Help New London Museum Restore Ellery Thompson Painting

In November 2015, the Custom House Maritime Museum in New London received an early painting titled "Racing to Market," painted by Ellery Thompson of Stonington (1899-1988).

The painting is in need of restoration due to flaking.

"We need to raise up-to $4,500 to restore the painting — the earliest and one of the finest Ellery Thompson paintings we've seen," the Custom House Maritime Museum staff wrote on its website. "This 117th birthday party is the start of our fundraising effort!"

A fundraiser to go toward the painting's restoration will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Tickets start at $50 per person. Staff said admission is Pay-What-You-Can, and walk-ins are welcome but advance registration is appreciated.

"You all know Ellery Thompson — the Stonington fisherman immortalized by Joseph Mitchell with two 1940s-era profiles in 'The New Yorker'; a painter, who also wrote two autobiographies about his experiences as a dragger-boat captain plying the waters in and around New London," museum staff wrote on its event notice. "We love Ellery at the Custom House, and often reference his stories about life on the water."

Fundraiser Details

Local maritime historian and author Steve Jones will speak about Ellery, as will Marion Krepcio, a friend of Ellery's late in his life. Andrew Blacker will bring his collection of Thompson paintings from Carson's in Noank.

Other friends of Ellery's will be there, among them Katie Bradford, who will be whipping up Real McCoy mojitos. There will be raw oysters and hors d'oeuvres.

An Ellery exhibition will be available for viewing. In addition to paintings by Ellery Thompson, the show will include three paintings by Ellery's mother, one of Ellery's own scrapbooks, and what may possibly be Ellery's own trumpet.

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Photo: Custom House Maritime Museum