Program to share story of man, son and cat on nautical adventure

Dec 6, 2021

The Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society, 1205 Russells Mills Road, will host a business meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, followed by a presentation on  “Henry M. Plummer: His Houses, His Adventures” by Judy Lund, local author and historian.

A member of a well-known New Bedford family, Plummer grew up in a large house on Hawthorn Street. He led a charmed childhood, but from an early age, found exploits around the city more exciting than school. 

Ever restless, with his son and their cat, Plummer embarked in the fall of 1912 on a lengthy voyage down the intracoastal waterway in his 24-foot catboat named Mascot. When he returned, he published the story printed on a mimeograph machine and sewn together with string. It sold out immediately, and was later published in hard copy.

In 2001, The Catboat Association again published the diary with Plummer’s photographs that had been discovered by the CBA (The Catboat Association) founder.

Lund, a member of The Catboat Association and a former catboat sailor, will retell this story, using material pulled together by descendant Thomas Plummer and The Catboat Association, adding pieces of Dartmouth history to the mix.

Light refreshments will be served. A $5 donation is requested.