I shared an image last Friday taken from the waters around Marblehead while cruising on a friend’s boat. This image of Naugus Head was captured shortly after we left the mooring in Salem Harbor.
As we headed out, the sun was starting to dip lower in the sky and was producing some great warm light on Marblehead as we passed near the shore. The view from the water offered me vantage points I had never experienced before and, when we reached Naugus Head, the combination of warm light, calm waters and the houses peeking out from the canopy of trees added up to an incredible view.
I quickly composed and captured this image looking back into the harbor with the beautiful houses of Naugus Head and one boat moored near the shore. As beautiful as Marblehead appears from land, it offers even more incredible views when seen from the water.
I grew up at 59 Naugus Avenue, right where that big yellow house is now sitting in the middle. At the time, there was this beautiful, small little Gambrel-style house; it was the site of Fort Miller, a Revolutionary Fort. My great-grandfather, William Drapeau, who built Lowell Memorial Auditorium, found this spot in the early 1900s. The family house, “The Old Fort” as we knew it, was finished in 1919; many generations lived and enjoyed the carefree summer life there.
Unfortunately, in 2003, one of the co-owned relatives forced the sale on everyone else. My poor Mom fought so hard to keep this house for future generations, but the politics and broken bonds won over, and we lost our beautiful summer house.
To me, it will always be home, to sit on those rocks, and to dive into the water, sail, and swim to the boats, right in front. I can still see OUR house, The Old Fort, perched eternally in the middle of that big house; I often travel there at night, in dreams.
No matter how dysfunctional families can be, no one can take one’s true home away in one’s mind, heart and soul.
‘Twas the most beautiful grace in my life, and will continue to be so; thanks so much for posting this photo.
Sincerely,
Diana Cleaveland (Sargent)
[email protected]
PS The book is incredible; Eyal Oren’s photography is unparalleled! I’m wondering if there are any old photos of the former house from the water (circa 2003 and prior to that?)