. Mattapoisett Historical Society President Seth Mendell was lucky enough to bring that artifact home to 5 Church Street, the Museum, for viewing, and he has released a view book for all local mural enthusiasts.
The mural was painted by nautical artist Clifford Ashley in 1919, and was the result of a commission by Gilbert Hinsdale, a harpoon collector and close friend of Clifford Ashley. The 16 by 6-foot mural, depicting a detailed view of the New England “Whale Coast” as it appeared in 1810, was placed on the ceiling of the sunroom and became a part of Mr. Hinsdale’s Water Street home, staying in its spot as subsequent generations moved in, and even after the Hurricane of 1938, Hurricane Carol, and Hurricane Bob made their presences known.
Mr. Hinsdale’s grandniece, Polly Field Duff Phipps, eventually came to own the home and when the time came to sell, she wanted to make sure that the chart would be properly maintained. She called her cousin, Seth Mendell, to take a look at the mural for consideration.
From the moment Mr. Mendell looked at the mural, he knew that the Museum had to have it, and for the next couple years, he looked for someone to restore it and bring it back to Mattapoisett, where it could be on display in a permanent spot. Along with his friends Nate Bekemeier and Ben Rogers, Mr. Mendell removed the mural and commissioned Boston-based restoration expert Gianfranco Pocobene to breathe life back into the mural, which had been exposed to 90 years of moisture and salt air in the unheated sunroom.
The cleaning revealed “unbelievable” vignettes and details that could only be appreciated close-up. As a result, “it became apparent that a view book was essential if the whole story of the Ashley chart was to be told,” Mr. Mendell said in the preface to the Ashley Mural view book, A Chart of the Whale Coast of New England c. 1810.
Mr. Mendell’s view book includes 49 close-up photographs with captions revealing historical context of the illustrations. Within the details are tidbits that show the climate of the whaling industry in 1810, such as the location of the Montauk Point Light, and how the Wampanoag tribe influenced the coast. On page 30, Mr. Mendell points out that the map shows a “site for a proposed canal” on Cape Cod in 1810.
While it’s exciting to think of this treasure calling Mattapoisett home, the view book is a great addition to any SouthCoast history buff’s collection. Mr. Mendell hopes that residents will consider the view book for holiday shopping, and the proceeds from the book sales will benefit the Historical Society. For more information, or to purchase a copy, call the Mattapoisett Museum and Carriage House, 508-758-2844.
By Anne Kakley