WHARF RAT

I googled the words “wharf rat” and to my dismay I found many references to those who were ardent followers of the “Greatful Dead”; not one reference to my assumption of that who wandered the docks attracted to the life on boats. Even in the International Maritime Dictionary there is not a reference to “wharf rat”. Naturally I then started to question my own idea. Was it self created; a figment of my own mind?

Continuing my internet search I found some references by Sven Carlsson about a man Jerry Warren; a self professed “wharf rat” stating it was a title one had to earn; a badge of pride.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote ” When I saw the seafaring people leaning against posts and sitting on planks, under the lee of warehouses,–or lolling on long-boats drawn up high and dry, as sailors and old wharf-rats are accustomed to do, in seaports of little business.

Of course the quote from “Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame “There is nothing–absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” spoken by Ratty.

I had many of my own experiences on Newport’s Waterfront over the years; some of which I had the good sense to capture on film.

WILLIE, AFTER A DAY OF SANDBLASTING
WILLIE, AFTER A DAY OF SANDBLASTING
FISHING BOATS
FISHING BOATS
LOOKING FROM BANNISTER'S WHARF
LOOKING FROM BANNISTER’S WHARF
LOOKIG AT MATHINOS' YARD
LOOKIG AT MATHINOS’ YARD
BOAT REPAIRS
BOAT REPAIRS
AMERICA'S CUP YACHTS ON THE WEIGHS
AMERICA’S CUP YACHTS ON THE WAYS

 

 

WHARF RATS ON THE NEWPORT WATERFRONT

All stories must have context. These images are the Newport waterfront I knew as a teenager. I had to limit the images, there are so many that evoke memories of how things were, a simpler time.

Joe Cooper is responsible for this post, when he referred to me as the original wharf rat. The consequences of an offhand remark.   I looked up the definition of wharf rat. Unfortunately what I found was not as flattering as I had hoped.

I will post some images of the people who were the real waterfront: gave it personality. For now this is the place they lived and worked.

Long strand manila rope was sill an important commodity in the chandleries, three strand dacron was really special, Samson braid and Intrepid braid did not yet exist.

I learned to make my first wire to rope tail splice, and macrame and baggywrinkle were commonplace. Newport was still very much a Navy town.  The MP’s were on every corner during the weekends to deal with the sailors on leave.

The important fact is that it was a working waterfront, the fabric of which had evolved from necessity. Life was definitely a little slower.