DODI'S BOATS
Once again art imitating
Knapp Life as The Defender rounds a bouy in this 1895 Knapp Print
Even though he was reared in
NYC, Joseph Fairchild "Dodi" Knapp grew up around boats.
They would play a big part of his entire life
which almost ended early at Smith Point in 1911 as he and
his pal Tom Dixon clung to their capsised cat boat . His father
was a member of several yacht clubs including the ultra prestigious
New York Yacht Club. J. P. Knapp most likely owned many boats
during his 86 years. One of them in the 1890's was a schooner
yacht named "Intrepid"
NY Times in 1896, reported
these yacht sightings from City Island which was where members
of the NYYC had their dock. Their clubhouse built by J. P. Morgan
was located in the city proper on West 44th St..
Knapp & Co 1892
It's highly likely "Master
Joseph" appeared much like the sailor boy above in his fathers
print when he journeyed to Europe with his mother and sister aboard
the newly built St. Louis in the fall of 1895.
SS St. Louis 1895-1922
The ship's steward
either misheard Sylvia Knapp (perhaps the Captain blew the whistle
as she was talking) or she pronounced Fairchild as Fawchild or
he just could not spell to well. He also got the Dodi's age mixed
up with his sister Claire who would of been just 11 days shy of
6 years old on Oct 12, 1895. Dodi was but 3years and 8 months
old on this crossing of the the Atlantic. Getting his sea legs
early.
Below are a few photos
of the New York Yacht Club
The Model Room
The Grill
"Nothing like
a roaring fire to take off the chill from a hard day on Wall St."
"Room with a view"
Here are the NYYC
City Island Docks in the 1920's
This is J. P' s.
dock in NYC at his River House Apartment in the 1930's
LET'S ALL SAIL OUT TO LONG ISLAND
Click The Boat
