This is a photo from CSNY’s Labrake (Folger) Collection. Estimate of the date is 1915. The location should be obvious. The photo is from Ralph Folger’s historic material. Ralph and generations of his ancestors worked at Matton shipyard. There’s a broad age range in the boys and men depicted at their workplace.

A glance at the Matton shipyard history here shows that in 1915, the following canal boats were built: Joseph Glode, Molly L. Roberts, George E. Weightman, and Edwin L. Archer. Although a quick search online turned up no images of any of these canal boats, I’m sure they must be out there somewhere, as well as more information about the people depicted here. What did turn up is a Hudson River Maritime Museum blogpost about the Matton shipyard; besides this same photo, there is a photo of John E. Matton from 1917. That photo suggests to me that John E. Matton here is standing farthest to the left with a roll in his right hand and his hat in his left.





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