What a great project! It was a real treat to explore New England creating Iconic images for Bruce’s fine essays.  Photographing the Mount Washington Hotel; finding the quintessential Vermont Sugar Shack; and taking part in the annual Thompson Ice House ice harvest are experiences I will not soon forget.  Waiting for the driving snow to calm while shooting an historic Colonial house in Concord, with my son Will keeping the equipment clear of snow, also ranks.

A big Thank You to Bruce Irving, Norm Abram, Design New England Magazine, and all who had great suggestions for places to shoot, as well as all you wonderful people in the New England Design Community who have been so supportive and ‘packed the house’ at our book signing at the Cambridge Historical Society!

You can view all the images in the book plus many more here:

Bruce continues to write his wonderfully off the cuff and informative essays on New England.  They can be found in Design New England Magazine and on his website.

Like the New Icons Face Book Page and keep track of what where up to!

A few of my favorite pic’s from the book…

Being early, I was quickly recruited to help cut the first lanes of blocks headed to the ice house.  “….not just up and down. Use a circular motion.” I was told.  This is hard work.  Even though the lanes are pre-cut or scored about 8 inches down, the final 8+ are up to you and the 19th century 5 foot hand saw.  I lasted one lane… about 6 ice blocks.  Luckly after the first two lanes are cut the saw is only need for the ends.  The whole lane can be broken off using long “forks” in the scoring.

The most dangerous job, by far, is stacking the ice blocks in the ice house.   The large blocks, weighing a few hundred pounds, come flying down the ramp. They are then strong-armed into possition. This job seemed reserved for the 20 somethings of the village…

Ice was once New Englands greatest export.

Read Bruce’s article “When Ice was Hot” to learn more  about the history of new england ice trade.

Thompson Ice House - Front

The Ice House Ramp

Modern Scoring. Originally done by Horses or Oxen

Saw and Fork

Breaking Off a Row

Floating The Blocks

Moving the Blocks Down the Channel

Positioning the Blocks on the Ramp

Stacking the Blocks

Stay tuned.  The book should be out Fall 2011!

Classic New England Kettle Pond

Historic New Hampshire Mill

The Mount Washington Hotel

New England Icons Book.

I’ve started working on a new book this fall with Bruce Irving (think “This Old House”) to be published by The Countryman Press.  Working title is “New England Icons”. It’s  based on Bruce’s articles that have appeared in Design New England Magazine on what makes New England (NE) unique.  Most topics deal with the “hand of man” here in NE and cover things like Stone walls, Shaker villages, Grand Hotels, Village greens, and well, you get the idea.

Here is the latest image to go with Bruce’s article, “Ski Areas, Lost and Found”  (Read it hear: http://www.bruceirving.biz/skiareas1.html)

The "Red Chair" Cranmore Mt.

This image of what many refer to as the “Red Chair”,  is the East Bowl Double at Cranmore Mt. Originaly know as Lookout Mt., Cranmore opened in 1937. It was the first real ski “resort” to open in the North Conway area.  Guests came by train from Boston and stayed at the Eastern Slope Inn.  The slope was served by a rope tow built by Carol Reed. (Carol Reed Ski shops were the best place to buy your “planks” and lace-up boots for years!) The rope tow was replaced by the “Ski Mobile” in 1938, the only one to be built in NE.  It consisted of 60 cars seating 2 skiers each pulled by cables up and down a track.   It lasted until 1989 when it was removed for a new modern detachable quad.

Historic Red Chair. 1955 Image from Chairlift.org

The “Red Chair” was added in 1955 and later modified  in 1969.  It is currently the oldest double lift in operation here in NE. Cranmore is one of the few surviving  gems from the early days of skiing in NE.

If you’re as addicted to skiing in NE as my son Will, check out these great resources he’s shared with me.

New England Lost Ski Area Project:   http://www.nelsap.org

New England Ski Museum:  http://www.skimuseum.org/

Oh yes, and if your interested in ski transit -  new and old:  http://www.chairlifts.org

First Snow Dec 09. Williams Barn Groton, MA

I’ve started working on a new book this fall with Bruce Irving (think “This Old House”) to be published by The Countryman Press.  Working title is “New England Icons”. It’s  based on Bruce’s articles that have appeared in Design New England Magazine on what makes New England (NE) unique.  Most topics deal with the “hand of man” here in NE and cover things like Stone walls, Shaker villages, Grand Hotels, Village greens, and well, you get the idea.

That said I’m asking for help!  I’m looking for subject matter to photograph and looking for your suggestions.  Top on my list currently are locations to shoot that would fit the following topics:

• Shaker Villages
• Palladian Architecture
• Garden Cemeteries
• Widow’s walks
• Fireplaces – Colonial…
• New Deal Projects
• Skating ponds

Remember, must be in NE!  Looking forward to your suggestions.