- City: Kennebunk
- State: Maine
- Country: United States
- Source: Bodin Collection
- Approx. Date: 1912
- Photographer: Unknown
A mother and son enjoy some quality time together as they choose to shoot shotguns on a bright, sunny day in Kennebunk, Maine. The son stands proudly beside his mother with an enthusiastic smile on his face and is dressed in a dark suit and cap as he holds his shotgun upright in his right hand. To his right, his mother poses in a firm stance as she prepares to shoot an unidentified target with her shotgun. She is dressed in a simple, long-sleeve white gown that is tied at the waist, and her dark hair is pulled back into a neat bun. She stares straight ahead with a serious, focused expression; but the slightest hint of a smile shows itself on her face as she can't help but cherish such a fun, exciting moment with her child. Dull, leafless trees and dead grasses fill the background, and a pile of firewood lies to the left behind the young boy. A small house rests behind the trees to the right and is possibly the house of the mother and son.
The name Kennebunk is derived from a Native American word of unknown origin meaning "long-cut bank". The name is thought to refer to a pronounced "Great Hill" that lies at the base of the Mousam River and served as an important landmark to the area. As the area grew to be settled by Europeans, shipbuilding emerged as a prominent industry (mostly for the purpose of exporting lumber) in the seventeenth century. Yet by the end of the Civil War, Kennebunk grew to become the prominent vacation destination that it is today due to the region's lovely scenery and many opportunities to enjoy a variety of coastal activities during the summer.
From the collection of Fred Bodin of Gloucester, MA. Fred was a long time resident and well-known photographer of Gloucester and had one of the best private collections of New England nautical photographs in private hands. Fred was a photojournalist having graduated with this degree from Syracuse University and worked for Yankee Magazine. Fred passed away in 2016 and HIP purchased his collection from his estate.