Sailing on the Lake

 

Well, it looks like a lake to me. Dated 1935, and a reminder that even during the great depression, life went on. 

I'd rather Be Sailing

 

I'm 66 and I never been sailing.  I've been on boats, crossed from England to France, Port Angeles to Victoria, and of course Santa Catalina off the coast of southern California.  I've also been on docked sailing ships that have been turned into floating museums.  But under sail, going from point A to point B.  Never, and I don't think I'll ever have the chance. 

Sailing

I always wanted to learn to sail, but I don't think it's ever going to happen.

Sailing, 28G359, She

Once again, it's time to take sail on the good ship 28G359.  The top photo, like yesterday's is labeled 1936.  The second one in the column has the rather intriguing notation, "Doris & Harry's first boat (Date)"  I have to confess, before I read what was written on the back I assumed that both of the people in the photo were women, and I'm still leaning that way.  Harry can be short for Harriet.  Harry does, however, seem to lack feminine curves.  But that hair says woman.  At least it does in 1936. 

Sailing, 28G359, He

I bought these four prints, and the four that will be the next post, off of EBay.  One of the reasons I put in a bid was the near certainty that they were taken off the coast of southern California.  The top picture is dated 1936.

Momie, Ruth, and Helen

Written on the back of the second photo, "Detroit River, summer 1938.  Momie & Ruth." The third picture, "Detroit River, summer 1938.  Ruth & Helen."

The Detroit River connects the not so great Lake Saint Clair,  Detroit, and Lake Erie.  (The Saint Clair River connects Lake Huron and Lake Saint Clair.) It also separates Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  In 1938, it was one of the most polluted waterways in North America, so if these three ladies were actually swimming, they risked at least a few weird  infections.  More likely, they were headed to Lake Erie for a week of sailing.

1938 was near the end of the great depression.  In a few years, World War 2 defense spending would make Detroit one of the wealthiest cities in the world.  After the war, with no real competition from foreign car makers, Detroit continued getting richer and richer.  If this family could afford a sailboat during the depression, they probably were in a position to really cash in during the war and the post war boom.

And yes, who ever wrote the message on the back of the photos did spell it Momie.

Sailing

Love this picture.  I bought it here, in southern California, so let's assume the Pacific.